OUR PRE-NUPTIAL SHOOT LOCATION - CAPITANCILLO ISLET, BOGO CITY, CEBU PHILIPPINES (PART 1)

The crystal clear water, the warm thin air, the blazing heat, and the snow-white sand are all the elements that we both loved. We were able to find all we needed on this small but spectacular island – Capitancillo Islet. In addition to the quality of the location, it is a remote and quiet place that we both enjoy. Through this blog, we will take you to the place for the experience we had so that you may feel the ambiance as well.

Actually, we have a lengthy list of destinations in mind, including highland areas, which we also enjoy, as well as some well-known resorts and beaches. I was reading my social media account far from the day of the shoot when I came upon a post about the location and was fully blown. Then I checked for the island’s availability to book, but it was unavailable due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, as time passed, we got notification that it would be opening soon, and that it will be before our wedding date. All of the items on the list were canceled, and we made the decision to shoot on that island.

Hello, Hivers! We're back, and this time we're going to show you the location of our pre-nuptial photo shoot during the peak of the pandemic. We followed all of the necessary Covid-19 preventive guidelines instructed from the tourism office. I believe the island's isolation is one of the reasons it was one of the first to open. The ever-beautiful Capitancillo Islet, a tiny yet excellent place with everything you could want in summer.

HOW TO GET THERE

This tiny island is located at Bogo City, the northeastern coast of Cebu Province about 110 kilometers from Cebu City. Prior to the journey, you must first contact the Bogo Tourism Department and dial (211) 260-5183 or 260-5310 to obtain instructions. It's necessary because the boat you'll be riding on has to be approved by the tourism office.

If you're in a private vehicle, you can use a navigation app like Waze or Google Map to get straight to the location by inputting Polambato Port, Bogo City. To ride public vehicle, you can take a bus or Vhire to Bogo City from the North Bus Terminal, which will take about 2-3 hours and be sure to drop off to the corner of Polambato Port. The one-way bus fare is 160 per person. Upon reaching the place, you have to ride a pedicab or habal habal going to Polambato Port and go directly to the tourism office. Your journey to Capitancillo begins after you have completed the procedures at the tourism office and will take around 45 minutes by boat.

THE ISLAND'S ONE-OF-A-KIND MAJESTY

We've only seen photographs and videos of the island's beauty on social media, and it's fascinating to see good shots on this tiny island. So it's about time, we went there and saw it for ourselves, and see what the island has to offer. We went there by renting a van, and because it's pandemic time, the van had to be half full. After arriving at the destination and receiving instructions from the tourism office, we immediately headed to our rented boat.

To our surprise, the boat is far too large for our small group; I believe it is a 50-seater, perhaps it's because each seat needs to be separated by one seat by instruction. We couldn't contain our excitement when we finally arrived at the island of Capitancillo, so we hurriedly toured around. Because the island is so small, you could tour around in just 5-10 minutes.

Our photographers use their time scouting the area to identify ideal locations for our shoot. The most notable feature of Capitancillo Island is a 25-meter (80-foot) tower. However, due to its antiquity, climbing up to the tower is already prohibited. Of course, we will not pass up the opportunity to shoot on this famous tower. The tower looks great in a lower-angle shot with the sky in the background, which gives it lighter mood of the photo.

A ruin can be found just next to the lighthouse. The old walls of the ruin gives our photos a rustic look, which luckily matches one of our outfits. Aside from beachside shoots, the ruin is also a good spot to try something new on the sets of our shoots which looks like where not on a tiny island.

Surrounding the island are some Talisay trees where you can rest and relax if you get tired. We chose to have our make-up and dressing station under the large Talisay Tree because it is very shady.

The island has cottages and a few open benches. There is a small section of white sand beach, and the rest is sharp-edged rocks directly beside the sea.

We will also not wasting the opportunity to shoot on the water in a small boat taking a top-down shot with our photographer's drone.

Once you get off the water, you will undoubtedly come across the City of Bogo's treasured marine sanctuary, where the true beauty of the islet lies. The 6-hectare coral line islet is under the City government's protection in order to preserve its beauty. We've also done some underwater shoot. We were captivated by the corals and wanted to include them in our photographs. The visibility under the sea astounded me. I saw numerous fish and corals ranging in size from small to large. It was a magnificent sight.

Travelers can dive or snorkel to get the full experience of this island. There’s no rental of swimming gears in the island so just take along your fins, mask or snorkel. You can still go swimming or kayaking if you forget to pack your snorkel and mask. We arrived at sunset after a hard day of shooting and snapped photos for a golden hour experience of the island.

Advice for those planning a trip to the island. You can camp on Capitancillo Island, but you must bring your own tent (with supplies such as pillows, comforters, etc.) and supplies (like foods, drinks, power banks). There is no available lodging, electricity, or a store. I hope they develop accommodations or stores there someday. Always check the weather forecast before embarking on this adventure. Even in calm weather, the trip is wavy; imagine how much worse it is on a windy day. Arrive early to make the most of your trip. Keep an eye out for the depth of the water. We haven't seen any snakes, but the caregiver claims to have seen them on the island so be watchful. Always use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays. Never ever endanger or threaten marine life in the area.

Capitancillo Islet is one of Bogo City’s hidden gems. Help preserve the island. Respect the place, respect other people. If you throw your trash anywhere, you could face a fine, so you should leave no trace. Again, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footprints.

On the part two of this blog, we will share to you our full experience and some of our official photos. So, STAY TUNED!

Disclaimer: All photos were taken by Epe Dinaguit Films and Photography, the official photographer for our pre-nuptial shoot.