April 28,2010

Feature story
Destination: Kuting Reef In Macrohon
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-It was timely that I’ve met Loloy Salazar, Philippin
es Information Agency’s (PIA) utilityman/messenger passed by the Mercury Drug st
ore one afternoon. He was holding a piece of paper containing a message. When I
was about to ask him whether the LSDE has sent copies of the papers to their off
ice located at the new reclamation area in brgy. Combado, he showed me instead a
scheduled orientation on Reproductive Health to be held at Kuting Reef in brgy.
Asuncion, Macrohon. It was located along the coastal area and one of Macrohon’s
“must” place to visit by visitors/tourists. The place is 4.5 kilometers, more o
r less, from the town proper. Macrohon town is about 15 kilometers away from Maa
sin.
A day prior to the aforesaid occasion I have come to visit PIA at its new off
ice, courtesy of the City Government. The government media office is flunked by
the 2 other new offices of the City Agriculture Office and the City Department o
f Social Welfare. PIA office was formerly sharing a small office of the Assistan
ce Contact Center located at the Provincial Capitol. The CAO and the Social Welf
are Office were previously occupying an old building near Jollibee and City Hall
. One of the three rooms of PIA is air-conditioned where the staff carried out t
heir tasks like writing and encoding news articles or any important papers for r
estoration and dissemination to some government offices and media outfits. The t
wo other offices mentioned were naturally ventilated with cool breeze coming mos
tly from the nearby open sea. The other day ,however, I have noticed that the DS
WD office is now being air-conditioned.
When I was there I have informed Bong Pedalino, one of the regular staff who
writes news stories, comments and occasionally a feature story that I was earlie
r told by Loloy that we would be leaving for Kuting Reef the following day at ab
out 8:00a.m. However, when I asked Erna Sy-Gorne, PIA’s Information
Manager, if she would also be going with us, she said yes. She then told me tha
t it’s better for me to wait in brgy Pacu at 8:30a.m. She explained that we have
to wait for Jade Nombrado,a newscaster of a local radio station DYDM to finish
his job at 8:30a.m. That was the time when I have to start waiting for the PIA v
ehicle along the road at brgy. Pacu where I’ve lived.
Waiting Time
For a ride I have waited for thirty five minutes before PIA’s vehicle arrived
with Loloy as the new driver. Before it was Boy who was designated as the PIA d
river during the Administration of Governor Rosette Yñiguez-Lerias.He was led of
f when the new Governor Damian Mercado replaced Lerias since a driver has no per
manent item. Loloy’s situation however, is entirely different from that of Boy’s
. He is originally a PIA employ since he started working at the government infor
mation agency during the previous years. Mrs. Gorne was not there. I did not ask
Bong why Erna did not go with us. I just surmised that maybe she chose to remai
n in the office together with Rebecca Cadavos as I thought would be the case.
In several occasions, if there’s a meeting, seminar, presscon or any related
activities where news coverage was the essence of the invitation, mostly only on
e or two PIA staff would be attending. One of them would remain in the office. T
here were also occasions when the three of them-Erna, Bong and Rebecca-including
even Loloy would be going, particularly if the travel is far like in Sogod, Lib
agon, St.Bernard or in other town of the province for a special invitation. Late
r, as we were on the road bound for Kuting Reef, I’ve heard that the PIA Informa
tion Manager was in Tacloban for some official business.
Breakdown
As Loloy Salazar drove towards Kuting Reef we smelled a pungent odor from an
overheat clutch lining when we reached brgy.Mohon in Macrohon town. The driver w
ho sensed what I’ve smelled stopped the vehicle and stepped out. He opened the h
ood and saw that the engine was also overheat and the bad smell became more inte
nse. He instructed the four of us-Bong Pedalino (PIA) staff, Diego Credo (anchor
man of “Pagkabana” radio program over DYDM under the auspices of Congressman Rog
er Mercado), Jade Nombrado and I to get off. The driver thought that the engine
might explode. Loloy inspected the front wheels and noticed that it was the righ
t side wheel where the strong odor emanated. He opened the compartment and found
out that the tools were not there. He forgot to bring it for emergency purposes
.
