Where the Heck is Marinduque?: An Inspiration for the Youth of Marinduque

Planning to Visit the Philippines Soon?

There are hundreds of tourists attractions in the Philippines. But as a lover of the Island of Marinduque (Home of the Morions and Heart of the Philippines), I am indeed partial to its beauty, charm and its friendly and hospitable residents. Therefore, help me achieve my dream of seeing this island becomes a world tourist destination, by telling all your friends and relatives about this site. Welcome, to you all, new readers and faithful followers of this site! The photo above is Poctoy White Beach in Torrijos, Marinduque with beautiful and majestic Mt Malindig in the background. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

An Inspiration for the Youth of Marinduque

One of Marinduque's Gorgeous Sunsets as seen from the Balcony of the Chateau Du Mer Beach House

Reading the article below, gives me hope that there is a bright future for the youth in the province of Marinduque. I urged our youth to get more involved in the political activities of the province, for without their participation, Marinduque may revert back to the dark ages. The article below is written by Pipo Nepomuceno. He is a fellow blogger-one of the most brilliant and smartest young Marinduquenos who is very much concern of the future of Marinduque Province. "I want to inspire my kababayans, and my statements are not in any way directed to inching forward to the forthcoming elections (as a private message inquired about it) which is actually really very far still. My position is just to inspire people, to tell the people that we need to change, to light a fire that will change us being Marinduqueños, it is not an easy task and no one is ordering me to do so, this rose from my love for my province. I want to light that fire that will firmly blaze in each and every sons and daughters of Marinduque, a gentle flame of peace and unity…the sought after change for many years now. In changing oneself and in changing the whole province is not readily achieved by mere smirking of conviction filled speeches or self opinionated literature many of us believed to be making a mark towards addressing the present provincial administration of our cause…or should I say our individual cause. We need to change and in changing, friends will become foes but later on foes will become friends. >br />
Change is the hardest part in one’s self in initiating a formidable sense of strengthening our right to live and exist, today and tomorrow, emphasizing our very welfare – selfless and for the benefit of all. Life is never easy; tradition is not easily bent because tradition has twisted many truths in to lies, and many good things to worst. Actually the "political tradition" of our province is not anyway similar to what we believed to be traditions, because traditions are good ways of good people and/or a community. What we see right now are practices...bad political practices of seasoned trapos. We can’t help to be dogmatic basing our understanding to what we have perceived over the years, we strive to change but we still fear to do it or to face it.

This is my creed, this is my composition; in flesh and in spirit. My name stand for Service how little I may be, because if I become part of a whole then I will be stronger. If each of us, kababayans will work as one we’ll not experience darkness no more. We will live just like we are so proud of what we are as Marinduqueños. Our province needs us".

Well, said, Pipo. May your tribe increased!

ABOUT ME

I am a retired (Chemistry Team Leader from USFDA) Filipino-American who loves writing, gardening and photography. My wife (of 58 years) and I enjoy the snowbird lifestyle between the US and the Philippines. We have a small but very private beach resort( see above video) in the beautiful island of Marinduque, Philippines. I have several blog sites(ten), a personal blog, blogs about retiring in Marinduque and our beach resort and conference center-CHATEAU DU MER. I also write for www.squidoo.com now owned by HubPages.com

Marinduque: A Photogenic Province and Tourists Destination

Marinduque is a photoblogger dream. The province is endowed with unspoiled white sand beaches, pristine blue waters, fringing reefs, virgin coral reefs, coves, limestone caves, meandering rivers, mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls and streams, fabled sulfur and hot mineral springs,old churches and of course beautiful sunsets. The Internet is filled with photographs of the scenic beauty of this island not only from the local professional photographers but also from amateur photographers all over the world. The province has more than six big islands popular to beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. It has Mt Malindig known to mountain climbers and hikers. It has Bathala and Tarug Caves popular to spelunkers and just curious seekers. In one of the eight caves of Bathala, there is a resident python, believed to be enchanted. If he shows himself when you visit the caves, it is suppose to bring you good luck.

Sunset over Tres Reyes Islands- Photo from panoramnio.com The nearest and most accessible islands from the capital town of Boac are the Tres Reyes Islands ( Islands of the Three Kings), Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar in the town of Gasan. The local names are Laki, Pangkog and Man-nga ( see map above). These islands are located southwest of the mainland. The other three group of islands bigger in area and more populated are Polo, Maniwaya and Mongpong Islands. These are located in the Northeast part of the mainland in the town of Santa Cruz. Maniwaya's Polo Maria White Beach is being develop as an alternative to Boracay. There is a bigger island, Salamongue Island which is not as well known to the tourists and residents.. I really do not know the reason, but I believe it is not as accessible from the mainland . Moreover, it is not as developed( no electricity or running water) compared to the other islands.

One of the most popular white beach located in the mainland in the town of Torrijos is Poctoy White Beach. It is about a 70 minutes drive from downtown Boac. Poctoy White beach with Mt, Malindig as the background is the most photogenic and the most photographed scenery in the island.

Just late last year, the former Elephant Island in Lipata, Buenavista, owned privately, was renamed Bellarocca Resort Island and Spa. It has been converted to look like Santorini Island, Greece with buildings all painted in white sticking in the cliffs. From what I heard, this resort is one of the most expensive and luxurious resort in Southeast Asia. The cheapest room charges $300 per night excluding meals and other amenities. When I was in Marinduque last year, I met a few rich and famous Filipinos( businessmen, actors and actresses, TV personalities)) from Manila as well as Korean and Japanese tourists at Masiga Airport in Gasan on their way to the resort. From the resort advertisement, I know that the most expensive accommodation is a 3-bedroom villa with its own pool and jacussi charging about $ 800 per night without meals. Dong Ho, Oggie Ramos, Ferdz Decena, Allan Barredo, Sydney Snoeck and Dennis Villegas are some of the photographers that I know who have photo blogs about Marinduque. Their pictures are beautiful, unique and mesmerizing. It is worth your time to visit their photo blogs sites. Looking at their photographs of Marinduque, its Tradition and Culture will surely make you proud of the beauty of our island paradise.