Marvelous Magpopongko

The lagoon is totally immersed under the swift currents during high tide making it impossible for swimming.

The crystal clear waters of the lagoon bordered by the nature-designed edges of the flat floor of the reef makes the natural pool. This amazing lagoon is worthy of the long wait for the low tide. Emerald as it appears, nobody can resist its tempting call for a swim.

On the background is the Magpopongko Rock Formation and scenic view of big waves crashing into the pacific end of the reef's flat floor. Closer and face to face look of the big waves is possible but one should take caution of the unpredictable tides that brings swift currents.


Undergoing developments when we were there sometime in April this year was the construction of the cottage overlooking the sea with around 6 rooms and a pathway passing through a cavern that leads to the lagoon. Before, the lagoon is only accessible during low tide through the emptied shore. Now, the local municipal government has made a dramatic pathway leading to the lagoon.

Surigaonon Heritage Center

Posting new entries these days is as hard as making out-of-town travels. Aside from the bad transition of becoming a hardworker from what must be a smart worker, I’m drowned to exploring opportunities of being a better individual. So more or less I can be seen doing worthy undertakings with my high school and college alma mater, to which i renewed stronger ties, other than in tourist places that I used to post here.

But I dont give up my passion to search the world. It still remained on top of my life-fulfilling wishlists.

So much for the acrobatic intro, since I haven’t gone for places far off Surigao, I decided to feature the local tourist points of my city once again. Aside from the fact that I haven't been to anywhere outside the town, our province is just rich with unlimited natural resources and wonders that I have not yet discovered. So posting local places is of endless possibility.

Let us take the Surigaonon Cultural Heritage and Center for Rock Study as a nice start.

Surigaonon Heritage Center

The Heritage Center is not hard to find. Visitors can either make the Hotel Tavern Surigao or the Philippine Ports Authority, both located in the city boulevard, as reference points because it is somewhere in between. I must say it is strategically located because it is facing right at the Surigao Strait where the famous naval battle between the American and Japanese fleet in the 20^th century took place.

Aside from the few artifacts donated by families of early settlers in the province that are now on exhibit, the center also serves as the mini-museum of various rock samples containing minerals that can be found in the province.
Though the center prohibits taking photos of its exhibits, I managed to convince the management that promoting the center online might be good to create awareness that the center exists. The more visitors it get, the more donations it will receive. A guaranteed experience for locals who will pay a visit there is a flashback of Surigaonon's roots. 

For example, this wooden panning plates would remind you that before Taganito Mining Company and other big mining companies in the province exist, the lumads (native locals) were already on that industry.

Wooden plates for gold panning

Another mining memorabilia that can be seen in the center are old photos showing the chromite rush in Dinagat Islands (now a separate province). 

Chromite Rush in Dinagat Islands

 Other collections that are worth the visit are the following:

A relic of the old belfry of the Surigao Cathedral

Relic of the old coffins of Mamanwas

Old sugarcane crusher

They also have collections of tools and equipments depicting the old way of living of the early settlers called Mamanwa. Here are some:

"Badjo", in tagalog "bayo". A traditional tool used to extract the rice from its husks.

I dont exactly know what are these but basing on how it looks, it might be a musical instrument. You can help me identify it, please leave a comment if you know so. Thank you.

Musical instruments.

The Surigaonon Heritage Center also houses various wares dating back to old Chinese trades.

Old porcelains.

Japanese bayonets, vintage bombs, and soldier's water container during the World War II.

 Other than the vintage memorabilias, the following are also features of the center:

Collection of different kinds of rocks that can be found in the province. Surigao is rich in minerals.

Portraits of the Former Governors of the Province of Surigao del Norte courtesy of local artist, Manuel Mendros. Surigaonons are inborn leaders.

One of the masterpieces of Ms. Ann Tiukinhoy-Pamintuan, a renowned contemporary designer who is of Surigaonon descent.

As of now, the center is privately owned and managed by Surigao’s great historian, Fernando Almeda, along with the fellow historian curator/painter, Manuel Mendros. The center is open during weekdays.

Mr. Almeda storytelling with the rare visitor, His Excellency Peter Beckingham, British Ambassador to the Philippines.

Surigao's Fiesta Season

Surigao City has one of the week-long festivity in the country that runs for two weeks and starts from the Charter Day Celebration every August 31. From end of August, activities are lined up commencing from the Float Parade participated by the different sectors up to the Alumni Homecoming events that stretches even on the post-fiesta days.

Like what i have listed here...

Simple yet elegant designs of floats add color to the Charter Day celebration of Surigao. In the earlier days, Drum and Lyre Corp competition used to be held during this event. So still hope to witness another drum and lyre competition to be conducted next year when the construction of the multi-million funded oval field and gym is done.

