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It was a river snaking into the sea that made this Cebu destination part of my 2024 travel bucket list. A river that also embodies a community working together in creating community tourism project as an alternative income source for its locals. It is an eco-tourism spot that can also give you a beach break with its hidden coves. Welcome to the exciting and rustic town of Aloguinsan in Cebu.  I got my birthday trip roaring in Aloguinsan! Our mini-bus rolled out of the Cebu South Bus at 5am. This was going to be an estimated 3-hour trip to Aloguinsan via Carcar. The rustic town of Aloguinsan was originally a barrio of the neighboring town of Pinamungajan and was created as a separate town in 1886 by a Spanish royal decree. The town may look rustic and tame but it has a strong history of fighting off invaders from the Moros during the Spanish-period to Japanese invaders in World War 2. Eto yung bayan na tahimik lang sa umpisa pero maraming kwento habang namamasyal ka dito (This is a town that starts off silent but you unearth its stories while exploring it). Its natural beauty blends in with its rich history that rolls from its hill to its waters. Aloguinsan Poblacion There was a slight drizzle when I arrived in Aloguinsan around 7.30am. I opted to check out the Aloguinsan Public Market for breakfast and also to kill time, with the hope of getting a clear weather before I start exploring the town. The poblacion is the center of the municipality where the center for commerce, governance, and religion.  Enjoying the view of the the poblacion atop one of the hills of Aloguinsan. I really found the Aloguinsan Public Market uniquely charming. Conveniently located along the mouth of a clean river, it has a small fish port where sea produce is dropped off by fishermen directly to its vendors. It is the center of commerce of the town so it is the place where you can purchase fresh produce and the place where you can also enjoy a meal. Don’t expect fastfiod chains in town. Aloguinsan gave me that provincial town vibe that I really enjoyed because I don’t usually get to enjoy these moments in the city.
Just like any Spanish-period town, the church is located close to the town center. It is situated atop one of the hills and has a sprawling church ground with a century tree as an attraction. Established in 1912, the church was dedicated to St. Raphael the Archangel. The present-day church structure was completed in 1939 that features the bell tower as its main facade. Its modern-designed interiors feature a gold-colored retablo with the Crucified Christ as its centerpiece.  The St. Raphael the Archangel Parish sits atop one of the hills of Aloguinsan. Government offices are also within striking distance within the poblacion. It signifies that most community activities happen in the poblacion. The municipal hall is located close to the seaside of the town where a huge open space is often used for activities and festivities. Baluarte Park The town of Aloguinsan is a Spanish-period town and its coastal location often subjects it to frequent Moro raids. A baluarte or watchtower was built on a hill that sits close to the shores of the sea. The tower helped in protecting the town from Moro raiders by giving them advance warning and an unfair advantage for a defensive stance. As per their local story, the baluarte put a stop to these raids.  I am looking at part of the ruins of the Spanish-period baluarte of Aloguinsan. Only a few standing coral foundations serve as a reminder of the Spanish-period Baluarte. The LGU have taken the initial effort of creating a park with the ruins as its main feature. They have also chained off the ruins to prevent visitors from damaging what remains of the heritage structure. I could see that the structure may have been huge considering the locations of the few standing foundations. The baluarte gives one a panoramic view of the sea and the town.
The park gives you a top view of the town. It also gives you a panoramic view of the surrounding shoreline of the poblacion. They have developed it with basic tourist facilities with picnic sheds and restrooms. Unfortunately, the park needs proper maintenance and attention. I also think that they should move that the ruins be recognized for its historical value considering that what remains of the old Spanish baluarte remains largely intact and void of any vandalism. Bojo River Cruise Bojo River is THE tourism icon of the town of Aloguinsan. The river, beyond its natural beauty, is a community-based sustainable eco-tourism project handled by the Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS) that provides river tours to its guests. This is not the usual tours where you just paddle out through the river to enjoy the serenity and the views. What makes it unique is that a local guide, from the community, gives you an educational brief of the importance of the Bojo River to the community. You don’t only get to enjoy the seascape and landscape but you also come home with new and inspiring insights.  The Bojo River Cruise is the main tourism draw of Aloguinsan. My Bojo River Cruise adventure started with a short orientation with Miss Jamaila Alvarado, Secretary of BAETAS. She gave us a brief that the project utilizes the locals with the upkeep of their “landing” area and the actual tour through the 1.4-kilometer river stretch. The project was pioneered by the LGU and the community and, with the help of Aboitiz and 700 private individuals, planted 20,000 seedlings to re-forest the river’s lost mangrove cover. Today, the river now hosts 24 kinds of mangrove species along the length of the river.
My river guide, Kuya Gonsalo, paddled our wooden bangka through the still waters of Bojo River while giving me fast facts about the river. Mangrove trees lined the riverbanks and Kuya Gonsalo was introducing me to the different varieties of mangrove species. Bojo River is home to 24 mangrove species and these forest are essential to the community since these are breeding grounds of fish. Historically, the mangrove covers also served as a hideout of Filipinos and guerrilla fighters during World War 2.
What makes Bojo River unique is that the river opens up to the sea. The estuary is located between two rock cliffs, like guards standing at the mouth of the river, exuding a dramatic landscape. A raft house was anchored close to the estuary for guests to relax on and have their pictures taken with the “opening” on the background. This is also the spot where guests are allowed to take a quick dip. We further ventured out to the sea where I was treated with amazing underwater views of living and vibrant coral reefs. You get to enjoy the mangrove covers by the river and the beauty of underwater life in one go.
