Quarantine Diary / A Personal Journal / Album // March 16 to May 22, 2022

We did an extensive effort and exhausted all options...

It was during our climb in Mt. Hamiguitan while passing the grand pygmy forest when Robert got a call from his mom in Manila, informing him to rush down.  The entire National Capital Region would be placed in a state of enhanced community quarantine due to the pandemic.  The momentum of the whole team got broken and the time started to tick.  

We started to strategize after the climb and rushed immediately to the airport.  Since flying back to Manila was no longer feasible at that time, we rebooked to Clark.  The following day, Mayor Sara Duterte issued an executive order banning all incoming flights from Clark, and afterward, we learned that the entire Davao would also be placed in a state of community quarantine.  

Out of desperation to leave Davao, we rebooked to Cebu and were able to leave on the same day.  4 of the team managed to book a flight from Cebu to Clark upon arrival.  The rest including myself took the ferry ride to the province of Robert in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

That's how it all started.  This is our 68 days quarantine journal and photo album on the shoreline of Eastern Visayas, as Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI).

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a. First 15 days!

b. The Bearer of Light

c. A Taste of Hinunangan

d. The Heart 

e. Cabali-an Church

End

-JSC

Mt. Tabjon - Oh! There's the Heart!

In the eyes of birds, the coastal stretch of Hinunangan is actually forming a heart shape.  

One afternoon, while others were sleeping, Dentor and I sneaked out of the sitio and went to the far village of Calag-itan.  There at the view deck of Mt. Tabjon, after a short walk on a dominantly unpaved path surrounded by coconut trees, we had a perfect glimpse of The Heart.  

Unpaved path

Oh! There's the Heart!

This place is commonly known as the heart-shaped of Hinunangan, but according to some residents, its real name is Tabjon.  It seems like a mountain without a formal name. Therefore in this writing, I would like to call the entire place Mt. Tabjon and, the spot where the heart-shaped cove can be fully seen as the view deck.  

Photo at the view deck

Photo at the view deck

We came here a day or two after a week-long lockdown. I'm certain that we're the only tourists who visited the spot that day.  

Aside from Mt. Tabjon, there's also a marine sanctuary located at Calag-itan.   However, Our plan of visiting it after the climb at the view deck was an epic fail, the gates were closed!  Honestly, all tourism-related activities during these times were still not allowed, but it was just our rebellious sides that prevailed.  I guess Dentor is a strong influencer, huh?!

Small cottages that can be seen outside the sanctuary

Den, the great influencer!  I was also a victim here you know!  

Time to go!

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