Sometimes, the most meaningful trips are not the ones packed with tourist attractions and carefully planned itineraries. Sometimes, they are simply about going home, spending time with family, sharing a meal, and being present for someone you love.

Our recent quick visit to Camiguin Island was exactly that. This wasn't our usual Camiguin getaway filled with sightseeing and adventures around the island. Our main reason for flying from Cebu to Camiguin was to visit Nanay Estrella, my mother-in-law, spend a few days with her, and reconnect with my husband's family.

Although our stay was only 4 days and 3 nights, those few days gave us plenty of simple moments that we will remember for a long. 

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An Early Morning Flight from Cebu to Camiguin

Our trip started early in the morning at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Our flight was scheduled around 7:00 AM, so it was an early start for us. After the short flight, we arrived at Camiguin Airport at around 9:00 AM.

There's always something different about arriving in Camiguin. Compared with the busy atmosphere of Cebu, the island immediately feels quieter and more relaxed. Everything seems to slow down a little.

Instead of heading to our accommodation, we went directly to my husband's parents' home in Mambajao, Camiguin. From the airport, we took one of the island's local tricycles. And just like that, we were home.

Visiting Nanay Estrella

When we arrived at the house, we found Nanay Estrella sleeping peacefully. She was alone at the time because my husband's eldest sibling, who works as a DepEd high school teacher, had already left early for work.

We quietly waited for Nanay to wake up. When she finally did, she didn't immediately recognize us.

For a moment, she looked at us as if she were trying to figure out who these visitors were. After some time, she recognized my husband, although at first she seemed to think he was her other son. She didn't recognize me right away either.

It was one of those moments that makes you realize how much life can change over the years. But that was exactly why we were there. We didn't travel to Camiguin because we had a long list of attractions to visit. We came because we wanted to spend time with Nanay while we could. Sometimes, presence is the most important thing we can give.

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Our Stay at Cabua-an Beach Resort

For our accommodation in Camiguin, we stayed at Cabua-an Beach Resort for 4 days and 3 nights. Our routine during the trip was quite different from a normal vacation. Because we still needed to work remotely, we usually stayed at the resort during the evening and the early part of the morning to finish our work. Afterward, we spent much of the day at Nanay's house.

We accompanied her, ate meals with her, helped give her medications, and simply stayed around. There wasn't anything complicated about our days. And that was what made them meaningful.

A Quiet Visit to Tatay's Grave

During our stay, we also made time to visit the grave of my husband's Tatay at Boloc-Boloc Cemetery. We borrowed an ADV motorcycle from his brother and rode to the cemetery.

We lit candles, said our prayers, and spent a quiet moment remembering him. Trips home have a way of bringing different memories together—the people who are still with us and the people who are no longer here. It wasn't a long visit, but it was an important part of our journey.

Catching Up With Family—and Rediscovering Pan de Libro

Since my husband's sister lives nearby, we also stopped by her house. We spent time chatting with her and her husband, catching up on life and enjoying the simple happiness of seeing family again.

Then she offered us something that immediately brought back childhood memories: pan de libro. And it was delicious! It had been so many years since I had eaten this childhood bread. Having it again felt strangely nostalgic, especially paired with a cup of black coffee. No fancy café was needed. Just freshly made bread, hot coffee, family conversation, and a quiet afternoon in Camiguin. Sometimes those are the best merienda moments.

Shopping at the Camiguin Local Market and Gaisano Mall

Before dinner, we headed back toward Nanay's house, but first we made a few stops around town. We visited the local market in Camiguin to buy food for dinner. One of our best finds was an incredibly fresh yellow marlin.

Living on an island has its advantages when it comes to seafood, and seeing such fresh fish at the market immediately gave us ideas for dinner. We also bought some fruits and stopped at a local hardware store for a few electrical supplies. Afterward, we did some grocery shopping at Gaisano Mall Camiguin before finally heading home.

It was an ordinary errand run—but when you're visiting home after being away, even going to the market can feel like part of the experience.

Cooking Fish Tinola and Kinilaw at Home

Back at Nanay's house, my husband and I prepared our fresh yellow marlin. We made a comforting fish tinola and some delicious fish kinilaw.

For me, this is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh fish in the Philippines. The tinola was warm, simple, and comforting, while the kinilaw highlighted the freshness of the fish.

Later, my husband's older sister arrived together with her husband, and we all sat down for dinner. Food has always had a way of bringing Filipino families together. Sitting around the table, eating home-cooked food, talking and catching up made that evening particularly special.

