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When On Bantayan Island Cebu (A Memories Of Yesterday)

**May 29, 2021** `This article is inspired by madam` @Ruffa`'s travel adventures. And every Summer, I always remember this place.` Way back in 2013, I was assigned to work on Bantayan Island Cebu and that was supposed to be for three months only as part of my training. But then my stay was extended due to some reason which I even liked than working in Samar. I liked my colleagues, my staff-housemates, my neighborhood, and the residents of the island. They were so approachable and friendly, especially to the PPS associates. Bantayan Island is divided into three municipalities: Bantayan which is the central part and where I lived for nine months, Madridejos the North part, and Santa Fe which is the center of tourism and the very first municipality that you will see once you step on the island. This photo was taken at the pier of Bantayan Island and the place behind is Santa Fe resort.

Another thing that I liked about living on this island is the natural features like the white sand beaches, neighboring islands, as well as the seafood, local foods, and delicacies.

Cebu has been a training ground for new employees of PPS, my former company. Therefore, associates are from different places in the Philippines and there are staff-houses in different areas of the country. Some of my staff-housemates were from Palawan, some were from Cebu City, and I was lucky to have a housemate from my province, Samar.

The island is also considered as Cebu's fishing ground where *guinamos* (salted fish) and *buwad* (dried fish) are transported to Cebu, Negros, and other places of the Philippines for consumption. Big poultry farms are also located on this island and eggs are transported to Cebu and other places. So if you are looking for cheaper but fresh seafood and eggs in the Philippines, you can find them on Bantayan Island. We have a customer in our branch, an owner of big poultry on the island, and every time they harvested eggs, he always gives us a huge bag of eggs. So we always have free sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast and Leche flan for dessert. One of my favorite foods is the island's famous *danggit* (dried fish) dip in vinegar with chili and garlic. They also have dried octopus, and other dried seafood, while their crabs and fish are also affordable so we always served them during special occasions.

It is also in Cebu where I gained weight because we like food tripping even at night before bedtime.

When the new bakery opened near our staff-house, we liked buying their special *choco-lanay, a* bread filled with chocolate and it's really oozing in every bite, and we usually paired them with hot milk.

And sometimes after work, we will gather together and eat outside, roam around Bantayan, or stay at the park. I really missed our bonding moments.

Every time we have seminars or events that we need to go to Cebu City, all branches were closed and we take that advantage to bond with each other, the laughter and food trips are what I missed the most.

Every December we have a competition of what branch can make the best Christmas ID. Other branches had a lot of preparations but ours was filmed in just one night 🤣. And guess what? Our video won the first prize. We were so happy when our one-night bonding was even paid off.

And last New Year 2014, my staff-housemates had vacations to their places and only us associates from Samar were left in the staff house. I thought it will gonna be the saddest New Year, but our co-associates living on the island invited us to celebrate New Year at their house. After eating, we biked around the municipality and it was my first time to do biking at night. We slept at their house as well and get back to work the day after.

But after nine months, I was sent back to Samar. I was so sad especially when my co-staff housemates were sent to different branches as well. And just like me, one of my closest friends resigned and prefer to work abroad. She worked in Taiwan and I studied Caregiving and work here in Hong Kong. I hope I will be given a chance to go back to this island again and meet my former colleagues, they're not only colleagues but real friends.

https://www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/529806343661698228/

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