The deaths of Cory Aquino and Michael Jackson were on headlines the last time i went to this idyllic island
paradise in the northwestern tip of Panay island, The shorelines then were lined by plastic walls to ward off the Habagat winds while talipapa and famous fruit shake bar got easily flooded as the high tides reached past the shores. Today while Marian and Ding Dong were too excited yet totally engrossed with their wedding preparation, the 2nd floor view of my Nami room stand witness to a perfect sun, Russian backpackers in the nearby Zapravka, Sergio mendes melodies and colorful paraw serenely studding the clearest blue oceans. Erwin our butler made sure i was given the perfect room after ascending through the frightful bamboo elevator to reach this hillside group of cottages. It was a setting so familiar yet too different because the jacuzzi in the porch is now missing. Familiar because of the hospitality and the seclusion from the noise of station 2.I am so excited. I ran for the porch, and took a breath of fresh seasalty air, selfies, and realized that no matter what they say, with the rapid island development at the expense of environmental degradation, pollution, crimes, traces of corruption, this island remains to be the best island getaway to forget everything else and to just be yourself. Just for a moment.
