After more than an hour from touch down on the shores of Capones, we finally reached the lighthouse. From the shore below, it was a good 10-minute climb towards the lighthouse. One need now worry about the path because it is not really hard to climb.
And at last, the Capones lighthouse. At a glance, the place is aging and already deteriorating. Most probably, the local government is not keen about the rehabilitation of this place or should I say, it is not part of their top priorities.
But on the other hand, if ever this structure will be rehabilitated or well-maintained, will it become more attractive compared to its current condition? Or its current state and look gives it some kind of awe to the visiting tourists like me?
I must say, this place is a great one for photo shoots. And I would like to suggest that if ever you are going to visit this place, bring a model with you or bring some outfits worthy for a photo shoot. You'll definitely enjoy this place and love each passing moment.
Since we were allowed to climb the lighthouse itself, we made no haste in finding our way towards the top. The unstable spiral metal staircase is a big challenge to anyone because it seems that this part of the structure will give in any moment because it shakes with your every step especially if there are lots of people going up and down at the same time.
After reaching the second level, another inclined metal staircase awaits you at 70-75 degrees. And the last challenge is to hurdle a 90-degree metal staircase and about 10 feet in vertical clearance that leads toward the top of the lighthouse.
Upon reaching the prized spot of the lighthouse, a full 360-view of the island is unraveled. If you are afraid of heights, it would be a big challenge on your end to fully appreciate this spot. But your visit will be somewhat incomplete if you'll miss the chance of landing in here.
Actually, if I have my way, I would love to stay on this spot and spend some quiet time. It would be a good place to stay if not for the harsh sun overhead. Out here, you can feel the tranquility of the place, you can feel your soul and hear your thoughts, you can fill your lungs with fresh air, you can unwind and not being particular with the passing of time, and you can freely doze off unmindful about your life from where you come from.
Up here, the building ruins can be seen below. I thought all along that the lighthouse is no longer operational because of the condition of the place. Everything is deteriorating and the place is just killing some time to finally fall to the ground. But I was wrong. The lighthouse is still operational and it is solar powered. At the top of the lighthouse, the solar panels can be clearly seen down below. Hmmm. I was entertaining an idea of spending a night here. But I was told that no maintenance personnel stays on the island during the night. Though it looks like a great adventure, out here all alone in this island by nightfall, I will definitely have no courage of spending even a minute here all by myself. Chicken! Hehe
From what I'd witnessed, it is such a big waste letting this cultural heritage site awaiting its time to rot and fall helplessly to the ground. The inabilities and lack of concern of our local and national government only shows that we don't care about our past and we cannot protect and maintain the legacies of those who came before us. Other countries have been dedicating their resources to protect, preserve, and maintain their historical sites but here in the Philippines, it seems that it is the least of the concern of our government. In our existence, it is hard to say that we are whole and complete unless we know, embrace, and give importance of our past.
I hope that as we roam around the country, we can visit important landmarks like this one - standing, preserved, well-maintained, and protected. And with much pride and dignity, we can say that our country - the Philippines, is such a beautiful country. That our country is rich not only with its natural resources but with every piece of history that we happen to read in books. That every Filipino will have the chance and desire to visit its beautiful places and treasure its rich culture and heritage.
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