caraga region — Page 9 — Caraga rising paradise

Red Sea Turtles – how sweet they are!

June 16, 2008 6 Comments

Coming in to the place called Bagacay in Siargao Islands, you can reminiscent how sweet your encounter with all these cute red sea turtles as I watched them live in a marine sanctuary. Taking a look with them remind us how important the relationships between man and natures. They are here to tell us that this is how nature works with them as time goes by. Clean environment and normal living is a harmonious way of creating a wonderful place to live with.

Opening all my senses and peace within your mind and your soul as I journeyed back to where they are. As I sit back and take a look, you will never miss single seconds of the day taking a look as I remind myself of what’s happening when I face them live. The joy in your heart cannot be taken away by anything in this world when you are with them, or something that you will forget and makes peace with yourself.

Experience likes this will never forget, that was your priceless possession in life!

This video became my taste of the day. Find out why is it stress-free…

Siargao Escape – at bagacay making peace with natures!

June 1, 2008 8 Comments

Caraga was a home to a different islets and islands that is untouched and unexploited by local and international tourists. One name I will never forget was the place called Bagacay. Bagacay is a barangay that is found in an island separated from the mainland Dapa, Siargao Island, province of Surigao del Norte.

After reaching Siargao with MV Sweet RORO in the town of Dapa for 4 hours from Surigao City, I proceeded with my friends to Bagacay, a 15 minutes ride using pumpboat. When I first heard the word bagacay I thought boracay which is not. I misheard it, maybe, due to some excitement on my part.

When the pumpboat began to cross the island, you will see corals below with white sands. The way I see it, it would be best for diving and fishing activities. As you get near the island, a lot of mangroves standing on the side in another island. A unique blend of nature that I have not seen before. Reaching Bagacay was a sweet experience for a trying hard traveler like me (hehehe!).

Stepping Into A Residential Paradise

When I jump out from the pumpboat, I am stepping into the place that is surrounded with large body of seawater. You can view different mountain ranges, mangroves on the neighboring island, never ending horizon in the east and in the west. You can feel the fresh winds mixed from seas and mountains embraces your being, and take a long, long breath to rejuvenate your lungs that have grown from the city.

The place located separately from the mainland Bagacay, and isolated like an island –only mangroves on the other side that is linking to the mainland Bagacay. This is the home of Mayor Peter Ruaya. The simplicity of living takes you back to the older times when man and nature blend each other in a simple and harmonious way. I have discovered a paradise that is right into the home of Ruaya’s family. Hopefully, they can transform the area into a resort for local and international tourists in the near future. You cannot only appreciate the location, but the place was a sanctuary of some marine life in the ocean. While you are here, one of the most interesting attractions in Bagacay was hopping from one island to another island, fishing, and diving coral sites. Atmosphere in Bagacay is a very calm and peaceful place to live endowed with a gift that natures possess.

Vicinity And Delicacies

The foundation of this future resort was made of mixed concrete sands and stones from the deep of the sea to the surface – a solid ground against rising sea waves. Family house was standing at the edge facing another island. Outside of the house were lots of big cages that will serve as marine sanctuary to some animals living in the ocean. This will create attraction that can draw so much attention to the visitors coming to the place. In your best time, you can go to the cages, seeing them not only refresh your body, but refreshes your mind as well.

Coming inside the house mostly made of hardwoods. Some furniture were created out of bamboo that I’ve noticed one unique swinging chair on the left side of the house that is best for resting and sleeping. Winds coming in and out the whole day. A quiet place to live with. A healthful way of living, and if God’s well, it will make your life longer.

Foods were already served in the kitchen table. Grilled liplipan and kinilaw (fresh fish) became my food of the day. I have tasted the sweetness of banagan (lobster) that is freshly picked at the bottom of the house. Also became a fan of eating tajom and saang (sea urchins). These could be the healthiest food I’ve ever swallowed. Seafoods were the best delicacies of Bagacay. You will never forget the temptation and mouthwatering sensation of the foods that is rightfully fit into your stomach (hehehe!). The best of the island!

Hospitality

Stepping the residential paradise likes a second home to me. I have never expected the extra warm accommodation that is afforded to us by Mayor Peter, and his beautiful and smiling wife, Madam Yolly. Welcoming us like their own family coming from a distant land – from the time we landed, put us to sleep, until we say goodbye the next day. This reflects the homegrown hospitality of peoples in Bagacay. Hospitality that cannot be compared – a true Filipino value.

Capturing Rare Moments

In this episode of life, Bagacay shows the best part of me. But here comes the location, early morning, when the moon still shining in the west, sunrise began to show in the east. Absolutely, almost meeting each other in one unique panorama. The place turned dramatic and romantic in a clear blue sky. What a show on earth before your eyes!

