Island Life

I didn't expect to come home this April. There were so many things to be done in Manila that I was afraid I would have to stay in the city for the next two months. But then I found myself rushing home for the Holy Week and enjoying the next few more weeks here before I'm needed back in Manila.

This week, we celebrated the Aklan Pina Fiber Festival, an annual crafts and trade exhibit that coincides with Aklan Day (basically the day when Aklan separated from its mother province Capiz). This year is Aklan's 58th anniversary and I'm glad to be a part of it. Most people think of Boracay when they think of Aklan:


(Frankly, I can't blame them.)
But there are also plenty of other places in Aklan that's worth a visit. If you ever find yourself in Aklan with a few days to spare, here are some sites you can check out:

Museo It Akean. (History/Culture) The little museum by the edge of Kalibo's town plaza is a good place to start. The ground floor houses a historical and geographical exhibit on Aklan (and occasionally, an art gallery and/or a traveling exhibit). A more detailed look at Aklanon history and culture can be found up the grand staircase. The artifacts and memorabilia found there can give you a crash course on provincial life. Other nearby places of interest are the Kalibo Cathedral, should you wish to pay homage to the Sto Niño, and the Kasafi Office on the second floor of the Mijares Building across the plaza, where you can see colorful Ati-Atihan costumes on display.

Bayangan Village. (Culture/Trade) Lezo is Aklan's smallest municipality (and it's also my father's hometown). You may not think that there's much to visit here, but a quick stop at the Bayangan Village where they make clay pots and jars is worth the side trip. Located to the left of the Lezo Church, this is a small strip of pottery workshops leading down to the Aklan River. You can watch the potters at work and bring home a souvenir or two! Plus it will really make you feel like you're in a very peaceful small town.

Row of potters
Tangalan Church. (History/Religion) Guests on their way to Boracay via Kalibo pass through Tangalan, where one of the oldest churches in Aklan is found. The edifice of the St John the Nepomucene Church was finished in 1889. Also found in Tangalan are the Jawili Falls with its seven basins (when I was very young I slipped on the third basin and never dared to climb higher) and the Afga lighthouse and rock formation.

St John the Nepomucene Church
Katunggan it Ibajay. (Nature) Ibajay has a 44-hectare mangrove forest that will make you feel like you're really in the middle of nowhere. There's an elevated footpath that can take you through the forest. There's another mangrove forest in Kalibo called the Bakhawan Eco-Park, in case you don't have the time to drive all the way to Ibajay.

Cold Springs. (Nature) If you're tired of beaches, try the cold springs found in Nabas. Hurom-Hurom is probably the most famous one, with a huge pool that acts as a catch basin for cold water coming from the mountains. Lots of locals come here, especially during the summer.


Trying to list all these places makes me realize that I can't get them all down in just one post! I'll try to post other suggestions soon (and maybe try to find some pictures). If I had all the time to travel, I'll definitely start in my own backyard.

Where to Go: Map of Boracay

Summer's here! Flights are being booked, trips are being made, sunblocks are slowly disappearing from department store shelves. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Boracay Island in Aklan, where the white sand is always cool and postcard-ready and the fruit shakes always lead to brain freeze.

I asked good friend and brilliant designer Cla Ines to help me make a map of the island. Feel free to print it or share it (I only ask that you keep the watermark and credit back). You'll find the island's more popular sites here.

If you're visiting Boracay, you can fly in from either the Kalibo Airport or the Caticlan Airport (shown on the map). Make your way to the Caticlan Jetty Port and take a pumpboat or a fastcraft to get to the island. Most resorts will offer to pick you up at the Cagban Jetty Port. If not, you can hire a tricycle to bring you to your destination.

A long time ago, Boracay used to be divided by boat stations: Station 1 was the farthest from the mainland; Station 2 in the middle; Station 3 just a few barangays from the Cagban Jetty Port. Pumpboats would drop guests off at the beachfront of their respective resorts, then later on at the designated stations. The old boat stations are gone but people still give directions based on this. Station 1 is known for its wider beachfronts and more expensive resorts, and this is where Boracay's most photographed rock formation (Willy's Rock) is found. Head towards Station 2 along the stretch of White Beach and you'll come across D'Mall, a bustling hub of shops, bars, and restaurants. D'Mall is located near the narrowest part of the island, making it easy to cross to Bolabog Beach on the other side (not to be confused with Balabag which is where Station 1/White Beach is). Bolabog is well-known for its kiteboarding activities. During the rougher habagat months (wind blows from the west towards White Beach), this is where the island's water sports are found.

