By Ed Dychauco
Pots & Pans
IT WAS once a vacant land along the shoreline of Balbagon, Mambajao, Camiguin, a small cottage was built to accommodate our relatives & friends in the 80's.
My mom, being from Camiguin, transferred to Manila in the late 40's when she got married. But then, being an only child, she has to move back in the mid 70's together with my father to be with my grandma and help in our copra & general merchandise business. But that was after having 6 children in Manila and having an expanded & extended family from my father's side.
Our house in Mambajao was getting too crowded whenever we get visitors from Manila & Cagayan de Oro, be it relatives or friends.
So, we decided to have a small "vacation" house built to accommodate guests and the place in Balbagon was perfect quiet, unspoiled beachfront, coconut trees, etc.
When we get to spend our summer vacation (since we were all studying in Manila), me & my brothers & sisters will definitely be spending quality time together in that little "vacation" house where we would cook & grill our own meals- sea foods, native chicken, farm-picked vegetables & fruits. So organic & so fresh!
Later on, we thought that it would be an excellent idea to build a bigger & more spacious "house" to accommodate more guests. And being entrepreneurs as we are, we decided to make it into a "family resort." Hence, the name..."Bahay-Bakasyunan sa Camiguin" (Vacation House in Camiguin).
Little by little, it was slowly transformed to what it is right now. Complete with 2 swimming pools (for adults & kids), air-conditioned function hall, open-air restaurant with the view of the pools & beachfront, children's playground with well-manicured lawn. Rooms are air-conditioned, complete with hot & cold shower, cable TV, & IDD telephone. The West side of the resort covers the original structure but construction on the East side is on-going with new cottages to accommodate more. Right now, there are 15 cottages which can house a total of 65 people at one time.
As soon as you enter the vicinity of the resort, the administration building is on your left side which also houses a small souvenir shop. Down the road you'll find several cottages before reaching the air-conditioned Amakan function hall which can accommodate at least 150 people comfortably. It is equipped with modern sound system & is a perfect place for conventions, seminars, weddings or other special occasions. A children's playground can be seen before reaching Cafe Cecilia, an open air restaurant made of native & indigenous materials to give that provincial laid-back look & feel. "Home-cooking" would probably be more appropriate for the type of foods being served at the resort. Nothing fancy, yet delicious & sumptuous. Just the way you'd like it. However one word of caution, order your foods ahead of time to prevent the long wait. If there is something that is not in the menu, you might want to inform the establishment so they can prepare it for you, depending again on the availability of the items.
A mango-shaped pool just across Cafe Cecilia is a perfect place to relax & enjoy. One can also do a little walking or jogging around the grass-covered lawn & benefit from the fresh air. Several fruit-bearing trees (Lanzones, Mangoes, Coconut, Marang, etc.) would really be a sight to behold and if you're lucky, get to try them! Therapeutic massage or hilot can also be arranged ahead of time to loosen up those tired & tense muscles at any time of the day.
There are a couple of hammocks around where one can unwind. In fact, it feels so good just lying on it and doing some day-dreaming or enjoying the chirping of the birds! Just right across the resort, about 15 minutes motorboat ride, a virginal coral reef called "Hikdop" can be enjoyed. Clear water with an assortment of colorful, exotic & unique aquatic fishes & interesting corals can be seen with the naked eye! One can also snorkel around for a closer look!
One of my most memorable time spent at Bahay-Bakasyunan sa Camiguin lately when I get to go there is sitting by the seaside & enjoying the sea breeze & watching the sun rises. Meditating or doing some stretching exercise early in the morning also greatly benefits my body & well-being! One can just forget all the cares in the world and be one with nature. What a sight & wonder to behold! Truly relaxing! Truly nature! Truly a great paradise!
Reservations for Bahay-Bakasyunan sa Camiguin can be made at Balbagon, Mambajao, Camiguin with telephone numbers (088) 3870131, (088) 3871057 or telefax (088) 3870278. Check out their website.. www.bahay-bakasyunansacamiguin.com for more.
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