Gala ni Buwie-boy Palaboy: HAMBIL

Gala ni Buwie Boy Palaboy: HAMBIL

Isla de Carabao (Carabao Island) or better known to the locals of Romblon as Hambil, is a small island in the town of San Jose Romblon. Many consider it to be the twin sister of Boracay in Malay Aklan, probably because it’s just seating next to each other. The island has much resemblance with Boracay, the sand on its shoreline has the same powdery texture and that turquoise water that you would want to plunge all day till your heart's content.

Beauty would be an understatement, I would say, as there is more to the island than meets the eye. Its rawness and simplicity will make your vacation, a very unique experience. A paradise with its heart welcoming locals will make your stay worthwhile. In our recent trip to Hambil together with my parents, we had the chance to immerse ourselves with the community, as we stayed in one of our relative’s home. It’s a wonderful neighbourhood, no concrete perimeter fences; they only use ornamental plants and bamboo strip fence along their properties. It’s my first time to sleep on a bed with no cushioned mattress, we lay down on a hand-woven mat or banig and it is very comfortable.

We took a land tour thru a rented motorcycle for 500php, this is the only means of transportation around the island. A wider road is still being constructed and as of this writing, there is only pathway that connects the different community in the island and it’s wide enough for a motorcycle to pass thru.

Tagaytay View Point - This is the highest point/peak in the island were you will see the whole landscape and seascape while enjoying a fresh coconut juice, like I did. The island of Boracay can also be seen on its southern side

Me quenching my thirst with fresh buko while enjoying the landscape

The Cathedral Cave- They call it Cathedral because some of it stalactite/stalagmite formation depicts an image baby Jesus and the Holy Family. The entrance to the cave is very narrow which may need some crawling but as you go inside it becomes wider and spacious. 

me and my mom

Cliff Diving Point - is just outside the caves entrance. It is a 15 foot drop on 10-15 feet deep turquoise water. It is so clear that the coral reef underneath is very visible when you're standing on the ledge. It psychologically tricks your brain and gives you a feeling of hitting the sea floor when you jump, but don't worry, its deep enough and your toe won't even reach the bottom. 

For now I'll watch, but next time I'll jump!

Said Beach – is the main shoreline in poblacion, it’s a one kilometre stretch of powdery white sand with turquoise water going back and forth on its shores.

There are no big establishments in the island; no shopping malls, no ATM machines, no fast food chains like Jollibee or McDonalds etc. There are no bars and noisy disco houses either, unlike its twin sister, but it offers a different kind of night life thru its shoreline under the moonlight and a starry night, enjoying the peace and tranquillity. It's not yet colonized by the material objects in bigger cities. Electricity is also scarce in the island; they only have it from 5PM to 6AM the next day but some hotels uses generator in daytime for their customer. Water supply is also from 5PM to 7PM, just enough time for the households to fill their water tanks for their consumption until next day. The ordinary neighbourhood plants fruits and vegetable in their backyard, as well as raising chicken, ducks, pigs and goats.The locals live a life in its simplest form and yet you'll see contentment within.

The island may lack the basic necessities but there is an abundance of hospitality among its community, as the saying goes, "those who have none, can usually offers more"

Hambil is already gaining popularity among tourist and adventurers alike and its just a matter of time that this island will be flooded with visitors just like its twin sister Boracay. I just hope that the local government of San Jose Romblon and its community will do its best to protect their paradise, and they should not be blinded by opportunistic businessman. At the end of the day, tourist and visitors come and go but the locals stay.

Where to Eat

In HAMBIL

Bamboo Bar and Restaurant – It’s a restaurant a few meters away from the public market along G. Gabinete street. They serve western food like Spaghetti, pizza and hamburger, and you may want try their mango shake as they use fresh and ripe mangoes.

Lyn Rose Snack House and videoke – this is an eatery inside the public market, they serve tapsilog, tocilog, porksilog and etc. I forgot to take photos because my tummy is already bullying my intestines!

