BILIRAN MY ISLAND IN THE SUN

BILIRAN MY ISLAND IN THE SUN

By Henry Libo-on

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Edgar Express is docked in Naval Port as it waits for passengers and tourists who will visit the tourist spots and islands in the Province of Biliran.
Photo by www.naval.ph. 

Let's Go To Biliran Island!

Introduction

The island of Biliran is always synonymous with white sand beaches, sand bars, island-hopping, waterfalls, heritage sites and places like churches and old houses, mountain resorts with super cool waters gushing from the springs, an active volcano, bat cave, rice terraces, and hospitable people, among others. 

I came to know about Biliran Island when a physician from our hometown was appointed Governor of the island, Dr. Wayne Jaro.  The island became an independent province from Leyte on May 11, 1992.  Since then, I had an interest to visit the island. However, it only happened in 2019. It was a brief visit or just a familiarization visit. One day I am going to go back and stay a bit longer to explore the island and its tourist spots. 

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The island of Biliran is located in the Eastern Visayas Region.  It is accessible by Fastcraft from Cebu and airplane via Ormoc City or Tacloban City. I will explain the details on how to get there in the following discussion. 

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Bagasumbol Festival, Naval Town, Biliran Island.  

Source: www.naval.com

Biliran Island is the home of beautiful islets with white sand beaches.  It is also here where you can find a dozen waterfalls, verdant hills, and vales as well as natural hot and cold springs, resorts and waterparks, and historical sites and places, among others.  
When I was in Biliran, I took a few pictures of the island but I cannot find most of them on my USB card. The photos I took using my iPhone do not stay long when posted on my Blog. Soon they will "disappear". So, I borrowed the pictures posted at biliranisland.com.  

Photo by Jamz at biliranisland.com

"Daghang salamat mga higala." 

I lost a few of my photos on my iPhone. 

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Higatangan and Sambawan Islands are two of the world-famous Biliran islands that attract local and international tourists.  A visit to Naval Town Fiesta is never complete without a boat trip to these islands' paradise.

Photo Source: biliranisland.com

The Pride of Naval Town is Higatangan Island. It is one of the most beautiful islands in Biliran with its long stretch of sandbar as shown above.  
Source: tourism.biliranisland.com

BRIEF HISTORY OF NAVAL

The town of Naval was once named Bagazumbol, which was perceived by natives as being too warlike a description.^[4] The Aboriginal name was later modified in 1859 to a more peaceful^{[neutrality is disputed]} name—the presently known Naval.

On May 26, 1860, Naval was separated from Biliran, but it became an independent parish only in September later that year. The following year, on July 31, 1861, Romualdo Ximeno, Bishop of Cebu, officially declared Naval an independent parish. In August 1861, Father Santos de Santa Juana took up formal residence as the first parish priest of Naval and served the town for twenty-one years until 1882.

On September 26, 1869, Naval was officially established and recognized as an independent pueblo (town).^[5]

In 1957, the barrio of Higatangan was abolished, and its sitios of Libertad and Mabini were converted into barrios. (Source: Wikipedia) 

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The Island of Biliran was, officially, declared a separate Province from Leyte on May 11, 1992, during the Presidency of Fidel Ramos. The first appointed Governor was Dr. Wayne Jaro, a noted Physician, Civic Leader, and outstanding leader from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The First Lady Amelia Ramos is a close relative of the Jaros and the Jaras from Iloilo and Negros. The Municipality of Naval is the Capital of Biliran Province. 

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HOW TO GET TO NAVAL TOWN, BILIRAN ISLAND? 

From any point in the Philippines, your Point of Entry to the island of Biliran is through the seaport, airport, and the Maharlika Highway in the Province of Leyte. 

Leyte is connected with Luzon through Matnog Port in Sorsogon, Allen Port in Northern Samar, and various ports located in Leyte that connect the latter to Visayas and Mindanao. 

Tacloban Airport has been remodeled after it has been badly damaged by Typhoon Yolanda. There are flights from Manila, Cebu, and Clark, among others going to Tacloban. 

By Port, there are ships, RoRo Vessels, Fastcrafts, and Outrigger Boats that docked at the smaller and bigger Ports in Leyte, specifically, Ormoc City Port.  From Cebu, I took the Supercat to Ormoc City.  

From the Airport and the Port, there are Vans For Hire.  Just ask the Tourist Information Counter of the Ports where to get these Vans. 

WHERE TO STAY AT NAVAL TOWN, BILIRAN ISLAND? 

There are several hotels and resorts which are of Tourist Class that are spread all over the Island Province of Biliran.  Most of these are also located in the town proper of the Municipality of Naval. 

