PERFECT STORM PART II: AN EXTRA ORDINARY JOURNEY TO BALUT ISLAND

PERFECT STORM PART II:

AN EXTRA ORDINARY JOURNEY TO BALUT ISLAND

By : Jessemar J. Wao

Balut Island Davao del Sur 

  If you've watched a  movie entitled “The Perfect Storm” by Michael Douglas, perhaps this one is the second part yet the real one, no effects, cinematography because it was definitely experienced.  Our journey riding a vessel named M/V Orland J going to Balut Island definitely unfolds the second chapter of the movie the Perfect Storm.  October 20, 2012 Saturday the story begins. Bryan Onate,  best friend of mine now works as  a broadcaster in the RMN General Santos City along with my students Jay, Henry and a friend of mine Jefferson joined the travel. Bryan and I had been deciding together that we will be going to Balut Island for a travel but we don’t have the time only that month. My purpose of going to Balut Island is to check, and visit the  school which I administered,  the Lipol Grace Academy, and  it so happens that Bryan had his leave and he said he  really wanted  to join and   see how nice  the place is as I used to brag to him. 
 . 

 6: 15 in the evening,  Bryan had been already at our boarding house as  I told him before we rode  to the pier the  docking area of the ORLAN J  vessel. My students came late, I noticed Bryan’s  reaction he seemed very  excited to depart going to Balut island. Then we all packed up and ready to ride tricycle going to Puting Bato, Calumpang General Santos City  where the vessels are located.   At first, the weather seemed so ok that somewhat welcomes us to our travel not knowing  that we will be facing a nightmare.                                                           

My friend Bryan Onate , trying to lessen the boredom
 by posing at Calumpang GSC pier

AND THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS 

front view of Orlan J, as we depart to Balut Island

6:30 in the evening,  we  were all at the docking site, we taught that we could travel automatically unfortunately  we had to wait for almost  six (6)  hours at the docking site. I saw Bryan trying to ease his  boredom and cravings to really ride the vessel.  What he did was he just talked with the people from Balut Island, asking some information and background about our place. For  long hours of waiting at last we were  instructed by some of the crew that we may now go up and find a place to stay as we go to our travel.                                                             

It was around 12:30 AM when we had already on the vessel and the engine started to ignite and the crew were busy moving the things for the vessel started to depart. Bryan’s face looks so excited, and all of us were so happy. About 15 minutes of laughing and joking we noticed that the waves started to bump to the vessel and it swayed abnormally, then  the rain started to fall. We were not able to settle properly that time because passengers were so many and we could not have a proper area to stay but to sit down anywhere. Thunders,  lightning, and of course the huge waves bumped and always bounced back to the vessel. All of us were so quiet I myself felt afraid and totally scared  not because the vessel might wreck but because if it happen to wreck I will be responsible for my students and my friend Bryan.

Passengers of M/V Orlan J.

  As the time goes by, the thunders and rains got even stronger, I noticed some of the Muslim passengers prayed and mentioned “Allah…….” As I understood their prayers it means God help us, neither me, I prayed heartily so that nothing will happen to us. Then a few hours later God Almighty heard our prayer, the huge waves stops yet the rain still there. I only have one word uttered repeatedly to Bryan as I saw him a few meters away from me, I just said “PRAY”.  Then around 5 AM , we could see the island, its beautiful panoramic view started to show us, all of our fears slowly vanished and replaced by undecipherable happiness since we came safe. The breathtaking green views of the island somewhat lessened the fears we have had. I observed that all of us were drenched, it’s because of the rain and water from the sea that jolted to the vessel.  

Jefferson, Jay, and me Jessemar,

 At last we were at home. We were welcomed by Mr. & Mrs. Vicente Dalumpines the president of the LGA,  they offered us coffee and bread so as to lessen the dizziness we had experienced and then we had some rest , however I couldn’t sleep because the roars of the waves and thunder, and the coldness still resounds in my mind. Then I’d realized that this is the life of an “islander”,  not all the time  of travel is placid sometimes WAVY , just like in life sometimes we experience happiness sometimes a CHALLENGE.