My soft bed at Puerto del Sol Bolinao whispered that there would be no beautiful light to be shed by the morning sky today. It promised me of deep comfort and restful slumber if I just lay off the thoughts of those lights and rays. I almost lost the struggle if not for the persistent quacking of my alarm clock; it was already thirty minutes to sunrise as I slowly broke off the drowning spell of sleep.

I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be getting a direct sunrise from this side of the land, Bolinao being located on the western seaboard of the country. But I’m just too hardheaded and too never-miss-a-moment kind of guy that I still decided to ditch my much needed sleep and take a chance on the light that might or might not be present that day.

Unlike some mornings where I sulkily go back to bed due to lack of interesting light, my sacrifice at getting up before normal people do paid off. The low western clouds were bathed in orange and yellow hues from the rising eastern sun, contrasting perfectly with the blue green hues of the morning sky.

Bolinao’s coast is protected by a natural breakwater hundreds of meters from the shore causing an almost mirror-like serenity over the whole horizon. The low-lying clouds, even bereft of the ephemeral colors lent by the morning sun looked stately as it reflected perfectly over the surface of the sea.

The golden light disappeared immediately as it appeared. I began to turn back, lured again by the thoughts of sleep, when a group of kids, innocently huddled over a corner of the beach, diverted my attention. I realized that there are more interesting subjects to frame and capture than mere light.

I trained my lens on the horizon and found a patch of land replete with white egrets gliding over still waters. My feet led mo the direction of the flock before my mind said yes. But the landscape was not cooperating with the new morning plan. The water was too deep and I was unable to find a way to traverse to the mini islet; faraway, too close.

People slowly started to litter the once deserted beach as the sun begun to rise higher. Couples out for a taste of the sweet morning, joggers wanting to break a sweat and sun-sensitive beings wanting to have a dip at the sea before the heat becomes too oppressive for their pale sunblocked skin.

But the real characters of Bolinao’s beach are the fisher folks who rose even earlier than me, not to shoot a fancy sunrise, but to simply put food on their family’s table. These guys are the unsung heroes of this town.

The sun continued its juggernaut into the stratosphere. I beheld for the last time the calm and chaos of Bolinao’s waters far into the horizon; noting the graceful movements of fishermen as the egrets do.

Puerto del Sol Beach Resort and Hotel Club
Address: Patar Road, Barangay Ilog Malino, Bolinao
Phone: (02) 637-8963 | (02) 635-2547
Room Rates & Availability: Click Here
Email: webmaster@puertodelsol.com.ph
Website: http://www.puertodelsol.com.ph

GPS Coordinates: 16.355752,119.813016
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here