Monday, July 21, 2008

Provincial Tour: Road Trip 1

Destination: Municipalities of Sison, Tubod and Mainit in Surigao del Norte

With the promo collaterals of the province in hand, we traveled the national highway southward outside the city's vicinity.

First stop: Biyabid Waterfalls in the Municipality of Sison

29 kilometers away from the city, Sison is the first municipality outside the geo-political jurisdiction of Surigao City with its Poblacion located just alongside the national highway. And about 4 kilometers westward from the Poblacion lays the seven-stage cascading Biyabid Waterfalls named after its home place Brgy. Biyabid.


The barangay is primarily accessible by single motorcycles, stationed in the Poblacion, that are rough road tolerant.

From the barangay proper, the waterfalls can be reached by trekking in the lush vegetations at about 10 minutes. Unorganized tour guides who are usually residents of the village are available upon request from the amiable and accommodating barangay chairman. The service is for free for now but a token in the form of one bottle of Tanduay will likewise show the appreciation.

In spite being underdeveloped, I especially like the fact it retained its natural aspect where you got to walk in the mud (when its raining) or trek the green meadows under the shades of trees before reaching the falls.

Second stop: Songkoy Cold Spring in the Municipality of Tubod

36 kilometers south of Surigao City and 88 kilometers away from Butuan City. From barangay Rosario in Tubod just beside the national highway, one can take the local means of transport 'habal-habal' to fare you from the rough road. But a 30-minute trekking could be a fun experience too. Chit-chatting while heading there.


Songkoy Cold Spring is a favorite destination during Summer because of its reputed cold spring water. It will practically chill you to the bones. Families and groups of friends alike used to hang out and have picnic in the nearby huts around this rock-bordered natural pool.

Third stop: Mainit Lake in the Municipality of Mainit

Home to infamous pidjanga or freshwater gobi (which my mother used to cook with coconut milk wrapped in Gabi leaves) and other freshwater fishes such as tilapia. The lake, which is named after its location, has an approximate area of 14,700 hectares and a 50 km stretch lakeshore and is known to be the deepest and the fourth largest lake in the country.

Boating and game fishing are among the activities that can be enjoyed in the lake. Limestone islets also resided within the lake that added beauty in the panoramic view seen from above the highway on top of the mountain. Travelers passing by take notice of this beautiful scenery always.

Concerned residents of the municipality are now initiating a move to protect and preserve the lake from alarming danger of the janitor fishes invasion and quarrying.

Photo credit: nasipsite (flickr)

The lake can be reached by taking public transport at the overland terminal in Surigao City. The travel time is about 45 minutes. It is about 44 kilometers away from the City of Surigao, traversed by the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway for 39.5 kilometers then turning right to the Mainit-Malimono Road for 4.5 kilometers leading to the lakeside where the center of the municipality is located.

28 comments:

Oman said...

Gusto ko jan. Parang nakikinita ko na sarili ko na nadudulas at tumatambling jan sa batuhan. Ayos tong trip mo na to ah.

The Islander said...

hehehe ayos ang surigao. kaya nga di ko maiwan iwan eh. hehe. daming mapapasyalan.

Unknown said...

wow! pupunta kami dyan 2nd week of aug! im so excited na! and my bf is from butuan so i always stay there.. sabihin ko punta kami dyan!! very good info sir!

escape said...

dumadami na talaga ang na eenganyong pumunta ng surigao. kala ko kasi dati waves lang talaga ang hinahabol ng mga tao pagdating sa surigao.

dami din palang eco-adventures. parang delikado yata nung ginawa mo sa falls ah.

escape said...

dumadami na nga talaga ang na eenganyong pumunta dyan. kala ko kasi surfing lang ang maganda dyan.

delikado yata yung ginawa mo sa falls.

reyna elena said...

anak ka nang laboy oo! grr! pedeng mag-apply na personal assistant mo?! pramis hehehe massage lang gagawin ko! please?! parang awa mo na! isama mo lang akooooo!!!

The Islander said...

@paui.. ah... taga butuan pala bf mo. hehe. lake mainit is visible from the highway so habang bumibyahe makikita mo sya. the fantastic view starts from jabonga up to the peak of kitcharao.

pero mas maganda if you stop by sa balanghai resort and do kayaking or boating in the lake.

so good luck sa august.

