Foreign Cruise ship docks at two islands of Quatro Islas in Leyte

Hindang, Leyte---

It was a festive mood at Himokilan Island, here and the Mahaba Island of Inopacan, Leyte who were among the 4 islands of Quatro Islas a known tourist destination in Leyte as a French registered Cruise ship L’ Austral docks near the two islands on Wednesday.

Justine Friend, event coordinator said that the reason why the choose the two islands in Leyte is because they wanted to find a place that represents the real Philippines as the ship passengers are well travelled and well educated people. He said that they are here because they want to see something which is real and don’t want to go somewhere just enough for tourist. He added that they basically look for a place that the ship would take and this area at the bottom of Leyte is perfect for the ship and Himokilan Island in the morning and Mahaba Island in the afternoon is perfect because where else can you see a place that’s so real.

He went on to say that the passengers are so excited to the visit knowing that they are the first ship to come here and it’s a kind of a new experience for them. From Leyte, Friend said that their next visit will be in Sibuyan Island in Romblon and Coron in Palawan before proceeding to Manila. He added that they came from a tour in Indonesia after leaving Australia.

The cruise ship who has a gross tonnage of 10 400 has the capacity to carry 264 passenger but this trip they only have 215. 90% of the passengers according to Friend are couple who are retirees from different field of works with 50% French and 45% Australian and the rest are coming from mixed origins. He added that the ship has 150 crews with 64 Filipinos in its roster.

Mayor Betty Cabal, of Hindang, Leyte in an interview said that they whole Municipality of Hindang is excited because it the first time that a tourist cruise ship that is coming over the island and they did a lot of preparation for them especially when she learned that they will be coming back on June and first impression last. She said that part of their preparation was to get in touch with the district supervisors of DepEd created a focal person and built a shape for them the visitor to relax because its summer and they don’t want to these visitors to have a stroke. She added that they also made five stations to visit which includes Tuba (Coconut wine) production, mat weaving because the place has plenty of Romblon plants which is a material of the making mats and other products, along with a fishing village wherein the tourist can see how to weave fishing nets and boat making.

In Mahaba, Island Mayor Silvestre Lumarda in an interview said that he is happy that Quatro Islas was chosen by the ship management because it is a great pride for them not only in the country but throughout the world. He said that they are blessed because his town was given the privileged of having three of the four islands of the Quatro Islas that resulted many tourist visit in the area.  He added that the visit of the cruise ship has a big effect to the tourism industry of his town because this provides adequate income to all the people who are in the industry. 

In Himokilan, the tourist were entertained with folk dances and served with local delicacies. Some of the tourist joined the dancing especially in the local folk dance “Kuracha” presented by students from Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City. In the afternoon the tourist take a relaxation by sun bathing and swimming at the clear seawater of fine white sand of Mahaba Island. The tourists were also served with local delicacies in Inopacan. (Text and photos by: Roberto C. Dejon)