It is normally in the poblacion area of small towns where all sorts of commerce converge and human activities mingle. Liloan is no exception except that the town’s poblacion area is, by all definitions, a truly one-stop-has-it-all.
If you stand at the town rotunda (there’s a lighthouse replica in the middle), you will be surrounded by the plaza; municipal hall; the Liloan Church; gymnasium; and perhaps the biggest private school of Liloan (La Consolacion College). The Liloan Public Market, beach area, Balay Pilapil, sizable tennis court, and Suba Channel are all few walks away.
All around the poblacion teems with street businesses of all colors and sizes. For gastronomic needs, you won’t encounter any problem at all. Let the pictures tell you about what’s a cooking in Liloan’s main thoroughfare… from yummy halo-halo to motorcycles to little pizza stall to peanuts to fresh fruits to native rice delicacies known as "pa-init" to chicharon to Jollibee to lechon manok… ahh… Liloan... a place like no other!
Once again, the Swerver-Immortalundead tandem (better known as Liloan Trippers) braved the perils and hindrances and found themselves once again in Liloan, with our fellow freelancer and photographer Eyean tagging along.
I will not enumerate the places we traveled here, because I've already done so in a previous blog. Instead, I will tell you about the (mis)adventure we had in the rivers of Mulao in our quest to find the boat-shaped stone that people were talking about.
The trip started in earnest around 12:30, just after lunch near Wiggy's Beach Resort. The Liloan Trippers, together with our tour guides and transports Archie and Rolly, started motoring off to the far-flung and elevated barangay in Mulao. Once there, Archie picked up another guide, his friend Charlie. Charlie had warned Archie that the trek to the boat-shaped stone was a tough one but Archie thought Charlie was joking. The end was history.
After a few minutes' motor trip up the mountain, we started descending towards the river. Once there, we learned that we were going to wade into the waters, dressed in jeans and all. It's a good thing that we were lent slippers or it would have been more dangerous in shoes. All unprepared, the Liloan Trippers still chose to go forward with the adventure.
An hour's worth of currents, rocks and stones, and soft soil, we found ourselves in front of the awe-inspiring, dark colored boat-shaped rock. Our three local friends went through the obstacles like Legolas skipping lightly over snow, but the Trippers lagged behind blaming our unpreparedness. Still, we refused to give up. I wasn't able to take pictures because of the fear of getting my camera damaged since it didn't have a sling, but Eyean was able to. His pics will be shared later.
A few minutes were spent at the stone ship, where Archie decided to take a dip while Swerver, Eyean and I eyed the ship. It was a wonder. The three-storey structure precariously perched on two rocks with an approximately 2-meter gap between the two bases. What's amazing is that the bottom of the stone ship was shaped exactly like the bottom of a real ship. On close look, the thing was shaped like a Noah's Ark, which led may have led to its nickname "The Stone of Faith." We decided to pack up and go back the way we came after a while. The trip was smoother this time, because the Trippers were now confident of their traveling skills. However, we still lagged behind because our legs felt like rubber and were heavy as steel. But the trip was shorter this time. At the end of the road, our three guides got us some coconuts to replenish our lost salts and water.
It is highly believed that there’s an opening to underwater cave (or amphibious cave) at the back of Liloan Church’s altar. In the old days (perhaps until the early 1970s), the cave opening was left open for public viewing. If you throw something in the hole, it would send off a hollow sound suggesting a sizable hollow space. Some brave souls even went as far as going down the hole.
The underwater cave could be man-made and used as escape route during the marauding days when Spaniards ruled the town. Or maybe it is just a freak of nature and nothing but a black hole. The actual opening of the “cave in a cove” is some meters from the shore at the back of Liloan Church. It runs underneath towards Suba Channel and back to the altar of the church or elsewhere. In any way, there’s a huge tourism potential for it. The cave could contain past secrets and other unveiled beauties.
Deep inside the underwater cave, as blogged earlier by Immortalundead, there were reports that the inhabitants down under are ancient sea creatures. Giant fish called cogtong? Octopus? Mermaids? We don’t know. And there’s not much available literature about it even in Internet archives of folklores.
