Quest For Anawangin Cove
by Army Alcayaga-Granada
Published in Manila Bulletin May 24,2012
Manila, Philippines. Like anybody whose mind and soul have been crushed by daily grind, I long for space and respite from the steel and granite setting of Makati.
The quest for the fabled
Anawangin Cove started with a hot cup of MacDonald’s brewed coffee and pancake
with syrup. My companions and I left the city behind us and traversed the hilly
Zambales region until we reached the town of San Antonio where the SUV snaked
its way to a quaint fishing village called Pundaquit.
We found ourselves in
Pundaquit Paradise, a restaurant that serves sinigang na maya-maya (fish in
tamarind broth). There was a sprinkling of European tourists relaxing and
taking swigs of San Miguel beer. An unfamiliar Scandinavian tune drifted in the
air.
We bought food from the local
sari-sari store since food was pricey in the cove. The locals were a tad
curious but friendly. Children escorted us down the docks and fooled around on
the sand. The boat danced on the sparkling waters, so cool and so blue, a
luxury so unexpected, I allowed myself a sigh. The expert bangkeros put the
banca in full throttle.
I saw a school of fish
weaving patterns in the sun. It was fun trying to catch them with my hands.
After 15 minutes of relaxed sailing, we spotted strips of beaches where sun
worshippers lolled with nary a care in the world. We rounded a bend and amidst
oohs and aahs, the cove appeared.
At once, the pine grove beyond
the sands greeted us and we were transported to a temperate place. Balmy
weather, unruffled sea, the sand khaki white and soft to the toes, how
remarkable to know we were just a few hours away from home! But forget home.
For now, we were adventurers. We set up tent and gathered dry wood for the
fire.
At the back of the pine trees is
a stream that leads to the sea. We crossed the swamp up to a point where fresh
water met brackish water. I was excited and a bit uneasy but it was
exhilarating.
In the middle of the water
we took a break, and upon turning around and looking at the horizon, the
glorious landscape that lay before us took our breath away. Pine trees
surrounded the mountains and we imagined ourselves crossing the Alps.
There’s a saying that no two
sunsets are ever the same. A perfect sunset capped the day for me. At dusk,
most swimmers turned to their camps and left me alone on the beach. Some,
though, were still in the dark waters a few yards away and all I could hear
were their voices echoing in the silver and black skies while the waves
whispered at me. Pam Munoz Ryan once said, “Wander into that infinite
space between soul and star...”
I lay on the sand and
watched the stars light up one by one.
