The Lost Ladylove
A primeval giant was said to have tears when he lost his ladylove. The tears of the giant supposedly formed the Hundred Islands.
The Lost Lemuria
It was said that the Hundred Islands are actually remnant tips of the lost continent of Lemuria, fabled as the Pacific continent at war with Atlantis before both advanced civilizations disappeared under the sea.
Volcanic Eruption
It could have been the product of a volcanic eruption during the early civilization which caused major upheavals and changes in the sea and dry land. The people then were astonished to find the numerous droplets of lava and volcanic debris floating in the sea like scattered jewels, which eventually turned into the Hundred Islands.
Frozen Flotilla
Looking at the islands from afar, they could look like a flotilla of ancient ships leaving the harbour, and through some sorcery of magic, these were frozen in time and in place until itinerant seeds were sown by the wind on their solid surface, Those trees, looking ancient, are natural bonsais, many growing only to a few feet tall.
Anita and Akong
There used to be only one island in the place where the Hundred Islands can be seen today. Akong is a fisherman and his wife Anita sells the fish he catches every day. But discontentment soon crept in Akong’s heart and thought of ways to earn money in a faster and easier way. While he set out to sea one night, Anita had a dream about an old man who visited their hut and told them that if they work hard, they will eventually get rich after three years. She shared this with her husband when he returned but he dismissed her impatiently.
One night, he set out to sea again; his first throw of the net didn’t yield any fish but the second one caught black stones the size of a fist. In disgust, he threw them back to the sea, accompanied by some complaints. And just then, he heard a rumbling sound and saw the waves becoming bigger, making him paddle faster towards the shore. Unknown to him, the black stones he threw to the sea became islands. He died that night in his sleep. And once more, the old man appeared in Anita’s dream, telling her about the islands and the fate her husband brought about himself. Anita just cried as she looked at her dead husband.
As I look upon the bright emerald green waters, I couldn’t help but reflect upon the very good friends that came along with me in my trip. It’s not where you go that makes the trip fun but it’s who you’re with that makes it fun. The Hundred Islands is very good place for bonding with your friends and loved ones. Whether you’re gathered around a bonfire telling stories or swimming along the white sandy beach, it is in those moments that we forgot about our troubles and thank God for surrounding you with other islands, indeed no man is an island.
A Helping Hand
The local residents of Alaminos highly rely on tourism as a form of earning a living, from the tricycle drivers to the souvenir vendors and the island guides/boat operators. The locals are very friendly, they speak Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinense and English. When in need of assistance don’t hesitate to ask for help. Our very helpful and patient guide Mang Roger together with his little son was very nice to us and told us all sorts of stories. He definitely knew the history of the islands, he knew the best spots for food and he was able to convince the Kayak renters to give us a discount. Traveling around the islands all day may seem hard to Mang Roger but I could see in his eyes that his profession was also his passion. 
Sands of time
Unlike some beaches who use artificial sand or sand taken from another beach, the sands in the Hundred Islands are 100% natural. Not all the sands are the same though, some are very refined and when you walk on them you quickly sink while some are very compressed making it perfect for frolicking. The sands, not to mention the whole islands, are very clean thanks to the locals who take care of it. When I placed my foot upon the white grainy sands decorated with colorful seashells, I quickly felt the tingles in my toes that made me crinkle my nose. I found myself relaxing in the warmth of the sand, standing in the water clear with the tender breeze upon my face and the sun shining on my shoulder as each passing moment seems to last forever.
Our day adventure was nearing it's end, and at last we reached the Quezon Island. As soon as we arrived, the boatman asked us if we want to do kayaking because he had some contacts there and were bound to have great discounts. We said yes and voila! There we are in the picture holding the paddles and wearing the vests.
Luckily the waves were not that strong yet and we didn't have to row so hard. We teamed up in twos and raced to our hearts contents and had a great time. One thing I could say is, it's very tiring! But even this fact becomes insignificant when you see the number of beautiful islands around you. It just makes you wanna tour 'em all. Sadly out time wasn't enough to tour all the hundred islands and realistically it would be an impossible dream for me.
As the sun was setting in, romance also came into play. Take a note on this one, try bringing your girlfriend here(as I did) and you'll experience a truly romantic site. Here's what you should do...1. First, of course rent a kayak. =)
2. Don't forget the time of the day. Do this at about 5 p.m to achieve maximum effect! Or you can also do this early in the morning
3. Then row away until you reach a kind of deserted area where there are only islands and as few visible people as possible
4. When done properly, you'll feel a sudden feeling swelling up in you (as cheesy as i felt it). Probably, this could be roughly compared to riding-a-gondola-in-Venice-during-a-calm-moonlit-night. This is the time where you should tell her/him about what you really feel.
(we are not the ones in the picture)Well, this is where you should take your time planning about your trip to the Islands, and think about the things you're gonna say at the peak of your romantic kayak adventure.
