Words and images by Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
AFTER SAILING for nine hours straight, I have perfected the art of doing nothing.
Going to Boracay usually takes less than an hour by plane from the Manila airport — which is way more convenient than commuting from Makati to Alabang — but alternatives, and longer routes, are also options, especially for those with a smaller budget but with more time to spare.
BusinessWorld traveled on one of the ships of 2Go Travel, one of the largest sea travel providers in the Philippines, to one of its top destinations, which is Boracay — the island of the famed white and powdery sand and vibrant nightlife. But before arriving at restless Boracay and its adventures comes the extreme contrast of the idleness on board.
Is there beauty in the slow passage of time? Not when you’re stuck in Manila’s hellish traffic, but perhaps yes, when you are in the middle of the sea and the water lulls you to sleep with only the wind and waves breaking the silence. This could be a version of the Italian concept of “la dolce far nienta,” or the sweetness of doing nothing. Italian way of “doing nothing” includes drinking wine and walking along boulevards, but mine included the joy of getting more than enough sleep. But this “doing nothing” is not as easy as it seems, especially when everyday life keeps one so busy and active, juggling many things all at the same time. “Doing nothing” takes a lot of getting used to.
IS IT BORING?
From Rizal Park in Manila, 2Go’s buses brought its guests to the Port of Batangas where the invited media members boarded the MV St. Ignatius which was going to Caticlan in Aklan, then on to Boracay Island. Travel time from Batangas to Boracay takes around 12 hours — more than enough time to finish tasks like writing pending articles, reading school requirements, and simply contemplating on your existence.
But a word of warning — the boat ride is not for those with a tendency towards seasickness. Although the trip was generally smooth, it did get a little bit dizzying especially for first timers. One badly needs to do something to distract from impending motion sickness. There is erratic cellular signal on board so checking your Facebook or Instagram accounts is out of the question. To pass the time, there’s a karaoke bar on the roof deck, a television inside the cabins, and — for those looking for some alone time — space on the deck for a walk, or to watch the sea or your fellow passengers, who are also as idle as you are. The ship can take on 1,096 passengers, but there were fewer people on board during our trip. A friend said he saw some dolphins as we passed by Mindoro. I did not see them.
But as daydreaming was an option, that is what I did. What would Jose Rizal and the rest of the Ilustrados do to kill time aboard when they travelled to Europe? Perhaps Mr. Rizal painted, or he met girls? Although there was no ball to attend on the MV St. Ignatius, I imagined I was Rose and I’d meet my own Jack on board. I daydreamed and then I fell asleep. It helped that the cabins are comfortable, with double deck beds, a television, pillows, and a private bathroom.
The 2Go crewman I talked to said some people spent Christmas and New Year on board while going home to their provinces because the route is long and the going slow.
SHIP VERSUS AIRPLANE
“It could get a little bit boring,” admitted Captain Bobby Montayre when the media members were given a chance to visit him at the bridge. He travels the same route every day (Batangas to Boracay and back again). When not working, he watches television or the sea.
Still, he said “Mas may adventure sa barko, marami kang madadaanang islands (There is more adventure on a boat as you pass many islands).”
He also wanted to debunk the notion that a cruise is not as safe as riding the airplane. “It is now safer,” he said in Filipino. Before we hopped on the ship, a security dog checked our bags. The 2Go ships will not sail if a typhoon signal has been declared, even if it is only typhoon signal No. 1. Ticketing is strict so there are no chance passengers. “Sorry na lang,” he said.
He also joked that when traveling by ship, one does not encounter “laglag bala” (the airport bullet scam) and there are “fewer delays.”
2Go may be slower than getting to your destination by plane, but it is also cheaper. It is so affordable that it is almost always has fully booked, especially during the summer peak and “-ber” months. The current rate to Boracay was P950 one way. Check www.travel.2go.com.ph for ticket prices.
Its Web site states that 2Go is “born out of established brands such as Negros Navigation, Superferry, Cebu Ferries, and Supercat,” and that it has “a combined history of more than 148 years in the travel industry.”
According to 2Go’s senior marketing manager Ismael Algara, its top destination is Negros followed by Boracay (“especially during Laboracay,” he said, referring to the labor day weekend in Boracay) and Cebu. The company’s ships also ply routes to Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Tagbilaran, and Palawan.
A long trip makes you look forward to finally reaching your destination. Boracay, it turned out, was less crowded because we arrived on a Monday.
With less than 24 hours and without a jam-packed itinerary, we made the usual stops: merienda (afternoon snack) at Jonah’s for its fruit shake and Real Coffee for its famous calamansi muffins, and Epic Club for a taste of the island nightlife. And, of course, we enjoyed the sun and the beach and the blue waters.
We maximized the action while on the island because the next day would see another nine hours of sailing and idleness — which we decided to dedicate to sleeping after the night’s partying — and for daydreaming about the dolphins I didn’t get to see the last time.
