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.

Pacifico Beach, San Isidro, Siargao Island

Speak of beaches and Siargao can always be associated with it. Siargao is not just about waves, that capture the adventurous spirits of foreign visitors and local fanatics of surfing. With waves come the shores dazzling with fine white sands.

Siargao is not a single place (to narrow the misconception). It is a group of islands and islets consists of 9 municipalities with varied beauty of natural attractions. The municipality of San Isidro being one of them.

San Isidro is unpopular and, just like the other municipalities that missed the deserved spotlight, they are shadowed by the attention that Pilar and General Luna is getting because of the extensive promotion of now famous Magpopongko Rock Formation and Lagoon and the internationally acclaimed Cloud 9 surfing site, respectively.

But from a personal discovery during the series of trips in the island main, reveals another breathtaking glory of Siargao --the Pacifico Beach of San Isidro.

San Isidro is located in the nortern part of Siargao Island facing the open seas of the pacific. It is 30 minutes land travel via the common means of transportation "habal-habal" from the port of Del Carmen which is the closest point of entry and 1.5 hour away from the municipality of General Luna.

Pacifico, as commonly known in the area, is a kilometer stretch of white sand beach drawn in a shallow shore facing the powerful left hand reef break. Pacifico has the potential to become the alternative surfing destinations with its promising big reef breaks. As it lacked promotions, only few have known about the place and so it is rarely crowded. Which for a peace-loving person like me, is very much welcome ambiance.




Here are some of narcissistic photos for a wider preview of the beach and see tips on how to enjoy being alone in the beach:

Scorching Summer Spots

The sun is getting hotter everyone wants to cool off. The summer is getting trendier everyone loves to hang out in the beach. And I'm in for Summer 2009.

The following photos best summarizes the series of my island trips around Surigao:

Sun


Sand


Sea

and..

Surf


Hopping around the islands of my naturally breath-taking hometown, Surigao de Norte, I was able to revisit the places that I've been since years and checked out what was changed since my last visit. I also found new potential tourist escapades that gained less attention but equally beautiful and amazing with the Cloud 9.

Find out where can you find the above cool summer destinations and experience the hangover of summer.


Upnext: other ways to enjoy Bucas Grande Island in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

Cagayan de Oro Nightouts

And my first out of town trip for the year goes to Cagayan de Oro... the city of golden friendship.

I did mention in my post last year that CDO is a place for vultures. Whatta bad term. Okay, rephrase, CDO is a place for nightouts. This is so because most of its tourist points needed a devotion of time to travel. The good thing is these spots are worth of your time. But since i did not go to CDO for leisure, not able to experience these worthy places is the drawback of the trip.

Well, anyway, there are some ways to enjoy CDO. Just like what i used to do... Nightout! Stereotype for me but i dont have a choice cause as i've said im no tourist in those trips.

I left Surigao via Bachelor bus at 3:30 in the morning and arrived Butuan at almost 6 a.m. I spent half of the day processing my passport, basically starting from the beginning (1. getting NSO authenticated birth certificate 2. applying for NBI clearance 3. photocopying all the required documents and finally 4. submitting it to DFA Regional Office). I have no plans getting a passport but recently there was some developments in my job calling me to have one. The processing was a mix of easy and bloody.

After successfully processing it with the DFA, i immediately left Butuan City via King Long bus at 12 noon. I love King Long... it smells clean since they are new. And quite fast, with just 5 bus stops. The hours after was moment of quite dreams since i was asleep until we took a stop in Balingoan Terminal. The loud voices of people shouting in chorus awaken me. Macopa! Macopa! Itlog! Chicharon! Tubig!

Insensitive. Hmpf!

There were many of them barricading at the door of the bus. But since i am half asleep that time, it was too late for me to take a photo of them. Only this man left...

And some of them gathered on the other side of the bus, surrounding a dvd peddler.

Not too long, King Long went on. ..And so my moment of quite dreams.

Arriving at the Agora Terminal in CDO, i checked my phone for messages. Plenty of messages but the last one caught my attention. "JP, i need help. Please." I was so anxious. A friend from Zamboanga joining me in the seminar and happily texted earlier that he was strolling around Gaisano Mall is now calling for help. I asked why. He lost his wallet in the taxi on his way to the hotel and would like to borrow a fare back to Zambo. Haha. To his relief, i lent him 1k but told him not to go around anymore so as to avoid breaking things that will make him pay. Hehe.

I checked in at our designated billeting.. the Mallberry Suite Business Hotel located at the Limketkai Center, parking lot away from Limketkai Mall. My room was in the 5th floor. From there is a good view of the city. Too close to Gaisano Mall.


My body was still agonizing in pain. I was thinking of having a message but as i laid my body in bed after shower, i fell asleep.

The night of the following day, my Zambo friend and a new found fellow from Bislig, Surigao Sur joined me in bar hopping. Starting from Tagbuan Grill which is just around the block next to Gaisano Mall.