Kayak fee: Single kayaks - Php 250 per hour
Tandem kayaks - Php 175 per 30 minutes or Php 350 per hour
Life's Sweet Moments: Priceless
In finding a place to eat, there are different kinds of places to choose from. One can eat at the place you are staying at whether you bring your own food or buy food that the place you are staying at offers (provided they do offer or sell food for there are lodgings that do not provide food.) If one did not bring any food or the place you are staying at does not sell food, there are eateries one can choose from to eat at. Our group as an example ate at an eatery near Maxine by the Sea even though Maxine sells food.
Alaminos Longganisa (Specialty Food)
At that eatery, there were a lot of meals to choose from: beef or pork or chicken or vegetables, a meal was available. The food selection was not also limited to local cuisines like the Alaminos style longganisa (Filipino style sausages) since I saw that some eateries offered fried chicken, pasta and pork spare ribs. One can also choose what beverage to buy to compliment the food one is eating. One can choose from sodas, bottled ice teas, bottled water, and even alcoholic beverages are available.
Food and beverages are also available at the islands. There are small stores selling sodas, bottled water, chips and other snacks. One may also stumble upon ice cream vendors roaming around the islands selling different kinds and different flavors of ice cream. I for one bought a cookies and cream flavored ice cream from an ice cream vendor while some of my friends bought chips and beverages at the nearby store while we were hanging around the island.
Got the patience to go back to the city? Fast Food Chains
Although, if you have the patience and time, you could go back via tricycle to the city and eat out at establishments like McDonalds, Jollibee, and other fast food chains.
The Hundred Islands National Park, actually 123 islands, is believed to be at least about 2 million years old – the islands were part of an ancient coral area that extended inland, a large area that used to be part of an ancient sea. When the sea levels lowered, the islands were exposed, whilst hundreds of thousands of years slowly eroded the base of these islands invariably forming the mushroom shaped limestone islands filled with lush vegetation and strips of white sandy beaches in the middle of stunning emerald waters.Out of the many islands, 3 are primarily developed for tourism. Quezon Island (named after former president Manuel L. Quezon whose statue can be seen among the islets) is probably the most visited due to the various establishments it houses. Another well-developed island is Governor’s Island in which the Big Brother house is located; this is most likely the first island your guide will take you to. Last but not least of the 3 main islands is Children’s Island where the water is shallow enough for little kids to swim.(Governor's, Children, Quezon and Cuenca. L-R)
Sometime ago, fishermen used to fish with dynamite and trash was all over but with some swift action from the local government and with help from the University of the Philippines rehabilitation strategies were formed and the islands are regularly patrolled so it would return to its rich marine grounds.
Now the trash has been greatly reduced and care of the islands now seems to seep into the consciousness of the locals whose main livelihood also happens to depend on tourism. Dynamite fishing also disappeared and fishermen started to fish at night time, if you ever happen to see a light in the water it’s probably the friendly local fisherman.
Maxine by The Sea During The Day
If you are the type of person who wants to stay at the mainland, Maxine by the Sea Lodge & Restaurant is a place you may want to consider to stay. Our group for one stayed at Maxine by the Sea. Upon reaching Maxine by the Sea Lodge & Restaurant, we immediately saw souvenir shops at its entrance to the right and the place where the boats parked to the left. There might be a chance that you will be greeted by boatmen willing to render the services of their boat if you plan to venture to the islands. That actually happened to our group. But before renting the boat, we wanted to get a room first to have a place to rest and store our things.
Front Desk
Inquiring the front desk of their rates, some of us checked out the rooms we were supposed to be staying at. Some of us on the other hand, stayed near the front desk checking out the other things Maxine had to offer. From the front desk, there was a waiting area, a restaurant area spanning two floors, and even an al fresco like area where you can eat out rather than the usual restaurant area. Each room in Maxine by the Sea is air conditioned and has two beds that could cater two people per bed and a bathroom in each room. And with a group consisting of five people, we were able to stay in one room and just rented an extra bed for the fifth person.
Though if you are the adventurous type or want to experience staying at the islands, there are islands where one can stay either through camping or staying at some houses built specifically as a place to stay at the island. If you want to rent a house in an island, there is one available, the Big Brother house. Originally used for Pinoy Big Brother as a house for the housemates, this house can be rented for ten thousand Philippine pesos (PHP 10,000.) We were able to see the house when we docked in Governors Island where the house is located. Yet, we were unable to look inside the house since there were people renting it that time. On the other hand, if you are the camper type, wanting to sleep in tents in order to admire the night sky without the lights from establishments in the mainland, one can camp out on Quezon Island for a smaller price than on lodging at resorts.
Here are some pictures of Maxine: Lodge and Restaurant
Their logo
shops in front of Maxine
the fresco wing
the sala
the mess hall
their presidential table
Price and Reservation:
Rooms: Php 2,000.00 (4 pax)
Additional Pax/Bed: Php 300.00
Contact:
Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Telephone: +632 75 551 2537
Mobile: +63 9216428551
Email: maxine@maxinebythesea.com
www.maxinebythesea.com