Donsol, Sorsogon: Whale Sharks' Philippine Home (Local Version)

Click here to go to the original version of this blog post.

 

“Ang mga butanding ay lumilipat-lipat ng lugar para maghanap ng pagkain at para makapagparami.”, ito ay ayon sa Wikipedia. Isa sa mga lugar na gustong gusto bisitahin ng mga butanding ay ang kilalang ‘whale shark-receptive’, ang Bicolano na lungsod ng Donsol, Sorsogon, lalong-lalo na tuwing buwan ng Nobyembre hanggang Hunyo.”

 Ang Kasaysayan ng Butanding sa Donsol
Ang  mga butanding ay lampas na sa isang daang taon na naninirahan sa lungsod ng Donsol. Akala ng karamihan sa mga naninirahan doon ay delikado ang mga hayop na ito hanggang sila ay nakapagsagawa ng pagsisid noong ika-26 ng Disyembre na pinangungunahan ni Romil Aglugub at nakapagpatunay  na ang mga hayop na ito ay may pagkakapareho sa mga karakter ng isang Disney Animated Film, na pinamagatang Monsters’ Inc. Ang mga karakter nito ay malalaki at nakakatakot ngunit magiliw at mahilig makipagkaibigan. Noong Marso 1998, nagging world-class na pasyalan ng mga turista ang Donsol at kinilala bilang “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Pagmasid sa mga Butanding, o sa mas madaling salita,
‘Paghahabol’

Ang isa sa mga magandang bagay sa Donsol ay ang pagsisilbing lugar upang magkita-kita ang mga tao at Butanding. (Ang pagsisilbing lugar upang magkita-kita ang mga tao at Butanding ay isa sa mga magandang bagay sa Donsol.) Ito ay lugar kung saan ang dalawang magkakaiba ang uri na pinangalingan ay maaring makisalamuha sa isa’t isa. Ito ay lugar kung saan ang mga gaya natin ay maaring makakuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga Butanding sa paraan na kailangan mo magsikap upang malapitan ito. Kahit na kailangan mo gamitin ang buong lakas at kakayahan mo upang makipaglaro ng cat-and-mouse sa napakalaking isda na ito, ang ganitong paraan rin naman ay nagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa atin upang mamangha sa kagandahan ng mga Butanding habang hindi sila masyadong  naiistorbo. Ang pakikipagsalamuha sa mga Butanding ay may hangganan, ito ay kontrolado ng Department of Tourism. Ang mga patakaran ng WWF ay mahigpit na ipinaiiral. Ang mga patakarang ito ay kadalasan makikita sa mga pumpboats, at sa mga opisina na sakop ng buong lugar.

Ganito ang buong sistema sa pagpapatakbo ng Whale Shark Watching sa Donsol, anim ang pinakamataas na bilang ng mga turista ang maaring payagan na sumakay sa isang pumpboat. Ang bawat pumpboat ay may  grupo na binubuo ng dalawang (2) tagabantay (sila ang tagamasid kung may mga Butanding na malapit), isang piloto (siya ang nagmamaneho ng Bangka) at isang tour guide o tagasisid (sinasamahan niya ang turista). Ang mga sisisid sa dagat ay kailangan nakasuot ng tamang kasuotan (snorker, masks, flippers, life vest). Maari rin naman piliin ng turista na hindi magsuot ng life vest. Dahil ito ay maaring maging sanhi ng iyong pagbagal kapag sinusundan mo ang Butanding. Kapag nakakita na ang tagabantay ng Butanding, agad niyang ituturo ang direksyon sa piloto upang mailapit ang bangka sa lugar kung saan maaaring malapitan na makasalamuha ng mga turista ang Butanding. Kapag nawala na ang Butanding, maari na sila bumalik sa Bangka at maghanap ulit. Paulit-ulit lang ang proseso na ito hanggang mapagdesisyunan ng turista na umuwi na lamang, o kapag sa tingin nila ay wala nang magpapakita na Butanding malapit sa baybayin ng Donsol. Maari rin kumuha ng litrato ng mga Butanding, ngunit dapat natin tandaan na huwag gumamit ng flash dahil maari itong maka distorbo sa kanila.

Paano Pumunta sa Donsol

Isa sa mga pinakamadaling paraan upang makapunta sa Donsol ay ang pagsakay ng eroplano papuntang Legazpi at mag van galing Legazpi papuntang Donsol.

Pagdating sa Donsol, maari kang mag rehistro sa kanilang opisina (maari kang mag tanong-tanong sa mga naninirahan doon kung saan ito matatagpuan) sa halagang 100PHP para sa mga Philippine locals at 300PHP para sa mga turista, at pumpboat sa halagang 3500PHP na maaring gamitin ng anim (6) na tao. Pwede mo rin ibahagi ang babayaran para sa pumpboat sa ibang mga turista na pupunta upang mag Whale Shark Watching.

May mga madaling araw at hapon na oras ng paglilibot (7am – 11am at 1-3pm).
At ang pag paparehistro naman ay tuwing 7 ng umaga hanggang 2 ng hapon.

Kagamitan na pang Snorkel

May tindahan rin na nagpaparenta ng mga fins at snorkels. Ito ay malapit lang sa opisina kung saan ka magpaparehistro. 150PHP para sa isang pares ng fins at 150PH para sa snorkel at mask.

Mga Maaring Tuluyan

 

 

Book at Vitton Beach Hotel, it’s the nicest looking inn near the registration office for Whale Shark Watching.

