OSLOB, CEBU — Tourists who traveled to the southern town of Oslob early Friday morning, May 22, 2026, were left surprised and disappointed after no whale sharks or “butanding” appeared during the scheduled interaction hours.
Known worldwide for its whale shark watching activity, Oslob usually welcomes thousands of local and foreign visitors hoping to experience a close encounter with the gentle giants. However, on Friday morning, guests reportedly waited for hours without seeing even a single whale shark surface in the area.
In a video shared online by Hans Walter Paragele Romera, several tourists who already paid the required environmental and interaction fees were seen patiently waiting by the shoreline and onboard boats while operators continued monitoring the waters for any sign of the whale sharks.
According to Hans, this was the first time he personally witnessed a situation where no whale sharks appeared despite tourists and boat operators preparing as early as 4:00 a.m. He added that visitors remained on standby for hours, hoping the butandings would eventually arrive.
Some tourists reportedly came from different parts of the Philippines and abroad for the once-in-a-lifetime attraction, making the unexpected absence of the whale sharks even more disappointing for many guests.
The incident quickly gained attention online, with netizens expressing concern and curiosity over the sudden absence of the whale sharks in Oslob waters.
As discussions continue online, many are now asking the same question: “Asa na ang mga butanding?”
Photo by Lumad Cebuano
Comments