Everything Random

I have been meaning to visit Lamanok Island in Anda, Bohol, for more than ten years now but have not got the chance until our recent trip to Anda to spend a few days in my favourite resort, Amun Ini. I texted Doris, a good friend and tour guide par excellence, who gave me the number of Nang Comia, leader of the community-based tourism (CBT)group in Barangay Badiang in Anda, who runs the Lamanok island tours for many years now. I called one day before the tour and she was very kind and accommodated our request.

Often referred to as the cradle of civilization in Bohol, Lamanok Island is renowned for its deep cultural roots. Some of the caves in the island once served as ancient burial grounds, where you can still spot age-old boat coffins and earthenware jars. The caves are the island’s main highlights -rock shelters adorned with ancient graffiti, colorful stalactites and stalagmites , and even a fossilized giant clam embedded in stone. Locals regard Lamanok Island as a sacred place believed to be inhabited by mystical beings or spirits—a belief that predates Spanish colonization kept alive by traditional healers and story-tellers, including our tour guide Gonzalo.

Lamanok Island can only be reached by boat. When you arrive at the meet up point on a curved road fronting a vast mangrove forest, officers of the CBT group will meet you and usher you to the walkway in the middle of a mangrove forest. The walk to the pier is roughly 10 minutes, and then you will then be assigned to a boatman to bring you to the island.

Depending on the water current (and tide level), the ride is roughly 15 to 20 minutes. As soon as you arrive at the island, you will start with the first attraction which has the famous cross fronting the sea and the hematite rock paintings believed to have been existing from the Paleolithic Age.

Then you will visit the Ka Iska Cave, inhabited by a woman accused as a witch by local people and chose to live in the island to be free from public scorn. The cave looks impressive in terms of size. It is currently a home to a flock of bats.

The rest of the attraction consists of a “healing cave” visited by healers or “tambalans” for a certain time of the year and had offerings of all sorts from patrons who believe in its power. There is also a mangrove area that housed the fossilised clam, and a shelter cave for weary travellers during heavy storms.

The final and the last stop, which is quite of a climb, is the burial site where remains of ancestors believed to be hundreds of years old are still on site.

There at least three reasons why you should visit Lamanok Island in your next trip to Anda.

1. The people. The boatmen and the local guide share fascinating stories of ancient rituals and the lived histories of people in the area – their dreams and aspirations.
2. The journey. The journey to the island itself is an adventure. It’s the ultimate escape from the busy world—no crowds, just the sounds of the wind and the waves.
3. The culture. The people and the landscape tells a story, bringing the island’s folklore to life, that give you a deeper appreciation for the local culture and its enduring traditions

Somewhere I wrote that the Lamanok CBT deserves more attention than it currently gets. People from Bohol and other areas need to visit the place. It is really worth it.