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I had the chance to visit Camiguin, an island which is a 1 hour and 20 minute plane ride from Manila and a 2 and a half hour fast-craft ride from Cagayan de Oro City last week, in time to witness the Lanzones Festival highlights which are the Miss Camiguin Tourism and the streetdancing the next day.
This year's festival was blessed with fair weather, which is unusual at this time of the year for the Island Born of Fire. Camiguin is a pear shaped island with a 68 km coastline that can be traveled by motorcycle in half a day or less. It has 7 active volcanoes responsible for the fertile land that produces the sweet Lanzones. It has retained its old world charm and still boasts of the marriage between the indigineous culture and Spanish heritage. One can tell by the smiles and hospitable gestures of the Camiguinons that their beautiful virgin island has not yet been adulterated by the uptightness of "progressive city life".
This is not to say that Camiguin is backwards, as most of its resorts have Wi-Fi access and other modern amenities. In fact, because tourism is one of their strongest industries, Camiguin banks on it's almost untouched environment. There are still vast expanses of greenery: forests, rice fields, front and backyards. There are beautiful coastlines of un-littered beaches. It is also a photographer's paradise with the silhouette of Hibok-Hibok looming over the island.
A week's stay in Camiguin rejuvenates one's weary soul. With the local scenery and the locals' smiles, their delicacies (pastel - a custard filled bun, tablea - native chocolate, dried squid and etc.) and the restful ambiance of this tourists' paradise, Camiguin is absolutely perfect!
