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| Babuyan Islands - Camiguin Norte |
Overview: Camiguin Norte is a volcanic island with steep, forest-covered hills overlain
with clay and rice fields. It is home to Mount Camiguin, a 712m dormant stratovolcano
that has not erupted in over 100 years. If you like birds and animal life this is the place to
be as it is the residence of 18 mammals, 13 reptiles, seven amphibians and 126 birds. One
of its seacaves shelters hundreds of swiftlet species.
Says MAYOR : “With its coast, hills, prairie and a couple of mountains, Camiguin Norte
is diverse and wonderful. The small sitio of Cabanbanan which we visited had the smell
of summer, old farmhouse and salt air. Citrus trees like dalandan, suha, and caburao grew
with abandon. Out in the open field you'd hear only the sound of animals."
“In Sitio Banwa, the seawater was a clear aquamarine. In Pamuktan, the lowland forest
had a natural freshwater lake where bangus and tilapia are grown. Tangeb, a sea cave
southwest of the province, shelters hundreds of balinsasayaw or glossy swiftlet species.
In Pinon Island, a cornucopia of lagaylay vines (foodplants for Idea leuconoe butterflies)
had grown thickly everywhere, confirming claims that at a certain time of the year, a
kaleidoscope of butterflies was seen fluttering at the shoreline.”
Eco features: Camiguin Norte is one of the islands comprising the Babuyan Group
(Calayan, Babuyan Claro, Dalupiri), separated from the coast of Luzon by the Babuyan
Channel. Some 18 globally threatened or near-threatened species together with 21
endemic species including the butterfly species Euploea phaenareta and Troides magellanus (magellanus birdwing) can also be found in the area.
Supporting organization: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines works for
the protection of the area. Klub Natur offers eco tours.
How to get there: Florida Bus plies the Manila-Aparri route daily. Get off at the
Florida Bus terminal then take a tricyle that will bring you to Veterans where boats going
to Camiguin are docked. Trips are irregular though and are sometimes cancelled due to
strong currents.
Photo and Article Source : Inflight Magazine (Seair)
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