We officially kicked off our academic break adventure by boarding the passenger vessel bound for Bato, Leyte. Since we were on a tight student budget, we were incredibly fortunate to be “adopted” by our kind classmate, Theresa (the lady in brown), who invited us to stay at her home in Leyte so we wouldn’t have to spend much on accommodation. She even shouldered the cost of the land transport upon our arrival!

To make our weekend adventure even more budget-friendly, we made a crucial stop at Colonnade Supermarket in Colon just before boarding the boat to stock up on all the essential food and supplies.

After hours on the dark sea, we finally arrived at Bato Port just before the sun peeked over the horizon. The moment we stepped off the vessel, the cool, salty morning breeze was a welcome embrace. It was the smell of the province and a promise of the fun to come.

From the Port, we were warmly welcomed by Theresa’s family, who kindly drove us to their house in Barangay Itum. Since Theresa was “adopting” us to keep our costs low, the family went above and beyond to make us comfortable. Once we had quickly settled our belongings, we immediately headed to the local market.

After our successful market run, and still wearing the exact same clothes from our all-night boat trip, we headed straight to the seawall nearby. It was a beautiful, reflective moment and the perfect way to officially welcome the first day of our academic break in Leyte.

Right after feeling the refreshing breeze on the seawall and soaking in the beautiful morning light, we headed straight back to Theresa’s house. It was time to put our market haul to good use and start preparing our well-deserved breakfast. We gathered around the table for a quick, necessary feast, all smiles.

Feeling energized and fueled, we headed straight to the Matalom Port, conveniently located just beside Theresa’s house, where we would catch our ride to Canigao Island. The excitement shows as we click some photos! The port is surrounded by a signboard displaying all the necessary visitor information, and then we eagerly waited for the small outrigger boat that would ferry us across the water to the island paradise.

The ride itself was quick, only about 15 to 20 minutes, but every second built the excitement. Soon enough, we saw the shoreline. The moment we approached, we knew we were in paradise: the sand was strikingly white, the water was incredibly clear, and a big, inviting sign that said “Canigao Island Paradise” stood proudly to welcome us.

The beach itself was undeniably beautiful: brilliant white sand meeting the stunning blue of the ocean. The first order of business? We decided to take a grand tour. We circled the entire island on foot! It was exhilarating to see every angle and find all the different spots for photos; we took a lot of them! It’s a relatively small island, but it’s packed with natural beauty.

Naturally, the trip wouldn’t be complete without executing the classic group jumpshot photo on the white sand.

We rented a nipa hut and prepared our cooked lunch. Everyone was busy enjoying the food and laughing all the while. We had to pause for a mandatory “lunch-in-the-nipa-hut” photo op.

We played several fun games on the shore, but the absolute highlight was the chaotic “shoulder fight.” Two of us would carry our lady friends on our shoulders while the ladies tried to push each other down into the shallow water. It was a perfect mix of silly, fun, and completely crazy, a core memory from the trip!

The Side-trip

The next day, we decided to explore Matalom a bit more. But first, we gathered for a group photo in front of Theresa’s house while his father closed the gate, the place that generously hosted our budget adventure. It was a perfect snapshot to remember our temporary home base.

We first made a memorable stop at Theresa’s grandmother’s house in town. It was a beautiful example of a typical rich provincial home, complete with a massive backyard and situated right along the seawall. It was a short visit, but we took some lovely group shots to capture the memory.

Along the road, we had a hilarious, unexpected encounter! We suddenly spotted a familiar 12L multicab, the very model that runs the local routes back in Cebu. It felt like a small, unexpected piece of home hundreds of kilometers away. It was a tiny moment of unexpected happiness that just added to the whole, relaxed vibe of the trip.

We then headed to Kiosko Food Park, where the main attraction was the cool, refreshing spring water flowing endlessly. It was the perfect way to cool down after a day of sun on the island. We swam, laughed, and ate snacks. The best part? Almost all the moments were captured candidly, focusing on our genuine interactions, laughter, and relaxation in the cool water.

This academic break trip was a true testament to the simple joy of student travel. It proved that genuine fun isn’t measured by the money spent, but by the quality of the company. No big budget, no fancy itinerary, just good friends, delicious budget-friendly food, and unforgettable fun on the beach and in the province. It wasn’t about the destination, but the shared memories we created every step of the way, making it a trip we’ll talk about for years. These low-cost adventures always turn out to be the most priceless.

Travel Details

• Cebu to Bato Port: Bato is a common port for overnight ferries from Cebu (like Medallion) and is very close to Matalom.
• Student Fare: The standard regular fare for an overnight economy class ferry to Bato port was roughly ₱500. Standard student discounts are 20% off.
• Boat Fare (Matalom Port to Canigao Island): The bangka fare was approximately ₱60 per person, for a round trip.

Canigao Island Fees

• Environmental Fee: ₱40 per person
• Day-Use Cottage/Nipa Hut Rental: Around ₱500