CAIBIRAN, BILIRAN

the bridge that connects Leyte and Biliran 

I am a child wanderer.  This is what my mother repeatedly tells us every time we hear stories of Caibiran, Biliran.  Back then, there were no concrete infrastructures and we have traversed the waters for days from Leyte to Biliran while my parents carry me and my brother vomiting as if there's no tomorrow due to motion sickness.  I was 4 years old then but I can never recall the memories of such travel, adding the fact that there were no digital cameras in store to aid my recollection of the event.

Caibiran, Biliran is my maternal grandmother's hometown.  The Espinosa clan settled at a certain barangay in the said municipality from which my mother's childhood memories were created.  Going back after a number of years, I feel I am mandatorily inclined to rekindle the memories of my yesteryears.




Caibiran, Biliran is one of the destinations in the Philippines which literally defines what a tropical paradise is. Large acres of land are devoted to rice fields, grains and other root crops with surrounding volcanic mountains complemented by a rich flora and fauna of varied ecosystems with hidden  falls and hot springs.



While travelling the roads of Caibiran, we were lead to cross a river and witnessed locals play in the cold waters.  It was a sight to behold for me.  It was an epic rural scene like the paintings of  Fernando Amorsolo coming into life.

Agriculture being one of the main industries in the said municipality, rice grains spread throughout the national road, making it a normal scenario.  This is part of the process called threshing where edible part of the grain is loosened from the scaly chaff that surrounds it by allowing the wheels of passing vehicles to step on it.  Rice grains are just everywhere and even on bridges.

Tinago Falls of Caibiran
Aside from the Tinago Falls, which is becoming one of the major attractions of the municipality of Caibiran in Biliran, the fine black sand beach is also a unique destination for the said municipality.  Devoid of any commercial establishments where simply the local residents and their visitors can enjoy, it can be an alternative summer get-away for some who have relatives in the said municipality and who opt to experience a pristine black-sand beach for a day.



There are no crushed corals and stones on the shoreline of the said beach and with a powdery and fine yet black sand, it's quite an interesting beach destination.  Though the shoreline still needs to be cleaned up, it could be a promising destination in the future and will contradict the notion that perfect beaches are those with shorelines of powdery white sand.  The phrase "Black is beautiful" can now be exclaimed with conviction. 

After a dip on the long stretch of the black sand beach, visitors can now look for a pasalubong or simply put, a local delicacy of the said municipality.  Note however, that there are no known sweet and sugar-enriched desserts in store, but thriving from a fishing community as well, dried fish is the best gift to bring home to friends and relatives, available at their public market and even at every nook of the municipality, depending on whether locals are willing to sell some to tourists/visitors.




Caibiran is an epitome of rural living in the Philippines and I am truly grateful that our family's values are inevitably sourced from a simple and quaint town in Biliran.  If only I could recall how I felt and what I experienced when I traveled to Caibiran at 4 years old, then, I would be more than willing to share every detail of it.

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8 comments

  1. ang ganda ng photos lalo na yung first. sarap bumalik sa biliran kasi ang daming waterfalls :)

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    1. Totoo madami nga daw falls. Kaya isa isahin ko silang lahat everytime na uuwi ako sa tacloban. Hehehe

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  2. HHHEEELLLOOOO??? May I know who is the author of this blog??? Thank you very much for such a wonderful and positive feedback towards our beloved Caibiran! Madamu nga Salamat tikang ha amon kasing-kasing ha imo maupay nga pan-abat ha amon bungto! :)

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  3. What a majestic place Biliran is. I am writing a novel that is set in Biliran mainly the municipality of Naval, but i will be discussing Caibiran. Even more so now that i have seen this web page. Your photographs are absolutely stunning and the commentary really helps me level with a visitor to that area. I am so glad you decided to share your experience. It will serve as knowledge in my writing process.

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    1. WELL... MY MOTHER AND FATHER BORN IN RAISED IN #CAIBIRAN" MY MOTHER TOLD ME WE ARE ONE OF THE #RICHEST #FAMILIES IN THAT ISLAND" WE OWNED #7000 AND #700 ACRES OF LAND! PLUS MY FATHER'S LANDS! NOW... MY MOTHER AND I WE OWNED ALL THOSE #PROPERTY LAND IN OUR NAMES ARE "STEELE" "QUEBEC" AND ALSO THE "ROSENDE"

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  4. WELL... MY BOTH PARENTS ARE BORN AND RAISED IN CAIBIRAN MY MOTHER TOLD ME WE ARE ONE OF THE RICHEST FAMILIES IN THAT ISLAND, WE OWNED #7000 THOUSANDS AND #700 ACRES OF LAND! FROM #BINOHANGAN" #TUMALITIS"

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  5. WELL... MY MOTHER AND FATHER BORN IN RAISED IN #CAIBIRAN, MY MOTHER TOLD ME.. WE ARE ONE OF THE #RICHEST #FAMILIES IN THAT ISLAND! WE #OWNED ABOUT #7000 SEVEN THOUSANDS #700 ACRES OF LAND FAMILY #OWNED PLUS MY FATHER'S SIDE

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  6. WELL... MY MOTHER AND FATHER BORN IN RAISED IN #CAIBIRAN, MY MOTHER TOLD ME.. WE ARE ONE OF THE #RICHEST #FAMILIES IN THAT ISLAND! WE #OWNED ABOUT #7000 SEVEN THOUSANDS #700 ACRES OF LAND FAMILY #OWNED PLUS MY FATHER'S SIDE

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