A tourist enjoying the waters of Basilan.
For the overseas Filipino workers returning to their homeland Basilan, they can now enjoy with no fear the new reconstructed White Beach.
By plane, only half an hour away from Zamboanga City (which, in turn, is only an hour and a half from Manila), the island of Basilan is one of Mindanao’s hidden treasures.
Among its many beaches, White Beach puts the “escape” in “escapade.” For harried city dwellers who want or need to commune with nature and go offline for a while, this sea sanctuary has white powdery sand, patches of coconut trees and, with just a short climb up its hills, a breathtaking view of the island.
White Beach is not isolated, it provides the kind of solitude that the soul seeks our or even hungers for from time to time. There are no crowds or loud, flashy clubs, bars and stores that crowd other spots.
Virgin beaches
White Beach has 25 native, open-air cottages, a recreation area and a shower room. For those who can’t survive without an air-conditioner, cottages with this amenity are being constructed.
But there is really no time to stay indoors (except to sleep) when there is so much to do outside—swimming and sunbathing, playing volleyball or jogging on the shore, or even simply frolicking or sitting on the beach, jet-skiing, water-skiing, knee and wakeboarding as well as banana-boat riding and kayaking.
Laid-back
For extra adventures, neighboring cities like Lamitan and Isabela are boat rides away, affording visitors a chance to experience their laid-back vibe, cultures and histories, and southern cuisine.
“Whether we get domestic or international visitors, we are quite proud of our hospitality and ability to host travelers. Kayang-kaya ng local businessmen,” says Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman.
Tourism hub
Hataman has been providing the aegis to transform the coastal areas of Basilan and its surrounding towns into a tourism hub. He rallied support from investors in order to provide opportunities for local businesses and opening up jobs for the locals.
If you’re still not convinced, take the word of royalty: “Basilan is a sight to behold. Its White Beach is the hottest brand-new discovery for travelers these days,” Princess Sitti Djaliah T. Hataman proudly says.