This was not your ordinary class outing. Other schools would have taken a bus or a plane to enjoy a destination, but the students of St. Anne’s College of Lucena…cruised on the 7107 Islands Cruise ship. And the location was more than what they have imagined. It was not just Coron they explored – trekking its ragged dark cliffs, diving underneath pristine lagoons, and visiting souvenir shops – they discovered new islands hardly seen on the map of the Philippines. Islands they barely heard of or knew existed.
Their first night they enjoyed the vista of Manila Bay aboard the 7107 Islands Cruise, enjoying the beauty of a sunset that inspired more than a thousand pictures. Then they were awoken early by an announcement that they have arrived in Coron. The first sight that greeted them was the dark intricately molded islets that surround Coron Island, illuminated by the soft glow of the early morning sun, subdued by the silver mist of the clear waters of Coron.
The whole day of March 6, they enjoyed touring Coron Town and Coron Island. They visited Kayangan Lake – voted one of the cleanest lakes in the Philippines, hidden behind the rocks that protect a rare Chinese delicacy called balinsasayaw nest or “bird’s nest” which cost more than 200,000 a kilo when sold. An ancestral domain and protected site by the Tagbanua Tribe, Coron Island’s lakes are considered sacred.
Then they swam beneath the opening in the rock to Twin Lagoons, where they enjoyed the quiet of nature, where their voices echoed off the walls enclosing the lagoon. While beneath them swam a hundreds of fish.They also sailed pass the marine sanctuary of Siete Picados and some visited Maquinit Hot Spring – one of only 3 saltwater hot springs in the world, which helped rejuvenate them.
March 7, after a night of laughter and fun as the crew entertained them during Crew’s Night with music, magic, and some comedy, they woke up to a whole new world. As they had breakfast they passed by other islands of the Calamianes as they headed to Culion. White sand beaches, blue waters that sparkled like sapphires with the brightness of the sun – was all for their pleasure. Picnic lunch was on Malcapuya, where they had fun eating the “island way”, they went snorkeling around the island, enjoyed a game of tug-and-war, some guests visited other islands such as Banana, Malaroyroy, and Ditaytayan. But it was a relaxing vacation, where they enjoyed the sunset on the island and watched the afterglow onboard 7107 Islands Cruise.
March 8, 7107 Islands Cruise brought them to other islands north of Busuanga, where the group had picnic lunch underneath the coconut trees and beach cabanas of Dibotunay Island. Then they toured the small fishing village of Panlaitan where they enjoyed buying dried squid called “bolpen” (because it looks like a pen). Later grilled dinner onboard at the Sun Deck with another view of the sun setting on Calamianes waters as they watched the silhouette of Malajon Island (also known as Black Island) bidding them farewell.
It was like entering a dream and leaving a magical world… only in 7107 Islands Cruise. |
