Would You Cross A Crumbling Bridge For This View In Kota Park

Hello, travelers! My Bantayan travel narrative is getting farther and farther and I have never been so excited like this because of this chance to share my trip with you. From my voyage towards the island to the very majestic walls of Kota Fort, we have come now today to the second part of my Kota Park experience, where we will be experiencing the beauty of the park after we visited the Kota Fort that is built just inside the park. The park is another place to experience and it is another paradise to explore, so to speak. After reexperiencing the history of Kota Fort, which was the watchspot from Moro invaders, we left the walls untouched and undisturbed and headed to the park where a beautiful horizon and sea await, as well as the watchtower, and the park proper can be found. Hop in on this blog and let's see what Kota Park is!

Kota Park is just the same spot that was used by old people of Bantayan as a watchspot from invaders and where they observed unusual water movements that might put the people on the island at risk. But in the present, it is commercialized, developed, and is included as a tourist spot in Bantayan where many tourists flock and enjoy the view. What was once a historical place where pirates once loomed is now a place to have a peaceful retreat, relax, and unwind. Everything is safe here, and there is no danger to watch over.

When we entered the park, there was this clear sand space inside that is used by visitors for walking, picnics, strolling, walking with dogs, and sunset viewing. It is quite a big space for visitors to breathe, kids to run around, and tourists to have some parties at nighttime. There are many benches in the hallway also that are perfect for sunset viewing, and it is indeed a comfortable sit to experience and look at the beauty of the sea that Kota Park has.

Moving on our stroll, we immediately headed to the bridge, where at the end is a watchtower, historically used as I have said, and we wanted to climb on it to experience how the old folks watched the water from a high view. The water this time was in low tide, which means I was seeing these brown circle things on the water, somewhat like muddy soil, and it added vibrance to the view. If we will talk about clear turquoise water, for sure Kota Park has it.

At the official entrance of the bridge, there is a historical marker carrying the names of women and men who fought and sacrificed their lives for Bantayan Island and Kota Park. I could barely see the names but I could feel them. They deserve to be honored, to be seen as people who were brave and courageous enough to use their lives to protect the island.

Walking on the bridge was not the best thing to do in the present. The reason is, the bridge's floor is made of a continuous pile of concrete bars, and some of the floors are missing. Sometimes, we would walk on the side part of the bridge holding tightly just to make sure we would not fall. Kids are not advisable to visit since they are prone to falling into the water, especially on high tide, and we know what will happen when it does. Some floors are not missing but are too fragile to step on. Some would even collapse if someone jumps on them. The bridge needs development but sometimes I would think it is historical enough to not be developed and we can let history survive by not touching this place. The journey to the watchtower was never easy and it was really breathtaking.

This is the tower where people of Bantayan watched the Moro invaders aside from Kota Fort. The water was stunning that time, as well as the sun that perfectly struck the whole view, creating an aesthetically pleasing scene to our eyes. The view did not have a flaw, but the journey to the highest floor has. The stairs and the floor of this watchtower are still fragile just like the bridge, and anytime soon this watchtower can collapse when heavily disturbed. But it can still hold tourists in the present. I would not climb on it again but it is essential to experience it once.

We spent another hour on the watchtower, feeling the breeze on our skin and the golden light entering our retina. The water was slowly rising and a lighthouse caught my attention on the farthest part of the water, but I was not able to take a photo of it. Still, that moment stayed with me, like a quiet reminder of how vast and peaceful Bantayan can be when you let yourself just stand still and look. As we made our way back, step by careful step, I realized that Kota Park is not just a place you visit, it is a place you feel. From fragile bridges to strong history, from calm waters to stories untold, this journey did not just end on that tower, it echoed far beyond it, leaving me with a memory that will surely call  me back again.