So we asked around. The older Liloanons we interviewed failed to provide conclusive answers. Wanting for authoritative take, we went several times to hear words from Church people. A few days ago, we were able to finally “corner” Fr. Eric Jecong, the parish priest of Liloan. He is one cordial priest and appears very animated when he talks. He allowed us to take pictures inside the church but not beyond the altar.
Swerver: “Can we have a look at the hole for a sec, father?” Father Jecong: Why? Swerver: We would only take some pictures… very quickly. We won’t go down inside for sure. If the hole is padlocked, we won’t ask anyone to open it… Father Jecong: Dong, I’m just new to this parish. I don’t really know where’s the hole or if there is really a hole.
I know he’s a good and sincere priest. Father Jecong is. But something tells me there was an apparent “air of discomfort” with Church people whenever we talked about holes. Something fishy?
Yesterday the authors were offline and unable to make updates. But do you want to know what the authors were up to yesterday? We went to Liloan -- once again -- and toured the town the whole day.
First, we revisited Suba Channel for the sake of our latest recruit, Eyean, who also brought his camera just for the trip. His photos will be uploaded and used soon.
Next, we went to the Landang factories where we learned about the manufacturing of landang, a very important ingredient for binignit.
We visited that former golf course above the memorial gardens where we saw the "lamakan" and an overlooking view of Punta Engaño and the Lighthouse.
Afterwards, we went to some of the potteries and ceramics makers in the area.
Then, we went to Silot Bay. God, the place was beautiful.
We visited Wiggy's Beach Resort before lunch...
Last but not the least, we braved the rocks of the river in Barangay Mulao...
... all the way to the boat-shaped, gigantic, piece of rock.
More blogs about these later. We have a lot to tell.
Silot Bay is the most enchanting part of Liloan where many lives – past and present -- thrive. A shallow tidal lagoon, with mangrove swamps, fishponds and two islets, Silot Bay is all over in the heart of Liloan. Silot Bay is vital to both livelihood and recreational purposes of Liloanons.
The bay is connected to a channel that is abundant with sea urchins, a huge area of mudflat where locals gather seashells during low tides, and a productive fishing ground. It is also a feeding area for herons, egrets and other birds. During weekends and holidays, Liloanons from as far as the mountain barangays go to the bay to have a swim. The more daring ones have the option to dive from the concrete bridge (it used to be made of wood) down to the whirling waters called lilo.
The soothing atmosphere of Silot Bay, ironic considering the presence of whirlpools in the mouth of the bay, has rendered many a lives to find inner peace and respite during gracious sunrises and sunsets. (It is not saying though that there were no “troubled” lives lost who felt the troubles were worth a dive from the bridge.)
Silot Bay is also the cradle of all stories, myths, legends, folklores or whatever you call it. If you believe any of them, it is where Liloan has begun. Liloan’s own Garden of Eden.
One story, which I previously related in more details here, tells that long time ago a defiant couple found refuge for their love near Silot Bay. There is abundance of fish so good for business. And indeed they did make business from their catch, although no coins yet then, by bartering it to nearby villages. When people asked them where the heck did they get it, the lovers would say “sa may lilo” (near the whirlpools). And thus born the name “Liloan”. The current location of Balay Pilapil is widely believed as the probable site of where the couple used to live.
Another version of that same story and couple has a more violent ending. After their defiance, the couple were cursed and punished or something like that by their family and community. One native Liloanon told us that the couple were thrown to the sea and died instantly. The whirlpools are said to be a reminder of their passionate love, defying all odds. And thus born the name of the bay “Silot,” a Cebuano word for punishment.
Another story is more Disney-like. Once upon a time in Liloan, mermaids were very friendly to humans. In fact, they mingled, played or even dined with people on some occasions. The mermaids possessed of bejeweled utensils, perhaps made of pearls, and they were kind enough to lend some of them to their friends. Lured by material wealth, some humans did not return their borrowed plates. The mermaids politely pleaded for the return of the plates but found no ear. This caused the anger of the mermaids, who unbeknownst to humans were more vicious in wrath than any other creatures. The mermaids left the place of “human interaction” but not without causing great tidal waves. The whole community near the sea got wiped out. The whirlpools remain to this day as ripples of those great waves.
