YOU can’t stop progress, you just have to build around it." So said Australian expat and Subic-based mover Brian Homann as we paddled through the waters of the Subic.
It was my first time to go kayaking—I’m definitely not the outdoorsy type of guy, more like the indoor-relaxation and leisure kind; spoiled, to say the least. When I’m on the beach, I would sleep all day or read a book within the air-conditioned comforts of my hotel room, and wake up and say hello to the world come sunset or beyond.
Then again, I’m one who would never back out on a spur-of-the-moment adventure. So when my friend, PinoyAuctions.com president and Subic scion Tonito Payumo, asked me over lunch if I wanted to go kayaking with him, I said emphatically, without even knowing what to expect, "Yeah, super!"
So, there I was without a clue in the world how the journey would be, at the bayside bar cum museum cum lounge cum exotic bird (they drink beer and really get drunk, would you believe?) sanctuary Vasco’s (which Brian himself put up) at Magellan’s place in Subic.
"This whole place used to be a giant boulder." Tonito explained. "Brian built everything within a year."
Changing the topic, I asked, "We’re going to ride in twos, right?" thinking it would be like those seemingly easy teamwork stuff.
"Nope. It’s one to one," Brian answered.
Yikes, I muttered to myself.
Side-swamped
A military-looking motorboat soon came with four multicolored kayaks on its tail. Tonito got the first pick of the blue baby boat, my friend Kara Tolentino (another spur-of-the-moment adventurer) and Brian got the red, and I the orange one, since it also matched the color of my shirt. (I’m sure you won’t believe me, but I didn’t do that on purpose.)
Brian and Tonito, like the pros that they are (I later learned this was Tonito’s first time to kayak in Subic), went ahead. They presumed we knew how to as well. It seemed practical—left, right, left, right…
At first I was moving forward. Later on, my kayak had other plans—it just kept on going right, so right that I headed straight into the mangroves! Then, I would use my paddle to push my kayak out against the rocks, and I would turn around, headed onto the other direction, again, going to the direction of the bushes—I had never been more "side-swamped" in my life.
Later, some perky jumping fish just flew into my kayak. Another hopped in between Kara’s legs.
"Are you, guys, okay?" Tonito, the impeccable host that he is, asked.
"Yeah, super!" I remarked, trying hard to balance as I got the fish by the tail and put it back in its rightful home.
A few controlled and consistent strokes later (not to mention looking like the swamp thing with all those leaves, twigs and mud all over me), I was able to correctly balance and go with the river’s flow. And just like life, after the hardship, you get to appreciate it more, realizing the beauty that lies in front of you.
Subic’s secret hideaway
This is Subic’s secret hideaway, I thought. Seeing the splendor—the overcast sky served as perfect backdrop to the lush greenery that unfolded with each path we smoothly trekked. It was like we were traveling to another world—one of tranquility and peace. This kind of progress that I witnessed was breathtaking.
In the one-hour-plus of kayaking that we did, we passed by some beaches, a 16th-century Spanish ship docked on a Subic shore, some construction workers out for a dip, even past the main highway! On our way back, it started to rain. At first it came in trickles, and then it poured.
Instead of getting scared, I was focused on my rhythmic paddling. I was challenging myself to reach the shore first, so I was pushing it hard, at the same time enjoying the pace of the ride and watching the raindrops’ synchronized dance on the water’s surface, and how delightful it was not to care about getting soaked in the rain.
Pardon my being philosophical, but that simple yet eventful ecotourism kayak ride further enhanced what I’ve always believed in—that life is a matter of perspective. Beauty is how you see it; your happiness and success depends on you.
In the middle of our trip, with our two kayaks side by side, Brian stopped paddling, looked at our radiant surroundings, then, with a Zen-like aura, he turned to my direction and said, "Here, life is good."
Yeah, super
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