Paradiso Tabuk

Several years ago, technology hasn't reached my hometown yet. No cellphone, no cable, no internet. It was the time when we were forced to live in an island we call "Tabuk" but other innovative folks preferred to call it "Paradise". To get to "bayan" one needs to ride in a flatboat where the fare was Php1.50 or ride in a banca and paddle your way across the river. The worst case scenario was when it's low tide because the flatboat will not be able to cross the river and dock to the wooden pier. The only way you can go to "bayan" was to walk through a knee-deep mud. And if you want your message relayed fast it was either you shout it as loud as you can..."BANKAAA....!SUNDOOOO...!" or, ask someone to relay your message by word of mouth or hand them a simple note. The possibility of communicating the wrong message was huge especially if you didn't know how to speak "bisaya" or the intermediary don't care at all.

With these scenarios, I didn't know how it was called Paradise. Until...

I couldn't join my friends when they have night gimmicks, when I couldn't play the color game or watch the shows at the plaza when it's fiesta. I have to go home before dark. The last trip for the flatboats was usually 7pm. That was when I became a freakin' Cinderella, well at least Cinderella could go home until 12 midnight.

One day, I was home and got nothing to do, I found myself in our own little hut near the shore, lost in thoughts....Oh, Cinderella! Cinderella! When will your prince come and rescue you...

Another day went by... and another...and another... no one came.

I almost gave up then I thought maybe it's a different story... I'm not Cinderella. I should just forget it. Exhausted. I fell asleep in our "duyan". That was when I became a Sleeping Beauty.

Then I felt someone...something.. touched my face. Rough. It was definitely not a kiss.

"Oy, gising! Tumulong ka don o! Madaming bumibili!"

I woke up and forget about Prince Charming.

But one afternoon I saw a banca coming towards me.. there were two guys.. I couldn't recognize who they were... closer...closer... clearer...clearer... and they were rowing using their slippers...

It was my friends,Russel and Erick cheering me up in my little paradise.

Years passed, and now, you can go to and from "bayan" anytime. Here's Sablayan's own hanging 'San-Juanico-Bridge-to-somewhere'...to Paradise.

And Princes pass by any time.



I will take and replace it with better pictures soon...