Yet another story is fantastic to people’s standards. Liloan used to be a home of black fairies or “dili ingun nato” (not like us). Human settlements caused them to retreat somewhere else. (The bloggers don’t know their exact location as of press time.) In retaliation to their forced eviction, them wicked dili ingun nato would claim at least a life each year. Some well-meaning residents reported to us that there has never been a year without a missing bather who would get mysteriously lost even during calm waters. Some days later, the lost soul would float lifeless somewhere far. The residents would then just sigh and resign to the thought that the sea claimed that poor life.
And the final story that we were able to gather tells that Silot Bay is haven to one primordial, giant fish called cogtong (we don’t know if the specie actually existed ever in history). It is so huge that it could swallow at least three people in one instance. The cogtong could have its nest in the underwater cave (there’s a real amphibious cave in Liloan, yes) which traces all the way to the altar of Liloan Church. The same modus operandi with them dili ingun nato: the cogtong would swallow at least a human body each year. The twist is that with the cogtong, the poor human body would never be found again. Scared yet? No, these are just stories. The bloggers will find it for themselves first if any of these were true and post about it here (that is, if one of us would come out alive during encounter). But, I tell you the actual view around the whole expanse of Silot Bay is breath-taking. And once you’re in the bridge, it is so nice to jump straight to the whirlpools. With my girlfriend’s permission and watch, I will jump from there one of these days. I don’t know with Immortalundead. ;-)
Like I mentioned in an earlier blog, the Church of San Fernando Rey in Liloan is the subject of a few myths and urban legends. Well, perhaps not just the church itself but the general vicinity of the church. Let me say first that these are just stories, passed down from generation to generation, that some of the things I have heard might differ from those that you might have heard.
Most importantly, it has not been proven that such stories have some truth to them. I will not claim anything for that mater.
For years, there have been stories that an underground cave network or tunnels exist beneath the foundations of the San Fernando Rey Church and the immediate grounds. It is said that when you try jumping on the grounds behind the church, near the sea, you'd find that the sound is hollow suggesting the presence of a tunnel below it.
I've heard stories from people there that this supposed underwater cave terminates right below the altar of the church itself. What makes it more interesting is the legend of something big, a sea creature, living right below the altar in the underwater tunnel. Of course, Swerver and me hasn't seen it, and I doubt anyone did and lived through it. All we know are the stories.
There have been several versions of what creature is supposed to live there. Some say it's a big fish, maybe a primordial fish called a cogtong in the local dialect. Still, some of the current generation of Liloanons were told that it's a giant squid or octopus. Whatever it is, the creature is said to spit something out from time to time into the church. It is said to eat something, and then regurgitate it the same way anacondas do with their prey. In another version from another person that Swerver interviewed, though, the cogtong's catch is never found.
And, yes, the cogtong is known to swallow a person whole. Not much unlike the anacondas in the Anaconda movie series, to give a more vivid description.
Even the nearby Suba channel is linked to the story of this underwater creature. One of the people we talked to in one of our visits told us that, once a year, there is a very big whirlpool in the channel. Legend says that it is a sign that the creature below the church is pulling something -- or someone -- to eat. Scary huh?
Then again, legends are legends. It may or may not be true. However, this makes the Liloan all the more interesting. I can't help but think what other interesting stories does this wonderful town have for the imaginative and the inquisitive?
If you thought Kris Aquino’s love life is the most colorful one in showbiz, you haven’t heard of Pilar Pilapil. She is perhaps the Marilyn Monroe of the Philippines or the “It” girl. I don’t have to defend that claim much than by enumerating some of the men (when I say some, I mean it) who for one time had gone crazy for Pilar Delilah "Lailing" Veloso Pilapil:
* Fernando Poe, Jr. * Dolphy * Former VP Salvador “Doy” Laurel, the father of Pia Pilapil * Eugenio Lopez Jr. * Bolivian painter Benjamin Mendoza * Spanish journalist Michel Ponti
In other words, all the great and powerful men of Pilar’s prime wanted to love her, if not just to bed her.
