Cruise Ship To Return To Southern Leyte’s Limasawa Island

With the positive feedback from tourists aboard Caledonian Sky that anchored in Limasawa Island last year, the same cruise ship is set to sail again to the island town on March 24, 2016.

In addition to Limasawa, the tourists will also visit Pintuyan town aboard Zodiacs for the whale shark interaction. Limasawa is significant as the first island in the country visited by world explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

The 100 expected guests are set to pay the cost starting USD14,980 on an island-hopping in the country that starts on March 16. The same cruise ship that brought foreigners on an excursion for 10-hours each to Limasawa and Capul on February 2015.

The two island towns on the opposite side of Eastern Visayas, are both rich in culture and history, where the foreigners had land excursion. Limasawa is part of Southern Leyte province and Capul is in Northern Samar.

Some tourists will fly from the United States on March 12 and 13 to Sandakan, Malaysia. They will embark in the luxury liner in Sandakan after a tour in the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

The first stop of the ship in the Philippines will be in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on March 16. Then they will also make a stop at Tubatahha Reefs, Palawan the following day.

The cruise that carries mostly tourists who are divers, bird-watchers, geologists and great fan of our clear-turquoise waters and rich marine resources will visit the Apo Reef, Coron, Sibuyan and Balicasag.

The next stop will be in Bohol and Camiguin before cruising in Eastern Visayas region.

“The foreigners loved their activities, enjoyed the rustic ambiance of the place and, most significantly, were charmed with the friendliness of the entire community,” said Karen S. Tiopes, Department of Tourism regional director for Eastern Visayas.

Limasawa was first visited by a cruise ship on February 23, 2016, according to Mayor Melchor Petracorta.

He said the local government unit expected more cruise ships to visit their place, as the town would celebrate the 5th centennial of the first catholic mass in the country and the Far East on March 30, 2021.

When world explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the beautiful island of Limasawa on March 16, 1521 together with his 150 crew, he asked Fr. Pedro de Vallerama to officiate mass on an Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521.

The mayor said the tourists were captivated by the charm and splendor of the island. The islanders will perform an operatta (a short version of an opera) about Rajah Kulambo, the chieftain when the first Mass in the archipelago was held 495 years ago and his five wives.

The Sinugdan Festival will also be performed by the Limasawa dancers.

Among the activities according to Mayor is learning to write their names in ancient Babayin. Tatooing using henna ink will also be part of their activity, with intricate designs of the Pintados – the indigenous people with tattooed bodies as called by the Spanish colonizers.

While the operatta show will be ongoing, the more adventurous geologists, bird-watchers and divers were having whale shark encounter at the clear waters of Pintuyan.

The tourists will have fun of their lives in Capul island, that posses rich cultural heritage including a language of their own. They will really be experiencing how it is to be more fun in the Philippines.

When the foreigners aboard the 4,200 tonnage Caledonian Sky made a stopover at Capul last February 18, they were greeted with folk songs and dances, according to Mayor Isidro Bandal.

Guests will have a chance to have a motorbike ride and stroll to the historic Faro de Capul (lighthouse) that gives a scenic view of the Pacific Ocean.

With the many beautiful islands that we have, we hope to encourage more cruise tourism, said director Tiopes. (PNA) PGL/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR