This is the beauty of Catanduanes, Philippines in the first months of 2016
Caused devastation in Catandunes, Philippines upon the landfall of Typhoon Nina last December 25, 2016
Catanduanes is an island province located in the Bicol Region of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the 12th-largest Island in the Philippines. Catanduanes is known as the “Land of the Howling Winds” because most typhoons brewed in the Pacific pass through this easternmost island province of Luzon. And the most recent typhoon was Nina, which made Catanduanes under state of calamity after Nina’s wrath last December 25,2016.
But the island is the “Land of the Howling Winds” no more. Catanduanes is now more widely known as the “Happy Island”. Catanduanes as the “Happy Island” was first coined way back in November 3, 2013 when Catanduanes Culture + Fashion (a souvenir department of Go Catanduanes) published it’s newest t-shirt/bagtag design for Catanduanes and it was called “Happy Island”. It’s not only the tourism label that makes this island, the happy one, but it is because of its people and their resilience. After every typhoon Catandunganons started to work really hard and rebuild their homes. Catandunganons are unfailingly polite, always smiling, and ever courteous and possess grace under pressure after every calamity. It is not just because they are used to this experience, but because they know they can do something about it. A few days more after the disaster almost all streets were cleaned out and power infrastructures were being fixed. Simple act of kindness were appreciated by the people such as: being featured by the media; being able to receive relief goods with full of joy and gratitude . Catandunganons are truly amazing and with a bunch of stories of resilience after tough times.
The island in the north eastern part of the Philippines is truly a place to visit at least once in your life. On the best and worst days, the island will still remain as the happy island with the happiest and grateful people on earth.
Visit Catanduanes, visit GO CATANDUANES WEBSITE
Video by: Marc Ervin Tabirao Youtube Channel, Catanduanes 2016
Photos by: Audrey Hilario, Go Catanduanes
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