Pilar Pilapil belongs to a Castillan clan in Liloan, Cebu. Hers is one of the earliest influential families in Liloan. She grew up in Liloan and perhaps used to swim with her nine siblings in the whirlpool-filled waters of Suba. The family compound of the Pilapils is just some steps away from where whirlpools and the Suba Bridge are. A true blue Liloanon, Pilar is.
In 1967, she put pride to her town and the whole Cebu when she won the Binibining Pilipinas title at such young age of 16 (she faked her age to 18 so she could join the pageant). At the age of 17, Pilar entered showbiz and, in the words of Ricky Lo, is one of the loveliest and most visible faces to ever grace the silver screen. She was a fine actress and once won a best actress plum at the Manila Film Festival. While in showbiz, she rocked the house not only because of her classic beauty, intelligence and wit but with her daringness and liberated attitude as well. The seemingly perfect face was not without faults as she was hooked early on with drugs and older men and her long-drawn bouts with depression.
Such a character, Pilar is. Even after her regular showbiz stint, she remains fixated to the limelight. What with her suicide attempt with sleeping pills, failed senatorial bid under nuisance presidentiable Eddie Gil and her turn of affairs with younger men.
And then after some dusts appeared to settle down, and having found her God, Pilar wrote a memoir in 2006. It was oddly titled “The Woman Without a Face”. Written in candid and revealing style, Pilar said that the book is dedicated to young women just starting their lives so “they can learn from what she’s been through.”
On why that title? Pilar wrote in the last chapter of her book:
"Looking back, I tried very hard for many years to look for the love of a father and find happiness by doing what I wanted, and what everyone wanted me to do. I did what my parents wanted. I did what my directors wanted. I did what my fans wanted. I did what my men wanted, but most of all I did what I wanted! I soared to the highest levels of success that this world had to offer, only to find when I got there that I was empty, did not know who I was, and even despaired of life itself. I really did not have a face of my own."
She confessed that after finding her God, Pilar has found herself and she has found peace. She has found love in the person of a younger man named Leo Peñas whom she married in 2002. Pilar and Leo are both Christians and share the mission in life to spread the Word of God. The woman without a face finally has found a face again. And that oh-so pretty face was first seen in Liloan. Perhaps even jumping on the waters of Liloan.
Last July 3, Liloan has joined the biggest village in the world by launching its official corner: its own Web site. The site, still in its initial stage, aims to provide Liloanons abroad with updates on current events and developments in the town they call their home. The going-ons in each of Liloan’s 14 barangays are as well featured in the site.
“The website will also give a brief history of Liloan, information for potential investors, the profile of the town officials, projects and programs, and financial statements of the town,” Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco of Liloan said in an interview by Cebu Daily News.
The Web site will also feature various products and sites in Liloan such as the lighthouse that is more than a century old, its industries, and the current programs of the municipal government. The site can be viewed here.
The San Fernando Rey Church in Liloan, Cebu is only one of the many churches in the whole province. Yet, it is one of the most intriguing and unique among all of them. What exactly does the church have that makes it unique?
History and Name
The church was built in 1847, two years after the formal creation of Liloan as a parish. It was named after Saint Ferdinand III, a King of Castile and Leon in Spain. Ferdinand III is credited for much of the recapture of Spain from the Moors, a conquest in which Ferdinand III spent most of his time as king.
Orientation
Perhapsthe most puzzling feature of this church is its orientation. Its back is facing the sea, while the front door is built facing the mountains. If you look carefully at as much churches as possible in the Philippines (the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva and Basilica del Santo Niño in Pardo and city proper, respectively, are examples), you'll find that most Catholic churches built during the Spanish era are built facing the sea but yet San Fernando Rey is built differently.
There are many theories put forth about the orientation of the church, yet none of them has been proven or has been accepted as official explanation. One of the widely known theories -- and the most plausible -- is that the church's designers may have intended that to shield people from the glare and heat of the rising sun during morning services.
