Why Ticao Island in Masbate should be on your travel list

Biyahero, imagine yourself waking up and realizing that you're alone in a deserted island. What's the first thing that you will do?

If you’re stuck in an island, what will you do? You’ll probably just wait for somebody to save you or just proclaim “Walang tubig. Walang pagkain. Magsayawan na lang tayo,” a familiar scene from the 1980 local film “Temptation Island,” where a group of socialites got stranded in a deserted island.

Or maybe you’ll find an imaginary friend--just like what Chuck Noland (played by Tom Hanks) did when he got stranded in an island in the film “Cast Away,” when he befriended a volleyball and named it Wilson.

In short: You’ll probably go crazy.

But not when you’re in the humble Ticao Island, one of the three major islands of the province of Masbate. Ticao Island is already slowly becoming a tourist attraction in itself because of the healthy marine biodiversity that it takes pride of.

Ready your oxygen tanks, diving boots, and underwater cameras, Biyaheros, because this is going to be a helluva underwater adventure!

Quick facts

• Given its geographical location, Ticao Island’s surrounding bodies of water is home to gentle sea giants such as manta rays and whale sharks.
• When you find yourself in Ticao Island, don’t be surprised when you see a lot of habal-habal or single motorcycles. If you plan of going around the island, you can rent one for a fee. This is a pretty popular mode of transportation here because majority of households owns at least one habal-habal.
• The name “Ticao” was derived from the tree named tigao, which was being crushed and used as poison baits to fish. There used to be a lot of this tree in this island. Today, however, you can barely see one here anymore.
• According to geologists, Ticao Island’s terrain is pretty irregular because it’s a remains of a submerged mountain range.
• The mother tongue of Sorsogeño and Masbateño is Tigaonon. According to historian Nongnong Altarejos, Tigaonon is a diverse dialect because it’s somewhat a mixture of Bicolano, Waray, Ilonggo Tagalog and a bit of Cebuano.

What to do

Go on a nature hopping

Why not start your trip with a dip? Just a 45-minute habal-habal ride from the town of San Jacinto, you can visit Matang-Tubig Spring, a natural spring where locals typically do their laundry. Yep, hashtag #probinsyalife! But don’t worry because the water is pure and clean, making this place a favorite among tourists.

Our nature trip doesn’t stop there! A few meters away from Matang-Tubig Spring is the Dalakit Falls. If you’re expecting to see a sky-high waterfalls, sorry to disappoint you, Biyahero, because this falls is just a meter tall! Cute! No need to fret, though, because Dalakit Falls still promises to delight your nature-loving soul because of the cold water that’s perfect for a swim.

Another waterfalls that’s pretty unique in Ticao Island is the Catandayagan Falls, where the water falls straight down not into the river but into the sea! Pretty cool, right?

Drew Arellano says, “Ang ganda ng isla ng Ticao, pero hindi mo ito lubusang makikita hangga’t hindi mo nalibot sa loob at palibot nito sa labas.” So he suggests that you arrange an island-hopping tour with the tourism office so you can visit even the mini-islands that are just waiting to be discovered, just like the Borobangkaso Islet which offers a great beach experience because it isn’t that popular yet so you can have the perfect quiet me-time when you’re here--a great spot for those who are in need of some muni-muni!

Immerse with the locals

It shouldn’t be a question anymore that the locals of Ticao Island rely on fishing as their main source of livelihood. During our trip, Drew, immersed with the locals. In Ticao Island, particularly, he got to meet residents who catch fish for a living. His discussions with them had made him better understand the labor of fishing.

The fishermen go to the sea by late afternoon until around 8:00 PM to catch fish. They said that they can never really accurately estimate if they’ll get a netful of fish in a day because of the unpredictability of the sea.

A local shares that the sea beside Ticao Island used to be a home to many fish, which was then a very fine source of livelihood. However, due to illegal methods of fishing that the locals used before, these sea creatures depleted in number.

Dive with manta rays and whale sharks

If you’re going to Ticao Island, there must be a big chance that you’re doing so not just to play all sweet in the beach but also to dive and see the manta rays and their friends, right? Don’t be shy, Biyahero, because in fact, you’ve come to the right place!

The famous Manta Bowl is situated beside Sorsogon and Ticao Island, Masbate. This is where the divers can meet and greet manta rays, whale sharks, and other sea creatures. Bring your underwater camera, Biyahero, because the gentle sea giants are ready for their close-up!

Of course, always keep your safety in mind. For all diving newbies out there, here’s a #BiyaheroTip from Drew: “Malakas ang current o agos ng tubig sa ilalim ng dagat kaya importante na nagkakaintindihan nang mabuti ang divers at dive masters. Nakatutulong din ang paggamit ng reef hooks para hindi kayo tangayin kung saan-saan ng current.” Thanks, Drew!

However, Biyahero, these gentle giants don’t easily show up when there’s a visitor. As in Drew’s case, he stayed underwater for 36 minutes but didn’t see any whale shark or manta ray. Awww!

“Naghintay kami ng manta rays pero wala kaming nakita. I guess it would have been really worth it,” says Drew. But cheer up because he, actually, isn’t that sad! “[But this is] one reason to come back! I really want to see manta and whale sharks!” Yep, yep, yep! That’s the attitude, Drew!

Buy pasalubong for your family and friends back home

It is in Masbate where Drew found the kind of pasalubong that shocked him to the highest level--the pastillas de kalabasa, a sweet treat made of squash. Upon tasting this treat, he said, “Mukha siyang matamis. Alam ko may niyog [at] asukal. Pati ‘yung base, hindi ko ma-grasp…” See? Drew is lost for words! “Astig! Kakaiba!” he just said.

You can buy this and other treats particularly around the town of Milagros, Masbate for around P80.00 to P100.00 per pack.

You should also purchase some of their local handicrafts such as hand fans, banig, and plates that are made of dried vines. These are among the local products that are becoming a source of livelihood for the women of Ticao Island. These handicrafts can be bought in various pasalubong centers around Masbate for an affordable price only! A single plate made of abaca, for instance, costs only P12.00!

Where to stay

Because Ticao Island is yet an underrated tourist spot, accommodation choices aren’t that wide yet. But due to its increasing popularity among travelers, the number of lodging choices here is starting to grow already.

Drew and the “Biyahe Ni Drew” production team stayed at Altamar Beach Resort which, according to Drew, has a Hawaiian-resort appeal.

“Ang gusto ko rito, old-style na [may] malalaking windows, with the breeze coming from the sea. So soothing and therapeutic!” says Drew. You can easily just imagine him being all cozy in bed while enjoying the nice view from the big windows. Sweet!

And because this is a family-owned resort, you can expect that the food is home-cooked, giving it a more local flavor.

A one-day stay here costs P3,500.00 per head which already includes not just the lodging but also the tsibog. Solb!

Without a doubt, Drew enjoyed his stay in this island. “Ang Ticao Island sa Masbate [ay] hindi kasing-sikat ng iba pang isla sa Pilipinas pero talagang dinarayo ito ng mga Biyahero from all over the world para makasisid sa pamoso nilang Manta Bowl!”

But he adds that Ticao Island is not just all about the Manta Bowl but also about so many other local wonders.

Although he got to stay in Ticao Island for just a short period of time, he says he has already seen a lot of promise in this humble paradise. “Para sa akin, kailangan ninyong maglaan ng hindi bababa sa tatlong araw para makita at maramdaman ang tunay na ganda ng Ticao,” he says.

As Drew heads back to Manila, he carries with him fantastic travel experiences that will surely make it to his travel diary.--Juju Z. Baluyot/BMS, GMA Public Affairs

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