Anawangin 2012

Then I'm off to something beautiful.

When our team decided to go for a teambuilding I am bit apprehended to join since they have decided to go to Anawangin. I was thinking...beach again? But the curiosity in me won over my laziness! And dear, Anawangin has its own beauty.

The seclusion, isolation and the fact that we went there Sunday added beauty to the place and it became our playground for 2 days and because I am with great company made this escape even better.

Ready to enjoy the water! At Capones Island.

We left Manila as early as 2:00AM and reached San Antonio, Zambales after of an almost 3 hour drive. Everything is smooth and easy, we paid for our tour and they've provided everything for us. Driver, van, boat transfers, cook, food, water...everything! We just enjoyed and once again brought back the inner child in all of us.

The wooden bridge connecting the beach and the campsite.

At about 7:00AM we reached our first destination, the tour organizer gave us a side trip to Capones Island Light House. It is really amazing to see hidden beauties in a seemed to be hopeless place. It's like once again I am transported to one of the beautiful island in Palawan. But the light house is different, it has its own story to tell, I know for sure decades ago, there was a love story in that place, someone met someone, they fell inlove...gave in..and escape to the idea of being in love. They broke up...and found another love...succumb to it and they enjoyed a great love story.

The Lighthouse. Century Old.

Grand entrance to the lighthouse.

I love the ruins...because once in every corner of this place something important happened, we are now just a witness of how something as beautiful as this will come to an end, only memories will remain, our imaginations will work their magic to relive the stories that once was really there.

The windows, roofs, walls, stairs...all rustic, dilapidated just added the to the beauty and majesty of this place.

Rustic stairs...

Walls..

I don't know but I still can imagine one Crisostomo Ibarra chasing a woman in her Maria Clara...just so great and beautiful!

After that little sidetrip, we went to Capones island.  There were groups of teenagers enjoying the beach. They've also had their tent up and maybe had spent the night there.

At Capones Island.

Since we're all hungry and are really excited to see where we really are going we did not stay long and off we sailed to Anawangin!

And there...our adventures begin!

What made this place really special are the pine trees. They were aligned as if someone planted them. Nature really has its own amazing wisdom. Under them we pitched our tents and made the moon as our light when the night was really dark. You know the feeling when you are under the moon? It is just directly above you? The feeling is amazing. It is like waiting for your own Edward...and you will hear the song A Thousand Years...haha! Close to that!

Anawangin Beach

We are out in the woods with no electricity, no signal, just the company of each other...and became competitive over these pang- olympic games!

Early in the morning the following day since there's nothing much to do at the camp site we obliged to go to a 15 min trek to see their little falls. Not much of a sight.

Years from now Anawangin will no longer be the Anawangin we used to know today. I pray that we become good stewards of this God's gift; I also pray that we maintain the seclusion and quietness of the place...

If you are planning to go there for a retreat to recharge and simply be with the nature...go on weekdays, trust me you will appreaciate the silence, the wonder and greatness of God's creations. I'd been to many islands and beaches of the Philippines and the only way you will enjoy Anawangin is when you succumb to its silence. Do not expect more, do not think, just let go and relax.

More pictures for my memory years from today:

Until My Next Trip!