We all know that Holy Week is a time where a lot of us have some time off to visit churches (for Catholics) and/or go on vacations. For my hometown Bantayan, it has always been the most crowded time of the year ever since I was little. It gets too crowded that a lot of people think it is our fiesta but it really is not.
The municipality of Bantayan has just announced that the regular religious festivities will resume this year and it is expected that everything will be back to what it used to be prior to the pandemic.
I personally would not recommend coming to the island if you wish to have a more calm experience but if you don't mind the crowd and this time you want to see the island for the Holy Week, then here are some things that you might want to know before taking the trip:
The commute is very challenging.
If you are commuting on Good Wednesday, you should expect to be overwhelmed by the crowd at the bus terminal. It is almost impossible to be have a seat at the bus stations and at Hagnaya port. Expect extremely long lines and people fighting for seats. If you are travelling by group, you might want to consider renting a private transport just to ease yourself half the stress of commute for that day.
This is where I always book my private transport from Cebu City to Hagnaya.
Book your accommodation.
Accommodation rates during the Holy Week in Bantayan is usually 2x or sometimes even 3x higher than regular rates and a lot are fully booked even months before the Holy Week. If you're planning your trip around this time, you will find it difficult to get rooms at the popular resorts or rooms at ideal locations in the island. I suggest booking your accommodation in advance via Agoda, Airbnb or via Facebook messenger. As much as possible, do not come to Bantayan without booking a room because there will be a high chance that you will end up without a place to stay.
Bring as much essentials as you can.
Other than the accommodation rates, the prices for almost everything shoot up. I suggest bringing as much essentials as you can so you can avoid unnecessarily expensive purchases in the island once you're there. For example, water bottles are sometimes sold at Php 100.00 per liter and that price was pre-pandemic. No one knows how high they could go up this time.
Arrange other rentals in advance.
If you're thinking of renting bicycles, motorcycles or cars in the island during your trip, it is best to arrange them beforehand. You can ask your resort for assistance and make sure you ask for acknowledgement receipts.
Travel responsibly.
One of the biggest problems by the locals during the Holy Week is the filth that comes with the tourists or even fellow locals. Whether you hit the beaches or the towns in the island, please always make sure to clean up after yourselves. Respect the island and help maintain its beauty. It's already 2022, please do not act like savages.
Happy travels!
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