The land of marbles. My first time participating in the regional science fair and quiz was in 1979. Only a third-year high school student, I became the official delegate of Oriental Mindoro in the regional science quiz. My classmate, who was also a close friend, was one of the official delegates to the science fair. We almost did not make it to Romblon. Before we left Calapan for Roxas, which is a municipality in the southern part of Mindoro and the take-off point to Odiongan by a 50-passenger capacity pump boat, it was announced over the radio that signal no. 2 was raised in the Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque group of islands. But my classmate and I were so determined to go and after strongly convincing our Science adviser, off we went to Roxas and then to Odiongan. The boat's captain (or pilot?) was so skillful in braving the giant waves that we had to dock in the port of the town next to Odiongan.
We did not win in the contests but we met new friends, got to bring home marble souvenirs, and cherished the unforgettable experience in the stormy sea.
Photo from www.tourism.gov.ph.