Earlier, his sister had also prepared pork layua, or pork stew, for us. It added another comforting home-cooked dish to our family dinner. We also got to meet my husband's younger brother during our visit. By coincidence, he was also on the island because he was conducting a seminar for his colleagues at PHIVOLCS.

He was also the one who brought the ADV motorcycle for us to use while we were in Camiguin, which made getting around the island much.

Swimming at Cabua-an Beach

Although this trip was mainly about family, we still managed to enjoy a little bit of the natural beauty that makes Camiguin Island so special.

At Cabua-an Beach Resort, we finally had some time for a swim at Cabua-an Beach, a beach well known among locals. And oh my gosh—the seawater! It was incredibly fresh, clean, and inviting.

What surprised me most was the sand beneath the water. It was so fine and pulverized that walking barefoot in the sea was incredibly comfortable. I couldn't feel those sharp stones underneath that you sometimes encounter at other beaches.

The combination of clear seawater, fine sand, and the peaceful surroundings made our quick swim especially refreshing. After working remotely and spending much of our time taking care of family matters, being able to simply step into the sea felt wonderful.

A Little Yoga by the Beach

I even managed to squeeze in a quick yoga session at the resort. There is something different about doing yoga near the sea.

The fresh air, the sound of the water, and the peaceful island atmosphere made those few minutes feel much longer than they actually were.

It wasn't a scheduled wellness activity or anything elaborate—just a small moment for myself during a busy family trip. And sometimes that's enough.

Our Unexpectedly Early Flight Home

On our final day in Camiguin, we expected to have a little more time before heading to the airport. Then we received a call from the airport staff.

Our plane had arrived earlier than scheduled, and they asked us to come to the airport and check in early. Suddenly, our relaxed morning became a quick departure! Since we were still using my husband's brother's ADV motorcycle, we had to leave it at the resort so he could pick it up later.

We were very thankful to the Cabua-an Beach Resort owner, who warmly accommodated our request and allowed us to leave the motorcycle safely at the property even though my husband's brother wasn't there yet to collect it. That simple gesture made our rushed departure much easier.

Camiguin Is More Than a Tourist Destination

Camiguin is famous for its waterfalls, hot and cold springs, volcanoes, beaches, diving spots, and beautiful island scenery. But this trip reminded us of another side of Camiguin.

For us, Camiguin is home. It's Nanay sleeping quietly in the family house. It's lighting candles at Tatay's grave. It's borrowing a brother's motorcycle.

It's visiting a sister's house and eating pan de libro with black coffee. It's buying fresh yellow marlin from the market and cooking tinola and kinilaw for dinner.

It's sitting around the table with siblings and in-laws, sharing food and catching up on everything that has happened while everyone was busy living their own lives.

And somewhere in between all of that, it's finding a little time to swim in wonderfully clean seawater and do a few minutes of yoga by the beach.

Four Days and Three Nights That Felt Too Short

Our 4-day, 3-night Camiguin trip passed very quickly. We didn't go around trying to check off every famous Camiguin tourist spot. We didn't build an elaborate itinerary. Most of our time was divided between working remotely at Cabua-an Beach Resort and spending half of our days with Nanay and the rest of the family.

Yet somehow, the trip felt fuller because of that. Travel doesn't always have to be about seeing somewhere new. Sometimes, it's about returning to somewhere familiar.

It's about checking on the people who once took care of us. It's about sitting beside them even when conversations aren't the same anymore. It's about cooking something simple and eating together.

Most importantly, it's about making time. Because work will always be waiting. Errands will always be there. There will always be another deadline. But opportunities to sit with the people we love are not unlimited.

Until Our Next Visit, Camiguin

As our plane left the island, I couldn't help thinking about how quickly those few days had passed. Our visit to Camiguin may have been short, but it gave us something we needed—a chance to reconnect with family, spend precious time with Nanay Estrella, remember Tatay, enjoy home-cooked food, reconnect with siblings, and appreciate the simple beauty of island life.

We came home carrying memories of fresh yellow marlin, fish tinola and kinilaw, pork layua, pan de libro and black coffee, motorcycle rides around Mambajao, clean seawater at Cabua-an Beach, and quiet moments with family.

No grand itinerary. No rush to see everything. Just four days, three nights, and a quick island visit that reminded us what coming home really means. Until next time, Camiguin.

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