I WAS literally hanging between earth and sky, so I hung on tightly to the rope...as well to every word that our guide was saying, lest I miss something in the instructions on how to scale down a steep cliff without breaking any bone in my body (ouch!). Like the rest of my press colleagues invited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to visit the province of Guimaras, I could have never anticipated finding myself holding on to a rope for dear life. But then if we hadn’t dared, we would have been without “bragging rights.”

I was one of the “brave” members of the media party who mustered enough courage to rappel off a vertical cliff 95 feet above sea level with nothing but a rope and the encouraging words of a guide who patiently gave the same instructions to each of us before our descent.  I have never tried this outdoor sport in my entire life; neither have I had any training on how to scale down a wall. So it was just me and my sheer determination to rappel now or forever regret a lost opportunity. So strapped to a cord with my knees shaking as beads of sweat profusely ran down my face, I slowly descended amid the rallying shouts and claps of my colleagues who had gone down ahead of me. 

LIFE IS A BEACH. The cool blue waters and white sand of Guisi Beach in Guimaras.

Midway through the descent, an exhilarating calm prevailed upon me as I became more relaxed and confident and enthralled by the unique vista right around me. Slowly...slowly....It wasn’t long before I safely landed on the beach and got a hug and a high-five from everyone. Whoa! I made it!

Rappelling is one of the adventures being offered as part of the Guisi Discovery Quest Tour Package, a community-based program recently launched by the DOT in Sitio Guisi, in the province of Guimaras. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, who was the guest of honor during the launch, said, “this is where global tourism is headed,” referring to the upsurge in eco and adventure tourism among local and foreign travelers. 

Two years ago, the oil tanker M/T Solar I, carrying more than 2 million liters of bunker fuel, sank off in the Guimaras Strait, affecting Guimaras island and its neighboring provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The oil spill took a toll on the lives of the local residents who are mostly dependent on fishing for their livelihood. With nowhere to go and their traditional occupation endangered, the people of Sitio Guisi decided to look for alternative employment using their grit and ingenuity.

Thus, the Guisi Community-based Tourism Project was born.  The project is a joint undertaking of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the DOT, the Canadian Urban Institute and the Provincial Government of Guimaras. Barangay Dolores, where Guisi is located, was chosen because of the people’s own initiative to protect their coastal areas from the ravages of the oil spill, and their willingness to work together in preserving the quality and pristine beauty of their community.

LOCAL ATTRACTION. The historical Guisi Lighthouse built in 1896

Secretary Durano said the Guisi Discovery Quest would open new business opportunities for residents who can provide visitors with the needed amenities, with the locals serving as guides, kitchen staff and maintenance crew. A series of workshops has already been conducted to train them, and a total of P900,000 in financial assistance was provided by the UNDP and the DOT for skills development and the purchase of necessary equipment. “We are very proud that rural communities around the country are being benefited by tourism,” Secretary Durano enthused. 

A nostalgic Secretary Durano, who hails from the province of nearby Cebu, shared his first encounter with the island of Guimaras 10 years ago when he, together with some friends, went on a mountain-biking tour. Little did he know that 10 years later, “I would be directly involved on the island’s development.” He expressed confidence that the Guisi Discovery Quest will become popular among local and foreign travelers, especially nowadays that “travelers from highly developed countries are more conscious of the environment through ecotourism.”

The Mayor of Nueva Valencia, Alejandro Araneta, assures visitors and tourists on the island that the province has the needed facilities to make their stay memorable, and that the police and local governments are there to ensure everyone’s safety. “We are prepared for any number of travelers who may want to take advantage of the ecotourism package we are offering.” Guimaras is reached via a 15-minute ferry boat from Iloilo City, and there is plenty of public transportation for island-hopping tours.

AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH. One of the media members rappelling off a vertical cliff

The Guisi Discovery Package offers two types of packages to visitors. They can choose from either a half-day or whole-day guided tour. The half-day tour includes mountain biking, boating, caving and snorkelling activities. The whole-day tour includes rappelling, a visit to the mangrove and other activities. But in addition to package tours, visitors can also enjoy the historical Guisi Lighthouse built in 1896. There are also the unspoiled beaches and coves along the coast, or the lush wilderness trails leading to the majestic Panluron Falls, a must-see for those who like communing with nature. 

Aboard the ferry on our way back to Iloilo City, I glanced back at the beautiful island of Guimaras, which is known to produce one of the sweetest mangoes in the world. But it was not just the sweet mangoes that lingered in my mind, but the sweet little victory of rediscovering the adventurous side of me, which I happily found on the island.

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