Backpacking Landscapes: Hitch to Aliguay Island, Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte

How I got to Aliguay is one rock hard evidence of how trusting your own can get you along.

It was almost 12noon when I woke up. Having been drinking til 4am, it was but expected that I'd wake up late. My alarm, supposedly for the previous day, rang at 8am; but as I always do on weekdays, I, well lets call it unconsciously, turn it off and go back to deep sleep. I was awaken again by 10, not really by the alarm, but that didn't help either.

Anyway, I checked out at 12, and headed straight to the market to get coffee, cigarettes, and breakfast.

Ian Limbonis' breakfast from the Dipolog Market

In the same eatery, I asked and confirmed that there are boats in the boulevard that go to Aliguay. So, i ditched out the plan of taking the more expensive Serpentina service in Dapitan.

The people in the port has also pointed me to where I can find them.. In the breakwater.

View of the boulevard from the breakwater in Dipolog City

the port "breakwater" in Dipolog City

the boats in the breakwater in Dipolog City that go to Aliguay Island

These boats are private owned by locals of Aliguay, mostly storeowners who load goods.

It took me three boats to finally get someone to agree on hitching me. I could understand though as from the sizes of their boats, plus their loads, it will really be too heavy for the limit of the motor.

Meantime, the boatman who agreed had to fetch some more goods, so I waited.

I took shade from this guy sewing his fishing net right in the port. My continous rapport building also brought out the info that no more boats willbe coming back to the breakwater (dipolog nor dapitan) by the time I arrive. I told myself I'll figure it out when I get to Aliguay.

fisherman doing his net in the breakwater in Dipolog City

out of waiting, i can almost capture everything. A cebu pacific plane lands in Dipolog Airport

It was already 3pm when we left. All goods securely covered, and the tide from the boulevard would tell you why. I was kind of puzzled though why I can't seem to see Aliguay island from the port. The internet says it takes only 45mins to get to the island and with this little boat time, The island shall be visible. So I asked the boatman and he said we'll get to see it later.

Anyhow, we cruised the wobbly sea for an hour an a half.

Everyone's eyes were on me in the shore.. An unfamiliar face.

arrived in Aliguay island, Dapitan City, from Dipolog

I did not expect these starrs though as there were resorts from the island, and that it was frequented by tourists; seemingly, not as much as I thought.

I helped out with unloading the sacks of rice from the boat to the shore, and my talking in tagalog, makes them puzzled even more. Told them a bit of what I have been doing and after, asked If I can go ahead and swim. I pulled out my underwater cam, my goggles, and ran to the water.

sand in arrived in Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

sand and water in Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

The water is very clear it can mislead you on the depth. Wide Corals, small schools of fishes, and very fine sand is beneath. I swam to probably about 300m from the shore till I realized the curret is taking me away, So I swam back.

reef of Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

Then, i asked permission to walk along, got a nod, and as I walk, again, people curious of that stranger in me.

Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

When I got back, the father of that folk I was with in the boat offered a wash up in their house. He said we shall visit the captain as soon as I finish, which I gladly said yes.

Meantime, I asked about the possibilities of getting back to Dipolog; he said impossible at that time. The only option is to wait til morning.

Ian Limbonis offered a wash up by one of the locals of Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

Ian Limbonis and the kids of Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

I finished up, and hanged my wet clothes. I asked uncle if we can go ahead to captain. He asked his son to escort me.

On the way to captain's house, I see a group with backpacks seemingly preparing to depart. I was told that there is a police group on outing in the island but are to leave only the following day. I see it's them and looking at their baggages, they are leaving.

Theres probably about 70 of them, and I did not know who to approach. I walked towards one who's taking selfie and offered to take his picture. After the picture, I asked him if they're bound for dipolog.. He said yes. Then I asked who I can probably talk to to get permission to hitch; He pointed me to their officer who's a little busy buying out some handicraft as souveneir.

I excused for interrupting and asked. Whoaaah! He gladly said Yes! I ran back to the host's house, took my stuffand thanked them.

the good samaritans of Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

If not for my commitment to this guy whom I said i'll give him his return ticket to Zamboanga (which.. Hoof, later upon arrival in dipolog said not to bother, the kind of hospitality I got would easily persuade me to stay. This is that reason why areas this far flung are the best destinations for me. It's not all exactly the beach, or the reef, or the greens, sometimes its the people and their way of living ;-)

sunset while cruising in Aliguay island, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

I am in the boat back to Dipolog as I write this ;-). And i noticed our boats didn't have lights. Well, perhaps for security.. Its a whole division of policemen. So, just imagine the loses if we get attacked by poachers.