The Leper Trust continues to be overseen by the Department of Health, but a new municipality has been created because of RA 1793, ratified by a plebiscite in Sept. 1992. The picturesque island and its sights such as an old Spanish-era church, which serves as a lookout point, awe us. From there, we are off to Popototan Island to check out the Coral Bay Beach Resort , stretching over 100 hectares of exhilarating beauty. The quaint resort has eight homey cottages, and owners Cristine and Noel Matta prefer to keep it that way because they feel that having too many guests might upset the natural balance and tranquility of the island. They have much to be protective about.
Coral Bay is home to hundreds of species of marine life.
Just under the dock are hundreds of edible matambaka fish which school there in defense against predators until they re old enough to go out to sea. These fish share their home with other tropical fish, large black urchins, giant clams and a large lionfish which has claimed a section of the area for its own. Occasionally, a dugong comes in to feed on the seaweed in the area. A few meters from shore is a garden of corals where one may find parrotfish, swordfish, clownfish, batfish, a manta ray and anemones. The Mattas have their own fish traps where a fresh catch of talakitok, maya-maya or tuna can be had at a moment s notice.