“HIWAGA NG ALON” – Howie Severino’s I-Witness Documentary 3

“HIWAGA NG ALON”

(The Majestic Waves of Catanduanes)

Howie Severino’s I-Witness Documentary

Airing Monday: October 29, 2007

I-Witness Host Howie Severino takes his trusty mountain bike Bughaw to the underdog province of Catanduanes, where frequent storms and deadly waves have long struck fear into outsiders’ hearts. Tourists to this scenic province are rare.

But in recent years, surfers from far and wide have been drawn to Catanduanes to test themselves against the island’s white-capped bounty.

It is this fusion of curse and blessing in a natural force that Howie investigates in this Monday’s I-Witness episode over GMA-7.

Upon arrival in the province’s quaint capital, Howie quickly discovers a sunny side to the stormy island in the form of young biking priest Father Bem Reyes. He takes Howie on a journey from south to north of Catanduanes.

Together they witness how some of the country’s top surfers ride killer waves at a place called Majestics during a national competition. They learn about how others have died when powerful wave action dragged them into treacherous waters or smashed them against the rocks.

Through rain and mud, Howie and priest cycle north to Bagamanoc, a town that faces the Pacific Ocean. Robust waves have been eating into the town for decades, rapidly turning it into a modern-day Atlantis, where the ruins of Father Bem’s ancestral home also lies.

The waves have swallowed up dozens of homes and two residential streets in less than four decades, and are nearly lapping against the municipal hall. The residents still regard the continuous disaster a mystery, with the town divided about the causes of its looming demise.

But there is still reason to celebrate for the people of Catanduanes – against the backdrop of their annual festival, they momentarily forget the fury of the waves and rejoice in the hopes and dreams that have for their one and only home.

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