There are a lot of white sand beaches in the Philippines, but this has to be said: I have never seen white sand as white and as fine as that of the one in Tawi–Tawi, specifically that of the sandbar of Panampangan Island. Most likely, it has something to do with its location. Its distance from the buzzling metro makes it relatively difficult to reach, hence is not as exploited as other tourist spots. Its remote position on the map likewise contributes to its pristine condition. Being totally exposed to the elements in the middle of the vast ocean allows the handiwork of nature to just run its course, making Panampangan an uninterrupted creation at work.

The fine white sand of Panampangan Island sandbar.

The Panampangan sandbar is generally submerged but appears during low tides. When it emerges, it protrudes from the island’s southwestern portion, almost connecting to the nearby Basibuli Islet. It extends by 3,128.37 meters and is considered as the longest sandbar in the Philippines.

It was a low tide when we were in the island, and with the sun playing hide-and-seek behind the clouds, it was just perfect to play along the sandbar. We even opted to remove our slippers, as it was easier to walk on the fine white sand that way. Besides, it felt good to walk on powdery sand.

We just continued walking along the sandbar until we reached the part where the sand meets the sea. There was still navigable ground and we could still walk, but we’ve already gone far enough. We stopped at the edge of the dry sand and appreciated the wonder before us.

After a few minutes of staring to the horizon, we decided to return to the island. There is, after all, another protrusion of sand on the western part. On our way there, we chose to wade through the shallow part of the beach. Most parts were riddled with seagrass and moss as those are the parts that are usually under water if the tide is high.

We chanced upon some of our companions taking photos by the beach, and of course, we did not let the opportunity pass for our photos to be taken. Goofing time!

We were just too happy as being in Tawi–Tawi is an achievement!

It was just around 10:45 AM but the group was understandably famished, having woken-up early and having endured the two-hour boat journey. It was hence an early lunch for everyone. Though Ate Sidang was not with us on the island, we still felt her presence with the food she prepared for us which we took with us.

The group rested a little until we decided to go to the other part of the island, the protruding sandbar to the western side. The view was just equally stunning.

View of Panampangan Island from the sandbar on the western side.

A little before noon, it was time to go. While the water is too inviting, no one really took a dip in the sea. There were reports of saltwater crocodile sightings in the area, and we would not take a chance on safety.

The trip to Panampangan Island is a memorable experience. Reaching it took our Philippine travel experience to all new heights with it being the most remote place Renegade Junctures has reached to date. It made us stare in so much awe of this white strip of sand bridge laid across the turquoise sea, as if a white ribbon laid across to wrap the gift of the sea. The islands and the seas are not just handiworks of nature after all; they are gifts. This insight echoes a reality so much true nowadays, the reality that the beauty of nature comes with a price. In this case, the price is that if humanity cannot fulfill its charge to be the stewards of creation, then creation has to be left alone.