Jade Nombrado a regular broadcaster of DYDM and a resident of Macrohon town i
nvited Loloy to go with him at their house to get the tools for dismantling the
front wheel to check the break. They rode on a trisikad and 30 minutes later the
y came back with tools on hand. They brought no hydraulic jack which is easy to
operate to elevate the transmission wheel by pumping it. But a different kind of
jack that needed more exertion before the transmission wheel could be elevated
and remove the wheel.
We have asked a local if he knew of a mechanic living near the area. He info
rmed us that the mechanic was living near the CCP church just a few meters away
from where the vehicle had brokedown. As the work to check the break has progres
sed, Bong instructed us to go ahead to Kuting Reef with the thought that the Ori
entation on Reproductive Health would be going to start. Jade plugged down a jee
pney passenger going to Sogod and we rode on. The distance from brgy. Mohon to K
uting Reef in brgy. Asuncion is less than 5 kilometers away. Jade paid for our t
rip as we got off and we entered a small road leading to several buildings. Thos
e who are not familiar with the place would just happen to pass by because the s
ign board was placed facing the south direction. Its position is only conspicuou
os to travelers or tourists from the north going to south. Another signboard is
needed facing the north as guide to travelers/tourists coming from that directio
n. Along the road were some erected tarpaulins introducing various amenities tha
t Kuting Reef, a serene place is offering to its clients/customers and tourists.
First Timer
This is the first time that I’ve gone to the place. We entered a lobby. The h
otness we felt from traveling on hot road was lessening with the coolness of the
surrounding. The wide span of the calm open sea with occasional ripples lapping
on the shore has provided an exhilarating effect on our tired bodies. The sand
on the beach was so fine while a fisherman’s boat was docked on knee-deep water,
a few meters from where we stood. Not far from it was a motorized ski-boat on s
tandby. There were also some people setting and lying on the Bermuda-carpeted gr
ound planted to coconut trees. A few children frolicked around as their white pa
rents were watching them. A few tourists local and foreign were also around.
Dr. Nora Estela, a EENT now assigned at the IPHO’s (Integrated Provincial Hea
lth Office) technical department went out and invited us to enter the conference
hall. I was told inside was cold because it was an air-conditioned room. At the
lobby I saw a brochure and requested the receptionist if I could have one copy
and she handed me one. I sat on the sofa for a few minutes before I decided to e
nter the air-conditioned room. There the participants have already finished taki
ng their snacks. Before I could pick my share, Loloy and Bong have arrived and w
ent straight to the room where the Orientation on Reproductive Health was held.
They took their snacks as the lecture was about to start.
The cold became colder as the lecture went on. A wife of a City Hall employee
who is also an employee of the NFA and I requested the roomboy if he could redu
ce its intensity. He explained that if he would stop the other aircon it could n
ot provide enough coolness to the attendees and it would become hot inside the r
oom. However, when the first phase of the lecture was over, one of the aircons w
as put off.
Lunchtime
It was lunchtime and all the 35 participants composed of health workers, pri
nt and broadcast media and some Public Information Officers from government agen
cies, went to the dinning room on the opposite side of the conference hall where
the foods were ready. We queued to get our food, a self-service style, which re
mained hot enough to eat. Waiters, served us hot fish soup and poured water on o
ur glasses. After eating some of us went out and relaxed at the Boardwalk Grill
constructed adjacent to the concrete dikes. It protects Kuting Reef from the ons
laught of huge waves during inclement weather or typhoon. One hour later we were
called as the second phase lecture would be about to start.
Workshop
Before the lecture proceeded with did a little exercise .Vicky Pasa Generan,
Maternity and Child Health Coordinator, instructed us to group ourselves into 3
-print media, broadcast media and the PIOs group. We were then instructed to dr
aw a tree. The roots would represent the root causes of teenage pregnancy. The t
ree branches would represent its consequences. Earlier, a lecture on teenage pre
gnancy was conducted by Velma P. Kangleon, POPCOM Head, prior to taking our lunc
h.
