INOPACAN, LEYTE and the INOPACNONS: tourist spots

APID ISLAND

Apid Island – [Inopacan, Leyte ] The farthest and the biggest among the four islands of Cuatro Islas. The island looks flat. It is circular in shape if viewed from above. Because of its considerable size of people living in the island, Apid had long been considered a barangay in the municipality of Inopacan.

This island village has an elementary school and barangay clinic on the island. Islanders are mainly fishermen and pandan palm growers. The fishermen would either dry their catch under the sun and brought them to the Inopacan mainland to sell or barter for their other basic needs. They would also sell fresh catch to earn money.

The palm growers would harvest leaves of romblon (pandan palm) and process them into strips called lilas, which is the raw material for weaving banig (sleeping mats).

Along the shore are romblon palms, mangroves are growing along the shore, white sandy beaches, limestone cliffs, and pristine sea water.

Towering coconut trees and some trees abound in the island.

The villagers built concrete cistern near their houses to catch and store rainwater as their source of freshwater. Though they would often have to go the mainland of Inopacan or Hindang towns to fetch their daily supply of potable water.

That islet appearing in the horizon (close to the boatman's hat) is the island of Brgy. Apid, A fading big island behind Apid is part of the Camotes Group of Islands of Cebu. An Apidnon boatman and his daughter are transporting bundles of lilas (romblon palm strips) to mainland Inopacan for trading.

Sunday is the market day in Inopacan. Islanders from Cuatro Islas would come to the Taboan (trading area) at the Reclamation Area (formerly known as Pasil) to sell their fresh catch, dried fish, seaweeds, and other marine products. Shown in the picture (above) are bundles of lilas (romblon palm strips) from Apid island transported to the shore of mainland Inopacan for sale or barter with for their needed basic commodities. The Apidnons (an islander from Apid) would go back home to their island after trading their goods. Lilas is the main material used in weaving banig, a native woven sleeping palm mat.

- edgie polistico -

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HIMOKILAN ISLAND

Himokilan island's point of view from Brgy Guadalupe (Binitinan).

Himokilan Island – [Hindang, Leyte] One of the islands of Cuatro Islas off the western coast of Leyte. This island looks like a giant shoe floating in the sea. It is the only island in Cuatro Islas that belongs to the municipal territory of Hindang.

The shoreline around the island has patches of pristine white sandy beach and limestone cliffs. It is inhabited by families of several fishermen who would trade their catch in the mainland and to island's guests.

Due to the scarcity of supply of freshwater, the islanders built a big concrete cistern near their village to catch and store rainwater though they would have to fetch their potable water from the mainland of Hindang or Inopacan.

A view of Baysahas and Himokilan island from the Reclamation Area (Pasil)

Himokilan island is quite near to the mainland, in fact is the nearest island among the four islands of Cuatro Islas. One could cross the sea to reach the island by simply paddling a sakayan (fishing canoe) on a calm sea.

A 2018 community map of Himokilan island. (Photo credit to Anabel Mabale)

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MAHABA ISLAND

The Mahaba Island of Cuatro Islas

(photo credit to Zen'YeCin 'Eun)

Mahaba Island – [Inopacan, Leyte] One of the four islands in the Cuatro Islas. So called because of its elongated shape. Mahaba is from the Tagalog word haba, meaning “long.” Of course, we cannot argue why visitors in the place would describe the island as the longest among the four.

Along the shore of the island are growing mangroves, white sandy beaches, limestone cliffs, and crystal clear pristine sea water. Towering coconut trees and some trees also abound on the island.

Fishermen built their houses in the island. They settled along with their families. A concrete cistern is built near their houses to catch and store rainwater as their source of freshwater though they would also go to mainland to fetch potable water.

Mahaba is a favorite stop over when touring to Digyo island. Here, locals would offer some seafoods and local delicacies to savor with.

The island is also the home of a rare species or small red shrimps that later on became a favorite attraction as the shrimps would nibble your dead skin like giving you a foot spa.

Start of Summer at Mahaba Island.

Hinup-akan is the true origin of Inopacan

The Legend of Inopacan (in my years of research)

Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video