Polillo Island : Glimpse of Paradise
Island of Polillo
Written by Encina, Ryza
Conchada, Lorraine
Bulalacao, Lira
Viaje, Yvonne
Gesmundo, Patrick
Polillo Island is not called a Hidden Paradise of Luzon for nothing. It may be small, but it offers a lot of adventure more than you could imagine, from its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and savory local delicacies. This island offers a variety of activities such as island hopping, trekking, and sightseeing. The island is filled with elegance and natural beauty that makes it an ideal destination for adventure. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s take a glimpse of the beauty of Polillo!
How to get to Polillo?
From the port of Real, Quezon, you will need to ride a RORO or Roll-on/Roll-off for about four hours before you finally reach the Island of Polillo.
Source: GMA Integrated News
“Walled City”
While you go around and explore, you will see that Polillo has a rich cultural heritage and geographical history. You will see the remnants of the walls and fortresses that was made during the Spanish era.
Source: Polillo Dragonboat Association
Polillo Dragon Boat Festival
One of the things that made Polillo Island known is its dragon boat racing. March 18-19 marks a festive occasion in Polillo, Quezon – the Polillo Dragon Boat Festival. This vibrant event, held annually during the local fiesta, transforms the serene waters with the rhythmic beat of paddles and the resounding echo of drums. This dragon boat race has become a cherished local adoption, bringing communities together in a spirited celebration.
Dragon boating is a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping, water sports activity. Teams compete in Dragon Boats, which are large canoe-like vessels fitted with ornately carved dragon's heads and tails. Crews of up to 16 people sit in pairs and paddle to compete in races over distances of around 250m.
Polillo Dragon Boat Festival promotes excitement, sportsmanship, and cultural celebration. The rhythmic dance of paddles, the pulsating beat of drums, and the united spirit of the participants create a spectacle that transcends the waters of Polillo.
Pulong Kukok
Pulong kukok, also known as “Cocooc Shoal/Snake Island. It is a habitat for sea snakes “bilang-bilang” which can be found at the holes of the rock formations situated at the other end of the sandbar. People are mesmerize with the rock formation, from afar it look like a chicken that’s why it is called kukok which is the sound that chickens make. The long coast of powdery sand bar is only prominent during low tide and when it is high tide you can only see the two rock features.
Pakipak
Pakipak is a type of seafood, it is usually caught through pangingilaw, it is catching seafoods at night. It can be caught with a bow or fish net. It is cooked by mixing it with the flesh of the coconut, milk of the coconut and other seasonings, it is called tinumok.
Okarab
The Okarab is a type of crab or seafood that can be found in the part of the sea called Pakatan, it is black on the back and the tip is red. It is found in holes but not all holes that can be seen have okarab flesh, it must be dug up to see if it has flesh. You need to be careful when taking it because it has tweezers that can injure you. The okarab can be cooked tinumok, afritada style or it can be mixed with sprite and pepper to make the okarab taste better. These are the ingredients for cooking tinomuk na okarab: Okarab, coconut milk, pepper, salt, garlic. If you do not like spicy food, you can cook it with ketchup, which can be cooked in the style of afritada.
In your travel in this town don’t be mistaken with our loud voice, that’s how we communicate, we looked like we are fighting. You can also encounter accents and words that you may not be familiar with, just like “hanep”, “hani nga”, “natagiti” and many more.
These are the things that made Polillo different from other travel destinations.
I have
already given you a glimpse of this paradise, now it is your time to discover
and hunt the hidden treasure of this island.