In late 2016, I had an opportunity to explore Alabat Islandwhich is located in the eastern part of Quezon Province in the Philippines. This Island emerges as a one of the hidden gem in the vast archipelagic landscape of this country and known for its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage.

The name Alabat came from the local Tagalog word Alabat, meaning "balustrade". It is strategically located between the Pacific Ocean and Lamon Bay.

This Island was shaped by centuries of colonization, trade, and cultural exchanges. Alabat Island was inhabited by indigenous communities of the Philippines long before the arrival of Spanish colonizers. Their life was closely connected to the bounties of the sea and the fertile land. The Port of Alabat is considered one of the longest ports in the province.

Visit to Alabat Island Municipal Mayor :

We had a chance to visit Mayor Ferando L, Mea office & his residential house. Ferando L, Mea was the Mayor of Alabat Island during that time. He organized a welcome meeting in his office in honor of our visit to their native Island.  We are mesmerized to see his beautiful ultra-modern house made from Bamboo. We came to understand that the bamboo house is the DNA” of Filipino life, is strategically open so that high winds from the typhoons that hit the Philippines each year can pass right through.

A lack of resistance means a reduced chance of complete destruction while replacing dislodged bamboo is relatively simple. According to his team, sometimes older solutions to ongoing challenges are the best. The Philippines is a typhoon-prone country and nearly 20 typhoons that hit the Philippines each year.

These tropical cyclones generally produce heavy rains, flooding of large areas, and also strong winds which result in heavy casualties to human life and the destruction of crops and properties. This Bamboo house has a springy floor that can become a raft for inhabitants to use to paddle to shelter during typhoons according to the Mayor's sub-ordinate.

Disaster Risk Reduction: The Tales of the Alabat Islands

Local villagers of Alabat Island revealedto us that some natives do not believe the local government's announcements and warnings during natural disasters. They feel more convinced when the elderly in the locale have stated the imminent arrival of a typhoon upon noticing the emerging signs and indicators in the surroundings. A few of the interesting Indigenous Knowledge & emerging signs used by the natives for typhoon warnings as explained by the locals during our visit:

- They observed the Strong ocean waves & Strong winds coming from Polillo island

- Unusual appearances of oar-fish surfacing in great numbers in case of Earth Quake

- The darkening of the sky and the appearance of cloud-like fog on the horizon also indicate the arrival of a typhoon in the area.

-  The unusual appearance of sea snakes on the surface of the ocean is another emerging signs

-  Unusual appearance of tame sharks and crabs on the surface of the ocean a few more warning signs.

Stingless Bee and Natural Cacao Powder :

We have also had chance to visit one of the stringless Bee farm on Alabat Island. This native stingless bee species is known locally as “kiwot”. These little bees would go on to play a key role on the farm, eventually leading to increased coconut yields. These stingless bee native to the Philippines, are being cultivated on a farm to both produce honey and pollinate coconut trees according to the local farmer.

“Kiwot” bees typically roam within a 250- to 500-meter radius of their hive, so they have to be close to pollen sources, such as the wild plants that grow under coconut trees and it helped improve the farm’s coconut yield by up to 50%.

We had also seen the live natural process of Cacao Powder being made from cacao beans. In this process, First, they open all of the cacao pods and remove the cacao beans. It is placed in a bucket lined with banana leaves and covered for 3-4 days.

Finally, It is roasted in a large steel mixing bowl with heat. This Cacao power is 100% all-natural and unsweetened and has multiple health benefits.

Mountain Ridge & Beautiful Pacific Oceans:

Our final adventure started when we drove to the mountain Ridge of Alabat Island. The view of the majestic Pacific Oceans through the mountain Ridge was mesmerizing and one must visit this. The island has a mountain ridge with peaks ranging from 1,083 ft to 1,384 ft which look like islands at a distance.

The beauty of nature lies in its freshness, openness, slow breeze, mountains, and warm sun. I find many colors in the nature of Alabat Island which make this island fascinatingly beautiful.

This Paradise Island in the Pacific Ocean is one of my favorite travel destinations.