When you get to cool, crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, pleasant town folk and delicious sea foods ... you're in the island of Bantayan. Coming to Bantayan is like coming out of a time machine. It's like entering the time and place when life was simple and quiet.
The island, which is composed of three municipalities, specifically Bantayan, Madridejos & Santa Fe is also generally known as the “Egg Basket” in the neighboring regions because it has been generating over one and a half million eggs a day to supply the growing demand of eggs for mainland Cebu, Negros, Panay and even Leyte.
In
Bantayan, there are 405-year-old church the
one-and-a-half century house of Anun Escario,
the Ogtong Cave and the rest of the ancient
unarmed caves the old Spanish kota (fort) in
Sta. Fe, the beautiful island in the district
and the sunset at the pier.
The people in Bantayan island is mostly Christian,
aside from the fact that it has the oldest church
in the Visayas and Mindanao, it is also named as
the Lenten capital of the Visayas. Many people from
Cebu and as far as Manila go to Bantayan not only
for a swim and relaxation but also to witness the
holy week procession and to observe the most solemn
practice of faith. Because of this, almost all
resorts double their rates at this time of
year.
During holy week, on Maunday Thursday and Good
Friday, both locals and visitors get together by
the thousands at the town center of Bantayan to be
part of the Lenten procession of religious symbols
and images symbolizing the Passion of Christ. Such
religiosity only reflects the Bantayanon's
unquestioned faith in Christ therefore making the
island one of the safest place in the
country.
But there
is also the human aspect. You see kids with
even tan running around the beach lines,
naked, simple-hearted and friendly. Bantayan
Island has a remarkable dialect, mixture of
Ilonggo, Waray and Cebuano but one that is
Greek to both Cebuanos and Ilonggos. And its
tone changes from town to town. The people in
every town just have their own of expressing
it.
Like its dialect, each of the three towns has its
own character. Bantayan considered as the town
proper of the island has 25 barangays and the basic
infrastructure. The town is known for its
mouth-watering dried fish and squid. Aside from
fishing, the people are also into rock phosphate
and limestone mining.
If the other two towns are busy with their income
projects, Sta. Fe is busier during the Lenten
Season with hundreds of people who gather to its
white sandy beaches. Reservations to Bantayan's
beach resorts for the Lenten Season should be done
six months to one year earlier. As early as
February this year, the resorts have already been
fully booked.
With regards to the food in Bantayan, a
combination of cuisine is served on the island with
a taste of restaurants serving Filipino, Thai, and
Japanese to European menus. A massive selection of
sea foods fresh from the day's catch is very well
dished up since most of the people of the island
are fishermen that cast their nets on the abundant
Visayan seas. One can even visit the wet market to
see fishermen unpack their precious catch from the
sea. Fresh live fish from groupers to blue marlin's
are just two of the many surprises. Shrimps, crabs
and lobsters are displayed in large quantity in the
market. After a full meal one can choose a
selection of fresh fruit shakes with choices from
mango to choco banana.
Your stay in Bantayan would be a dream come
true.