1.    Agta Beach Resort, Barangay Almeria 

2.    Fragoch Tourist Inn, Caneja Extension, Naval Town, the capital of Biliran Island. 

3.    Marvin's Seaside Inn, 567 Barangay Road, Barangay Atipolo, Naval Town.

4.    MayLaka Guesthouse, Biliran Circumferential Road, Barangay Catmon, Naval Town. 

5.    Napo Beach Resort, Sitio Napo, Barangay Viga, Maripipi Island.

6.    GV Hotel, Padre Inocentes Street, Naval, Biliran. 

7.    Biliran Island Inn, Corner Ballesteros, and P. Inocentes Streets fronting J & F Bldg. Naval.

8.    Marienor Mountain Resort, Sitio Anislag, Barangay Capinahan, Naval.

9.    Biliran Island Sunrise Bed and Breakfast, Puro Tugas, Bliss, Calumpang, Naval. 

10.  De Mei Residence Inn is located in the center of the town of Naval, Biliran Island. 

11.  Coco Grove/Talahid Beach Resort, Almeria. 

12.  Biliran Paradise Sea Resort

13.  Higatangan Island Beach Resort

*For more information about these hotels, please visit their websites or if you are already on Biliran Island, you may coordinate with the Municipal Tourism Officer of the Town of Naval or the Provincial Tourism Officer of Biliran.

       

WHAT TO DO IN BILIRAN ISLAND? 

Even if you will be based in Naval Town, you can coordinate with the local Tourism Office to help you plan your tour of the island.  You can do it by hiring a Tricycle, Single Motorcycle called "Habal-Habal", or a Van for Hire, and others. 

You can do the following at your own discretion. 

1.  Chase Waterfalls.  There are several waterfalls around the island that are accessible and very good subjects for Photography.  

2.  Do the Island Hopping. Several islands and islets have world-class beaches and facilities. For example, Sambawan Island, Maripipi Island, and Higatangan Island, among others. Maripipi and Sambawan Islands have the best beaches on Biliran Island.  But there are more that needs to be discovered. That is why I want to stay longer in Sambawan if I had the chance someday. Maripipi Island is widely known among travelers to Biliran. 

3. Visit historical sites and places.  Say a little prayer in St. James The Apostle Catholic Church.  

4. Explore the sources of the Livelihood of the Biliranons.  I will visit the farms, forest areas, the countrysides as well as farms that produce strawberry, vegetables, and other agricultural products very common on Biliran Island.  Spend time at the Iyusan Rice Terraces.

5.  Enjoy swimming, discover different facilities of popular resorts like Marvin's Seaside Inn, MayLaka Guesthouse, Sambawan Island Resort, among others. I wish to swim in the Tingkasan Cave during a Spelunking Activity. 

6.  Trekking or Mountain Climbing to Mt. Giron or Mt. Suiro, the highest mountain in Biliran Island. There are several mountains in Biliran that might be worth exploring.  

7.  Visit the different schools, colleges, and a university on the island. 

8.  Food Trips to discover the island's best cuisine. 

9.  Just walk the beaches. 

10. Watch the Sunrise and the Sunset.  

11. Finally but not least, dance during the "Tsinelas Party". Although this Party will happen closest to our Masskara Festival in Bacolod City which is the second week of October, I wish my schedule will allow me to be in Biliran for the Tsinelas Party. How about you?

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For more information, I suggest you coordinate with the Naval Tourism Office.

For your hotel reservation, I suggest you call the hotel of your choice to reserve a room for you.  

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Finally, if you find this blog informative, please LIKE my Facebook Page and SHARE this story with your friends. 

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Other Tourist Attractions in Naval Town and its nearby municipalities. 


Napo Beach Resort (Source: biliranisland.com)



If you have the time, you can also visit the Candol Cove Beach Resort at Maripipi Island is really awesome.  You must never skip this one. Another one is Viga Spring Resort will be an unforgettable experience because of its very cool water coming from the spring. 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

I wish to acknowledge the sources of some pictures posted here, specifically biliranisland.com. I do not own these pictures. The ones I took were stored in my USB but I had difficulty locating them now. Thank you. 

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A landmark that tells you that you are entering the island province of Biliran is this bridge. 
I took this photo when standing inside the seaside restaurant along the boulevard and in the vicinity of the Biliran Town Hall. (Source: www.biliranisland.com)


Touristang Pobre says "Hello" to Mr. Rodrigo "Rody" Victoria and Ms. Lanie Tupaz of the Philippine Information Agency, Biliran Province. My greetings also go to Jun Tupaz.  
Thank you, guys.

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Hereunder are the pictures T.P. took of the boulevard near the Municipal Hall of Biliran Town. The capital of Biliran Island is the Municipality of Naval. 

(My note: You see what I mean? I posted these pictures from my iPhone and now they are not visible here on this blog. Crying time, lol. Anyway, this will not change my perceptions of Biliran Island as a nice place to spend a holiday, if not my retirement days.)

This is the sunset at Biliran Island as viewed from the boulevard in the town of Biliran.  



Updated on October 28, 2019.
Updated on March 29, 2020.