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.

The Islander's Yearender

As the year concludes, it is time once again to recollect and look back the 365 days of 2008.

In particular, these are the following that I am so much grateful in 2008:

• Travel – I proved that people who are lucky in their career spent less time in some other thing. Though I had few in 2008, I am still thankful that at the early part of the year I had a blast of trips --in Cebu to experience Sinulog, followed by trips to the bonbons of Bohol, multihued Marawi, Ilonggo-dominated Sultan Kudarat, Intramuros and Manila Ocean Park in Manila, and ended with an island trip to the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao.

Going to the local corners of the province is a good wandering, too.

I am not sure how much I have gone with the archipelago but my latest travel grade was a:

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan! Created by Eugene Villar.

• Career – the thing that I owe so much from 2008. I remembered I asked from God only a part-time job, I was given one with a full-time pay. While some are jobless, who cannot consider me as the lucky one? That is why no matter how occupied and exhausted I am due to heavy schedules, I will try not to complain about being too busy.

Having two jobs gave me the opportunity to do whatever I want and experience things that I have not experienced since childhood. It was stressful but at the end of the day, it provides me the pleasure of going to the bars during weekends drinking to death without worrying the bills, eat everywhere without worrying about the budget, and buy things without considering the price (i am kuripot. haha!). For a deprived person like me experiencing these little pleasures in life is too much of a privilege.

It is also worth a mention that every undertakings we had was a success.

• Gadgets –2 possessions was lost.. a 2-month old Sony W90 digicam while in Cebu and a long time partner/collector's item-designed Nokia 7610 phone while witnessing the fiesta activity here in Surigao. This I consider misadventures in adventures. But I moved on. The N7610 was replaced by a Nokia 6120 and a Samsung Omnia and my digicam replaced by a touch panel Sony T70. I hope, with fingers-crossed plus knock on the wood, that none of them will be lost this year or forever.

• Blogging –brother google rated my blog PR3. That was in spite of the absences in the blogworld. Created in replacement of the hacked blog sometime in July this year, in a short span as October it gained PR3. I was just so happy while sitemeter is driving me crazy for going back to square one in its counting of traffics (do i have it? hehe). I also gained blogger friends whom I am looking forward to meet this year.

So there.. Yeah, mostly guilty pleasures. My way of gratifying myself for the hard works and satisfying myself for the missing pieces, for being unfortunate the past 20 years of my life. It was so selfish, but at least now I can say, I have lived a life. And I thank God for all the achievements, if there any.

2008 provides me a good life. And I want to thank God for always showering me His overflowing blessings, my fellow bloggers, my SEDF/SCCI and HTS family most especially my boss, my high school batchmates, my family, my kinkus friends in Manila, my friends in TAG Project all over Mindanao, and to everyone who made my year 2008 a fulfilling one.


This is JP saying thank you, and this is the Islander’s yearend report.

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.

The Event

The big event we've been preparing for is over.

The 14th Caraga Business Conference was finally over. And the turn out is a gratifying one. From the 200 target participants, we have gathered 350+. And from zero sponsor, we have contracted 3. So in spite of all the pressures that marks wrinkles in my face (although i am already ampalaya-wrinkled), everything have been rewarding.

We are superhumans (or shall i self acclaim). Who would have thought that for only 5 manpower doing the planning and legwork for 25 days, a successful conference can be produced. But of course, thanks goes to those who have help us out in some aspects like the following:

• the SEDF for the distribution of the invitations to the local municipal executives,
  
• the company messengers for the distribution of the communications around the city,
• the GEM-USAID for inviting outside participants from as far as Kidapawan City, Pagadian City, and Dipolog City. GEM-USAID is also our major sponsor.
  
• the DTI Caraga Region and Province for handling the Trade Fair and Exhibit and distribution of communications and promotional materials, especially to Sir Driggs (the dynamite, my work idol) for drafting the conference resolutions.
• the City and Provincial Government for the all-out support. ALWAYS.
• the Philex Mining, Globe Telecom, Daydream Laguna Resort, and Taganito Mining for sponsoring the activity
• the participants for making things happen
• Screwface and PCA for the plaque and ID layout
  
• the PCCI National and PCCI Mindanao
• absolutely God who answered my prayers during Sunday Mass to make the event a success.
  

The well-selected topics really served its best purpose and suits the expectations of the participants. The BIR was there to discuss the alarming issues of the agency and address the gap between them and the business community. Real Estate business opportunities was presented. The participants were also inspired by the stories of the Surigao City LGU and the Metro Naga Chamber in their success in public-private partnership. And no less than Philex Mining Corporation Chairman, Dr. Walter W. Brown, personally attended and presented their companies programs and opportunities.

The acknowledged guests that includes Officials from PCCI and GEM, Caraga Chamber Presidents and other presentors opened the Trade Fair and Exhibit cum Christmas Bazaar that will run until December 5, 2008. It showcases the local export-quality products under the OTOP Program of the DTI.

The 14th CBC was not only a jampacked conference, but one which has substance. And definitely unforgettable.

It was closed by not the usual speech of a politician but rather an inspiring individual who hails from Surigao City and written a book of his biography and journey towards success. And the inspired me have my copy of his booked autographed...

God is really good. The month of November was full of heavy rains and our preparation was showered with curtains of it causing us some delays in the workplan. But during the activity, the skies were crystal clear and hot as hell. The Eagle Shrine Tour this morning in Dinagat Islands was even a scorching one with the warm welcome of delegates organized by Dinagat's provincial government. It was flocked by locales and students waving their colorful banderitas. Thank you Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands for sponsoring the tour. You indeed showcased one of your mystical jewels. Thank you also Philippine Navy-Surigao for bringing the participants to Dinagat Islands.

'Til next Caraga Business Conference again in Surigao City in 2012..

Pose with the emcee

Intramuros on Foot

After the calesa ride session, we opted to take a walk in the walls of Intramuros as suggested by Manong Calesa driver. He said strolling on top the fortress is a refreshing experience not only because we've got to see its wide greeneries of exterior afar from the tall buildings that crowd the place but simply being on top is a satisfying experience like we can assume we are fortress guards. How come we prefer to become guards? Maybe what he refers to is the power of a fortress guard back the historic years.

But since i am clothed with a barong which i used during the Filipiniana themed opening of the conference, i chose to imagine like i am a run-away groom. Haha.

Since I ran out of narrations due to lack of creative imaginations and i believe that the picture paints a thousand words, so i prefer to share to you our finds of the Intramuros walls and let the photo do the talking:
















There... care to share what the photos tell you?
As we returned back to the event, one of my bosses asked us where have we been. So we told him in an exciting mode, like we were done with the place, that we roamed around the Intramuros compound riding a calesa. Then he said, "Oh, but you have not actually roamed INtramuros, you were just around the EXtramuros".. referring to the fact that most of the precious possessions of the place can be found in some of the historic sites like the artifacts in the museum, the things inside the San Agustin Church, and the interior of the Manila Cathedral.

Well, another series of strolling isnt bad so i guess there would be a repeat of Intramuros.