THE ORIGIN OF THE HUNDRED MUSHROOMS ON THE SEA

THE HUNDRED ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK (HINP)           📌 Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan

SHELTERED by the calm Lingayen Gulf on the western coast of Luzon that is an extension of the rich West Philippine Sea, the glorious collection of "sea mounds" of eroded remains of ancient coral reefs called the Hundred Islands does not fail to beacon beach lovers from the country and from the world over. These small, mushroom-shaped islands covered with dense shrubby vegetation are part of Pangasinan's 20 square kilometers national park, or the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) that makes the province an extraordinary and exciting place to explore. Undeniably, the Hundred Islands, composed of 124 precarious coral islands to be exact is Pangasinan's most defining feature as Bohol is to Chocolate Hills or Mayon Volcano is to Albay.

Sandal Island as seen on top of Pilgrimage Island view deck

Records show that in the last Ice Age, these primordial coral reefs upheaved and left high and dry by the falling sea levels by that time. Erosion and hydrologic forces over the course of many millennia undercut and sculpted many of the islands, making them appear mushroom or curious glans-shape monuments spattered north off the coast of Alaminos City. The islands are believed to be more than 2 million years old. Some of the islands are relatively little jagged, pointed karsts, resembling like little hills on the sea. To compare, these protruding islands are smaller than the karsts of Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. However, Caramoan's are smaller than Coron's or El Nido's in Palawan. But any of Palawan's karsts are no bigger than those found in Halong Bay, Vietnam. I personally saw all these karsts myself.

Two million years old reef islands upheaved due to falling sea levels

Many of the islands are still undeveloped because they are impossible to land on due to their physical features - precipitous, rocky and pointed cliffs. However, some of the bigger islands have white beaches suitable for swimming and among and in between these delicate islands are snorkeling sites that if you're lucky, an spectacular sight of sea turtle awaits you. Few of the islands have any kind of infrastructure on them, Ramos Island, being the most enhanced. The island features a massive pavilion of modern architectural design and a Bonsai Garden hanging on the limestone cliffs. For me this is the most picturesque island, evoking a sense of the hot summer days of the Aegean Sea of Greece or the colorful cliffs and escarpment of Positano, Italy. Ramos Island is also considered to be the main gateway of the HINP - all boats arrive here first before exploring all the other islands of the natural park.

Ramos Island, arguably the most picturesque island on the HINP

Beside Ramos Island, the Governor, Quezon and Children's Islands are also among the most developed and among the busiest, gravitating visitors towards them especially every weekend. The largest white to golden beach is on the Quezon Island however the one found in Governor's Island is also magnetic.

Attraction at Quezon Island, one of the most developed among the islands of HINP

An unbelievable two meter wide white sand beach separates Ramos Island to the Pilgrimage Island. The latter reminds us of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featuring the massive statue of Christ, the Redeemer on the highest point of the island. On its lower slope, you can find The Stations Of The Cross for your serenity, peace of mind and meditation. The Pilgrimage Island is covered by fire trees and other flowering shrubs that have adapted to colonize and survive in the very poor and thin soil covering the coral limestone island.

The Pilgrimage Island reminds us of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

They say you cannot appreciate the Hundred Islands when not viewed on a helicopter at bird's eye view, but I say otherwise. Even in between the islands, myriad of waterways, channels and straits create mazes splitting and joining the coral islands leading to coves and bays in the most perfect azure blue sea of the Lingayen Gulf.

Floating pathways connecting Sandal, Pilgrimage and Ramos Islands

With a hundred islands to choose from, some are visited because of its serenity and less crowd to no crowd at all. There are small beaches and caves to the islands of Marcos, Cuenco and Sison. The sea water Imelda Cave located at Marcos Island is for the extreme adventurers where one can swim through a low arch into the open sea and make your way back to the other side to a nearby beach. But for us who were just wanted to have an easy fun, we entered the lovely Cuenco Island Cave, simpler but still stunning.

The Cuenco Cave leading into the other side of the Cuenco Island

Without any doubt, the Hundred Islands National Park is Pangasinan's number one destination, leaving a mark into the province's tourism slogan "Hundred Islands and Hundred Flavors".

It is difficult to underdescribe HINP incredible beauty as this is one of the most, if not the most stunning geological formation or natural monument I've ever seen in the length of Luzon Island's enormous coastline.

Pangasinan's pride, one of the Hundred Islands

But it has to be admitted now that Pangasinan, so as the bustling city of Alaminos, is becoming highly urbanized and the province, among the most populated in the Philippines. Its cities and towns  start to have a touch of chaos. Over the years, overfishing, history of dynamite use and litters have done untold damage to the marine environment surrounding the park. However, improved and more strict protection and rehabilitation program involving responsible tourism such as the "BASURA MO, IUWI MO PROGRAM" is believed to have a positive impact for the recovery of the corals, fish population and the entire natural park.

"Basura Mo, Iuwi Mo" Program, helping the HINP litter free

But still Pangasinan's endowment of the Hundred Islands despite of the province's extremely hustle bustle development, is second to none in terms of having a getaway featuring the most beautiful natural places  and island hopping indulgence in the Philippines .

#HundredIslandsAndHundredFlavors #HINP #Pangasinan #HundredIslands #Ilocandia