By Erwin G. Beleo SEA LOVERS’ PARADISE — Tourists enjoy their weekend on Immuki Island, one of the beautiful lagoons launched for tourism in Balaoan, La Union this summer season. (Erwin G. Beleo)a Balaoan, La Union – A newly-discovered destination for sea lovers is slowly attracting tourists here because of its seemingly pristine condition and unique shape. Immuki Island, which serves as the breeding ground for sea creatures thriving on dead corals locally known as “paringit” (in Ilokano), has also created quite a stir due to its shape which naughty visitors would always compare with female genitalia. “Immuki is a word which was derived from a sea creature that can thrive only on the paringit (dead corals) – these are the sea slugs or babao,” said the website’s main page. “Babao or bao is a Pangasinense term which refers to the female genital or in Ilocano, ‘uki.’ Since then, the word immuki has been associated with the island also because the shape of its main lagoon is like the shape of a female genital,” it said. Others who are simply nature adventurers find it easy to appreciate the place like 38-year-old Canadian tourist Michelle Dolores who admires Immuki Island’s clear waters. Aside from Immuki, other equally-beautiful lagoons in Balaoan are turning out to be attractions for tourists. Many admit they are tickled by the naughty names given to the islands and end up pleasantly surprised that the beauty of the place is not just amusing for the green-minded but a vacation paradise worth discovering. “From word-of-mouth passed through generations, the other lagoons in the island were also named with other body parts, the “Bimmuto” (male genital) and Immubet (anus),” said the website. The municipal government of Balaoan launched these areas last year as a swimming tourist site, owing to their crystal clear waters and rich marine life. Strict registration for tourists’ security is observed and barangay officials roam the area to remind visitors bringing in food to clean up as they go.