In this place were so many cages in which different marine life exist. In those cages were my scenes of the day. I’ve spent many hours watching those cute red sea turtles. For the first time I’ve watched them live, and not on TV! Along with them were different colorful fishes, big and small, even Nemo and his friends coming out in the open. Other cages were filled with crabs and big sea clams, and show to us how clams got angry when closing its mouth as it picked outside from the cage. Lobsters were unique and exotic creatures seeing them crawling the net at the bottom of the house. Outside the house, of course, body of seawater where you can see lot’s of different fishes coming, and became visitors too of Ruaya’s family (I hope no sharks here…hehehe!).

Seeing these marine creatures will make your day live and fruitful. You will never miss single seconds of the day when you are in these cages. The joy in your heart cannot be taken away as you sit back and take wild look of these cute and wild creatures from the sea.

I have told you the best in Bagacay. Experiences in life cannot be bought or steal. Simple pleasures will linger forever, and remain part of you memory as the days passed by. Bagacay takes a piece of me, and it will be part of my memory…forever.

Bagacay can be reached from Butuan City to Surigao City for 2 hours by bus, then Surigao City to Siargao for 4 hours by RORO or 2 hours by super cat, then at Dapa port to Bagacay for 15 minutes using pumpboat.

Caraga – a place of never-ending adventures

April 20, 2008 42 Comments

CARAGAcan be traced back to the 15th century when explorers discovered the existence of Kalagans, believed to be of Visayan Origin in one of the three districts in Mindanao. The word Caraga originated from the Visayan word “Kalagan”: “Kalag” meaning soul or people and “An” meaning land. The “Kalagans” have a long history of being brave and fearless. Thus, the region was called by early chroniclers as the “Land of the Brave and Fierce People.”

The “Kalagans”, called “Caragans” by the Spaniards occupied the district composed of the two provinces of Surigao, northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental. The two Agusan Provinces were later organized under the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao and became the independent Agusan province in 1914. In 1960, Surigao was divided as Norte and Sur, and in June 1967, Agusan followed suit. While Butuan then was just a town of Agusan, the logging boom in 1950’s drew business and businessmen to the area. On August 2, 1950. by virtue of Republic Act 523, the City Charter of Butuan was approved.

CARAGA is an Administrative Region of the Philippines, on the northeastern portion of the island of Mindanao. It is the newest region in the Philippines, and is also called Region XIII. The Caraga Region was created through Republic Act Number 7901 on February 25, 1995. The region is composed of five (5) provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, and the newly created province, Dinagat Islands (from Surigao del Norte); six (6) cities: Butuan, Surigao and Bislig, and recently, the newly created component cities: Cabadbaran, Bayugan, and Tandag; seventy (70) municipalities and 1,346 barangays. Butuan City is the regional center.It’s haven for tourists and adventurers. The region hosts two of the Philippines’ 10 National Integrated Protected Areas – the Siargao Seascape, and the 100,000-hectare Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary – as well as world class dive, surfing, and sport fishing sites, mountains trekking and biking, white sand beaches, hot and cold springs, caves, rivers, forests, and waterfalls.If you are seeking a challenging experience or simply an escapade from the humdrum of urban life, venture no more… Come and experience adventure one can find south of the Philippines islands that simply lures visitors to frolic in its pristine beauty.

Mining Industry – destroyed our tourism industry

March 11, 2008 6 Comments

Mining started to operate extensively in the towns of Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, and RTR in the province of Agusan del Norte. The presence of huge gold, copper nickel, and manganese deposits in the mountains along the coastal areas were the targets of a group of individuals, and a companies sprouting from small scale to large scale mining. There was a report that $3.3 million per shipment, and it happened 2 times a week. That’s a lot of money here!

Accordingly, the shipping of gold went through the benefiting country which is China. (I remember historic Butuan’s trading relations with China before – history repeat itself – but not this good.)

25 Years Ago

I remember when I was 12 years old, and a member of Boy Scout movement in the Philippines, we had a camping in Pook, La Fraternidad, Tubay. Pook beach was not fine sand but composed of pebbles that is tickling in your feet, and feels good when you take a walk or swim in the beach. Early morning, dolphins began to emerge near the shoreline. We clap our hands for joy, and wooed these creatures when it passes by. It’s a rare opportunities for everyone to catch this live before our eyes!

Facing the shoreline, of course, big mountains where we took a stroll, and climbing there almost at the top. There you saw the beauty of the ocean. The waves reached the shoreline in a white line. Sunset showed as it began to fade away in the horizon. You will never forget how ocean, mountains, and sunset blend in one spectacular setting of the day.