In Odiongan

Ashley Bakeshop - along JP Laurel Street. They serve pasta, palabok, pizza, burgers as well as cake and pastries. 

GABS Burger and Pizza - along JP Laurel Street corner CP Garcia St. Its a western diner that serves burgers and pizza. They have cool place and a little playground for your kids.

Greenfields Garden Resto-Cafe – along Looc-Odiongan Road behind Petron Gas Station. This is a restaurant with rice paddies on its backyard. It has a cool scenery but what interest me most is there delicious but affordable baby back ribs

How to get there

By plane

There is now a flight available from Manila to Tablas and from there, you can take a tricycle to Odiongan Jeepney Terminal beside the Public Market

Take the first trip going to the town of Looc and from Looc take another jeep to Sta Fe Port.

By RORO via Batangas Port

You can take 2GO, Montenegro or Starlite to Odiongan

From Odiongan Port, take a tricycle to the Jeepney Termnial near Odiongan market and from there take a jeepney to LOOC for 50php, there is another Jeep going to Sta. Fe port (50php) and in Sta Fe port, take a pump boat to Hambil (100php).

Option B: (There are times that jeepney is not yet available or you missed the 1st trip)

From Odiongan, you can rent a tricycle that will take you directly to Sta Fe Port for 1000php each tricycle which can fit 4-5 passenger.

Jeepney and Boat Schedule:

Odiongan to Looc leaves at 6am in the morning (1st trip)

Looc to Sta Fe leaves 7AM

Sta Fe Port to Hambil leave at 9am (HAMBIL pump boat), the next schedule will be 2pm (MANDARAGIT pump boat) on a daily basis

Odionagan Jeepney Terminal to Looc 

Port of Sta Fe 

Recommended Itinerary (via 2GO)

Day 0

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM : ETD Batangas to Odiongan

Day1

3:00 AM - 4:00 AM : ETA Port of Odiongan

4:00 AM - 6:00 AM : If you're lucky enough, you can still catch the jeepney which travel directly to Sta Fe, they call it Sahod barko and its only available when Montenegro Shipping lines arrives as early as 2AM. If not, take a tricycle to jeepney terminal going to Looc. Take your breakfast early

6:00 AM : ETD Odiongan jeepney to Looc Town (1st trip) for 50php

6:50 AM : ETA Town of Looc

7:00 AM : ETD Looc jeepney to Sta Fe for 50php

7:50AM : ETA Sta Fe port and register to the passenger manifest logbook and pay terminal fee

9:00 AM : ETD Pump boat to Said beach in Hambil, register and pay environmental fee

10:00 AM : ETA Said Beach in Hambil island/Carabao Island

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM : Check in to your hotel

11:00 AM - 12:00 NN : Early lunch

12:00 NN - 4:00 PM : book a motorcycle land tour which take you to different spots around the island

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM : enjoy the beach of Hambil

6:00 PM - onwards : Free and easy (there is no night life and Carabao Island) but it offers a peaceful and starry night which you can enjoy along its shoreline

Day2

4:30 AM  : wake up and pack up (depending on how far your hotel to the port)

5:30 AM : Register to the passenger manifest and pay terminal fee

6:00 AM : ETD Hambil to Sta Fe Port

7:45 AM : ETA Sta Fe Port

7:00 AM : ETD Sta Fe to Odiongan

8:45 AM : ETA Odiongan Terminal

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM : Free and easy, buy souvineer and foodtrip in Odiongan Town Proper

10:00 AM - 12:00 NN : ETD Odiongan to Batangas Port

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM : ETA Batangas

9:00 PM - 11:00 PM : Batangas to Manila (Home sweet home)

Things to bring

Clothing's for the entire trip

swim gears (gogles, snorkel, swim suit etc.)

Pocket money

Personal first aid kit and meds (pls. include imodium/diatabs, bonamine and anti-histamine)

sunblock

insect repellent

camera

And most importantly, YOUR POSITIVE SELF!