Cebu’s Famous Gentle Giants

Serious tourists say that you've never really been to the exotic Philippine island of Cebu unless you've experienced meeting their friendly titans up close and personal.

And no, I'm not referring to fellow human beings of colossal dimensions, but rather to other natural creatures of equally epic proportions. However, if you're the type of person who easily gets seasick, I'm afraid this kind of aquatic escapade won't be your cup of tea. Sorry.

On the other hand, if you're truly eager and willing to conquer your fears by escaping your comfortable cocoon, then this once-in-a-lifetime adventure could possibly be for you. Are you up to it?

If so, get ready with your courageous spirit to encounter one of Cebu’s most amiable inhabitants of their refreshing coastlines.

Presenting the “Butanding”, a Cebuano word when translated to the English language means “Whale Shark”. Yes, you heard that right - it's a type of shark! Yet, fear not because these relatives of the highly ferocious, bloodthirsty, and carnivorous species of fish like the Great White Shark are not what you think they are.

On the contrary, these cold-blooded marine animals have continuously thrived in the vast depths of the Earth’s oceans for countless millennia and haven't posed any direct threats to human life as far as we can remember. In fact, these harmless creatures of the deep are actually approachable, passive, and peaceful. Although they may appear intimidating at first glance due to their enormous size, don't worry, they won't bite you.

“Well, I do hope these whale sharks would remain that way forever. You could never guess their evolutionary behavior in the coming years, I guess. Who knows?” This is my disturbing thought of concern.

Nevertheless, the popular nickname “Gentle Giants” of the sea as bestowed upon them by several tourism organizations, vloggers, and writers seem like they have collectively agreed to a perfect touristic description for these curiosities of the natural world.

In the Philippine province of Cebu, one exquisite destination keeps rising above the rest when it comes to whale shark watching. Do you know where it is?

A heartwarming welcome to the fascinating municipality of Oslob! This humble location in the southeastern side of Cebu island used to be a quiet, serene, and ordinary town before the whale sharks were discovered.

Today, Oslob has clearly become synonymous with being the chosen home of the “Butanding”, catapulting their remarkable reputation to phenomenal heights.

I've been to Oslob on many occasions already, and it will be my tremendous pleasure to highlight to you the various activities involved in a typical itinerary for a ‘Butanding” experience or a whale shark watching event. Here we go…

Unless you're already staying in Oslob the day before, that's fine. But if you're traveling from the capital of Cebu City, you need to wake up during the wee periods of the morning since it takes a few hours to reach this southern destination. Starting your road trip as early as dawn would ensure your prompt arrival to this popular landmark.

You see, it's definitely crucial to arrive on time at this locality before the sun rises because the whale sharks have certain migratory schedules that directly affect their timely presence and appearances close to the shorelines. It's during this particular period of the day that they are normally fed by the local fishermen.

You wouldn't want to miss these gentle giants, would you?

Even before the sun illuminates the horizon, the entire whale shark watching experience commences with a quick seminar or a briefing session on the do’s and don't’s of this special activity. This awareness program is extremely critical for the proper interaction of people with their natural environment, especially their direct engagement with the whale sharks. These special encounters are prone to accidents, thus it always helps to be completely prepared for worst-case scenarios.

While this assembled discussion is ongoing, the tour guides (aka fishermen) prepares their “bangkas” (small boats) used in transporting tourists to the actual site of the whale sharks.

As soon as the sunrise begins to brighten the coastal surroundings, several tourists wait for their specific turns in boarding their assigned watercraft. You can surely feel the massive excitement at the beach as obviously shown in the happy faces of the various people standing and staring towards the inviting sea.

If you haven't noticed, safety for everyone is a compulsory requirement, especially for those interacting with the whale sharks. Protective body gear in the form of red and orange lifejackets are mandatory and non-negotiable. Your life is at stake here, so better be fully prepared than regret it later on.

One major step in the entire process of whale shark watching that simply evokes my emotions and inspires me the most is the exhilarating moment when tourists are already onboard the boats, have just embarked from the seashore, and are on their way to meeting the sociable marine behemoths. Isn't this marvelous encounter like the beginning of a lovely courtship and romantic date? Do you think so too?

Eventually, when everyone is already stationed further away above the deeper realms of the sea, the whale sharks suddenly appear out of nowhere, sometimes surprising unmindful tourists. First timers would usually have the greatest fun of their lives because not only do they get astonished by the whale shark’s humongous measurements, but they also have the rare opportunity to swim alongside these unassuming giants from an appropriate distance of course.

I can still vividly recall my very first encounter with these whale sharks years ago and this beautiful memory still plays colorfully inside my head. Despite being nervous during that time, I willingly decided to go ahead with the adventurous plunge into the unknown depths of the sea, swam gracefully with them while enjoying their company, and the rest is history.

Here are a few photos of the celebrated Cebu “Butanding” in Oslob. Aren't they charming sea creatures?