by Miriam G. Desacada
Catarman N.Samar–On the 1st of November 2023, the Coral Adventure—an Australian cruise ship with 73 Australian tourists onboard—made port calls in Eastern Visayas, specifically at Northern Samar’s two amazing sites: Capul island, and, for the first time, the island-town of Biri.
Coral Adventure’s visit to Capul, an island-town known for its being part of the historic Manila-Acapulco galleon trading route, was its fourth time. Its visit to Biri, famous for its majestic rock formations along its coastline, was its first and which, according to the provincial tourism officials, sparked a fresh excitement to the tourists from Down Under.
Coral Adventure, according to online sources, is a tropical expedition ship, relatively small in size, purpose-designed to access remote shores in Australia and other countries that are often inaccessible to large cruise vessels. The ship drops anchor offshore and passengers are ferried to and from land using its own smaller boats called “tenders.”
The visit came at a time when the province was busy with All Saints Day activities. It was also the first time that Biri was included in a cruise itinerary since 2013 when Eastern Visayas became part of international cruise visits.
The inclusion of Biri island in this year’s cruise destinations of Coral Adventure was made possible through advance arrangements—by Tourism-Region 8 Regional Director Karen Tiopes and Northern Samar Tourism chief Ma. Josette Doctor—done in coordination with Biri town Mayor Amelita delos Reyes, Biri tourism officer Vicky Mabutin, and other stakeholders.
Doctor shared that having Biri as an additional site for the cruise call is an exciting development for the province’s tourism industry. She said it is a significant milestone that presents an opportunity to showcase the town’s natural beauty to foreign tourists.
As of now, Northern Samar has two towns included in the map of excursion cruise destinations: Biri and Capul Island. “We must be doing something good that cruise tour operators and ship cruise directors trust us to develop and deliver the right kind of shore excursion experience,” Tiopes told the media.
A dedicated group of Biri residents welcomed at the town’s port the Australian tourists—ferried in tender boats from the cruise ship—with songs, dances, and the ever-present jolly greetings of “Mabuhay!”
The tourists felt the warm hospitality of the locals, saw their way of life, savor the local dishes and delicacies, and then guided into a two-hour experience of local culture immersion, including a tour of Danggitan Village, a community of dried danggit fish producers, and rides of habal-habal (a kind of motorcycle transportation around the island).
Finally the tourist were led into the climax of the tour: a fantastic moment of viewing the awesome shoreline rock formations, which Biri island is famous for. Their actual feel of Biri’s breathtaking coastline scenery accentuated their first-time visit to that northwestern tip of Northern Samar.
It was an enchanting experience for them as they came face-to-face with a place of ancient origins, considering that the rock formations were known to have been sculpted dating back about 80 million years ago due to tectonic plates movement and by the forces of nature such as crashing waves, winds, and storms.
Biri island has seven distinct rock formations, namely Magasang, Magsapad, Macadlaw, Puhunan, Bel-at, Caranas, and Pinanahawan, all of which are found to compose sedimentary rocks deposited by ancient rivers and seas, and to contain fossils of ancient marine life. The most popular of these the so-called Fantastic Four (Macadlaw, Puhunan, Bel-at, and Caranas), located at Biri’s northern side.
Around the intriguing massive rock structures were surreal crevices and naturally clear and pristine pools perfect for swimming or a refreshing dip to cool off after the stunning exploration of the unique surroundings.
Biri’s rock formations also offer fantastic opportunities for photography, as the interplay of light and shadow on the rocks can make for breathtaking pictures. They said the place is photographers’ paradise as the intricate shapes, tidal pools, and stunning coastal landscapes make it an ideal spot for capturing memorable moments.
Biri Island is home to various bird species, making it an ideal place for birdwatching, while the waters around the island are teeming with the wonders of marine life and coral reefs. Had the tourists stayed longer, they could have seen the breathtaking sunset views, and changing sky colors when the sun sets behind the rocks’ silhouettes.
Tourism officer Romano Del Rosario and his team on board Coral Adventure attending to the needs of the Australian tourists, has hailed this cruise call as the first of its kind in Biri, which is a rare gem of Eastern Visayas.
“This unique voyage to Biri Island harkens back to the island’s glorious past, which was frequented by foreign navigators,” said Rosario, hailing the cruise call as the first of its kind in Biri.
The success of the Coral Adventure cruise call in Biri has paved the way for future visits and has opened the doors for more tourists to discover the wonders of this hidden paradise, which left an indelible mark on their hearts that many of them are eager to return as stay-in tourists, and explore more of what Biri and Northern Samar have to offer.
It was a seamless and unforgettable experience for the Australian tourists who savored the region’s natural wonders and cultural heritage. Their positive feedback affirmed the potential of Biri Island as a major cruise destination.
After Biri, the Coral Adventure sailed to Capul Island where visitors spent the whole afternoon doing immersion with the community and learn about the rich history and culture of the island also.
“The Coral Adventure’s stop at the historic Galleon port of Capul in Northern Samar marked its fourth visit to the historic town as the cruise call continues to attract visitors to the captivating Northern Samar seascape,” the tourism office said.
“The successful cruise call of the Coral Adventure is poised to have another round in the near future, as it provided a seamless and unforgettable experience for the Australian tourists,” it added.
Meanwhile, aside from Biri and Capul, the Coral Adventure is set to visit Sambawan Island and Maripipi (Biliran), Babatngon and Tacloban City, Himulkilan Island, Inopacan and Canigao Island, Matalom (Leyte) this week.
“Weeks from now, it’s Limasawa and Padre Burgos (Southern Leyte), and Palompon (Leyte),” Tiopes wrote. —Miriam G. Desacada