It was a nice place to hangout, with native huts made of bamboo installed inside. We found some group of students, lovers (pertained by the place's name "tagbuan" which is rendezvous in English), and group of not so young having fun. Unfortunately, we did not enjoy the place as the 'not so young' group kept on singing oldies songs the like of "My Way" so we transferred to Pixel Grill.


They got nice, lovely and young singers. And most of all, they got a delectable kinilaw. Slurrrpp... The place is so crowded so we did not stay longer and look for something a little private. Under the command of manong driver, he took us to Club Mics and Mags. People, it is a Rated R club.

And i prefer to keep my mouth shut about the whereabouts there. We only watched the show anyway and later on left. Ridiculous, they asked a bit expensive charges. Imagine San Mig Light priced double. Grrr...

Next and last stop was Club Mojo, the place for the youngsters. The first choice was Pulse Bar but they did not allow me to enter this time with flip flops on. So we settled at Club Mojo where an enjoyable sight welcomed us. There was a daring showdown. We stayed, have our final toast of beer and then headed back to the hotel.

The following day we attended the seminar still groggy and dreaming... as we slept 4am in the morning and woke up 9am. Nevertheless, it did not hinder us to participate in the discussion.

As an ending story, i would like to share this finger foods that we shared in the last day of the seminar showcasing the fascinating fruit carving. Well done. A fresh watermelon was transformed into a burning hot, chinese-themed presentation.

Punta del Sol, Samal Island

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Davao is my most frequently traveled place in Mindanao. And I’m already sick of it. Who would not, when all the way from Surigao you have to let yourself stuck in the bus for 11-hours tiresome land trip? The only thing that keeps me looking forward to Davao is its adjacent island that always tickle my curiosity. Perhaps because of the overly publicized Davao Pearl Farm that boasts a world-class appeal. 

I am talking about the Island Garden City of Samal or IGaCoS as the island residents called it.

Punta del Sol, Samal Island

My wish was finally granted on December 10, 2008 when it was chosen as the venue of one of the activities where I was invited to participate. Yes, on official business. But not bad for an official business. In fact I consider it a vacation (with a serious twist). :D

Warning: Escape this part if you dont want to read a rant: 

When I first learned about the event being held in Samal, I feel like celebrating. I was full of anticipation and mindmapped the plans like go to this place, photograph this, and be photographed with this. But poof, coco crunch! I was stuck in Punta del Sol Resort. And to talk about how far I have gone in the island, I was only given the chance to travel its circumferential road to and from the Samal Wharf. I underestimated the island, I thought it was just a small one.

The lesson learned: dont set expectations. So instead of titling this entry in honor of Island Garden City of Samal, the spotlight goes to Punta del Sol Resort.

Going there, I dropped off first at Panacan in mainland Davao from my Agusan-Davao highway ride. Then took a taxi from there to Sasa Wharf which is just almost a kilometer away. I must have taken a cab in going there if I knew the location of the wharf. Anyway, the taxi only costs me 34.00 so it is not bad after all.

Sasa Ferry Wharf

From the Sasa Ferry Wharf in mainland Davao, I rode aboard the common transport facility to the island, a large barge. Punta del Sol Resort has its own established port in Santa Ana Wharf in Magsaysay Avenue but I prefer the Sasa Wharf since it is much closer from my point of arrival in Davao. Magsaysay also serves as the terminal for Island City buses, the local bus serving the Davao-Samal transport. Since I was looking for an adventure, I did not take the bus on my way to Punta Resort, I simply took a seat lined up on the mezzanine of the barge. I thought riding the barge for almost 20 minutes is free. But when I arrived at the exit gate of Babak Samal Wharf, I was asked for a toll fee of P10.00. This only goes that there is no such thing as free in this world today.

Babak Samal Wharf

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Outside the Babak Samal Wharf Gate is the motorcycle terminal that caters the commuting adventurers. Fares vary upon the distance and good leveraging. For Punta del Sol which is a 7 kilometers rough road shortcut ride, the fare ranges from P50.00 to P60.00 (commensurate to fare rates that Island City buses imposes plus the motorcycle transit that one has to take from its drop off point in Central Warehouse).

And so enough for the blah blahs.. presenting the Punta del Sol Resort.



-->Things I loved about Punta del Sol.. fresh kinilaw and warm welcome presentations of energetic dancers.





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Dramatic sunset comparable to our Mabua Beach (in Surigao City).

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Like what our organizers said when I requested for an island tour, “We’ll reserve it for the next time”. I just hope there will be some other time. I was really anticipating seeing the bat cave and some of the island’s waterfalls.

Dipolog City

Another coast to coast travel. From the northeasternmost coast of Surigao City to the western coast of Dipolog City.