We may never know the reason behind this, but this is what makes San Fernando Rey interesting.
Size
Another interesting feature of the church is its size. By the time of its construction, Liloan had significantly lesser population than Mandaue, of which it used to be part of. Yet, the San Fernando Rey Church was built to be bigger than the church of that city. Curiously, these days, more than a hundred years since its construction, the church still has a lot of space for the faithful even though Liloan's population has grown exponentially after a century. Because of this, some people consider the builders and designers of San Fernando Rey Church as having extraordinary vision and foresight.
Myths
The San Fernando Rey church is the subject of many local myths, myths which have been passed down from older generations and still survive to these days. More about these in a later blog.
In the face of the overwhelming and flattering positive responses to our 10-day old blog, Swerver and I had been facing the most common question of all: how much does it cost to get to Liloan? Most local people know the answer to this, of course, and for that consideration I am making this post out of respect for the foreigners that have expressed heartfelt interest in visiting Liloan after visiting our blogs.
I don't want to insult anyone by explaining how to get to the Philippines and to Cebu, because it is pretty much self-explanatory. Instead, I will start to explain the process from the arrival in the Mactan Island airport.
The first thing you should do is to check yourself in at a hotel. This would depend on how well you know Cebu. Personally, I would recommend Mango Avenue. There are a lot of hotels there and there are a lot of places that the party-going tourist could frequent on his stay in Cebu. Mango Avenue is also located strategically in the center of Cebu. You could get a ride to any place in the City from there.
To get to Liloan from Mango Avenue, you have three options: take a cab, take the public transportation, or charter private transportation. The third option is very convenient and safe, but it also denies you the experience regarding Cebu's transportation culture. With that in mind, first, I will discuss taking a taxi.
There are actually two ways that you could take a taxi. The first one would take you all the way to Liloan, while the other means you have to get off at Hi-Way Mandaue, right across the street from the San Miguel Brewery compound. We couldn't give you any definite figure how much a cab ride would cost because it is dependent on traffic, and until where you would want to ride the taxicab.
If you opt to take a jeepney, you can take a 21-B jeepney from Mango Avenue until Hi-way Mandaue. This option would cost you 12 Philippine pesos from Mango until Mandaue.
Mandaue is the bridge to Liloan, like Swerver said in this blog. No matter what you ride to this place, we could give you a very definite figure on how much you'd have to spend to get to Liloan excluding the ones already discussed about getting to Mandaue itself. From Mandaue, you could ride any of the multicabs that head off to Liloan and the other towns after it, i.e. Danao, Carmen, Catmon, etc. From Mandaue, the trip would cost you about 15 Philippine pesos to get to Liloan itself.
There is another option. You can take either a taxi or the 21-B jeepney to White Gold, near SM, where there are jeepneys bound for Liloan and the other northern towns. I wouldn't recommend this approach though because riding in these jeepneys are extremely uncomfortable. Passengers are tightly packed together like sardines. These jeepneys also don't leave right away until they are full. I haven't tried this approach as well, so I cannot give you any prices about this.
I am not from Mactan Island, although I have been there a lot of times. Swerver can explain more specifics about getting to Liloan from Opon, where the airport and a lot of five star hotels are located. We look forward to having you in Liloan!
Cebu is an island of festivals. In celebration of its 439th founding anniversary, Cebuanos witnessed different festivals from 34 participating towns and cities last August 9. It was a glorious event of festivities, festival queens, street dancing and colorful display of pride by the people. The participating towns and cities showcased their signature festival with much fanfare and bravado. Bantayan Island was adjudged as the grand prize winner and bagged a cool million pesos for the win with its Palawod Festival. The town of Daanbantayan with Haladayan Festival and the town of Alcoy with Siloy Festival were runners-up.
Not to be outdone, Liloan also amazed the crowd by parading its own Rosquillos Festival. Rosquillos is a globally-exported biscuit in Liloan.
We are lucky enough that Ms. Darmae Maningo, Liloan’s current Festival Queen, accepted our invitation for online interview. Darmae, a third year student from the University of the Philippines, admits to being a Math whiz. She adores pikachu among the pokemons.
