Green destinations

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

- CHIT U. JUAN

I have long wanted to write about greener choices when it comes to tourist destinations because it’s not only a good thing to do for Mother Earth, but a smart thing to do. And I am excited to tell you about Barangay Marang Marang in Isabela City, Basilan on the Indigenous People and women side, and Banwa Private Island on the other end of the economic spectrum, being an exclusive location worthy of being in the 100 best places to visit list.

They share many commonalities except for price. Marang Marang is reachable by boat from mainland Isabela and is amongst mangroves where we were served Basilan’s pride — pure Excelsa coffee, brewed right on the rafts where the women of Marang Marang entertain visitors. We were afloat rafts with comfortable seats, plenty of tables and delicious local fare. Along with coffee we had rice cakes, sweet potatoes and bananas. The women of the community regaled us with stories of how they live catching shrimps and other seafood found in the river / mangrove areas.

I wanted to recommend the community to be part of the Slow Food movement, as they were preserving local heritage, local food culture, which is the women association’s main source of business. Their first international recognition, however, is being a Green Destination. And they surely passed the bar to be named such as I had observed when I last visited Basilan.