The root causes and the consequences being discussed by Kangleon on the topic
have provided us with some insights/views where we could anchor our answers. An
swers from the three groups during workshop period to the root causes and its co
nsequences of teenage pregnancy were almost similar. What differentiate the 3 gr
oups were the ways they have worded their respective presentations and explanati
ons. As the three groups were ready, each group’s representatives have to presen
t their output and were made to explain and discuss it with the audience.
Things that are going to be done by the three groups on Teenage Pregnancy Adv
ocacy were presented and discussed. For the print media one of the activities th
at can be done is thru the newspaper or magazine. An article might be written th
at will encourage teenagers and teenage mothers to read anything about teenagers
’ welfare and anything that would guide them to prepare for parental responsibil
ity as parents. The other activities can also be done by conducting seminars/sym
posiums in schools and barangay halls/covered courts. Consider as the audience a
re the teenage mothers. The POPCOM head, media practitioners, RHU staff and teac
hers would serve as resource persons. To realize these plan of activities logist
ics and budget are needed with the establishing of livelihood projects for teena
ge mothers.
The broadcast media has an immediate wider coverage. In conducting their acti
vities they shall be utilizing the air power or the radio (no TV station yet in
Southern Leyte). Their representative informed that they shall also be interview
ing teenage mothers in various barangays in different municipalities of the prov
ince. Speakers to be involved are POPCOM, RHU staff and the PIOs.
The PIOs group has a similar activities with slightly different in its approa
ch. Like the print and broadcast media, their group also needs logistics and bud
get for the materialization of their planned activities.
Amenities/Services
On the other hand, Kuting Reef, is one of the nice places to visit before pro
ceeding directly to other tourist spots in the province of Southern Leyte. Situa
ted in a private cove in brgy. Asuncion, less than 5 kilometers away from Macroh
on’s town proper. It has several amenities and services to offer for local and f
oreign tourists while staying in the place. The vast open ocean on calm and roug
hless waves plus a cool breeze can offer a calming effect to the strained nerves
. It stretches the viewers’ eyes broader and wider reaching their sights as far
as Limasawa Island, Camiguin Island and the islands of Bohol. On fine weather an
d clear night skies one can have his/her mat (plastics or palms leaves-made) spr
ead over the manicured Bermuda grasses and view the stars. Nearby, the chirping
of the birds and the twittering of crickets atop the trees and on the ground, br
eak the engulfing silence of nature with their mystifying tunes. It is certainly
a place away from the hustle and bustle of city life: where monotonous and loud
roaring of vehicles and cars irk our ears and hurt our senses. The serenity of
the place is indeed conducive for one’s recreation and relaxation. If you are a
pianist, you can also request the manager/owner Babes Castañares (wife of Engr.R
obert Castañares) to play your music and repertoire of songs if you are also a s
inger. Let your pieces be echoed in the surrounding air thru the magical movemen
t of your musical touch lingering on your supple fingers. And the music lovers w
ho are going to hear your music will surely appreciate your rendition and would
ask for more.
What I have written here is just an introduction of the new place worth inclu
sion for the local and foreign tourists’ itineraries in Southern Leyte’s tourist
destinations.
Kuting Reef’s facilities: 1)Function Rooms that can accommodate from 20 to 3
00 people; 2)Venue for garden wedding reception; 3)Infinity pool; 4) Coffee Shop
; 5)The Boardwalk Grill; 6)Infinity Lounge; 7)Non-smoking rooms; 8)Local tour as
sistance; 9) Gift Shop; 10)Room Types: Deluxe Cabana, Premier Cabana, The Casita
and The Casa. KR’s services are the following: 1)New Kuting Reef Packages; 2)Wa
ter Sports(jetski,kayak,banana boat ride, speedboat tour to Limasawa Island, sho
reline cruise,snorkel,rubber boat); 3)Kuting Reef local Tour Packages(Cambaro Ca
ve,Cagnituan Falls and Lagoon, Religious and Cultural Tour,Limasawa Island speed
boat tour). For more details about Kuting Reef’s other services visit its websit
e: WWW.kuting-reef.com; email address: info@kuting-reef.com. Telephone numbers:
(053)5721023/ 5721008/ 5721009. Mobile: 09056685873/ 09175215903. (Quirico M. Go
rpido,Jr.)