Tonight, I am blogging about the last province in MIMAROPA Region that I have not yet featured in this blog. After this series on Oriental Mindoro, my collection of the region will already be complete. Some years ago, this province talked about agri-tourism as one of its One Town, One Product (OTOP) especially in the San Teodoro town. It’s tagline beautiful and bountiful tells so much about tourism in its 15 municipalities and a City in the name of Calapan which has been declared the Regional Government Center. But this blog will start from the backdoor and absolutely my most visited one. I first had the opportunity to visit on April 23-25, 2008 to organize a training on abalone culture. The seawater surrounding the municipality is a thriving ground for many species of future seafood.
Located in the southernmost tip of Oriental Mindoro, Bulalacao is endowed with natural resources ideal for tourism development. It is accessible from Caticlan/ Boracay via ro-ro through Roxas and then drive South to the bottom of the island, or you could take a boat direct from Boracay Beach - a two hour trip North, to this town.
The name Bulalacao is legendary in origin. According to myth, a certain bird, referred to by the natives as “bulalacao”, periodically appeared out of the wilderness near the springs of Talisi and Lumagsak. Unexplainably, whenever this bird appeared, death would soon follow for the inhabitants. The inhabitants, gravely afraid and puzzled of this deathly phenomenon, changed the name of the settlement from Kaburayan (from the vines called Buray, which was in abundance in the area during that period) to that of the bird. Thus, the birth of Bulalacao. Afterwards, the bird bothered the place and the inhabitants no more.
From my hometown, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro it is accessible through Magsaysay, still in Occidental Mindoro. According to BulalacaoMindoro.com, a newly concreted road will connect Roxas-Bulalacao-San Jose, making Bulalacao just a 45-minute ride from San Jose airport. There are currently four flights a day, from three different airlines, arriving in San Jose airport from Manila NAIA Terminal 3 or the Old Domestic Airport.
Fish cages like this one we saw in Tambaron Channel ensures all-weather availability of high value fish.
In the northern part of Bulalacao lies Suguicay. A part of Barangay San Juan, this oblong-shaped island is separated by a channel. Suguicay is planted to coconuts and mangroves at both ends. This more or less ten hectare-island abound with corals and different kinds of shells.
Long white sand beach is what we walked on when we arrived in the island. The communities here offer some of their houses for tourists looking for a place to stay in. That’s what they told us when we asked.
These children depict the simplicity and laid-back nature of life in the island, playing under the sun or swimming while their parents go fishing or farm seaweeds.
Fresh fish and other seafood abound at every meal in Bulalacao. You will never get tired of the delicious taste of fish, prawns, shellfish and crabs, plus tiger prawns, squid and the occasional octopus and lobster, sorry for allergics.
The municipality is also in the sunrise of its salt industry. Having similar brackish water conditions as its neighbors Magsaysay and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro which is known for salt production, they produce good quality salt here using the latest plastic sheet technology which produces cleaner salt. This is what I saw in my March 12, 2009.
Aside from good business that salt brings to the salt farm owners, the product also provides employment to a number of people in the community since salt farming is known to be labor-intensive.
Aside from the seafood as in my April 11, 2011, there are other refreshing treats in Bulalacao, like fresh young coconut (buko) juice and meat.
Pancit canton (canton noodles) with seaweeds. Delicious either when cooked with lobster (sosyal!) or eaten raw, just like shing-a-ling.
A native delicacy (kakanin) made of kamoteng kahoy. Simple, delish and filling.
And just before we go, Bulalacao on clearer skies. Amazing!
One last look at the life in Bulalacao. Pristine eco-tourism commencing here.
Information Credits: www.BulalacaoMindoro.com
Located in the southernmost tip of Oriental Mindoro, Bulalacao is endowed with natural resources ideal for tourism development. It is accessible from Caticlan/ Boracay via ro-ro through Roxas and then drive South to the bottom of the island, or you could take a boat direct from Boracay Beach - a two hour trip North, to this town.
The name Bulalacao is legendary in origin. According to myth, a certain bird, referred to by the natives as “bulalacao”, periodically appeared out of the wilderness near the springs of Talisi and Lumagsak. Unexplainably, whenever this bird appeared, death would soon follow for the inhabitants. The inhabitants, gravely afraid and puzzled of this deathly phenomenon, changed the name of the settlement from Kaburayan (from the vines called Buray, which was in abundance in the area during that period) to that of the bird. Thus, the birth of Bulalacao. Afterwards, the bird bothered the place and the inhabitants no more.
From my hometown, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro it is accessible through Magsaysay, still in Occidental Mindoro. According to BulalacaoMindoro.com, a newly concreted road will connect Roxas-Bulalacao-San Jose, making Bulalacao just a 45-minute ride from San Jose airport. There are currently four flights a day, from three different airlines, arriving in San Jose airport from Manila NAIA Terminal 3 or the Old Domestic Airport.
Fish cages like this one we saw in Tambaron Channel ensures all-weather availability of high value fish.
In the northern part of Bulalacao lies Suguicay. A part of Barangay San Juan, this oblong-shaped island is separated by a channel. Suguicay is planted to coconuts and mangroves at both ends. This more or less ten hectare-island abound with corals and different kinds of shells.
Long white sand beach is what we walked on when we arrived in the island. The communities here offer some of their houses for tourists looking for a place to stay in. That’s what they told us when we asked.
These children depict the simplicity and laid-back nature of life in the island, playing under the sun or swimming while their parents go fishing or farm seaweeds.
Fresh fish and other seafood abound at every meal in Bulalacao. You will never get tired of the delicious taste of fish, prawns, shellfish and crabs, plus tiger prawns, squid and the occasional octopus and lobster, sorry for allergics.
The municipality is also in the sunrise of its salt industry. Having similar brackish water conditions as its neighbors Magsaysay and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro which is known for salt production, they produce good quality salt here using the latest plastic sheet technology which produces cleaner salt. This is what I saw in my March 12, 2009.
Aside from good business that salt brings to the salt farm owners, the product also provides employment to a number of people in the community since salt farming is known to be labor-intensive.
Aside from the seafood as in my April 11, 2011, there are other refreshing treats in Bulalacao, like fresh young coconut (buko) juice and meat.
Pancit canton (canton noodles) with seaweeds. Delicious either when cooked with lobster (sosyal!) or eaten raw, just like shing-a-ling.
A native delicacy (kakanin) made of kamoteng kahoy. Simple, delish and filling.
And just before we go, Bulalacao on clearer skies. Amazing!
One last look at the life in Bulalacao. Pristine eco-tourism commencing here.
Information Credits: www.BulalacaoMindoro.com
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