As a Filipino living in the Philippines and witnessing the
natural beauty of my country is like a treasure that struct my eyes because of
the sparkling gold inside it and being hypnotized due to the glittering view.
The reason I love my own country is that the people here are hospitable and
have a unique complex culture. The cuisines here are cooked with love that
every bite of the food will make you feel like you’re in your mother’s warm
hands.
Traveling from Pampanga to Iba Zambales “Isla de Potipot” is
one the most memorable experience for me. We started driving out from 4 am up
to 9 am due to the long drive and genuinely speaking it’s so enjoyable upon
watching the long road with lots of trees on the pavement side, as I lower the
window to inhale some air – trust me it’s so refreshing just like the province
air that has no pollution at all. It’s so peaceful sitting inside our van
laughing, storytelling, and being excited about our destination.
Since it’s still a long way waiting for us, I patiently watched
the aesthetic scenery with my own eyes and I do appreciate the beauty of my
country, and I realized that I am so grateful that I live here in the
Philippines. As dawn goes by the surroundings are becoming more elegant due to
the sunlight and it brings their true nature, I can vividly remember how
stunning the view is, and seeing new people with their faces is so much fun.
From afar, the sight from the sea is being clear and near --
it makes me feel not just the butterfly in my stomach but the whole zoo inside.
Finally, my family and I arrived at our destination. I can smell the fresh
breeze of the ocean and the children are playing at the seashore collecting
some seashells, their priceless smiles flatter my heart and their laughter is
music to my ears. But to go to the white island, we need to ride a boat first.
On the other side, the trip from the boat lasts 5 to 10 minutes
and you can catch sight of the island in the middle of the ocean surrounded by
the mountains, it is so cool because it’s just a small white island full of
trees. Potipot Island is a feast for the eyes as it showcases fine white sand
that feels like a powder when my bare feet step on it, clear seawater, and a
breathtaking view of the province from the shore. It took us 30 minutes to
explore the area while my uncle booked us a cottage.
The cottage house is made out of wood with 2 beds inside and
2 electric fans, and it’s located on top of the tree – a treehouse.! After we
prepared everything, we decided to swim even though the sun is out, I can smell
the fresh breeze of the ocean, and the way waves splashed on the shore is so
calming to listen to. after that we took some photos in different areas before
we eat our food. While eating my family and I are having a lot of fun talking
about what the seawater tasted like and our skin became dark.
We enjoyed every single moment at that time and waited for
the sunset to end before we leave. It was so stunning to watch along the beach
and our trip gained a precious moment as memories of its natural beauty linger
long after the trip is over.