The river exudes a serene vibe as I took in the beauty and calmness of nature. It was also good that the river cruise was a community effort that did not only breathed new life to Bojo River but also provided an alternative livelihood to its community. Furthermore, it was also comforting that the locals who were once in the position of discovering and exploring what they have at their doorstep is now at the frontlines of promoting sustainable local tourism. The Bojo River Cruise is a MUST when you find yourself in Aloguinsan. Hermit’s Cove The view of the hills of Aloguinsan was relaxing as we rolled on to our next spot - Hermit’s Cove. The cove is a popular beach spot in Aloguinsan made popular by its aquamarine waters and cream-colored shorelines. Since it was a Sunday, I was already expecting a crowd but not the volume that I caught up with when I got there.  I am not a hermit at Hermit's Cove. Hermit’s Cove is located at the base of a cliff facing the Tanon Strait. A concrete pathway leads tourists down to the beach cove where there are available picnic hits and tables for rent. One can also find your own spot where you can lay down your mat or set-up your camping chair without extra charges. I found my corner under rock overhang close to the stairs/pathway of the cove.
Just like other beach spots on this side of Cebu, the water is inviting with its aquamarine color. The sprawling cream-colored shoreline is perfect for any kind of activity - from making sand castles to playing a round of beach volley. You need to bring your own food and drinks in the area because there were only a few stores in the area. There are some locals that offer boating and beach activities. I quickly found my corner where I enjoyed a mid-afternoon beach chill under the shade of the rock overhangs. Bugarak Beach There was another beach spot in Aloguinsan that was also popular among locals and tourists but local politics have pushed its owners to close it down. It was the closure of Hidden Beach that paved the way for the adjacent beach spot, though not as beautiful, to get traction among locals. As they say, locals know where to go so I ended up taking on the challenge to explore Bugarak Beach.  Bugarak Beach is a uniquely charming beach popular among locals. Bugarak Beach is unique because it fuses the mangroves of Bojo River and the cream-colored sands of Hermit’s Cove into one spot. The shoreline of this beach spot is a mix of rock formations and cream-colored sand. Just a few meters off-shore is where you will find the mangrove cover, giving swimmers that extra shade from the sun. The beachfront is narrow, with only enough space to set up a length of small beach tables or a tent. Guides at the entrance would offer tables that you can rent and, if you are there for just a visit, you can just find your own spot along the shoreline.
The beach is a public beach so they do not charge any entrance. It can be challenging to get there as there are no directional signs or signages. Just go towards the direction of Tanon Strait. Except for the local crowd and their blaring music, the beach is a nice escape from the usual Sunday beach crowd. I just hope that the LGU can help in the upkeep of the Bugarak Beach. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time exploring this hidden beach in Aloguinsan. POST TRAVEL NOTES Aloguinsan is your typical provincial town where it gives you that rustic, unassuming, and simple vibe but packs a punch when you start exploring its sights and sounds. Its main tourism draw, the Bojo River, is a great example of a community-led tourism project that is able to sustainably develop and promote a natural attraction that also benefits the members of its community. It would be nice to have this initiative be a cornerstone for the whole town to do the same for all its tourism spots creating a tourism ecosystem that could put Aloguinsan in the forefront of a town-based tourism initiative in the country.  Aloguinsan was roaring! Another 2024 travel bucketlist achieved! It is true that, when we involve the community in tourism and socio-economic projects that benefit them, the buy-in of the locals is stronger. Their involvement pushes to make the project their own that gives it a higher chance of success. If we want tourism to be a stronger player in Philippine economy, we do not need more tourist rest areas. What we need is to involve the community in key tourism projects, train the locals on how they can benefit from it, and let the community take it as their own. Check out my Aloguinsan Adventure on my Youtube here:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are regular flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport from various local and international airports. You can then take a cab to the Cebu Bus Terminal where you can take a bus to Aloguinsan. Land travel is 3 hours from the city. For the Bojo River Cruise, you can get in touch with the BAETAS President - Mr. Rudney Carcuevas through FB messenger or at (0923) 1419424. If you are a group of at least 6 persons, you can book a full river cruise experience at least two days ahead. They can also accommodate walk-ins, similar to my experience. For habal-habal arrangements around Aloguinsan, you can contact Kuya Arnel at (0966) 073 9013.  Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels. Get 5% off on your Hull & Stern dry bag purchase on the Hull & Stern website when you use the code - marc7del Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hull.stern/ Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/hull.stern Get 10% off on your Magwai purchase on Lazada, Shopee, and Magwai website when you use my code: marc7del10 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/magwaiph/ Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/MagwaiPH
2 Comments
7/1/2024 11:49:49 pm
I wanted to express my gratitude for your insightful and engaging article. Your writing is clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated the way you presented your ideas in a thoughtful and organized manner. Your analysis was both thought-provoking and well-researched, and I enjoyed the real-life examples you used to illustrate your points. Your article has provided me with a fresh perspective on the subject matter and has inspired me to think more deeply about this topic. 7/1/2024 11:58:28 pm
I wanted to express my gratitude for your insightful and engaging article. Your writing is clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated the way you presented your ideas in a thoughtful and organized manner. Your analysis was both thought-provoking and well-researched, and I enjoyed the real-life examples you used to illustrate your points. Your article has provided me with a fresh perspective on the subject matter and has inspired me to think more deeply about this topic. Leave a Reply. |
Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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