Sorsogon’s Quiet Pleasures SHOWERS BECOME Sorsogon. After a slight drizzle, the fields become greener and the mountains, clearer. Sorsogon Bay turns an inviting shade of blue. It is quiet pleasures like these that lend a sense of tranquility to this southern corridor hemmed in by both land and sea. Pepita Park in Bucalbucalan opens into a breathtaking view of Sorsogon Bay. Father up, on the grotto by the mountain side, the city unfolds in a pattern: earth cradling water and water nourishing earth. It is a pattern that is repeated all over the city’s 64 barangays. In Paguriran Island in Sawanga, an outcrop serves as a natural viewdeck. From here, one can see an endless view of the sea buffered by the mountains. Paguriran itself invites solitude. On most days, there is just the swish of the waves against the shore and the distant drone of the bancas. A high point in Osiao frames a postcard view of Danao Lake and outlying islands beyond. In Bacon Beach in Caricaran, the deep blue waters complement the equally blue mountains. It is here, at daybreak, that a cycle plays out: as fishermen coming in from a night at sea haul in their catch, those readying for a day of fishing prop up their nets. Sorsogon boasts other wonders as well. There’s the PNOC reservation up the mountains of the West District, which is a medley of soothing greens. Central to it is the Botong Twin Falls, which cascades down the lush mountainside. There, too, is Palhi Springs in Capuy. Set against a backdrop of trees and hills, it is a haven of serenity. Due west, there’s Bucalbucalan Springs, whose cool waters are shared by bathers and women out for an hour or so of domestic chores. Rizal, its neighboring barangay, also has picnic grounds that dot the western stretch of Sorsogon Bay. Although backyard in scale compared to major tourist developments, the resorts nevertheless serve their rest-and-relaxation purpose. One need not go the literal extra mile to savor nature in the City. Within walking distance from the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral is the Rompeolas. Here is where nature puts on a show at daybreak and at twilight. At dawn, the horizon is awash in the pale oranges, yellows and pinks of the rising sun. At dusk, fiery oranges, reds and purples color the skies before night finally takes over. Rompeolas – Spanish for “where the waves cavort,” – has always serves as promenade for the Sorsoganons. Back in the days when it was customary to pause for the Angelus, the Rompeolas stood still at six p.m., the pealing of the bells echoing through the crashing waves. Today, the whole stretch serves a variety of purposes: exercise ground for joggers and tae-bo enthusiasts, street-food haven for food trippers, picnic spot for families and barkadas, viewdecks for nature lovers, a place of solitude for those seeking inner peace. AS PART of the geographical chain linking northern and southern Philippines, Sorsogon has long played the part of jump-off point, as a stop between destinations. But there is much, much more to the city behind and beyond the L-shaped commercial center. There is, for example, the inner strength of a people who has long since come to terms with the elements. A people as sturdy and as flexible as the ubiquitous pili tree. There is the bounty of the sea and the land. And there are the out-of-the-way courses, destinations awaiting discovery. Unlike other tourist destinations that are big on events and developments, Sorsogon takes pride in little pockets of serenity. The Capitol Park is a refuge right in the heart of the City. Framed by age old trees, the park is a testament to Sorsogon’s colorful story. Commanding center stage is the Provincial Capitol, whose Ionic columns mirror its neo-classical architecture. Built in 1905, and done in the federal style, the capitol is one of the colonial vestiges on Philippine soil. It is among the earliest of such structures interpreted by William E. Parsons, chief consulting architect of the Bureau of Public Works from 1904 to 1913, from Daniel Burnham’s masterplan. Its marble floors once echoed the footsteps of American Governor-Generals. A little past the City Hall Complex in Cabid-an, a fork in the road leads to El Retiro. A sanctuary for priests and nuns, El Retiro evokes calm and quiet. Its lush landscape, lovingly tended and trimmed, blooms with a variety of colors and textures. On any given day, there is just the gentle breeze, carrying with it the soothing tinkling of the wind chimes. Farther up, there is the Monastery of St. Claire. Set on a knoll, the quaint chapel offers a respite from the worries of the day. Over time, mini resorts have cropped up within minutes from the city proper. Paradise Resort in Pangpang has pools that reflect Sorsogon City’s vast reserves of spring water. Sta. Barbara Ridge Inn, also in Pangpang, proffers boundless views of green fields. Fritz Homestay, in neighboring Tugos, is an urban haven set amidst a backdrop of rolling hills. And then, there are the private gardens - oases in themselves-from where the heady scent of flowers and herbs arise. All these add up to the big picture: Sorsogon as comfort zone, as home. (menchie l. dichoso, 2007)
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 05:54:04 +0000
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