Lagen Island: Paradise in a cove

I do not mean to brag, but I have been to the wonderful islands of El Nido in Palawan many times now.

As a journalist covering the information technology (IT) beat in the Philippines, I consider myself fortunate to become part of a yearly ‘tradition’ initiated by technology companies Intel and Hewlett-Packard, particularly the Philippine offices of the two firms.

The year was 1997 when someone came up with the idea of whisking away a bunch of technology journalists, fly them to some exotic location outside Manila, have them sit down for a few hours in a press conference/ technology showcase and then give them ample time for R&R.

The idea was appealing from the onset because of its simplicity and effectiveness. The idea was not at all new or novel.

But the clincher was the location, and to a large extent, the well-planned ‘program’ for the duration of the usually 3-day, two-night stay.

Thus, ‘Synergy’ was born and the maiden destination was Lagen Island in El Nido. Lagen Island is just one of the few islands dotting El Nido.

From the dock to the spacious, yet homey receiving area, the beach-front cottages, the forest rooms, the almost supernatural forest altar, everything seemed to be in place in Lagen.

A non-travel writer like me is hard-put to really describe the place, and frankly, the first time I saw it, I was at a loss for words.

Located in a cove, Lagen Island is one of those places that you cannot easily describe. Words such as ‘ethereal’ ‘beautiful’ ‘breathtaking,’ ‘paradise-like,’ ‘tranquil,’ ‘fragile’ all seem inadequate.

In a few words, Lagen Island is a piece of paradise nestled amid tall and imposing cliffs.

On several occasions, rare hornbill birds are seen roosting on these majestic cliffs.

An eternity pool serves as a centerpiece. There is a large dining area near the pool. There is also a large cabana which serves as a bar with a perfect view of the ocean.

The surrounding waters are perfect for kayaking and snorkeling, and for the more adventurous, Scuba dives can be organized. You can also explore nearby islands.

If you are of the more laid-back type, perhaps bottom fishing is your thing.

Or, you can simply laze around the beachfront to get a nice tan, while sipping that cold drink.

Ten times I’ve been in El Nido and I cannot wait to make the return trip.

The family excursion

My fondest memory of travel were the "excursions" and out-of-town trips that my family and relatives used to take when I was growing up in the province.

My family, as well as my uncles and aunts, and my cousins, lived in a compound with several houses.

It has been a family tradition that at least once a year, the family and some family friends go on an out-of-town trip usually in the summer.


The routine was always the same: The kids are told to sleep early the night before the trip, while the grownups prepare the baon. Family members would usually pool their resources to hire a vehicle or two, usually a passenger Sarao jeepney, or a borrowed second-hand private jeepney to take us to the beach.

The matriarch of the family, our beloved grandmother (we call her Ima) was usually the first to wake up and sound off the rest of the family before the break of dawn. She would walk briskly from house to house in the compound in her worn out but still elegant baro't saya to wake up the rest of the family.

By the time we wake up, the compound will be a like a beehive of activity, with last-minute preparations in the amid revving sound of the engine of the rented Sarao.

We knew it was time to go once the driver puts a simple plastic 'Private Use Only' sign board on his jeepney. By the time the jeepney rolls along the highway, it would be full to the bream, with mostly plastic bags and the bayong where the food is kept.

We lived in Tarlac and the usual destination will be the beaches of Pangasinan up in the north. The trip can last hours, but it was always worth it.

Coming from a family with modest means, those out-of-town trips will always be a thrill and will always be unforgettable.

The travel diary

As a journalist, I consider myself very fortunate to be able to go to different places in the Philippines and abroad. These travels are mostly work-related, but they are nonetheless very memorable.

I would have wanted to photograph every trip that I have ever had, but due to financial and schedule constraints, I was not able to do so.

I will thus try to dig up from memory some of the personal highlights of these travels and write about them.

I have visited some of the most interesting and beautiful places in the Philippines and I have been to some assignments abroad including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Outside Asia, I have also been fortunate to be able to travel to the US and Italy.

I am quick to tell friends and family however that the main purpose of the travel was to work. "Work" for a journalist means attending seminars, sitting down on press conferences, and interviewing people.

I am not complaining, but the time spent for the usual travel fares such as sightseeing and shopping were almost always limited.

It was in 1997 that I first got hold of a passport. It was that year that I was able to go out of the country for the first time.

I was Singapore bound, and to this day, I've never been as excited as that very first trip compared to the other trips that I would embark on soon after.

It was also that year when blogging was just beginning to become popular.

It was in 1998 or 1999 that I seriously thought of writing my own blog, thinking that my occasional travels will provide me sufficient materials to keep the blog going.

I do not fancy myself as a travel writer, and back then, my mindset was to keep an online journal of my travels in the hopes of one day showing them to my kids, and hopefully to my grandchildren.

A blog is after all a diary.

But I never quite made that first step.

Now, after some ten-odd years, I'm going for it.