Day 18: Snorkeling and more!

Waking up on our first and last full day on Caliboa Island was a different experience for each of us, with some of us feeding chickens while others helped with the rice. After having breakfast, as prepared by our host families, it was off to the Green Foot Print Lagoon via motorbike! While some of us took a quick trip on a boat through the lagoon, others enjoyed wading in the crystal clear ocean and finding shells on the small beach. Our stay there was short, but we were nonetheless invited to attend a celebration lunch prepared by the host family of Patrick and Adam. The luncheon was actually an old tradition of the people of the island, commemorating the 9th anniversary of the death of a loved one. The 9th year after death is considered to be the year in which the person's soul transcends into another realm. Therefore, this year is celebrated with a huge feast and celebration, to which the entire barangay (neighborhood) is invited. Patrick and Adam had many interesting experiences in witnessing the preparations for the feast, which continued through the entire night and involved peeling many pounds of vegetables, slaughtering a hog, chickens and a goat and sharing memories of the loved one.

After the feast concluded, we were essentially given free time to spend with our host families, hit up the sari sari stores or go to the beautiful beach that we had arrived on the day before. The most exciting event of the day was the Marine Protected Area. Here we were given a brief overview of the actions being taken to preserve the local coral reef and the interesting life forms that could be found in the area. The preparation was brief and soon enough many of us found ourselves in masks and swimming over a gorgeous ocean floor. For many of us, experiencing the wonders of the stunning ocean floor was a first that will not soon be forgotten. Blue starfish, clown fish that swam into your hands, lionfish, brain corals - these were just a few of the wonders that we were lucky enough to experience. Unfortunately enough, the sunburns will also not soon be forgotten :)

Upon leaving this area and hitching motorbike rides back to our homes, we ate dinner with our host families and prepared for another celebration at the Municipal Hall. Here, many island teen and adult groups performed dance numbers and sang, showcasing the best of Caliboa talent. In return we belted our group's go-to song: Don't Stop Believing! Admittedly, we may have forgotten a few of the words, but the congo line we created certainly made up for it! The festivities didn't last too long, due to the island's electricity curfew, but we were worn out from a long day anyway and ready pack for tomorrow's adventures!

-Rachel and Erika :)