Hello Hive!
I can't believe it's been a month already since the last Kim's Quest. I think I need to pick up the pace. We are now in the second part of my Camiguin Island series. The first part was when we climbed Mt. Hibok-Hibok on a very rainy and windy day. It was one for the books. If you haven't checked that out yet, please refer to the link below:
To have a little bit of an idea why it took a month before the continuation of my Camiguin Island entries, you can check out my latest posts. I sort of became busy with photography and other stuff. Anyway, here are two links I wanted you to check out first:
For this post, it won't be exclusively all about The Sunken Cemetery. I will also share some spots we visited that are near The Sunken Cemetery. Camiguin has this network of tourist spots that are scattered throughout its five towns. These spots are mainly rooted in the volcanic nature of the island, may it be historical ruins, hot and cold springs, pilgrimage sites, and vantage points. If you'll spend the whole day of just having a joy ride all around the island, you'll pass by those interesting places. Alright, let's have the first part of our island tour.
It was two years ago when the team (ex-team, I forgot I'm unemployed now) decided to visit Camiguin Island. It was a day after our company Christmas party. It was an interesting trip because even our Japanese executive manager decided to join us.
There are daily flights from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Camiguin-Mambajao Airport.
From the airport, we immediately went to our rented AirBnB. We rented a PUV jeepney for two days that would serve as our transportation throughout the whole excursion. The driver also served as our guide during the trip. We had lunch at a local restaurant in Mambajao and then settled all our bags in the rented apartment. That afternoon was full packed based on the itinerary.
Tungatok Cove View Point
Tungatok Cove View Point is just a stopover in Catarman, but a lot of photos taken in this spot circulate in social media. This became a famous stopover for tourists even if it doesn't appear in some travel blogs. The main reason why it became so famous picture taking spot is that it shows a pristine panoramic view of Catarman.
They recently installed a barrier at the viewpoint, but there was no barrier when we went there. We were just careful not to fall at the ravine below the viewpoint. It was not really that dangerous to me, but some of my colleagues didn't even dare to stand near the cliff. I just find the cove amazing that you'll miss something in your Camiguin tour if you'll just pass by this spot and won't take a photo.
You can see the other side of Mt. Vulcan or what they call as the Old Volcano from the viewpoint. The volcano is not that tall, but its eruption in the past transformed the landscape of the whole town.
The Sunken Cemetery
This was the highlight of that day. We reached the spot in Catarman at around 3:30 PM. You can actually rent snorkelling gear and snorkel at the sunken cemetery, but we decided to just rent a boat and go to that giant cross at the sea. If you think about it, there's nothing much to see there, but that giant monument a few meters from the shore. However, there's so much history and enchantment to the area that it's worth visiting.
During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, it is said that the area is a coastal barangay with a lush community. In 1871, Mt. Vulcan erupted and submerged the area into the sea. In 1982, the cross was constructed to be an eerie reminder of Camiguin's violent past.
That cross helped place Camiguin Island in the list of emerging travel destinations in the Philippines. Underwater, the tombstones became home to a plethora of fishes and giant clams. This makes The Sunken Cemetery an amazing snorkelling and diving destination.
We decided not to snorkel because we still have other destinations to visit and we didn't bring any spare clothes with us. The structure provides a vantage view of Mt. Vulcan, just like in Tungatok Cove View Point but on the opposite side. Mt. Vulcan is just 580 MASL, but the rugged shoreline of the area is an indication of its very violent eruption. Now, the volcano is inactive.
Old Guiob Church Ruins or Old Spanish Church Ruins
The same eruption of Mt. Vulcan in 1871 was the cause of almost all of the spots in Catarman, including the Old Spanish Church Ruins or Old Guiob Church Ruins. Located in Brgy. Bonbon, this historical landmark is what's left after the eruption of the volcano. If viewed from the highway, the ruins would look just like any ruined fortress that's overgrown with trees and mosses. Upon closer inspection, the ruins was another reminder of Mt. Vulcan's apocalyptic past.
The old church lost its roof, but the whole complex of walls and columns remained standing even after the powerful earthquake and volcanic eruption. This indicates how sturdy the structure was. Other structures that remained are the ruins of the bell tower and convent.
For me, it was a place of reflection, as with the other places we visited. I spent most of my time there wondering how one eruption dramatically altered everything in the area. I also wondered how that "beautiful scar" remained standing even after more than a century had passed.
I have to apologize for the photos as they're not the best as they were taken using my old phone. If given a chance to go back, I will definitely try scuba diving or even just snorkelling in The Sunken Cemetery. I guess that's all for this post. Next part of this series will be about the other places we visited as we continued with our Camiguin Island tour. Stay tuned folks!
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession, but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits secluded destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines) and the rest of the world even if he's still a poor corporate slave with tons of bills to pay and two siblings to support in college.
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