A Merry Christmas Along The Shore Of Paypay, Daanbantayan

Christmas Day was a wrap indeed in our timelines. It was a busy and tiring day for us, especially those who spent the yuletide on vacation or in robust preparation. Some went to the beach, some stayed in their homes, while some went to fine dining restaurants for Christmas dinner. We had our own ways of celebrating Christmas yesterday, and whether it was chaotic or calm, one thing must be the same for us: it was joyous. I hope.

Well, this is our first Christmas as a family, and we made sure to experience it memorably. We first decided to celebrate it in the city with my eldest brother and his family, but one of my cousins who lives in Daanbantayan, Cebu asked for our presence in their house and excitingly invited us. We could not decline because her parents, who are my bias in the whole clan, also invited us so we could celebrate together happily. Instead of going to the city, I told my mother we should celebrate it at my auntie’s house, since their place in Daanbantayan is so peaceful and beautiful, perfect for a Christmas vacation.

Daanbantayan is a coastal municipality on the island of Cebu, in the northern part, that is home to beautiful beaches and aquamarine life. Popular resorts, clear seawater, and sea activities like kayaking and jetskiing are famous here. It carries a rich marine biodiversity that attracts many fishermen from neighboring localities and tourists who want to witness the beauty of its sea. In fact, the fishermen in our town visit here from time to time to gather sea produce that is abundant and supports the life of the people here.

I really didn’t have photos taken during the first hours of Christmas, as we celebrated enjoyably and forgot our phones. It was a tiring start to Christmas, but not the kind of tiredness that makes your bones fragile to step, rather one that is joyous and satisfying.

By morning, this was the view behind my aunt’s house: a wide, vast blue sea with clear water and white sand, with the blueness of the sky illuminating the color of the water and making it more pleasing to the eyes. However, the water at this time was too far from the shore since it was low tide early in the morning. What I like about low tide is that I get to reach farther into the water without getting wet, but sometimes I don’t notice that the water is getting higher and I get caught up. Low tide means more walking and more photos.

The blueness, or turquoiseness, of the water can be seen farther out, as seaweeds—which are important to the water ecosystem—occupy the first seabed of Paypay Beach. Low tide and high tide create this view transition, as both decorate the sea differently: low tide features weeds and sea urchins, while high tide produces big rolling waves that are sometimes good for surfing and pump boat riding. Some people were searching for urchins and other edible seafood like what we call “bhat/bat,” which is like a caterpillar but bigger, about the size of a fist.

Walking on the western side of the sea, still near the house, I saw another part of the island. If I walked farther, there would be popular and elegant beaches stretching along the shore, some of which I have already shared in my blogs here. In fact, I have shared this sea once before but never had a specific blog for traveling. I planned to get onto the cottage, the white one in the photos, but I was told not to ascend it since the concrete base was already fragile after the earthquake. There was also a party occurring there, which made me not attempt to get near it. Some coconut trees could be seen, along with old houses that were once used as vacation homes by tourists but are now unused.

I went into the water when I saw some little creatures walking toward the west in a colony. I found out they were fiddler crabs. I decided to take photos of them because I was interested in observing them carefully, but it took time to get close since they hid under the sand when a human approached. They live on mudflats and sandy beaches exposed during low tide, and you would often see them walking around in colonies. As I said, when someone approaches, they quickly dig and retreat into small burrows in the sand. It is said that males are easy to spot because they have one oversized claw, and they can regenerate it when injured or cut.

It was hard to capture them while they were above the sand, but later I learned a strategy. You have to approach them even if they hide beneath the sand and stay where they hid for a while. After a minute or two, they would reappear on the surface without noticing you—just don’t move—and you can bring your camera closer. If you are fortunate enough, they will freeze and pose for photographs, but I heard they only pose for kind ones, so don’t attempt it if you plan to harm them. It was my first time getting close-up photos of them, and I felt like the colony liked me. Lol.

On the eastern part, I walked right away to reach another point of view. It was the same view as the west, but with more signs of life, as abandoned pump boats and ruined houses were visible. I could still see local people living under cracked and makeshift houses, and I suddenly felt sad knowing that they were still not fully recovered even though it had been almost three months since the earthquake. Most of all, they never left this coast because it has been their home for many years, and almost all of them get their source of living here. The view was so relaxing, with only the sound of waves entering my auditory senses, making me feel fully immersed in the coast of Paypay, Daanbantayan.

It was already hot under the sun, and I could feel my face stinging even with sunscreen, so I headed back to the house for shade. Grilled pork was cooking there, and the smoke was savory and palatable. The meat was perfectly softening above the heat of the charcoal, and later we would feast on it for breakfast. A beach and grilled pork—what more can I ask for? It was perfect and enough for me. We had some cucumbers as well, and the meal was enjoyed.

By afternoon, the water that had been at low tide grew higher, and we could hear the waves rolling onto the shore, trying to reach our feet. We had some drinking sessions earlier with karaoke in between so we wouldn’t get bored. But I did get bored.

To ease my boredom, I took some shots of the kids playing in the water. Later, I heard a cry when one of the boys was hit in the face during their play. Kids, known for their playful behavior, are resilient, so they managed it well. I then took some wave shots to capture the beauty of the beach just behind my auntie’s house. The waves tried to reach me, bringing cool, fresh water along with seaweeds nonstop. The sea wasn’t as blue during high tide because the weather turned a bit bad that day. This morning, however, it returned to its beautiful state, but I didn’t get shots since I was too lazy to assemble the camera.

Watching the sea without disturbance is always a top-tier seaside experience, especially with loved ones who make it more memorable and valuable. It was a peaceful Christmas Day, even if it was simple—just a beach, some food, and a family you can always rely on. Peace starts within ourselves, and so it did for me. I made sure to have a perfect break from school and other responsibilities during the yuletide and tried to maximize the experience by immersing myself in the beach without thinking about worries or anything else.

As the Christmas day came to an end, I realized that moments like this don’t really need anything grand. Christmas didn’t need city lights or big celebrations to feel special. It was already enough with the sea, the shared laughs with my family, and the simple comfort of being alive. In that moment so memorable, I knew this Christmas would stay with me. Not because it was fancy, but because it felt real, peaceful, and just right.