Only in Camarines Sur

Relaxation…how do you define it? In Camarines Sur, there are three options for relaxing and de-stressing. First, it is lying on a hammock under the trees, sipping your favorite drink while watching the sunset; second, exhausting your body by engaging in sports like wakeboarding; and third, visiting and interacting with the Gawad Kalinga family.

So when we were invited to go to Bicol, I was ecstatic about the thought of going to Caramoan Islands in CamSur (short for Camarines Sur). I have been to CamSur once but I never made it to Caramoan. Luckily, island hopping was on our agenda this time.

CamSur is accessible via air, land or sea. It boasts of cultural sites, white sand beaches (in Caramoan), rainforests, majestic mountains, caves, waterfalls, the famous Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CWC) in Cadlan, Pili, and now, the newest "attraction": the Gawad Kalinga site.

Lucky for us, we were given the chance to experience CamSur’s best. After a 45-minute flight to CamSur, we headed to CWC for a quick lunch. The familiar rush of excitement came over the group. But we had to stop ourselves from grabbing our gear and heading for the water because wakeboarding wasn’t on the agenda for the day.

After lunch, we were off to our first destination, the Caramoan Islands, a group of islands where the reality show "Survivor France" was filmed. Going to Caramoan is tiring as it requires an hour and a half drive from CWC to Nato Port, a two-hour boat ride to Guijalo Port, and another 30-minute drive to Gota Village Resort, but it was worth it!

Matukad Island’s white sand is as fine as Boracay’s. If we had more time, we would’ve explored the island and trekked the mountain. Apparently, there is a lagoon on top of the mountain.

The second island we went to was Lahos Island, which was equally enthralling as well. Its sand may not be as fine as Matukad’s but what makes it appealing are the two big rocks situated on either side of the island. The rocks facing each other feel like two big guys marking territory. Thus, it is as if you own the island.

Between the rocks is a space perfect for intimate gatherings. Bicol governor L-Ray Villafuerte mentioned that you can even rent the whole island for private parties and events like birthdays or wedding proposals. Other attractions of Caramoan include firefly-watching and snorkeling. The day ended with a lavish seafood dinner by the shore, a perfect way to cap the day.

The following day, we dropped by the deer farm before heading to CWC. Here, I met Chokoy! Unlike other deer, Chokoy is not afraid of humans, and is considered the "friendly deer." Kids who go to the deer farm play with him. The deer even pose for you if you want to take a photo!

After paying a short visit to Chokoy, we went back to CWC and prepared for the launch of the Gawad Kalinga Bed & Breakfast. Gawad Kalinga sites have sprouted all over the country but what makes CamSur’s site special is their bed and breakfast concept. "In the past, I’ve met a lot of foreign tourists who want to experience the ‘real deal,’ and that is to stay in shanties or help build homes," shares Gov. L-Ray.

And so, with the efforts of the local government and Gawad Kalinga, the GK Bed & Breakfast was born. The GK Bed & Breakfast is the first of its kind in the country. It caters to volunteers, including tourists who want to experience what GK volunteers do -- build houses for the less fortunate.

GK Bed & Breakfast welcomes tourists (local and foreign) who want a different kind of vacation, one which includes immersion. All profits go directly to the GK fund. "We want to build self-sustainable communities. Providing housing is one thing but what is more important is for us to help them find means of sustainable income. This is the harmony of tourism (through the bed and breakfast concept) and social responsibility," says Governor L-Ray.

Aside from the GK Bed & Breakfast, GK families make a living producing slippers made of ragiwdiw grass, lanterns, bags made of scrap, and more. They make great bags! In fact, each one of us went home with bags which more like a bayong. After the GK visit, we went back to CWC for another mouth-watering dinner. They served sushi with a twist (using laing as an ingredient), delectable dishes, and desserts.

The third day was the official ‘wakeboarding/kneeboarding day’ for us...well, for me and Becca (another journalist) at least. We picked up our gear and went to the cable park. For someone like me who doesn’t know how to swim, any water sport is a nightmare. Yet I find kneeboarding both nerve-wracking and exciting. The wind that brushes your skin, the water that splashes on your face, and the strong pull from the cables yield a thrilling and pleasurable feeling. Unfortunately, due to our activities over the past days, my body was too tired to continue after a couple of rounds. Nevertheless, it was fun!

All in all, the trip to CamSur was once again extraordinary. Where can you find a beach which is like Palawan and Boracay combined, or a water complex hailed as the best by many international wakeboarders? Or a place where you can enjoy your vacation and at the same time, help people? There’s only one answer: in CamSur!

[ Gota Beach Wiki ]