Holy Week in the Sagisi

This was another moment of holy week spent in an island. Particularly in Sagisi Island, an inhabited island that is an hour boat-ride away from Surigao City.

Sagisi is one of the stopovers for an island hopping package offered by some of the tour operators in Surigao City. The island offers white sand beaches, enticing cool and clear blue waters, and lush shades that is good for hangout and relaxation.


Added to the exciting island hopping adventure adjacent with Sagisi is another tourist destination in its neighbor island, the World War II-old Punta Baluarte. Plus the countless possibilities of experiencing some more white sand beaches in the cluster of islands around. There is this Bikini Beach comparable to Naked Island in Siargao and the Samputan Beach in Hinatuan Mine site that is visible from the island. Samputan Beach which is located at the island site of the Hinatuan Mining is blessed with very fine white sands that submerges one's feet according to our pumpboat operator.

Speaking of white sand, the back side of Sagisi Island hides an amazing delight of fine white sands spread in its less than half a kilometer shore bordered by rock formations. It is accessible by foot following the trail that cuts in the lush hill of the island heading to the other side.

For less than 5 minutes, an amazing site of white shore will catch your attention. Even amazing as you set foot in its finer than sugar sands.


The serenity of its environment is very contemplating. And its fine white sands made me darker than dark, as if I am a piece of driftwood stuck in the beach.


As much as i wanted to dip in its coolness, i was afraid a one month bleaching will not make any good to bring back my, ehem!, tan (burned) color. So with all my might, I resist not to swim and sunbath anymore. Instead, did the camwhoring part of the adventure.

As we wait for our "loser yayas" get done with their preparation of the lunch consist of kinilaw and grilled fishes, we the señoritoes and some of the social climber yayas around played volleyball. God must forgive us for being so naive with the observance of the Maundy Thursday.

The Islander is the star of the game. Beating its opponent team in 5 straight games. Wahakhak!
Its so nice of Sagisi Island's caretaker to maintain the volleyball court.

Look at the moves... (wonder if i hit the right target)


Epilogue: Photo documenting that i was in Sagisi Beach in 2009.

Nabago Island Getaway

What's the best way to welcome the summer than celebrating it in the beach especially in an island.

Luckily, my beloved Surigao has a lot to offer for summer time. Thus, the tag as City of Island Adventures really fits. We only have to choose where and how much, and the rest would be up to how we're going to make the most of the experience.

And so after scouting for a place that is something new and somewhere i have not gone to, my officemates arrived at a decided place that is easily accessible from the city... Barangay Nabago, some 25 minutes away.

Barangay Nabago is known for its vast mangrove forest, the Pearl Farm, Mariculture Farm, and abundance in delectable seafoods. Hearing about the Pearl Farm excites me at first, only to learn thereafter that what can actually be seen are the floating buoyance marking the wide area where clam shells are cultured. Well, i was expecting to at least see an actual pearl extracted from the mollusk or just a harvesting scene. But there was none.

Nevertheless, my frustration was clouded by the sights of islets with shores shimmering in white sands from afar. Aboard a boat we headed to our first island stop not far from the pearl farm. The islet is nameless but owned by a political clan in the province according to our host Nanay who spoke like a pro tour guide. Not to mention, she is talkative but very cozy and hospitable.

After docking at the western tip of the island, we hiked the shore leading to the hut where we had our picnic lunch. Prior to our lunch, we had an opening refreshment of the fresh buko reaped from the few coconut trees standing in the island. Then we shared the foods -sweet potatoes, boiled bananas, kinilaw, and grilled meat. Our host also brought us a newly catched fresh grouper and a saang, which we immediately put on the grill, and a plate of lato. Man, they tastes sweet... very fresh. Later after we had our meal, they also served a variety of fresh mollusks which we ate in raw, dipped in vinegar.

I think i overused the word "fresh", but it is how the foods and our refreshing experience in the island can be justified.

The weather was gloomy but humid, which i think marked the transition period from wet season to summer.. the very reason for dripping in the sea and strolling along the shore to cool down, wandering inside the island and of course taking pictures.

After making the most in the first island, we transferred to another islet where a floating house with fish cages raising first class groupers resides near the mangroves. After the fish cages sighting and playing at the mangroves, we then transferred to another islet that i solely explored up to its tip. On our way, a fisherman and his unique sailboat passed by...

Cant help but admire the creativity of manong fisherman. Not only he recycled the umbrella cloth but he made a wonderful innovation. With it, he don't need engines fueled by gasoline to run his boat.

Arriving at another islet, I took a stroll with the shoreline as my pathway. Sometimes it is better to be alone and commune with myself once again. Aside that if gives me the fancy like i own the whole island. It was a few kilometers walk so just as i arrived back, my companions were already set to end the island hopping and decided to go home.

As an ending phrase, here The Islander, amidst the clouds and the waves... standing still.

Mabua Pebble Beach

Mabua Pebble Beach is the home to the infamous multi-sized pebbles, fresh squids, and delicious ground-rice cakes or bibingka.

Just about a 30 minutes drive westward from the downtown, this pebble beach is the local's favorite place to unwind and is frequented during weekends and holidays by avid picnic-goers.

