I've been visiting the Virgin Island in Cebu every year since 2014 and I still get amazed by it every year. My only disappointment this year is that I didn't get the tan that I wanted because my sunblock was just too strong (oh well, guess that calls for another beach trip 🤷♀️).
There's nothing particularly different from this trip except for the copious amount of alcohol that we had but this time around, I was able to capture the island on film! For this set, I used two rolls of Kodak Colorplus 200 (bought from Korea by a friend!)
Also, one thing about the photo (see right) above is that pose was NOT easy to hold. I was half drowning with my eyes closed for the 'gram but shoutout to my sister who was able to capture it well. We're really after that buwis-buhay aesthetic.
One thing I found interesting about Cebu is that they have boats lying around right in the city.
En route to Virgin Island
Through the years of traveling to and from Cebu, I've learned how to sleep through road trips and boat rides. The only thing to wake me up completely is to spot the sea and all my senses are activated.
The view from below
I constantly thank the universe that my film camera's water-resistant because BEING CHASED AROUND BY A DEAD FISH IS JUST PLAIN GROSS. RIP Fish (2019)
Back at it again with me complaining about the lack of a tan.
The moon making its way from one side to another.
One of the highlights on this trip was spontaneously swimming off to the deeper ends of the sea with a scuba mask on a low-tide. My conclusion is that -- the ocean is f-ing scary man. I spotted a coral that looked like an actual brain and it reminded me so much of Junji Ito's drawings that I couldn't erase it off my mind.
Two sides of the island at the same time.
It boggles me how I get these vignettes on my shots because they appear so erratically.
On top of the Kodak film, my friend gave me a pack of expired Instax film and what better way to use it than to shoot them all on the island? Honestly, I like the colors on the expired film more since they're not as sharp as the fresh ones. (Or maybe it's just the "placebo" effect that the "expired" label brings?)
And here we are with another episode of I Wish I Took More Footage Because A Video Would've Been More Dope.
This is such an adult thing to say but I feel like I've grown to appreciate the island the same way that my parents do. I wasn't even doing as much as I did during the past couple of years (no cliff diving or trekking for me this year -- I was just flat out lazy.) but I set my mind to clearing out my headspace for a week. I think I'm really meant to be a beach bum and just tan my life away but reality just gets in the way. Going to the island is still the best type of vacation for me.
As usual, thank you again for our AMAZING hosts. I have content for days because of this trip and I'll be missing the fresh seafood I wouldn't be able to get in Manila 😿 'til next year!