Boracay is also the setting for my first novella Cover (Story) Girl. Like its main character Gio, I live just a short drive from the island. Sometimes I'd be with my family and relatives, sometimes with my friends, and sometimes even all alone. I've once taken a shuttle to the island just to buy Bite Club burgers then come back home. Trust me, when you've been in Manila traffic, the hour-and-a-half/forty-five ride to Boracay won't seem so bad!

I don't claim to know everything about Boracay. But I've been going there annually for over twenty years so I really felt that I could write this story. I still have a ton of (mis)adventures that I've kept from the book! People can complain that it's crowded or overrated but the truth is, I have so much history with this island that it will always have a special place in my heart. The next time I go, it will be with a book in one hand, a mango shake on the table, and lots of sunshine on my SPF-protected shoulders. No worries.

Scribbled: Cover Story

If you've been following this blog, you would also know that I've been working on a romance novella called Cover (Story) Girl. One of the things that I enjoyed most about this whole process is watching the cover come together, something which my friend and former boss, Mike Calvan, volunteered to do. I readily jumped at the offer, because I know how skilled he is at illustrating and designing. Even if he's done countless of billboards, print ads, TV storyboards, and brochures, he has yet to design a book cover, which made both of us very excited about this project.

(Note before you proceed: Not every illustrator/designer will work this way. Mike and I are good friends so he's very generous with his talent. We've also worked together for many years and have built an efficient system between us. If it's your first time working with a designer, it's always good to have a general idea of how s/he works -- portfolio, timetable, expectations, etc -- before entering into a contract.)

I knew Mike wasn't going to read a romance book so instead I gave him a detailed brief, similar to what we expect from our advertising clients. It outlined the novella's characters, the setting, the synopsis, and all the important events. It also explained to him what I basically wanted: a cover that had tropical elements, a light K-pop feel, and a large title font. Simple, no? How he would interpret this is up to him -- that's what he does best after all! But to show him my perspective of things, I added links to Korean/Japanese videos and movie posters for inspiration. (You know, just to be clear that I meant something closer to this than this.) Artists and designers usually appreciate initial direction so that they know where to take the project. Make a wish list or even a list of things to avoid -- and don't change your mind halfway! Trust me, it will help both of you stay on track.

After about ten days, Mike showed me two different cover ideas. The sketches (or thumbs or croquis) were accompanied by pegs so that I could imagine the final product better. He also recommended some illustration styles that he could do (not shown here).

I think I was swayed by the Niji no Megami poster. It's one of my favorite movies.
After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to go with the sketch on the left. I love the way that it establishes that the novella is about an island romance. It also manages to include the calamansi muffin (an important element in the story) in a smart yet subtle way. Though I liked how eye-catching the other cover was, I thought that might be more appropriate for a younger-themed work. The left one definitely answered what I requested.

Next, Mike worked on the background, which he applied it to different layouts. I had to pick one again and this is what won:

I like the white and flirty font, but something bolder would be more readable.
By then, Mike had already moved on to the main image. Because we had clear direction since the beginning, we didn't need to go back and forth on the details. Now it was just a matter of putting everything together and tweaking things here and there. I placed my trust in his skills because I know he wouldn't steer me in the wrong direction.

At this point, we even discussed what they should be wearing. These were Mike's first sketches; the final illustration looks different.

Gio and Min Hee, sitting on a muffin island...

Initial pass at the front and back cover layout. The clouds have parted!
Making a book cover takes a lot of hard work. But collaborating with Mike was such a painless and enjoyable experience. I really appreciate how much time and effort he devoted to Cover (Story) Girl, as though it were his baby, too. He kept me updated and showed me his works in progress. He even applied the final illustration to wallpapers, bookmarks, postcards, and other things we could think of. In the end, I have a lovely cover that captures the spirit of the story I had written. What more can an author want?

So if I haven't said it enough: Maraming salamat, Boss.