The Real Threat

I would like to say, the horrendous effects of mining was damaging to the environment. Mountains beginning to shrink, became bald, and later, a lost natural structures. The cutting of trees in the mountains which is crucial to our existence as part of ecosystem could lead us to continuous flooding and landslides. In fact, mountains protect us from the fury of natures such as typhoons and tsunamis.

The sad part here is that one of the tourist paradises that I posted here was lost its ground as haven for hide away vacationers and became dead was Tubay Mountain Beach Resort. Its seashore turned red because of the continuous mining operations in the area. So sad for this one!

As we know, Tubay has one…while Jabonga has six beautiful diving sites. Without knowing, all these diving sites slowly turned dead in the near futures as mining operations continue to rack-up in the coastal areas.

My Stand

God created these mountains as a gift to us. He didn’t create these things for us to suffer, but to give us joy in our hearts. The joy was eternal because he created it perfectly with His own hands and showed it to us. For our part, the responsibility is to take care of the things that God have shown to us.

I am calling, therefore, to all those concerned citizens, bond together by showing awareness and open our eyes in stopping mining operations. Elected officials must take the lead (I hope they can!), showing how they care for the environment they live and the people that surrounds them who expect great things from them, or else, as what Jun Lozada said (ZTE-NBN scandal star witness) “moderate your greed, baka kako yan ay bubukol.”

Agusan del Norte – amazing adventures!

January 23, 2008 21 Comments

“Human and nature…making amazing adventures.”

Agusan del Norte is one of the five province of Caraga Region (others are Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and the newly created province – Dinagat Island, which was part of Surigao del Norte before). It is bounded on the north by Butuan Bay and Surigao del Norte, on the east by Surigao del Sur, on the south by Agusan del Sur, and on the west by Misamis Oriental. One of the country’s leading producer of rice for being dominantly agricultural province.

The province has 11 towns and they are Buenavista, Cabadbaran, Carmen, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Las Nieves, Magallanes, Nasipit, Remedios T. Romualdez, Santiago and Tubay. Recently, the town of Cabadbaran became a city. Butuan City located at the heart of the province became an independent city for being a highly-urbanized.

The name Agusan came from Malay word “agasan” which means “where water flows,” because of the province presence of mighty river that flows from Davao then to the two Agusan provinces – Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte, in which Butuan City is the exit point, and empties into Butuan Bay.

Butuan City rich and colourful history reflects the past of the province. It has two municipal museums found in Magallanes and Cabadbaran where hundreds of artifacts dating as early as Sung, Yuan, and Ming Dynasty of China. Butuan City has its own museum, the Butuan National Museum.

Agusan del Norte has outstanding tourist spot destinations aside from its colourful history. Its wonderful geographical settings and physical features of the province make it the best for adventurers out there.

Different mountain ranges along its northeastern and western parts with flat rolling lands in between as it face the scenic Butuan Bay. When dropping by at the mountain top in the town of Carmen, you’ve got heaven and earth there meet in a one unique panoramic view gazing with those horizon in a blue sea and beautiful mountains at the back. Taking out the best person in you – as you move at the top!

Mountain climbers, bikers, and trekkers can venture the lushful green forest, and can go unfamiliar jungle passages, thats make it as an exciting adventures. It has ten mountains to offer but for the highest was Mt. Hilong-hilong. If there are mountains, then waterfalls and springs co-exist. If you don’t mind……there are 7 beautiful springs and 18 waterfalls to lift up your spirit here!

Aside from the scenic spots, the province has 42 underground and aboveground caves that are found in Carmen and 8 others found in other towns for you to discover unique places.

The province has identified 3 lakes, and one of which, Lake Mainit, is the 4th largest lake in the Philippines. The lake was surrounded with mountains, its scenic view was so amazing when I went to Jabonga. Peace and tranquility will reign when lake and mountains traverse in one setting. The lake offers best for fishing enthusiasts, wind surfing and leisure boating, and all water sports activities. We will not forget the Baoto Festival was held here in September.

Fifteen rivers crisscrossing the province, unspoiled and clear running waters. If you want to say “hi” and say “goodbye,” but not here, because lovers tend to be sweeter each day when you look at the river.

Since the province faces Butuan Bay, it has 19 beautiful diving sites to offer from the sea lanes of Carmen going to Jabonga (Carmen – 12, Tubay – 1, and Jabonga – 6). Explore the beauty inside with 80 feet of visibility. Not yet mentioning the challenge of windsurfing here!

Of course, part of it, the beautiful sunset along the fine sandy beaches, when feeling tired and strained, just go……and got the nerves to calm down, and feel refresh. Got another amazing adventure day!

pix from agusan del norte, eco-tourism, mindanao blog,and bisdak art