You can simply gaze on the beauty it endlessly exudes or sink into the clear water and feel it holding you close, and experience harmony within yourself.
Paguriran island is a refuge to diverse marine species that thrive in the entire island. Typhoons visited the place regularly, and the alcove seemed to be a perfect spot to inhabit.
The island per se in its natural state could become a world-class tourist destination. But it powerfully needs development to achieve excellence. The kind of upgrading that won't touch the intrinsic nature of the place. Only making the beach spotless of unwanted sandstones; the swimming area coated with fair sand; and view decks mounted in the nook.
Sawanga Barangay Captain Ramir Duca narrated to us that they have set a regular schedule of extracting the beach of seaweeds thrown out from the sea, alongside unwanted rocks and pebbles. No one he said is allowed to bring food in the islet. They want the island cleared of any rubbish that would spoil its surroundings.
Local people are frequent visitors of Paguriran, especially during weekends. What they need, the barangay chieftain said is a complete make up of the island, and some holiday activities that tourists would keep themselves active and engaged. The captain knows it would require a lot of money, and it is their hope that the provincial government would take heed of what Paguriran could bring to the economy of the province if modified into a world-class beach resort.
We all agreed that that dream would not come too soon. Not in the next decade, perhaps. For the moment, Paguriran island is must see place if one wishes to simply be with nature, and conquer the constant stress and pressure that urban life has put toll in us.
row with our guide directing the way making sure we steer clear of the deep portion. It was low tide nonetheless, and the stream was just above our knees.
The trek would take a couple of minutes, and in between clicks of my Sony Cyber-shot camera, my exploratory eyes scanned the lucid, shallow seabed. I came across a variety of small fishes tagging along as though they are thrilled to establish an acquaintance with their guest. Undersized crustaceans would timidly sink in the sand as I avoided running on them, and go up instantly to steal a look on the unexpected visitor. Seaweeds of numerous selections flourished cording the juvenile corals that were shaping around. My fascination was interrupted by the yell of our guide: "We are here! Welcome to the Island of Paguriran, he barked in pride.
The wormlike shape of the island had now transformed into a more fascinating figure of a spherical lagoon ringed by razor-sharp cobblestones laced up with mangrove trees. The path was shoe-laced with desiccated corals. The crystal, emerald water revealing the heavens above merging on the exquisiteness beneath where an assortment of aquatic species were breathing. It was a "poem without words in the expression of Confucius.
Indeed, Paguriran bewitches a magic charm. Not one of incantation or profanity though -- where tales of siokoy and sirena would cast spell of doom when one immersed into the water and be gone forever -- like I have thought it to be when I first got sight of it in its startling ultramarine image.
Anyone would fall in love with Paguriran instantly. The place radiates serenity and peace.
By VLADIMIR C. VEGA
The sun had just set on the horizon. Its beams exhaling a friendly, temperate filament that were soothing to the skin; fashioning symmetrical lines as they pierced the skin-deep seabed where a diversity of oceanic species had just awaken. We were in the island of Paguriran in Sawanga, Bacon District, 27 kilometers south of Sorsogon City.
The shoreline straddling a few kilometers long, we first assessed was encased with bleached, pulverized sand, glazed with occasional stones carried down by rip tides. Mounds of seaweeds and rocks carefully stacked below cottages -- an apparent sign the place is being nurtured and kept.
The huts were built out of home-grown materials: bamboo, anahaw and wood guarded by talisay and coconut trees against strong winds. The grounds were rugged with sea green carabao grasses that perfectly matched the beach's marvelous outline.
But this landscape is just the first course of what Paguriran can offer. Up about 300 meters farther is the islet of Paguriran. What is within the island which seemed at first view looked nothing but an isolated land mass of wormlike figure overlaid with shrubs? We had no idea for it was the first time me and my companion would have a glimpse of the place I only see in photograph. Alas! The moment we arrived at the place, I had my camera ever ready to document the beauty unfolding before my eyes.
With the help of a local folk, we trudged the water detaching the island from the coastline on barefoot. One after the other we formed a short
