Drifting North: Finding Kaongkod In The Quiet Corners Of Bantayan

Hello, travelers! We have come farther in my Bantayan Travel narrative, and tonight I’m excited to share with you another blog again, as a continuation of my trip to the island. From my voyage towards the island to the peaceful boardwalk experience in the dense mangrove forest of Oboob Camp Sawi and Camp Wagi, we have arrived again at our next destination, we call Kaongkod Watchtower Ruins. This one was not on our list of to-visit places, but on our way to the north, the Madridejos municipality, we spotted a well-visited spot that contains ruins and a watchtower used by the ancestors of this island. If you are a traveler or travel enthusiast who loves historical landmarks, this narrative is for you. I hope you’ll have a great read.

Of course, I cannot proceed to the next destination without finishing my Oboob Eco-park journey, where I stopped yesterday at my Camp Sawi journey. After a long stroll through this dense mangrove forest, we finally reached the arc of Camp Wagi, with surfboards on the boardwalk that are colorful and vibrant, telling the success of tourists after a long walk. Behind the arc, where we took photos together, is the sea of Oboob, with magnificent waters and a clear, vast sea horizon, paired with a perfectly cloudy atmosphere. We took photos at the arc for memories and continued our journey to the other side since we had to finish the walk as we had another destination to visit. On this side, there is less green; instead, I can see the brown side of the mangrove forest, mostly roots. I have also seen river-like corners along my journey, stumbled upon an under-construction boardwalk, rested in cottages, and finally left the forest. When we finished the walk, we immediately left the ecopark, with mangrove forests and waters below in our sight and a happy heart.

Traveling to the north means witnessing roads bordered by coconut trees and green landscapes, adding island features to Bantayan Island. It was a refreshing, calm, and amazing journey, to be surrounded by nature as we moved forward and explored the island more. No pollution, no traffic, no commotion, just pure roads with rich nature serenading our ride.

After half an hour of getting lost in the woods, of trying to navigate the island with our on-and-off internet connection on Maps, we finally reached the coastal town of Barangay Kaongkod, which geographically faces the Visayan Sea. It was a long left turn towards the coast, and we found many local people living near forests and kids playing around stalls selling refreshing drinks. At first, we were hesitant if we had found the right location since there were no signs of ruins, destinations, or even water, but after moving farther, we reached the water and the port.

When we reached the water, we didn’t find a ruin or watchtower. Instead, we found a blue, powdery beach and a port with many imports happening. I thought we had made a mistake in the location, but even after strolling around, we didn’t find any, and we believed it was not physically present anymore. This destination is also called Bantayan Sa Hari, a spot that is one of the oldest surviving coastal defense structures on Bantayan Island in Cebu, and it protected the island from Moro invaders. Just like the watchtower in Kota Park, Kaongkod also experienced the same history. They made the place a watch spot for invaders, and it served as a safe place for old locals, knowing they had 24/7 access to the water, hence ensuring their safety.

We laid down on the shore when we arrived to explore and take in the beauty of the destination. The waves rolled in blue, cast with white bubbles, and the scene was perfectly made to honor the history that once happened here. The scene was complementary, a quiet coastal area under a clear, bright blue sky, where the calm rolling ocean meets a stretch of pale, powdery shore. In the distance, in front of where we sat, a small port is visible with docked ships, cargo containers, and a crane. Closer to us, a traditional outrigger boat rests on the sand with a simple structure and colorful details hinting at local fishing life. Along another part of the shore, tall coconut trees sway lightly, shading a few modest huts and more resting boats scattered across the grassy ground. We also found small houses or huts with fishermen inside, resting and crafting their fish nets for fishing. It looked more rural, undisturbed, and the people in this corner really value peace more than unnecessary chaos.

This place amazed me because it is undoubtedly not crowded, undisturbed, not commercialized, and not polluted. It is a perfect destination for those who prefer a more calming, secluded seaside experience, with beautiful scenes in it. The port added movement to the scene, adding details of the life that happens there even until the present. We found a unique seashell that looks like a seahorse and kept it until now. It was a simple pause in the island, but until now, the beauty of this paradise still amazes me. I was so in love with the scene, especially the water, which was so astonishing and cool. As much as I wanted to swim around, it was not suggested because it is near the port, and I was not knowledgeable of the risks present on this beach.

Since we had to move forward to our next destination, we left this unplanned to-visit place and started the engine. It was then we realized we forgot to bring our wallets and cards, which meant we were traveling to the north without money, something we needed so much. Instead of continuing, we returned to our inn, which we rented for our whole stay on the island, and packed the things we would use for our seaside experience.

And just like that, what started as a simple detour became a quiet highlight of our journey, a place not found in plans but discovered in motion. Kaongkod may have hidden its ruins from our eyes, but it revealed something more lasting, a calm, a story, and a memory that stayed long after we left its shore.