“Sicogon’s selling point is its background, the [Opao] mountain. The beach is also beautiful,” she said. “What we also like about the place is it is very serene … [it’s like being one] with nature.”There is a variety of water activities available like paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkeling as well as island hopping to nearby islands like Gigantes and Tumaquin.
The island, named after cogon, a grass growing abundantly in the area, is some 146 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City, and approximately four hours by land travel from the province’s capital.In the 1970s, it was among the top tourist destinations in the country with a reputation that preceded even that of Boracay. But its popularity, especially among foreign visitors, dipped following a coup d’etat in the 1980s that left about 300 foreigners stranded on the island.
According to Pirlyn Mae Alarcon, human resources assistant at Huni Sicogon resort, there are around 150 locals are working in the resort. They compose the front office and restaurant staff, while some are in-charge of landscaping and maintenance. Others work in construction projects around the island.
When the pandemic struck, and hotel operations were halted, Bajada and other employees were kept as maintenance staff to help them afloat through challenging times.Outside the resort, locals earn by operating passenger boats that ferry tourists from Estancia port to Sicogon and back.The abundance of cogon also allowed locals to process and create products out of the grass, which they sell to the resorts.