People have been drawn to beaches like a moth to a candle flame for a long while. The attraction is much more after the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic.
We were in a rut and we needed a change of pace and scenery. There was also the concern on how to travel safely and with ease. We were looking for safety, and fun under the sun. The answer after a quick research online is, Sunlight Air. Their service is a one-stop shop for travelers. From personal experience, their services go beyond your typical airline travel. It’s like having your own concierge before and while you’re on vacation.
The travel bubble
The team at Sunlight Air offers travel bubbles for the safety of their passengers. They can also arrange accommodations with their partner resorts.
With that in mind, it’s not hard to make the decision to go for a short vacation to Club Agutaya, a boutique resort in San Vicente, Palawan.
We started early in the day for a morning flight. While waiting to board the aircraft, we had light snacks and beverages at Sunlight Air’s Manila lounge. Everything is peaceful and comfortable and not much thought was put into the coming storm, inconspicuously named “Odette.”
The flight to the San Vicente airport was on schedule. The sun was out and the longest white sand beach in the Philippines was waiting. We won’t have time to explore all 14.5 kilometers of it, but experiencing even just a small part would be wonderful.
We arrived at Club Agutaya in time for lunch. We were welcomed by the staff and the resort’s director of operations, Icy Mariñas and CEO Chef Maria Evangelista.
This day is pleasant and the closest thing to a pre-pandemic vacation. The following days, however, would be entirely different.
Typhoon Odette
We were cautious and prepared yet we still underestimated this super typhoon and almost paid dearly for it. This was the first time San Vicente experienced a storm of this magnitude.
The next day was bleak and windy. The rains came when we were on our way to have breakfast at the resort’s Café Lily. Today will be spent preparing for Odette’s landfall in the afternoon.
The winds picked-up and it was also raining. There was no electricity, no Internet and we could not make nor receive calls at this time. We were just advised by the resort to stay in our rooms to avoid being hit by flying debris. Food and water were just brought to us by the resort’s reliable and hard-working staff. They still provided impeccable service even while thinking about their friends and family outside of the resort.
Odette made landfall in the late afternoon and we felt it. The sound of the winds made was unnerving. How will the people survive this? Especially the folks near the beach with houses made of light materials? We knew our villa was solidly built and I was not too concerned about our safety when we were inside. We were just waiting for the storm to pass with only our flashlights from our cell phones to illuminate our surroundings. We’re thankful that we had food and water even if there is no power and no way of communicating to people outside and in Manila. Total darkness seemed to swaddle us as we closed our eyes and tried to sleep.
The morning after
Fallen trees, detached roofs and many other debris were all around. We managed to survey the damage after breakfast. We rode around to the different barangays on motorbikes. Vehicles with four wheels wouldn’t be able to pass through because of the fallen trees and posts on the road. We sometimes had to pull cables over our heads just to get through.
About 30 percent of the houses in San Vicente were completely destroyed. The ones left standing are in bad shape as well. No electricity, no cell phone signals and no Internet. The people needed help but with no way to communicate to the outside world, we felt helpless.
There were certain areas where we got a weak signal and it enabled us to seek help and notify friends and family of the situation. We also received word that a rescue flight to Manila is coming for us. This is good news since the San Vicente airport is damaged with limited communication capabilities.
We were leaving, but I have to think about the fate of the people left behind. Our rescue does not change anything. All that we can do is to get more help and assistance once we are in Manila.
Our friends that were left behind are fighters and survivors. They are hopeful they will rebuild and recover with help from the national government and kind-hearted individuals. It will only be a matter of time and the people will rise. Yes, the sun still shines bright in San Vicente.
Image credits: Ardee P. de los Angeles