Olango Island
Posted by donentera on June 26, 2007
Olango Island
Located five kilometers east of Mactan Island, Olango Island lies between the Bohol Strait to the south and the Camotes Sea to the north. To the east is the Olango Channel while to the west is the Hilutungan Channel. It has seven barangays, one of which is Sta. Rosa (erroneously used to refer to the whole of Olango Island), where the island’s wharf and parish church is located. Olango island hosts seven Lapu-Lapu city ba-rangays, namely, Baring, Caw-oy, Sabang, Santa Rosa, Talima, Tingo and Tunga-san
How to get there
From Cebu City, take a jeepney for Lapulapu City. The jeepney terminal near the old White Gold Department Store, in the reclamation area. Upon arrival in Lapulapu City, go for the tricycle bound for Dapdap or Angasil. Disembark at the Mar Y Cielo Beach Resort. Take a pumpboat for Santa Rosa (in Olango island). From the Santa Rosa Wharf, the sanctuary can be reached by tricycle or foot.
Olango Island OLANGO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
|
Olango Island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country. Migration starts from the breeding places of birds in Siberia, Northern China and Japan. Anticipating the scarcity of food and winter cold, these birds fly as far as Australia and New Zealand from late July until late November. This is usually referred to as the Southward Migration. By late February until May, these birds return to their breeding grounds in the reverse Northward Migration.
Based on data gathered so far, the birds use Olango as a major refueling station as well as a wintering ground. At Olango, the birds can replenish their fat reserves by feeding on rich supply of invertebrates in the intertidal mudflats. These fat reserves must fuel the birds on the next lap of their journey which may cover from 3,000 to 15,000 km. of non-stop flight. Land area – 1,022.6228 has.
| Olango Island Group dive sites. The western edge of this reef facing Hilutangan Channel opposite Mactan Island presents beautiful coral gardens and a dense fish population. The eastern side has better coral corners and more game fish. Because of strong currents, this divesite is recommended for experienced divers only. |
|
Santa Rosa Island -or as it is named on the map Olango Island. An only 13 Square Km. Small Island, located 1 hour by ferryboat from Cebu City or 25 min. by palm boat from Mactan Island. Sta.Rosa is still very undeveloped as tourist area, there is 1 beach resort, Sta. Rosa by the Sea, where it is possible to stay overnight, but………… (These Pictures are from William G. Butler and Flemming H. Laursen Link to there Website: http://iserit.greennet.gl/marjorie/Locations/ Sta_Rosa.htm ) |
| O l a n g o – I s l a n d ,to the south “expanding to double-size” during low-tide, is home and breeding place to many species of birds. Also for thousands of migration birds, this island is just “transit” station and resting place on their way from nestling areas in Sibiria or Northern China to winter “vacation” destinations in New Zealand or Australia, and back again. The bird sanctuary can be visited during the whole year. Ferry connections are available – for example – from ANGASIL at Mactan’s northeast coast to SANTA ROSA on Olango’s west coast; tricycles are connecting service to barangays and sitios at the entrance to the place where the birds can be observed. Best time to arrive, is with high tide and you can walk – during low tide – far into the area. Few Tour Operators offer packages including picknick for a much higher price than one have to pay for “public” transportation which is not more “unsafe” than some “Colorum” or “private” boats used by Tour Operators and their agents. On the other hand, food – fresh grilled fish or chicken – is also available in the island. |
Cebu: The Queen City of the South | Paradise Philippines - Discover the Philippines 7,107 Paradise Islands said
[...] OLANGO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY – Olango Island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country. Migration starts from the breeding places of birds in Siberia, Northern China and Japan. Anticipating the scarcity of food and winter cold, these birds fly as far as Australia and New Zealand from late July until late November. This is usually referred to as the Southward Migration. By late February until May, these birds return to their breeding grounds in the reverse Northward Migration. Based on data gathered so far, the birds use Olango as a major refueling station as well as a wintering ground. At Olango, the birds can replenish their fat reverses by feeding on rich supply of invertebrates in the intertidal mudflats. These fat reserves must fuel the birds on the next lap of their journey which may cover from 3,000 to 15,000 km. of non-stop flight. Land Area – 1,022.6228 has. RELIGIOUS IMAGE OF SANTO NIÑO – Considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. It was on April 14, 1521 that Magellan gave the image to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Forty-four years later, on April 27, 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived, Fr. Andres de Urdaneta who formally christianized the Cebuanos, found the natives hostile. Legaspi himself besieged the settlement and set the village on fire. It was on one of the burnt houses that Juan Camus, a soldier, found the image of Sto. Niño unscratched. Since then, the miraculous image has been venerated by the Cebuanos as its Patron Saint. At present , the miraculous image is kept in the Parish Covent, and a replica is adorned with gold and precious stones and enshrined in glass. It is housed in a side altar inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño. BASILICA MINOR DEL SANTO NIÑO – This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565. The first structure of the church was, however, destroyed by fire on November 1, 1568. It was rebuilt in 1602 under the administration of Juan Albaran and was rehabilitated in 1740. On May 1965, the church was conferred the title of Basilica Minor del Santo Niño by Cardinal Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu. [...]