The Islander said...

@dong.. hehe there's more than the waves in siargao. honestly kahit ako di ko pa nalilibot ang buong probinsya. there are still some tourist destinations that im anticipating to reach.

yung sa falls? hehe medyo kakatakot dahil malakas yung current ng tubig. pero ayos lang. sa baba naman ako pupulutin e just in case. haha

The Islander said...

@kamahalang reyna elena.. PA? ako nalang gawin mong PA pag napunta ka dito. haha. atsaka reserve mo nalang yung massage mo para sa dakilang islander. kasi ako islander lang, sya dakilang islander. hehehe

Times Eye said...

wow your blog is going to be in my blog list

The Islander said...

@times eye... thank you for that. ok, let's ex-link. glad to have you here.

Bena said...

you know what isla man.. im so fascinated with your travel enthusiasm! really! it's inspiring seeing those beautiful places you've been to! simply wow! i do wish i have the luxury of time and money to go anywhere i like.. keep it real and hope for more captivating posts in your blogsite!

vi-a-v!
moi bena! =)

Oman said...

wow. # 66 ka na. galing.

The Islander said...

@bena.. haha di naman sya luxurious eh. padiskartehan lang yan. you too can travel like anybody else. thank you sa dalaw.

@lawstude.. nagbabago ang ranking. kanina nasa 86 ako. hehe. ikaw nasa 18! wohoo! hehe. bilis bilis...

eunice said...

Hello!! There is so much to blog about the Philippines! Nice shots!

TENTAY™ said...

alam mo ang ganda ng place. kaso hindi ko mapigilang magcomment kasi nabother ako don sa pichur sa Songkoy cold spring, nakaupo sya sa bato, ang ganda ng scene kaso masakit kaya un pagkakaupo nyang yon?

The Islander said...

@eunice.. yeah. and the Philippines is waiting for you. just like us, you have so much to blog about our beautiful country.

@tentay patis.. hahaha! di naman siguro. baka medyo flat yung surface sa top ng bato.

Gracey said...

wow. nature lover. xD
blog hop lang.

The Islander said...

thanks sa pagblog hop winkii. balik ka next time. ingats (biogesic). take care. hehehe.

Dakilang Islander said...

ang ganda ng falls...na miss ko na ang mga ganito sa atin kasi kahit maliit na ilog wala dito...

teka ba't mo ako binubugaw hah! hehehh sige na magpamasahe ka na..hahah

The Islander said...

wahaha! di ka na kelangan ibugaw. sold ka na. haha.

walang ilog jan? ganyan ba talaga ang bermuda puro bermuda grass?! toink! haha. kaya pag nagbalikbayan kayo, sulitin na... pasyal pasyal sa kapuluan.

reyna elena said...

@kamahalang reyna elena.. PA? ako nalang gawin mong PA pag napunta ka dito. haha.

***KUSUT MATA** SIGURADO KA?! FAFA NA KITA?! HAHAHAHA

atsaka reserve mo nalang yung massage mo para sa dakilang islander. kasi ako islander lang, sya dakilang islander. hehehe

HOY! EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MASSAHISTA AKO! wa paki ki dyutay or dakila hehehehe

reyna elena said...

Psst! me bar na pala ako! puntahan mo ko minsa, nag-iisa akong uminom hehehe:

www.barnireyna.blogspot.com

see u there!

The Islander said...

hahaha kewl may bar! cge cge dalaw ako sa bar mo. mura lang ba paninda mo dun? haha.

pinagdikit talaga ang PA eh.

.:RiKuDoSaGeDogMa:. said...

weww.. maginaw tlaga sa songkoy..

melvin said...

i love songkoy,siguro tatlong beses na ako nakapunta jan .favorite ng family ko yan place na yan kasi malinis at malapit lang.everytime we go there walang katao tao

Ian | GoingRoamingWandering said...

There's a 30 minute trek to Songkoy Cold Spring? How about going back? There were also no entrance fee plus a rough road is waiting going to the base of the trek. Please care to shed light on this as we're visiting it next week. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Want to go there this weekend,tagal q na plan to ei,wla lng tym..just want to see and feel the coldness,when we were in Bora,La Union and Bgauio twice, di ako nkapag liwaliw sa mga spring springs hehe dito na lang ..see you Songkoy!