Liloan Trippers: Hi. What’s up with you lately? Darmae: Nothing much. Busy with school.
Liloan Trippers: You won as Liloan’s Festival Queen last May, how was it? Darmae: It was cool. Although it had been my (and my aunty’s) dream to become Ms. Liloan, it was totally unexpected until the very end.
Liloan Trippers: How did your family feel about your win? Darmae: They were proud of me, of course. My mom, who’s from a relatively far-flung barangay in Tayud, felt especially elated that I was able to put her small barangay on the map of Liloan.
Liloan Trippers: And the town also joined the Festival of Festivals some weeks ago. How was it? Darmae: The event was really grandiose. I came to know of the best of the best from both ends of Cebu. All towns tried their best to showcase awesome talents and products to promote their own place.
Liloan Trippers: In comparison to other Cebu towns, do you think Liloan has an edge? What? Why? Darmae: Yes, because Liloan has been able to keep its heritage and then getting the better end of the stick for it. For instance, the rosquillos. Instead of buying foreign snacks, the people of Liloan have made the effort to patronize their own rosquillos and make it known internationally. At the end of the day, even those Liloanons abroad have something to look forward to when they get home.
Liloan Trippers: What are Liloan’s current concerns that you feel should be given top priority? Darmae: I think the education sector should be given topmost priority right now. There are only few public high schools in Liloan and many people cannot afford for private education. Even some of my backup dancers during the festival are not in school. This encourages waves of other problems such as drug addiction and teenage pregnancy.
Liloan Trippers: Five reasons why should I go to Liloan. Darmae: Oh, boy, you are giving me a hard time here. Well… 1) Interesting historical background like the parolas and the old church. 2) Great food: rosqillos, masi in Yati, landang in Lamac and budbod in Tayud. You name it. 3) Unlike in the city, you have available fresh foods like fish, fruits and vegetables. 4) Beautiful beach, intriguing lilo and you can even enjoy the sea by diving from the bridge. 5) Of course, what we have here are warm and friendly people.
Liloan Trippers: Any tips if ever I go to Liloan? Darmae: Prepare yourself for the expected things! (laughs) Town adventures of all sorts, long walks, riding habal-habal and muddy paths if it rains. Don’t forget also to try rosquillos!
Liloan Trippers: Describe Liloan in less than three words. Darmae: World class… soon (giggles)
Liloan Trippers: Parting words? Darmae: Padayon Liloanons and world peace!:)
Liloan Trippers is officially part of the blogging contest sponsored by the city of Mandaue in annual celebration of Mandaue Business Month (MBM). The MBM comes as a celebration every August by the business sector, local government of Mandaue City and the Province of Cebu to highlight the strong partnerships for development of a bustling industrial metropolis utilizing resources from a vibrant countryside.
Mandaue, a perennially booming city, is a very important neighbor of Liloan because you can never get to Liloan without passing through Mandaue highway. Mandaue City is the “bridge” to Liloan. (Unless, you go to Liloan through Camotes Sea or you are from Danao City.) More important than that, the people of Mandaue and Liloan interact so much economically (and otherwise) and share fond history together. Liloan, in fact, was part of Mandaue until 1845. It was that same year when Liloan created its own parish and separated from then municipality of Mandaue to become its own “Pueblo de Lilo-an”.
According to the contest rules, the participating blogger has to create a new blog about Cebu. Existing blogs with already entries or traffic are not allowed. The blog contest will start on July 16, and will end on August 31, 2008. However, the writers of Liloan Trippers only knew of the blogging contest at a much later date so we are practically the youngest participant. The contest rules in full here.
The writers decided to focus on one town, instead of the whole Cebu, because:
a) Liloan is still part of Cebu Province. Hence, a good advertising campaign for Liloan is good for all of Cebu Province.
b) We feel that Liloan is one of the most underrated towns in Cebu. Given enough exposure, Liloan will provide a significant option for potential Cebu tourists.
c) Liloan is in the countryside. Thus, promoting the town's tourism will further the goal of highlighting the strong partnerships for development of a bustling industrial metropolis utilizing resources from a vibrant countryside.
d) While we focus on Liloan, inevitably, other places of Cebu also get to be linked and featured on the side. You can never separate One Cebu.