Room rates (as of April 2012)

VITTON BEACH RESORT ROOMS A D RATES

Single Deluxe – includes 1 queen size bed. Good for 2. 2,200 Php

(20 Rooms Available)

Standard – includes 2 double size beds. Good for 4. 2,200 Php

(17 Rooms Available)

Double Deluxe – includes 2 double size beds. Good for 4 . 3,200 Php

(10 Rooms Available)

Family – includes 2 queen size beds, living room and kitchenette. Good for 4. 3,700 Php

Website: http://whalesharksphilippines.com/?page_id=28

 

Pagkain

Ang pagkain galing Vitton Beach Hotel ay di ganon ka sarap para sa ipinatong na presyo sa kanilang pagkain. Ngunit ang magandang balita ay mayroong karendirya na matatagpuan sa lungsod ng Donsol, ito ay malapit sa  Municipal Hall at parke. Maari kang magtanong tanong sa mga magigiliw na residente kung saan matatagpuan ang ‘Red’s Carenderia’ at dadalhin ka nila doon. Ang Red’s Carenderia ay nagbebenta ng pinaka masarap na Bicol express na aking natikman.

 

Buod

 

Ang Donsol, Sorsogon ang pinaka magandang lugar na puntahan sa Pilipinas upang mag Whale Shark Watching. Ang mga paglilibot ng madaling araw tuwing buwan ng Nobyembre hanggang Enero ay mas inirerekomenda dahil mas maraming mga Butanding ang matatagpuan. At kung ikaw naman ay nagugutom, wag kalimutang dumaan sa Red’s.
Mas maganda kung maraming beses kayo pumalaot kung gusto mo talagang makita ang mga Butanding ng malapitan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donsol, Sorsogon: Whale Sharks’ Philippine Home

Click here to go to the local version of this blog post. 

 “Whale Sharks migrate to feed and possibly to breed”, according to Wikipedia and one of the places these gentle giants want to visit is the ‘whale shark-receptive’, Bicolano town of Donsol, Sorsogon, particularly during the months of November to June.

The History of Whale Sharks in Donsol

Whale Sharks actually have been in the town of Donsol for over a hundred years now. Local residents actually thought that these creatures were harmful until a diving expedition conducted on December 26, 1997 led by Romil Aglugub proved that these creatures were similar to the characters of the Disney Animated Film, Monsters’ Inc. They were big and scary yet so gentle and friendly. By March 1998, Donsol became world-class tourist destination and now known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Whale Shark Watching, or should I say, ‘Chasing’

The great thing about Donsol is that it serves as a meeting place for people and Whale Sharks. It’s a place where two different species can interact with each other. It’s a place where us people can get more information about the Whale Sharks through a very effort-needed approach. Although it takes a lot of energy and skill to play cat-and-mouse with these large fish, this kind of system allows us to be fascinated by the beauty of these giants without disturbing them much. Interaction is actually regulated by the Department of Tourism. WWF guidelines are strictly observed. The guidelines are usually posted in the pumpboats, and offices all over the place.

The whole system of Whale Shark Watching in Donsol actually goes like this, a maximum of six (6) tourists are allowed in each pumpboat. Each pumpboat has a team composed of two (2) spotters (spotters look for Whale Sharks), a pilot (drives the boat) and a tour guide/diver (goes with the tourist). The divers (tourists and the tour guide) must have proper equipment (snorkel, masks, flippers, life vest). The tourists could actually choose not to wear a life vest at their own risk. As a life vest may slow you down when you’re following the shark. Once the spotter finds a shark, he directs the pilot to manoeuvre the boat to a place where the divers can swim near and maybe interact with the shark. Once the divers have lost track of the shark, they may hop on back to the boat. The whole process just loops through until the tourists decide to head back home or the team suggests that there are no more Whale Sharks near the coastal areas of Donsol. Taking pictures of the sharks are actually allowed just don’t forget not to use a flash as it may disturb them.

How to Get to Donsol

One of the easiest ways, if not the easiest way to get to Donsol is to ride an airplane to Legazpi and take a van from there to Donsol.

Once you get to Donsol, you can register at the registration office (just ask the locals where is this located) at a rate of 100PHP for Philippine locals and 300PHP for foreign people and a pumpboat for 3500PHP good for 6 persons. You could always share the fee for the pumpboat with other tourists going Whale Shark Watching.

There are early morning and afternoon tours (7am to 11am and 1-3pm - around these times). Registration is from 7am until 2pm.

Snorkel Equipment

There is a shop that lets you rent fins and snorkels. It’s near the registration office. 150PHP for a pair of fins and 150PHP for a snorkel and mask.

Accomodation

Book at Vitton Beach Hotel, it’s the nicest looking inn near the registration office for Whale Shark Watching.

Room rates (as of April 2012)

VITTON BEACH RESORT ROOMS A D RATES

Single Deluxe – includes 1 queen size bed. Good for 2. 2,200 Php

(20 Rooms Available)

Standard – includes 2 double size beds. Good for 4. 2,200 Php

(17 Rooms Available)

Double Deluxe – includes 2 double size beds. Good for 4 . 3,200 Php

(10 Rooms Available)

Family – includes 2 queen size beds, living room and kitchenette. Good for 4. 3,700 Php

Website: http://whalesharksphilippines.com/?page_id=28

Food

Food from Vitton Beach Hotel was pretty lacklustre for its price but good news is that there is a carenderia situated at the town of Donsol, near the municipal hall and park. Just ask the very welcoming locals where ‘Red’s Carenderia’ is located and they will actually take you there. Red’s Carenderia offers the best Bicol Express I ever tasted.

Wrap-Up

Photo by Jacob Maentz

Donsol, Sorsogon is surely the best place to go Whale Shark Watching in the Philippines and one of the best in the world. The morning tour during the months of November to January is usually recommended as many ‘Butandings’ are present at that time. And if you are anyway hungry, just remember to hop by at Red’s. Multiple tours are usually the bomb in order to be sure to see a Whale Shark upclose.