See you again soon, Gigantes Islands!

Amber, who is currently the national director for Ms. Grand Australia, escorted Ms. Grand Australia 2023 winners to the island as part of their prize.

Your TRAVEL BUDDY together with media friends Cheryl Luis and Rodel Fernando had the opportunity to visit the islands along with the Australian beauties and Manhunt winner Loki who gamely model their swimwear, pose for the cameras, run, swim, hike, and wander around the islands.

Our visit was made possible by the invitation of Mr. Rhett Paul Bolivar of Gigantes Island Tours and Services, a DOT accredited travel agency which has been zealously promoting the islands among the local and foreign tourists through the years.

So, we were like boat people for three days on island hopping and we covered 11 islands!

Of course, each island has its own charm and beauty. We love Lantangan Island for the warmth and hospitality of the islanders. We stayed at MJ Resort who served us the best harvests and food of the island: lobsters, shrimps, salmon, and scallops in various dish versions: baked, steamed, grilled and adobo, that comes with summer fresh fruits.

Lantangan is home to 33 barangays composed of 8,000 people living harmoniously with one another at the middle of the sea. The Piso Wifi is a hit in the island and makes the islanders connected to the rest of the world.

Cabugao Gamay is the most Instagram-mable island. You only have to climb the highest peak of the island and presto you see the beauty of the whole island from above. The sea water surrounding it is friendly and oh so clear and pristine making it the best island to dip and swim.

Pulupandan Islet, the smallest at 25 square meters during high tide, offers refuge for tired fishermen. It's also the place where they converge before going home to sell their harvests.

North of Pulupandan is the much larger Balbagon Island, an elongated island lined by an unbroken white sand beach ringing its perimeter. An inhabited island but populated by coconut trees and long sandy beach shore and crystal-clear water, the island’s potential includes its abundance of fresh water just 10 feet below according to the island’s caretaker whom we met at the time of our visit.

Bantigue Sandbar Island is magical! Not only because it disappears at high tide but simply because of its pristine beauty. Visitors can't help it but enjoy swimming in the island.

Sicogon Island is well-kept and organized among all the islands we visited. And it has good internet connectivity. Make no wonder as it is owned and operated by Ayala Land. The Kamias juice welcome drinks at Balay Kogon was nice and refreshing and the KBL dish soured by the batuan fruit was my first taste of the famed Ilonggo dish.

Cabugao Dako is the mysterious, deserted island of all the islands. Despite its vastness and proximity to Cabugao Gamay, it is uninhabited resulting to its mystery and not so welcoming ambiance. But its ruggedly beautiful karst formations would definitely attract island hoppers.

There's nothing much to see at Tinagong Baybay which looks approximately the same as the Mini Boracay with their white sand and clear waters.

Antonia Island is quite interesting with its reptile-tail-like rock formation. The island sells halo-halo at P50 per serving and the famed wasay-wasay, a sea shell which tastes like a combination of oysters and tahong. Wasay-wasay is eaten fresh, there is no need for vinegar or other condiments.

Tangke Saltwater Lagoon is beautiful yet the most challenging to visit. Tucked within the steep cliffs of Isla de Gigantes Sur, it is hailed as Iloilo’s hidden paradise.

Tangke Lagoon’s refreshing shallow waters and scenic rock formations makes this isolated spot one of the rising tourist attractions in the province despite the narrow and rocky passage both for entry and exit from the lagoon.

There are 22 islands in the island group. Therefore, we missed the 11 islands during our 3-day visit. Oh, we should be back soon! Tara G! Tara Gigantes!

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