Britania Islets: Surigao’s hidden jewels

BRITANIA Islets in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur is slowly but surely becoming a popular destination for tourists. Despite the rough roads going to this hidden paradise, it’s smooth sailing once you see the pristine beaches and the refreshing sights.

Ironically, touristsare required to pay P25.00 for two persons at the entrance gate near the public elementary school but, still, the rocky road has not improved through the years.

On the bright side, the difficulty of going to San Agustin makes it more sweeter to reach the  eight islets: Britania, Boslon, Hagonoy, Hiyor-hiyoran, Tagoan, Panlangagan and Naked Island (White Beach).

Among the eight Boslon, Hagonoy and Naked Island are most frequently visited by tourists. You can swim and eat your baon at Boslon and Hagonoy because of their wide white beach area.

Although it has no trees, you can also drop by the Naked Island to take pictures but be sure to leave the island before the big waves come in the late afternoon.

Motorized boats can be hired that can carry as many as 20 persons for a rental fee of P1,500 only. The boatmen, mostly locals, will have to pay the municipal government a fee of P35 per trip.

Tourists are advised to come to Britania early in the morning to have enough time to visit more islands. There are three beach resorts in Britania – La Entrada (owned by the Alamedas), McArthur’s Place and Arena Blanca.

There are also boats owned by the locals. One of them is MB Junus operated by Meriam Ayson (CP no. 0948-9985852) and her mother Albina (who is the only owner allowed to bring tables and chairs for rent at P150 in Boslon).

They have a sari-sari store that also offers almost everything a tourist needs including dine-in food, cellphone loads and souvenir items.

MB Junus, however, is owned by former Britania Barangay Captain Lolito “Boylads” Ladanan, whose wife Bebs is the daughter of the late and former San Agustin Mayor Eufenio Daronday.

The Darondays own the claimant rights of the Britania Islets and has been paying the tax since 1958. In fact, the Ladanan couple built a house with a comfort room at Boslon Island in 2000 to prove that they are the rightful owners of the place.

But their house was demolished upon the order of a government official who was against the political plan of Ladanan. Still, Ladanan won as barangay captain of Britania.

He also won as a Sangguniang Bayan member and became the chairman of the tourist, trade and infrastructure committees. Ladanan was able to convince the squatters at the beach area to be relocated in an area near the school.
It made the Britania beach what it is today.
Ladanan opened the tourism business in 2010 and turned the local fishermen to become boatmen and guides for tourists.
Ladanan, a former international band singer, is now not into politics but still continues to help Britania by selling the place.

He now manages the DMI Villas owned by the late Engr. Dionisio Ines located beside the Arena Blanca resort. However, there is still more room for improvement in Britania to lure more tourists.

On top of their list is the construction of concrete roads. One suggestion though: Boslon, Hagonoy and Hiyor-hiyoran islets need comfort rooms and other basic amenities.

Tourists are also advised not to throw or leave their garbage behind especially plastics and bottles.The local government under Mayor Nicnic Alameda, MD must first inform or hold required short briefings on the tourists before they are allowed to go to the islands to remind them on the rules.

Among them is not to bring or to take anything but only pictures and do not urinate or make vandals especially at the big rocks. Some tourists even toke away corals and bonsais from the islands.

For now, the Britania Islets has made itself known to tourists and nature lovers. But it the people here really want to attract more visitors, they need to keep the place clean and protect the place from vandalism and destruction.

Britania can be reached in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur by bus or van from Davao City or Butuan City.

Calamity fails to dampen Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang

ILOILO CITY— Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), which pummelled Iloilo and Aklan, among other provinces, in November, has failed to dampen preparations for the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo and the Dinagyang in Iloilo City, which are held in January in honor of the Holy Child Jesus.

At least 25 tribes will join the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan’s capital, on Jan. 18 and 19. The tribes will vie for P704,000 in prizes in five categories, according to Lalaine Nam-ay of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation Inc. (Kasafi).

Eight tribes will compete in the Big Tribe category, five in the Small Tribe category, seven in the Balik-Ati and five in the Modern categories.

The number of participating tribes this year is fewer than the 30 that joined the festival last year. Some of the tribes backed out due to financial constraints.

Some lost their costumes to the supertyphoon, according to Nam-ay. Yolanda destroyed many houses and other structures in Aklan.

Festival organizers, however, have maintained last year’s prize kitty and subsidies to the competing tribes totalling P812,000.
Hotels in Kalibo and neighboring towns are fully booked.

Many guests will stay in local homes, according to Nam-ay. Aside from the contests, the Kalibo Ati-Atihan is also famous for its spontaneous street dancing.

Revelers freely dance with the competing tribes whose members are representatives of private companies, families, barangays, towns and schools.

The Ati-Atihan is considered the merriest among the Sto. Niño festivals, which include Iloilo’s Dinagyang on Jan. 26, and Cebu’s Sinulog on Jan. 19.

The Ati-Atihan traces its roots to the 13th century as a pagan ritual of the Aeta people. In the 18th century, it was transformed into a Christian celebration of the baptism of 1,000 inhabitants of Kalibo by a Spanish priest.

The name of the town is said to have been derived from “Isa ka Libo,” referring to those first baptized. Organizers of Iloilo City’s Dinagyang festival also expect thousands of tourists for the weeklong festivities peaking on Jan. 25 and 26.

Ben Jimena, city tourism officer, said at least 10 tribes would compete in Dinagyang’s Ati tribe contest and 11 in the Kasadyahan regional cultural presentation.

According to Jimena, the Kasadyahan festival will not be a competition of performances like last year because of the limited budget for prizes.

He said groups joining the Kasadyahan, coming mostly from Iloilo and other provinces, have asked for bigger subsidies due to the impact of the typhoon.

The northern towns of Iloilo were also hit hard by the supertyphoon along with northern Antique and Capiz. Tribes in the Ati contest will receive P320,000 from the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc.

The Kasadyan participants will also get P250,000 each.

( Photo credit to Lito delos Reyes )