LakbayLoyd Lighthouse Series 22: EL FARO DE ISLA CAPUL, Capul Island, Northern Samar

El Faro De Isla Capul

El Faro De Isla Capul, or the Capul Island Lighthouse, was built by the Spaniards in an elevated area in Bgy. San Luis in the island town of Capul in 1896 and was completed during the American Period by the US Army Corps and Engineers.

It is located 143 feet above sea level with a 40-foot tower that commands a panoramic view of the San Bernardino Strait and extending towards the Pacific Ocean and one of the few remaining functional lighthouses in the country. However, just like almost all the heritage lighthouses I have visited, the pavillion, designed by Guillermo Brockman, is in its decaying state. I am in high hopes that the people of Capul will repair what is left of the structure and maintain what has remained for its historical and architectural importance.

This historical landmark in Northern Samar not only played a very important role in the galleon trade during the Spanish era but it is so important that it signifies the entire Capul's rich history.

About The Island Town Of Capul

The island was originally named Abak, after the name of the chieftain of a group of people that migrated from the south. These migrants brought with them one of the eight rarest dialects in the country called Abaknon. The language is on the brink of becoming extinct, according to locals. The island's name Capul derived from the word Acapulco (a Mexican town). It was a frequent stop-over for galleons during the Acapulco trade.

How did we get there?

After the Laoang and the Batag Island Lighthouse trip, Tess and I headed back to Lietco to catch the van going to Catarman where we will start the new journey to Capul Island via Allen.

The jeepney ride from Catarman to Allen town proper took us about an hour. From Allen town proper, we need to get to Allen Port riding the odd-looking-big-wheeled-good-for-one-and-a-half-persons pedicab. 

To prepare for next day's trip to Capul Island, we spent the night at the nearby Pahayahayan Lodge with basic amenities for P800 for a 12hour stay. The accommodation was nice but quite costly for waiting or stranded passengers going to Manila en route Matnog, Sorsogon on RORO.

The following morning, we learned that there is only one trip to Capul and the boat leaves from Port Of Allen at 12 noon daily and leaves Capul going to Allen at 8 am the following day. Now that stirred a problem because we don't have the luxury of time to spend overnight in Capul.

I called up Ms.Jade (from Laoang) again for help and immediately, she gave the number of Ms. Ivy Nalda (09154806538), Allen's Tourism Officer. Ms. Ivy was able to arrange a boat to take us to Capul and back on a half-day tour - but with a hefty cost to the tune of 4,000 pesos! Quite a lot to pay due to time constraints.

We immediately headed to Dapdap Port, about a kilometer away from Port of Allen and by 7 am we are sailing aboard Vanessa (boat's name) to Capul Island. We docked at Barangay San Luis after an hour. A habal-habal was waiting to take us to the lighthouse.

National Cultural Treasure  - San Ignacio De Loyola Parish

To complement the heritage tour of Capul Island, we visited another evidence of the island's historic past, the San Ignacio De Loyola Parish, a 400-year old stone church that has been declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2014. The church is surrounded by stone walls connoting that it was more than a house of worship, as it was also a fortress and a refuge of the Capuleños during the times of Moro raids. At present it looked like a mini-Intramuros.

LakbayLoyd Lighthouse Series 21: EL FARO DE ISLA BATAG, Batag Island, Laoang, Northern Samar

The Lighthouse

The Faro De Isla Batag or the Batag Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on Batag Island off the coast of the town of Laoang in the province of Northern Samar. This is the third major lighthouse fully designed and built by the Americans during the early part of the American colonization. The other two being the Faro De Isla Maniguin and Batag Light's exact replica, the Faro De Punta Patar or the Bolinao Lighthouse. It was first lit in 1908.

The light marks the northeastern point of Samar Island and lead vessels to the entrance of San Bernardino Strait marked by the San Bernardino Lighthouse. One of the most traveled waterways in the archipelago now and even during the American occupation, with the Capul Island Lighthouse, these stations are invaluable to vessels coming from the Pacific Ocean and entering the country through the San Bernardino Strait on its way to Manila or any ports of the Philippines.

Batag Lighthouse, together with with the Capul Island Light, was declared as a historic landmarks of the province of Northern Samar in 2008. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is no longer functional and most of the remaining structures are dilapidated. It is one of the lighthouses listed by the Coast Guard for adoption, allowing the use of its facilities and property in exchange of lighthouse's maintenance.

 

How To Reach Laoang

Getting to Laoang is very easy. It is accessible by air or by land. For this travel, Tess (my now-constant travel buddy) and I took the PAL flight via Catarman. 

From the airport, we hired a tricycle to the Catarman Bus Terminal where there are vans and jeepneys waiting for passengers going to Rawis. After one and a half hour, we reached Lietco (Laoang Intergrated Enterprises Terminal Complex) in Barangay Rawis (as the jeepney sign says) where we were greeted by the town's Tourism Officer, Ms. Jade Adora. 

Another tricycle ride to the port where pump boats are waiting to take passengers to Laoang town proper. 

What To See In Laong

Our visit to the Loaong was made very easy with the assistance of Ms. Jade Adora, who rendered a considerable amount of time and effort on a very short notice to accommodate us in Laoang. She took us around the town, gave us a brief tour, and provided us hefty information on town's modest history. 

The trip to Laoang will not be complete without visiting heritage sites like the St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church built in the 18th century by the Franciscan friars. The church is just situated in the center of the town. 

The tour ended with a courtesy call from Hon. Madelaine Mendoza-Ong.

The Way To Batag Island

From Laoang port, we hired a boat to get to Batag Island. The short trip took us around 30 minutes to reach our drop-off point, the Bgy. Marubay. We were accompanied by Ms. Adora's husband, Sir Ronnie Adora, and Sir Kiram during the entire Batag island trip.

We immediately started our traverse as we arrive by hiking to the top of the hill where the lighthouse is located. Although a habal-habal can be hired, we preferred to hike for the experience. It was an exciting hike because we got lost for a while, have to walk back and opt a different path until we reach the lighthouse after almost an hour.

Our Batag Island hike was bonebreaking (Yes! one of my most grueling hike to experience, so far) but worthy of the agony. One will be delighted and awed with the magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and other islands composing Laoang as you reach the lighthouse.

Visit Laoang, Northern Samar. Call or text Ms. Jade Adora, Laoang's Tourism Officer, at 09466573000 for more information.