Introducing Pushpin Movement's partner community: RARE and Pilar, Cebu

(By: Armida Elaine Umali | Pushpin Movement) I’m not writing about the famous song, but I’m rekindling memories I’ve had of Pilar, not a person, but one of the beautiful [yet quaint] islands in Camotes, Cebu, Philippines.

The municipality of Pilar can be considered as one of those fascinating places yet to be unravelled, as it is a remote community. If you’re into the ‘road less traveled’ then this island will fit you like a tee. Here are my top five reasons for saying so:

1. Getting there is half the adventure. The Philippines is made up of 7, 1007 islands and Pilar can just be that teenie tiny little dot on its map. If you’re sick and tired of the metropolis, hop on a plane to Cebu.

Sounds easy?

Well, brace yourself for a 5-hour boat ride that comes after that (2-3 hours on a fast craft from Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte + 2 hours on a barge or a ‘slower’ boat from Ormoc to Pilar). Are you bored already? Imagine sitting on a boat where the clear blue skies meet crystal blue waters while the cool breeze brushes against your face. And that’s exactly what you get.

You can leave your ‘worries’ behind, and enjoy the ride. Ah, heaven!

View while riding the boat to Pilar

2. People are genuine and friendly. We came to the place through ‘friends of friends’ (thanks to RARE in the Philippines!). Yes, we don’t know anyone in particular, but people greeted us warmly as our barge docked at the port. Filipinos are genuinely hospitable and that’s a culture you’d see all across the country.

Not only that, they willingly shared their homes with us and treated us like family. We learned to live like locals through our homestay and we made new friends from all ages, too!

Friendly locals!

3. [Sea]Food is fresh as it can be! I’ll never forget the platter served us on the day we arrived. It was a simple lunch of fried fish, chicken adobo, and fresh fish soup (tinola). I got so excited with the fish and all (sorry, adobo).

I guess, it is common knowledge that seafood on this side of the country is waaay better than what we have in the metro. And I’m not exaggerating. Until now, I can remember how sweet the fish tasted, not because it was glazed with sugar, but because it was caught on the same day it was cooked. And its flesh was tender… yum!

You could pretty much expect fresh catch on a daily basis. But if you’re not that into fish and seafood, you should come prepared before getting to the island; grab everything you need at the Ormoc market (at the port) as it is a good hour-or two away.

4. Underwater adventure is something to watch out for. Being a nature-lover, I knew that visiting remote places like these would astound me. The waters at the port were leaning towards a turquoise-shade of blue. And I took that as cue.

Indeed, the island was pristine. It had a handful of beaches you could swim into. We couldn’t help ourselves not to take a dip! But the highlight of being underwater was seeing the coral reefs. Some parts were still dead ☹, but a good fraction of it is now recovering – I even saw species of corals I didn’t spot when I dove at the Great Barrier Reef (no bias here…).

Enjoying the serene and clean waters of Pilar

The municipality of Pilar has been maintaining its Marine Sanctuary for the past nine years now. And the community has been actively participating in its conservation and protection. In fact, they are willing to take in volunteers to help them in this project.

Oh, if mountain terrains are more your thing, they exist, too! We traversed the rough roads to get to the top and witness the 360-degree view that was overlooking the island. This is where they are now doing tree planting and forest rehabilitation projects for their watershed. (You can ask us for more details about these projects so we can link you.)

RARE workshop

RARE workshop on marine conservation

5. Their simple living got me thinking. Aside from the food, the place, and its people I have observed, one thing that struck me most was the Pilaranons’ (that’s how the people of Pilar are called) way of life. Being a city girl who’s used to the hustle and bustle of the metro, it felt like we were warped into time having experienced their laidback lifestyle.

They didn’t worry themselves with unnecessary things (think, gadgets or frivolity) as long as their basic needs were met. They were not selfish; they willingly shared what they have; and they showed real concern (for others, and for this town they call home). Even if we were there for about 3 days, these people didn’t treat us differently. In those three days, it felt like we were part of the community – it felt like we could’ve done more if we stayed longer.

This travel adventure was more than just sight-seeing, food-tripping, or thrill-seeking. Obviously, we got to do those, but somehow, this experience left a dent in me. A good one, one that allows me to aspire to give back; I’d definitely want to go back and help in one of their conservation projects.

I’ll just have to block off some dates on my calendar. I wish you could join me and my friends when we do so. Remember, to whom much is given, much is required. Share a bit of your life with them, and you’d get even more in return.

With a staff member from Pilar's municipal government who showed us around their watershed project