You can see them seating on the rocks under the shades of the scenic coconut trees located at the mountain top which has the coolest vista...

..grouped on the other edge of the beach bordered by rock formations,

..or simply settled above the huge rocks along the shoreline.

While some groups prefer to be secluded from the crowd and have their moment cherished among them, others want the experience lively with the presence of many beach goers plunging and splashing in the water.

..Others wanted their piece of solitude, too.

But no matter how everyone performs their drama, Mabua Pebble Beach surely is a place for bonding and chilling.

And a perfect site for a dramatic sight of sunset too. Mabua Pebble Beach is the paradise of photographers who are captivated by sunsets.

The shore is laid with cottages made of indigenous materials. But if one prefers a more private space, well equipped accommodations and facilities are readily available with the presence of the Mt. Bagarabon Mountain Resort with its Hajahay Suites located closer and facing the shore.

I did mention about the rice cakes, but sticky rice cones are also available in the nearby.


P.S.: Photos are taken on the afternoon, perfect time to experience the beauty of sundown.

Surigao City Island Tour

A compilation of the previously posted getaways.. 5 spots for island hopping offered by my friend's travel and tour agency, Viaje Isla Incorporated.

The destinations, island to island, as follows...

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1. Buenavista Cave and Beach, Hikdop Island

Unspoiled white beach facades the way to the cave.

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2. Zaragoza Tourist Park, Sibale Island

A miniature park covered with bermuda grasses and overlooking the surrounded shore of rock formations. The ambiance of the park is so relaxing; while gazing at the turquoise waters reminiscing for something, the refreshing cool sea breeze does the chilling.

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3. Rock Formation, Brgy. Lisondra, Sibale Island

While passing at this site, one cant help but get his camera to capture this rock formations blackened by weather and time.

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4. Cantiasay (Nonoc Island) - San Pedro (Hanigad Island) Wooden Foot Bridge

The Surigao version of the famous San Juanico bridge connecting the two neighboring islands.

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5. Basul Island

The crown jewel of Surigao City island getaway that possess four faces in its every corner. As Basul means "regret" in english, one will regret for not stepping in this wonderful island.

Zaragoza Tourist Park

Derived its name from its host barangay, Zaragoza is a good 30 minutes boat ride from the city of Surigao where the sights of the blue ocean and the greeneries of mountains entertain the voyagers.

One of the best spot that offers a nice sight is the Lisondra Rock Formations being passed by along the way. It appears like a lined up dead rocks blackened by the heat of the sun and carved by the waves of the ocean. It appearing black attracts attention from the passersby.

Lisondra Rock Formation is situated in Barangay Lisondra, also part of Surigao City's geopolitical domain.

Docking at the barangay's wharf, one can see a preview of the park from there as greenery footed with limestone rock formations.

Being away from the mainland, most of the households in the barangay utilized the solar power with the panels granted by the Spanish government through the efforts of partnership with the city government of Surigao.

The tourist park is strategically situated beside the barangay hall making it easily traceable and accessible.

A rocky pathway once hurdling the 20 steps of stairway up will lead you to the park blanketed with bermuda grasses as its landscape.

And then the cool breeze from the sea will greet you to a chilly treat, enough to make you fall into sleep. The serene ambiance communed with the cool blue waters on the horizon is simlply relaxing.


Look at how we enjoyed the bonding while laying into the ground of grasses. The place is very appropriate for soothing treat after a tiring island escapades.


As the signage in the photo says...

Buenavista Cave & Beach

Spelunking and swimming does not always come in one package. But in Buenavista, located at Hikdop Island, the cave and the beach come together for the pleasure of everyone who enjoyed these types of getaways.

Buenavista Cave can be reached by about 20-minutes boat ride from Surigao City. It is facing the city boulevard which is the usual docking place for those who may wish to contract a motorized boat.

Approaching on the island, the beach will greet the visitors a brilliant welcome with its powdery white sand.

The emerald waters are very enticing, urging everyone to plunge into the water.

While the beach seems a catch, caving is usually the primary purpose of going there. So no matter how enticing it is, swimming can be delayed a little later after the sweaty adventure of exploring the cave. A very good idea to wash off the dirts and the sticky sweats after caving.

Buenavista Cave has a huge opening with ceilings adorned with dried and blackened stalactites. And as expected striking a pose is the next best thing to do even before going inside the cave. That is specifically for Pinoys who are very much fond of collecting memories through photographs.

While taking too much time for photo ops is tolerable, vandalism is totally not cool. Vandalism, also known as graffiti, is an art. But only if done in the right places designated for that purpose. And the walls of the caves are definitely not part of them. For everyone's information, as also expressed by environmentalists, etchings and markings on the cave walls take time to heal and remove. And some lasts forever. Now you dont want your future sons and daughters saw the smut you left, right?

The best way to leave a mark is to experience the place and then store that memory in your heart. Look at how beautiful these works of nature..

the King's throne.

Looks like a nostril.

And after all the sweating in climbing the stiff path of the cave and gaining dirt, time to cool off and do the enthralling thing that everybody have in mind while seeing the emerald waters. Swimming!

Meanwhile, in no camera tricks, i don't know what happened with this photo. I just thought I'm turning into a lobo (wolf). Kewl! :D