It is not only in Sorsogon that the friendly whale sharks (butanding) thrive in peace. Oslob’s Sumilon Island, home to the Philippines’ first marine sanctuary, a protected reef maintained by Silliman University’s marine biology program is also inhabited by these sea creatures that have only been spotted for some time now in Donsol, Sorsogon.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of the fisher folk of the barangay of Tan-awan in the town of Oslob, Cebu, the “gentle giants” have found another safe haven.
“Before the law was passed prohibiting poaching, whale sharks were caught and slaughtered. Fortunately now, it’s being outlawed. I first spotted the butandings when I was 12. But they went elsewhere and only came back four years after. They go near fishermen naturally so we feed them with krill,” relates Mark Lawrence Rendon, secretary and spokesman of the Tan-awan Oslob Sea Wardens and Fishermen Association (TOSWFA).
“We formally organized the whale shark tour in January last year through our organization, the Tan-awan Oslob Sea Wardens and Fishermen Association (TOSWFA), composed of 137 members at the moment; serving the committees on orientation, as boatmen, or those feeding the whale sharks. We feed them 50 kilos of krill daily. In some days, four visit us. In other days, like now, there are eight. Those who are lucky get to see 12 to 14 of these gentle creatures. They start coming toward the shore at around 5 to 6 in the morning and leave for the deep at one to two in the afternoon. The tour attracts 500 to 600 visitors on weekends. The biggest number we herded was last Chinese New Year when our guest list reached a whopping 3,000!” related Rendon.
The 22-year-old left his clerical job in Cebu City because he, like others in his barangay, has found out it was more lucrative to work with the tour organization. Sixty percent of the proceeds from the tour operations go the fishermen’s organization, 30 percent goes to the town’s coffers, and the remaining 10 percent goes to the barangay.
Mark wants to inform the public that the photo of a butanding used as surfing board that was posted on the Internet was not from their tour, but from the nearby barangay of Balitang in the town of Boljoon. The controversial whale-riding photograph was mistakenly attributed to their tour group. On our way back to Cebu City, our van driver Raul pointed out the exact spot where the photograph was taken. The poor butanding was caught in the net that was left to catch fishes in the open waters, a fishing practice that has since been prohibited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Bureau of Aquatic Resources. The Tan-awan whale shark sighting tours is closely monitored by the LAMAVE (Large Marine Vertebrates Project Philippines), a group of marine biologists that volunteer to look after the welfare of sea mammals.
Butanding tours usually highlight the visits of those who stay at the Sumilon Bluewater Resort, which is nestled within the 24-hectare coral island of Sumilon, located on the southeastern tip of Cebu province.
Pristine white sand beaches and atolls provide breathtaking swim and snorkel areas. Its sandbar is known for its changing shapes and shifting locations around the island, depending on the season and wind movement.
“Our staff is our brand. We can’t compete with big brands in terms of infrastructure, but we can compete through our services; it’s our edge. After all, it’s all about experience. Guest satisfaction is our highest mission. The Bluewater brand turned 23 this July 21. Filipinos only make up 10 percent of our guests. Our top visitors are the Japanese, followed by the Koreans, Hong Kong nationals and the Europeans: Germans, Italians and French,” enthused the resort’s general manager Rhyz Buac. He has been with the company for the past 22 years now, joining the brand six months after it opened on July 21, 1989 from a post with the Badian Beach Resort.
Among other must-see sights is a seawater lagoon teeming with mangroves that shelter fishes and other small marine vertebrates. Nearby are the “glamping” (glamorous camping) sites where guests get to stay inside tents whose interiors are furnished like regular rooms. Tucked in the middle of the island, amid the verdant foliage, is a lighthouse that sits serenely in a protected park, and close to it is the remaining framework of a baluarte, a 19th century historical watchtower that bears testament to the glory days of the Galleon Trade.
“Bluewater recently acquired a property in San Vicente, Palawan, that will be opened as soon as the airport there is operational. We have the highest occupancy in the Mactan resort area for our Maribago property. It now has 157 rooms with 20 new rooms that bear the same design as that of our Panglao property in Bohol. The latter has 54 rooms and we will be building high-rises there soon, from lots acquired in adjacent properties. We have mid-end properties in Butuan (Almont Inland Resort and Almont City Hotel) and Surigao (Almont Beach Resort),” the GM added.
For more than two decades, Bluewater Resorts made a reputation for creating a unique collection of resort properties that are professionally-run, with world-class amenities that are distinctly Filipino. The group’s brand is synonymous with the Pinoy lifestyle experience — creative, warm, friendly, attentive, caring and relaxing.
At Sumilon Bluewater, guests will definitely embrace the charm of quiet island living; enveloped by all the gifts only Mother Nature can offer.

For more information, simply visit their Web site www.bluewater.com.ph.