Our trip to Sorsogon and the Bicol Region at large was entirely a DIY trip. Only our Mass attendance to the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia was planned and ascertained ahead of time and everything else was considered fluid destinations; good to visit, no worries if we cannot. With that in mind, after we left Sorsogon Cathedral, we just drove towards the sea as soon as we saw it and ended up on a bay walk connected to a breakwater.

A quick online check informed us that we were in the Sorsogon Rompeolas. It was pretty self-explanatory as rompeolas means breakwater in Spanish. We drove through the breakwater, and towards the end saw a landmass with a lighthouse atop a hill. we just continued driving through the strip of concrete breakwater flanked by the sea at either side.

We alighted our vehicle when we reached the end of the rompeolas. The place stood in stark contrast with the obviously man-made breakwater as save for some concrete structures such the lighthouse and a canopy, the ground was bare earth surrounded by grasses and greens. As we would eventually discover, we actually reached Pinaculan Island.

It was hard to absorb that we were on an island as the breakwater formed a convenient bridge that makes the place entirely navigable by car or even by foot. As it turned out, it really was an island until reclamation projects crept in, connecting the landmass to the rest of Sorsogon.

Riyan, Ran and I bolted out from our group to explore the lighthouse. It was in a sorry state. The metal accents have visibly rusted, doorways are without doors, and walls have been badly vandalized. Still, we went our way to the view deck at the top.

Despite the unsightly state of the lighthouse, the view from the top is breathtaking.

After exploring the lighthouse, we went to the part of the breakwater that is still being constructed. The wind was so strong, and so were the waves. The color of the water was rather murky, far from the typical bluish hue of the sea, either because the seabed is disturbed of the ongoing reclamation or because of the weather disturbance.

The strength of the weather disturbance was more apparent by the seaside. With the sun out of sight and with the wind blowing like crazy, it felt more like a storm was really upon us. While there was indeed a storm in the country when we were in Sorsogon, it was way up north. Still, the effect seemed so much upon us.

With storm or not though, nothing would stop us from the journey that we have already started. At that point, regardless of where we go, we were simply happy together.

The unlikely island of Pinaculan would be our last stop in Sorsogon before we head to its neighboring province of Albay. Distant as Sorsogon maybe, it was an experience for the books, having been able to visit the southernmost part of Luzon with family and loved ones.

Of course, we were not done yet. Bicolandia had more to offer and it would be such a pity if we do not continue exploring. There is definitely a lot more.