Capones Grande Island (Isla de Gran Capon) in Zambales is frequented by foreign and local tourists normally as a side trip for visiting the nearby Anawangin or Nagsasa Cove. However, I had been to Anawangin two years ago but the group I went with were too tired after two days at the beach that they just dropped the side trip.
Curiosity took me and a friend to Capones Island last Monday, the last day of the long Lenten holiday. It was supposed to be a two-island hop but big waves prevented the small boat we rented to drop us at Camara Island.
After circling Camara, though, we proceeded to Capones to visit the famed Capones Island Lighthouse (Faro de Punta Capones).
The view at the top of the hill was romantic. The refreshing breeze and the picturesque surroundings would make one wish for a longer stay. We, however, were not prepared for that that’s why we just made good use of our time to roam around as much as we could.
The lighthouse was finished in 1890, the same year it was also first lit. It was made to search and guide ships entering and leaving Subic and Manila Bay. It had first-order Fresnel lenses when it was first used. The original lamp and lantern, however, were replaced with modern solar-powered lighthouse light as part of the Maritime Safety Improvement of the Philippine Coast Guard (wiki). But while the tower was renovated, other parts of the station were not, leaving the keeper’s house and the other buildings around it having an eerie feel.
It was midday when we visited the place, but I’m sure I would have found the lighthouse creepy had we went there later in the day when the sun is about to set, with longer shadows and cooler breeze.
Aside from visiting the lighthouse, we also tried swimming in one of the stretches of white-sand beach around the island. It was quite sad, however, that there was already a large amount of accumulated trash in such a beautiful place, some were piled, some were strewn on the beach and floating on the waters. I’m sure Capones would be less appealing a few years from now if the garbage problem was not taken care of.
I hope the navies stationed on the other side would do something to prevent tourists from leaving their garbage behind.
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