My last travel there, that was 2006 in Dakak Resort, Dapitan City, took me more than 12 hours so i needed to cut the trip and took an overnight rest in Cagayan de Oro.

This time we are onboard a private car but since we departed from Surigao at 3 in the afternoon of August 27, we also took an overnight stop in CDO for the next day's tiring journey. Fortunate we are, we managed to book a hotel beside being crowded for the CDO's fiesta activity or the Kagay-an Festival on the 28th. We settled at the Casa Crystalla which is just one block away from the central park where the Night Cafe every Friday was held.

Upon arriving, we took the opportunity to experience the vibrant celebration of Cagayan de Oro's fiesta. So we stroll around the park, from its tip facing Ateneo de Cagayan/Xavier University to the south end, and here is what we got...

..the mixed martial arts exhibition competition where the barakos flocked. The fight was very entertaining at the same time amusing because of the somehow kengkoy scenarios made by the contenders. Most out of breath and sometime used foolish stunt to outplay their opponent.


..the fence of Xavier University full of promotional materials of the different personality's performances in celebration of CDO's fiesta.

On the dawn of the 28th, we departed Cagayan de Oro for Dipolog taking this billboard-packed highway..

Sorry for the messy photos. I took it inside the car.

A welcome arch greeting visitors a warm welcome to Iligan City.

In contrast with the thoughts and reservations i had regarding the recent happenings in the northern part of Lanao, Iligan City remains peaceful and unshaken in spite the presence of the military checkpoints and outposts and maybe even with the presence of helicopters around. I did not feel any fear but rather thrilled.

And my most anticipated sight... the burnt school and houses along Kauswagan and Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte.


Im so ashamed to admit that i reacted OA about this trip as caused by the military encounters with the MILF and posted here in my blog asking for everyone's prayer. On the contrary, those places remained the same except for the extensive presence of checkpoints which are unmanned. So I concluded it was an isolated case widened by the media. It was even foolish of me to ask for some bullets to show up as we go along our way so that i could fell the hype of hiding. Hehe.

Anyway, i would like to thank the people who prayed for our safe travel. We successfully hurdled it.

And as the battlecry of the conference we attended, "Business as usual in Mindanao!"

To continue with our journey, one of most enjoyable experiences of the trip was the crossing aboard the barge from Mukas Port in Lanao del Norte to Ozamis Sea Port. The site was awesome!

..the queue of vehicles going to Ozamis Port as a shortcut to the rest of Misamis Occidental areas. This sea cruise is not going to another island but rather a shortcut for a shorter trip taking 20 minutes only.

..the Mukas Port

..the ferry cruise with the sole rising mountain in Ozamis on the background. I was geologically wond'ring why only one mountain cares to rise in that area.

..the abodes near the Ozamis Sea Port.


After traversing Ozamis, Oroquieta City also a city under the Misamis Occidental Province is the urban city.

And after hurdling the serpentine road to Zamboanga del Norte, here we finally arrived in Dipolog. Dapitan City is just a 15-minute and a crossroad away from Dipolog.

This monument called as Estaka on the rotonda serves as Dipolog's landmark. As quoted from their website, "The Estaka – Turno Y Junction Fountain is a cast fiberglass monument that depicts the diverse cultures of the people of Mindanao brought together by a unified goal: to attain peace, development and prosperity for Dipolog City. This landmark is a glorious example of the fusion of modernism and conservatism. It mirrors the quality of life in the city in which there is acceptance of modernization while still keeping intact the traditional values and cultural heritage of its land and people. The cascading waters from the bowl symbolize the city’s abundant blessings while the fruits and flowers etched on the bowl symbolize the bountiful harvest that Dipolog is blessed with."

We were billeted at the Top Plaza Hotel and from the 4th floor can be seen the view of the boulevard..

..and the Dipolog Center Mall.

On our first night, guests and participants were entertained with a fashion showcasing the crafts of local designers and the lovely models daring to show off some skin.

..the Dipolog Shopping Center.

In every places i went to, i noticed each of them have different taste of tricycle design. And this is Dipolog's distinct design of tricycle..

After the following day's affair, we managed to escape from the official tight sked and chilled out in the boulevard devouring on their type of balut.


..and some photo ops

Then went on to the sponsored dinner where Sen. Bong Revilla was the guest of honor. Heck! He was on the center stage giving his unsubstantial speech. Discussing on his accomplishments and reiterating the potential of Mindanao which of course we already know. My blood pressure was heightened by his presence.

Fortunately the organizers produced an entertaining show of the best of Mindanao arts and costume. It was a sentimental show for me reminding how i should be proud being a Mindanaoan! Hehe.

And im sorry to say that i wasnt able to invade the tourist spots of Dipolog City. The schedule was so tight that it does not permit me to go anywhere far. And according to some locals that i have talked with, there's nothing much in Dipolog for a tourist attraction. Most of them are in Dapitan City which i have already gone to.