Now after just around 10 days of formally introducing Liloan Trippers, we have received overwhelming responses from people all over. Thanks to all of you! Keep eating halo-halo! ;-) The writers mainly use their Multiply and Friendster sites as launch pads to what this site is now. We are also grateful to various bloggers who linked, or at least pimped, this site. And, look now, we have pure foreigners (hi there: Sara, Toby, Frank and Robert to name few) who frequent this site and some of them even confess interest to “pack bags for Liloan”.
Win or lose, we are overjoyed enough already that we are helping a little to put Cebu on the map. We won’t stop our efforts even after the contest. We are just starting with Liloan…
Yesterday, in the street of Liloan, a very prominent student from UP-Cebu asked me why we decided Liloan to be our “town for blogging”. He knows for a fact that I don’t live there.
Well, why not Liloan, I initially thought of telling him. But I did give him a short response anyway for which he deserved being a true lover of his hometown.
“It’s in small towns where you feel strongly the warmth of people, the culture and the individual souls coming more into one form of pride for what they have. I think Liloan has that. I think there’s so much more to Liloan than what people actually know. I’d like to contribute a bit to that end. It still makes me wonder about what other stuff Liloan is made of. Liloan is an old town and hearing stories about its places and history is a joy in itself. The fact that an old, intriguing town is very much accessible from the city is a huge plus as well. And, see, you have good air here.”
The prominent UP student later toured us to Silot Bay, where according to one tale was the place it all begun. There will be a good entry and pictures about that later. (Too bad for other pictures as we went there at night.) Meanwhile, the first picture is me at Hanz Refreshment, one of the highly-recommended halo-halo stalls. The second is a picture of habal-habal, a mode of transportation used in more hilly and remote parts of Liloan. Immortalundead previously blogged about Liloan's transportation.
This is a tricycle. It is simply a mode of transportation that consists of a motorcycle and a cab that is attached to the cycle. It can hold about eight persons, driver included. This is the primary mode of transportation that you can ride when you want to go around the town of Liloan.
A Brief Background
Contrary to what some Filipinos might think, the tricycle is not unique to the Philippines. In fact, several countries -- mostly in Asia -- have tricycles plying their roads. There a lot of versions of tricycles around the world, including these:
I think though that the Philippine tricycle has something unique that makes it more special than the ones in the other parts of the world. Why? It's because I think tricycles in other countries are built that way. The Philippine tricycle, on the other hand, is a convertible. If you wish to use only the motorcycle you can detach it from the cab, and then reattach it if you wish to drive a tricycle around and earn money.
The Liloan Experience
You can encountertricycles anywhere in Liloan. However, you can find the majority of them parked in a mini-terminal in the town center near the municipal hall and the Church. This is where you should go to as a starting point in your journey anywhere around the town. As such, Swerver and I took one of these when we headed off to the lighthouse and back to the center of town.
I don't know how much they charge per head because Swerver and I made "pakyaw." For a fare of 50 pesos, we had the tricycle to ourselves on the way Bagacay Light Point. As a tourist, you should take advantage of the experience and ask the drivers questions about the town. They are natives, and they should be able to give you some useful information about Liloan. Personally, Swerver and I were able to inquire about some of the other famous spots of Liloan like the boat-shaped rock that we are yet to check out.
I am a native of the Philippines. However, I couldn't get enough of these tricycles because of the experience and comfort that they afford the passengers compared to jeepneys that are always jam-packed that you cannot move your legs around while riding. If anyone new to the town especially foreigners decide to visit Liloan, I strongly suggest you ride the tricycles than charter a van or use a private car. The experience will be truly unforgettable.
The two writers of this site (Immortalundead and Swerver) were not born in Liloan.They practically have no relatives from the town but, for different and seemingly surreal reasons, they have fallen in love with Liloan.Immortalundead lives in Bulacao and has a dog named Sophie.Swerver is an island boy from Opon and sleeps 10 hours during daytime.
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