Matinloc Island
The next day, we commenced with our resort-sponsored grandiose Combination Tour A and C, an island-hopping tour, boarding a big outrigger boat from Las Cabanas Beach, a 5-min. walk or 69 steps down the hill from the resort. Set on a headland, the beach offers a panoramic view of the lush and lovely outlying islands we were to visit, the first of which was the heart-shaped Matinloc Island. It got its name from the native (Cuyunin) word matinlo which means maganda in Filipino or “beautiful” in English.
Las Cabanas Beach
On our way …..
The weather that day was pleasant and the waves were gentler than usual. Along the way, we passed by several islands. Upon arrival, we docked our boat at a small concrete pier. Matinloc Island has gorgeous limestone cliffs, beautiful white sand beaches and a shrine to Our Lady of Matinloc, inaugurated and blessed on May 31, 1993, the Feast of Our Lady of Matinloc.
Making landfall
The concrete landing dock
The dome-shaped shrine, with 12 columns, has an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a cross on a circular altar. This may sound kind of strange but this isolated, remote island also has a small “museum.” Inside this said museum are photos and newspaper clippings that explain the history of Matinloc Shrine, how it was built, and the miracles that supposedly occurred in the area after the shrine was constructed.
Matinloc Shrine
The author inside Matinloc Shrine
Beside the shrine are the ruins of the mansion of religious El Nido resident Jablon Fernadez, said to be a lodging facility for pilgrims. It was abandoned to rot due to, according to different accounts by the islanders, lack of funds, family quarrels, broken heart, charges of tax evasion, etc.. Only debris and some toilet fixtures were left inside and a stainless water tank outside.
Ruins of the abandoned mansion
White sand beach behind the shrine
Some of the walls were demolished by scavengers to get the door jambs but a number of window jambs, with their glass panels still intact, remain. However, its abandonment seems to add to the overall appeal of this mysterious place. Still, I hope that the ruins would be put into adaptive reuse and be functional.
The view deck
The long queue
We also climbed up a stair-like path, up a steep limestone cliff with sharp craggy outcrops, to a vantage point bordered by sharp, towering limestone rock faces. Here, we had a panoramic view of some of the limestone cliffs of the island, other nearby islands and beaches and the clear, blue waters of the Matinloc Channel. The awe-inspiring view and the great photo op, by itself, makes this island stop worthwhile. We didn’t long here as there was a queue of visitors waiting for us to get down.
View from a crack in the rocks
Another view from the top
The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido: Sitio Marimegmeg, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, 5313, Palawan. Tel: + 66(0) 76 281 406. Fax: + 66(0) 76 384 369. Mobile numbers: (0915) 250-7368 (Globe) and (0920) 975-8690. E-mail: theresortelnido@gmail.com. Website: www.elnidobayview.com.