Another activity is the Tilaw sa Pagkaong Surigao (A taste of the Surigaonon Food), a food festival showcasing the talents of local chefs in Cooking Show Competition as well as creativeness of the students in the Table Setting and Skirting and Cocktail Competition for.

A Community Night is also conducted not only for nightly entertainment but to foster solidarity among the different sectors of the city ranging from the civil society organizations, NGOs, up to the mining and banking sector by gathering them in one venue and celebrate the good times. Community Nights are held by sector on the nights before the pre-fiesta.

On the 9th of September, Surigao's pre-fiesta day, the Bonok-Bonok Marajaw Karajaw Festival is usually held showcasing the tribal history through the graceful street dances paired with the colorful costumes of participants. This event is one of the anticipated activities in town.

Then on the fiesta day, September 10, several events are hosted in the Luneta Park Plaza for the pleasure of the visitors that includes balikbayans and some foreigners. The organizers call it Pabibo Sa Pyesta, sponsored by the Barbers clan.

One entertaining event is the Tuhog-tuhog Nan Dagum (Thread and Needle Shooting) Competition for the aged groups. Imagine how hard for them to shoot the thread on the hole of the needle with their blurry vision and shaky hands.

Then the Lumba Inom Tuba (Palm Wine Drinking Contest) participated by the drunkards in town. Look how they managed to consume the 2-galloon of palm wine...

..and how their fellow contenders laughed at each other when they seem to vomit the wine they've overdrunk.

And there was this Jagan Paatras (1 km. Reverse Running Contest) which is quite hard to do.

The last activity for the day was the Pasayan (Shrimp) Festival celebrating the abundance of the shrimps in the locality.

They are cooked in different ways and given to the audience after.

And on the 12th of September, my alma mater called for an Alumni Homecoming which i participated for the first time. Compared to the attendance of every batches that jampacked the venue, we quite gathered a good number.

Here we are... the SNNHS Batch 98.

...marched on the presentation of batches

...settled in a bar thereafter

...and when drunk, danced and enjoyed the night.

For 3 days i have experienced how to live without a phone. And i must say, it was a peaceful one. My phone was pickpocketed while i was busy taking pictures of the Palm-Wine Drinking Contest. Aside from that frustrating happening, it was still a very memorable fiesta celebration for me.

Bonok-Bonok Festival 2008

It's fiesta season once again in Surigao and every Surigaonon's adrenaline is up. Fiesta, a Spanish word for religious festivities, is one of the activities in the country that brings the hype to the locals. And in Surigao del Norte, we call it Bonok-bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival, a festival of dances, colors, foods and goods in honor of the city's patron saint, Senior San Nicolas de Tolentino.

Sounds complicated? Let me help you picture it out in 4 words:

1. Dance. Similar to mardi gra, an annual street dancing competition is being organized by the City Tourism Office and usually participated in different levels by schools coming from within or outside the province. This street dance depicts the thanksgiving ritual of the Mamanwas to their God "Magbabaya" for giving them a good harvest through the outpouring of rain which in local dialect is translated as bonok. This year, 8 contingents from as far as Misamis Oriental vied for the grand prize.

Bonok-bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival

2. Colors. Banderitas or flaglets of different colors are normally installed zigzagging the street horizons. This is a common feature of the celebration that is of Spanish heritage. Added to this, the delegates of the street dancing competition also wear colorful costumes that adds more color to the event.

Colorful costumes and colorful banderitas on the backdrop

3. Foods. As this is a celebration of thanksgiving, every household, although not all, prepared some foods for their visitors. Among the foods in the table include bam-i, menudo, afritada, sinugba, kinilaw but the most popular are humba and lechon.

Grabbed from http://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/

4. Goods. As locals and visitors alike flock in the city during the season, traders also take advantage of the market. With this, the local authorities organize and assign places in the city for bargains. Goods on sale and display ranges from kitchen wares to shirts and souvenirs. During this time, goods are usually priced cheap.

Trade Exhibit at the side street of Luneta Park.

The annual fiesta is held every 9-10 September, that is when you have the foods overflowing the tables and the day-long dances entertaining your eyeballs. The Bonok-Bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival, that is when you have the colors and the goods normally lasts 5-7 days after.

Some more colors for you...

Festival Queens always carry the statue of San Nicolas del Tolentino

Contingents from Gingoog, Misamis Oriental.

Contingent from St. Jude Thaddeus Institute of Technology, Surigao City.

Contingents from Siargao Island bagged the 2nd place.

Contingents from Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.

Contingents from Butuan City

Contingents from Jabonga, Agusan del Norte won the 2nd place.

More about the history of Bonok-bonok can be found here: Bonok-Bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival