The Lost Kids

Nogas Island : Antique

A 20-minute motorboat ride from the shoreline of Anini-y town proper could bring you to such enchanted virgin paradise - The Nogas Island. Located in the Province of Antique, Philippines, Nogas Island is an uninhabited government naval reservation and a marine sanctuary.

The land of Nogas Island is very flat. From afar, it is a deep, verdant green color of lush grass, lined with a thin milky-white sand. The beautiful island is also a home to the healthy mangroves and rare birds species.

The word "Nogas" did not come from the well-known phrase "no gas" - the absence of gas, as what the word suggests or what others have linked it to the stories of stranded tourists on the island due to the shortage of gas on their chartered motorboat. Its name rooted from a legend transferred from one generation to another.

According to the local legend, Nogas is a young and handsome man, former slave and a farmer’s son who fell in love with a beautiful girl named Anini-y daughter of the Malayan chieftain. Likely, it was a forbidden love affair, for Nogas is a descendant of the uripons, or slaves while Anini-y belongs to the maharlikas, the royalty which also led them to a tragic end.

Nogas was killed and his body was hurled into the vast open sea - nowhere to be found. Until one day, an island across the town surfaced and was named after him. To her distress, Anini-y died in anguish of losing the love of her life - tormented and longing. It was said the her remains were buried in the rocky seashore directly facing the island that was named after her lover. On her burial site appeared a small volcano and a hot spring. It was believed that the hot water coming from the spring represents Anini-y's tears while the volcano is her heart, still beating for her one tru love - Nogas.

The folklore still continues until today. The locals believed that like the mystical character in the legend, the lovers will never meet again just like the two islands separated by the vast sea.

Upon exploring the enchanted island, it's most eminent feature is its Fragipani (kalachuchi) underpass canopy that leads to an abandoned old lighthouse.

The lighthouse is a concrete structure about a hundred-meter tall which is closed to the public.

For safety reasons, we were not able to climb it up since Zyann is too young for heights and stairs.

The fragrance of the Fragipani is such a calming scent that goes so well with the sea breeze that gently caresses your skin.

The island has several cottages that visitors can use when on day trips. The picnic huts are available for rent at 300 pesos, no official receipt (OR) though.

If you want to stay overnight, you can ask permission to the care taker of the island. There are no hotels or overnight houses to stay, so bring tents or a sleeping bag.

There are no ‘tourist facilities’ in the entire island. So if you plan to stay there all day, make sure to bring all your needed amenities, toiletries and most importantly your FOOD.

Food is allowed but please be responsible of your trash. Take them with you when you leave the island.

STILL UPDATING...