Locked down in the paradise of Coron: a once in a lifetime experience

While others stayed in their homes upon knowing the government’s lockdown plans, photographer Terence Ver Angsioco immediately booked a ticket and flew to Coron.

Leaving his digital design agency in Poblacion, Makati – he thought he needed to spend the lockdown in a place where he is close to nature, has electric power and fast internet. Having fell in love with Coron island in his last November visit – he knew that he’d be at least in paradise in the midst of pandemic.

Terence spent 66 days in Coron Island (this is different from Coron town) can be reached via boat for 30 minutes’ travel. He stayed at Red Carabao as he is friends with the owner who partnered with the Tagbanua (tribe).

Terence’s day usually starts with meditation and stretching inside his kubo, followed by morning coffee. The activities that follow will depend with the Tagbanua family who adopted him – some days they go up the mountains to get wood, harvest bamboo, do spearfishing, collect wild yam or visiting nearby village.

One thing he greatly noticed and appreciate is the dynamics of island life: they are all co-dependent to each other, work together, eat together and they are not afraid to show that they depend so much to one another.

“Being independent of course is good, but I think being too independent also has its own disadvantages, because we lose our sense of connection,” Terence added.

His every day journey is documented in his Instagram, the island life he experienced is worth sharing and something worthy to ponder on.

“I’m very grateful to have this once in a lifetime experience, that’s why I’m doing the best I can by sharing their amazing life, they inspired me so much and a lot of the people who saw my social media.”

Angsioco qupped that indigenous tribes should lnot be forgotten and should be looked after, as they still have no access to education and additional sources of livelihood. Based on his observation, the Tagbanuas are honest and hardworking people and they just need job opportunities.

“I realized that we can learn so much from them, we always say especially now that we’ll fight this pandemic together, and yet sometimes we are so attached to our individual way of living, as long we have money in the bank we can order food online, watch Netflix on our phones, and just stay in social media, the family that I stayed with, they do everything together,” Angsioco said in closing.

Terence is cooking up a project that will benefit the Tagbanua but it’s on the works for now and details will be revealed soon with the help of friends. For those who wish to experience Terence’s unique quarantine feels in Coron Island, you can check www.redcarabaophilippines.com for more details.