A story about Reconnection

"The sleeping Beauty" of Laguna de Bay

Slumbering in it's serene pose amid the buzz of towns surrounding historic Laguna de Bay is the island of Talim Island. It is amazing that the Island is unabashedly called "Susong Dalaga" by the locals. My husband, Ted, told me that on a clear and sunny day the shape and contour of the Island seen from a distance is truly a picture of a lady in repose with her exposed virginal and untouched breast. With such a scenic supernatural beauty to behold, the unique Island is there waiting patiently to be touched and explored and included in the pie Philippine of tourism. Ted dreamt of seeing Talim Island, a tourism center of this grand lake.

Talim Island is just 3o minutes away from Metro Manila by car to the port of Cardona, Rizal afforded by good roads and another 30 minutes or so boat ride to Boor (bo-or) situated at the middle of the Island. Boor is the birth place of Ted. He was an Islander. How he loved his birthplace. For a last glimpsed of the Island, we made a sentimental journey years before he passed away. That must have been ten years ago.

Coming from brgy. Looc (lo-oc) the "daungan" of the barangays of Cardona side we boarded a motor boat to reach the Island. The boat crossed the channel of brgy. Navotas (so-called because is created a gap where the "split' was made from the main land). This part of the break away from the main land is the deepest point of the lake according to folks. As we coasted by the different barangays of the Island under the Cardona side we made stops now and then to unload passengers in thier respected barangays bringing with them heavy bags of grocery supplies. Most of them shopped at Binangonan on the other side of Cardona where it leveled up to be a bustling commercial center here abouts. I hope to see Cardona reinvent itself into a progressive, business center as the "other side". There is a "ruin" which looks like a "Spanish fort". Two or three barangays from Navotas as we passed this part of the Island. Unmindful disposition of the inhabitants and the local government (perhaps?) have passed up this treasure of a “find” lying untouched and unnoticed by the folks here. This “find” can be tapped as a resort by erecting a lighthouse within as an emblem with tourism in the Island. The lighthouse will stand as a beacon for fishermen in the lake and tourist coming over far from and wide to behold the Sleeping Beauty of Laguna de Bay.

Our Destination is Boor of course, one of the smallest barangays on "earth" (pun). As the boat eased up to anchor at the pier, a giant basketball covered court greet first time visitors. It is a land mark, so huge that I thought the whole barangay in habitants can live within it comfortably. Surprisingly, the small barangay gets it's charm from  the riots of colors of hanging gardens from every window and more flowers hedging every nook and lane. Amazingly still was total cleanliness. And also admirable is the fact that every lane and even the bed of the dried stream and unused waterways are cemented, an achievements of the great Frisco San Juan a beloved son of Cardona, Rizal who was a former Congressman. We enjoyed the halo-halo sold merrily in every corner of the main Thoroughfare. As we made the rounds of this last visit. Ted was so happy recalling his childhood memories. We also recounted yesterday’s memories when we were still raising our young children. Always, we reconnect these memories with the Island. Therefore, we happily recalled how we spent our summer vacations there with our seven growing up kids to join his beloved family. Swimming, mountain climbing, picking naughtily green mangoes from the neighbor’s farm, catching fish by hand that abound near the sea walls of the pier where the order of the summer vacations. The boys, all five of them; Dods, Corky, Marco, Todi and Spanky tried time and again to scale the tip of the "susong dalaga" but always came down frustrated because of its height and rugged terrain. The two girls; Minkie and Ember tried perfecting their swimming prowess, but always  Minkie tried hard to no avail. Ember on the other hand came to be a good swimmer.

The best part of this summer vacation was the special offering of Nanay Dora. She always treated us to her family's favorite dishes of ayungin, bia, Kandule, Imelda (a big fish) tilapia, bangus. How my husband savored the dishes. No silver spoon and fork needed. It was always a Kamayan feast.

Lent is a much awaited part of the vacation. It is a colorful scenario of hulihan ni Kristo on Good Friday. Ted is a favorite Kristo to huli and be hanged on the cross. The male population make a mock commotion to run after the Kristo. This Holy week play was acted line. It was fun to watch this event.

As I write this reconnection with The Sleeping Beauty of Laguna de Bay. I can still remember the sparkling emerald waters of the Bay of long ago highlighting the splendour of the Island but now shadowed and veiled by ugly fish pens distorting the scenery

But here’s good news:

I heard that Boor has now become a little Italy bringing the beauty and architecture of that country to this beloved place of Ted. They say that the first batch of OFWS who went to Italy were from Boor. Isn’t this a tourism come on.

To define the Term the other side here’s a clearer geographical definition of facts:

The Island is divided into two political divisions-the eastern side belongs to Cardona with 7 or 10 barangays while Binangonan carries with it 15 or 17 barangays. (This is according to the hand written list provided by a staff of the Planning and Development Coordinator of the Rizal Provincial Government in Pasig City. The fellow was not so sure about the figures.)

At last a promise fulfilled! My beloved Ted made bilin to me that I should write about the Island he loved. Goodbye my Love. See you in the Morning!

To God be the Glory!