The Ruins: An Abandoned Cliffside House That Became the Heart of Bantayan Island// Bantayan Travel Part II

After a long night experiencing the nightlife of Bantayan Island with its beach night parties, bars, pizza shops, and night markets, we went home to the inn where we stayed during our trip and took a rest since both of us were pretty tired. The night was long and joyous, and sleeping after a long day of extravaganza and a partial tour of the island felt satisfying and contented, knowing we had come far on that land and that tomorrow would be another joyful day to explore the whole Bantayan Island. In this blog, I'll be sharing with you our first stop on day 2 in Bantayan Island, which was its famous The Ruins, just 4 km from the inn. I also wanted to see it personally since I always saw it in photos and heard of it from my colleagues.

Arriving at The Ruins was not just an arrival. For me, it was a dream come true, a testament, and proof that success really comes with us on our way to living life. Finally, I was able to visit this place I used to hear only from stories and hearsay and found some interesting things about this destination. It is not an official destination in Bantayan, but rather just a simple ruin on the seaside corner, which turned into a valuable spot as visitors and tourists flock here to discover its simple but iconic graffiti and old walls.

Specifically, The Ruins is situated in the southeastern coastal area of the island, in the municipality of Sta. Fe, where the ship docks. From the internet, it says this spot is surrounded by limestone, sparse vegetation, and coastal terrain, said to be shaped by the strong winds of the island. The Ruins is famous for photography spots as it is situated perfectly on the coast where natural light is abundant, and the ruins itself is perfect for photography as it tells an important story. Another part of this destination is that it is close to tourism spots in Sta. Fe and serves as a starting point to visit other nearby famous spots in the municipality, as long as you have rented a motorcycle. The graffiti and the whole walls of the ruins make it an interesting destination, knowing it is not preserved and naturally stands, defying the force of time.

Four kilometers on the island was not a boring ride. The truth is, this is how the roads are bordered, full of greens and nature; it breathes love and meaning. As someone who enjoys nature, finding this kind of view on the road in this island was a gift and something I will keep forever. The roads have stretches of coconut trees, mango trees, and other trees, some of which happen to be endemic. Traveling to places like this will never feel like a solo travel; perhaps it makes the destination even more meaningful and stunning, given that the journey looks perfectly like this. I put my phone away after taking a few photos and enjoyed the view as we approached the ruins. The coolness of the wind amazed me throughout the trip.

As I said earlier, The Ruins is not an official destination in the first place. It is believed to be a private property owned by a German foreigner who lived on this island many years ago and built this on the cliff. He passed away; therefore, the construction was not completed. The house was exposed to coastal elements, which gradually aged the house, and now it appears as a ruin. During Yolanda, the typhoon that hit the north of Cebu in 2013, the house was destroyed, which completely opened the structure and contributed to the physical appearance of the Ruins today. It is not a natural destination, but it is nice to know that time itself transformed a long-abandoned house into something people enjoy and share memories in. The owner has died, but for sure he would be happy that many people come to visit his place, remembering and recreating the life that was once there.

Visiting The Ruins doesn't only mean encountering the walls full of graffiti and old souls. In front of it is a vast blue sea filled with clear turquoise waters, sitting majestically before you. Plants and trees grow on the rock formation where the ruins stand, giving a pleasant angle to witness the beauty of the beach near the ruins. Diving and other fun activities are done here; some people also descend from this high rock formation to touch the water safely and swim around, just like we did. No one would say no when they see this magical water of the ruins; almost everyone who visits here wishes to swim in the cool waters under the golden light of Bantayan's sun. The rock formation amazed me at first; it was stunning to witness. Nature is truly creative, and when the water touched my body, I believed we shouldn't describe experiences before having them. What I am saying now is that Bantayan Island's water is amazing.

An hour later, after spending time and sitting on the cliff outside the ruins, we bumped into some newly arrived visitors who asked my boyfriend to take photos of them. It was nice having an organic encounter with strangers and talking with them, even for a short period. I took a photo of him riding the Fazzio we rented because it was aesthetically pleasing, the main reason we rented it even if it was pricey, and behind him is the facade of the ruins.

Leaving the ruins, we unexpectedly saw some kids beside the road and admired them. I know Bantayan Island is a great and perfect island, especially for its famous destinations and tourism, but its people—the children, the elderly, the fishermen, the vendors, the locals—they are the real gems of this island. They create the harmony here, they create the balance, and they are the first tourism of this beloved island. Watching these kids reminded me to slow down on this island; there is no reason to rush. We will arrive where we are supposed to arrive.