The lush rainforest in Mt. Pangasugan in Leyte provides my hometown with abundant freshwater, with hundreds of rivers flowing down to the Camotes Sea on the West.
In Baybay City, the sea is usually muddy because the surrounding villages (barangays) are mostly agricultural lands that drain water into the rivers and the sea.
There was a legend that some locals secretly slaughtered crocodiles (bu-aja) that lived in the muddy swamps of Brgy. Gabas (and Patag), though there is no written accounts that crocodiles really lived in that area.
Coastline
The national highway bordered the coastline with coconut trees, while the coastline itself was once covered by mangroves and Nipa palms along its brackish rivers.
The rocky shore is full of black rocks that are are covered in limpets and barnacles. On some parts the shore will covered with colorful pebbles and coarse sand on months after the typhoons and monsoons, then lose it on the other months.
On certain months, sea urchins would come in groups, showing off their colors ranging from purple, orange and red. It can be dangerous to take a swim when they are present.
Woman by the Beach
Watercolor on Paper
Harvesting sea urchins is uncommon, but instead, locals gather during low tide to collect (manginhas) shelled molluscs (kinhason, kay-kay) along the shore in the late afternoon until the evening, bringing only a bucket, a knife, and a trusty Coleman lamp (suyô) or a flashlight (ispat).
Panagat (Fishing)
Watercolor on Paper
Panagat sa Pagsa-up sa Adlaw (Fishing at Sundown*
Watercolor on Paper
Fishermen
The sea provides fresh fish and seafoods that fishermen catch by net or hooks (tagâ) while riding on small pumpboats and rowboats, these are sold at the local market (talipapâ) along the highway.
But the seafoods that are sold around, house-to-house (libod), are from another local municipality that uses bigger boats to catch better fish.
The local fishermen can only have a few catch that can help them survive their day-to-day expenses.
Beautiful Hometown
Aside from being a marine sanctuary (spans a certain distance from the shoreline), the Camotes Sea boasts gorgeous sunsets too that inspired many artists, poets, and lovers from its dazzling colors.
I’m happy to grow up near the sea and to have wonderful memories that greatly inspired my works in both writing and painting.
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About Me
@oniemaniego is a test engineer, but outside work, he experiments in the kitchen, writes poetry and fiction, paints his heart out, or toils under the hot sun.
 | Onie Maniego was born in Leyte, PH. He grew up in a rural area with a close-knit community and a simple lifestyle, he is often visiting his father's orchards during summer and weekends, which has a great impact on his works. |
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