Caraga rising paradise

journey into a mystical place caraga.

Caraga as a Baby Region – started pulling upward from the start

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I was born in Caraga. Of course Caraga was a name of newly created region then – a baby region in the northeastern part of Mindanao. It was created in 1995, and Butuan City as the capital city of the region. It was composed of three cities which make it brothers of Butuan, the cities of Surigao and Bislig.

Since then, the national office considered the newly created region as priorities in all major projects. Like a baby nestled in mother’s arms, milking to develop into a strong child, and became a fine young man in the future. This is how it started, and now, it poise to compete with other 17 regions that make up Philippines. The competition was so intimate like the Birmingham accommodation did.

Although Caraga, being an experimental region in terms of education, but it has created intelligent citizens for being the number 1 region in the Department of Education based on NAT results either in elementary or secondary or both. That is consistent on the top spot since 1998 as far as my recollection is concerned.

In terms of agriculture, we have valuable contribution in our economy and help stop the food shortage due to our technologically-inclined pre and post harvest facilities such as farm to market roads, farm equipments, and drying technology. Caraga is one of the regions that withstood the recent attack of food crisis.

In terms of infrastructures, at this moment, the landmark that is incomparable is the longest-cabled bridge in the country the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge that is found in Butuan as the best in entire Mindanao and next to Cebu’s Mactan Bridge. The 2nd bridge cemented more the place which separates us by the mighty Agusan River. The bridge symbolizes as one Caraga. Yes, it will prosper economic activity in the region as it moves forward in the near future.

diosdado macapagal bridge, butuan city

The beautiful City Hall Complex in Butuan City is the finest in Mindanao, or else, one of the best in the Philippines. Being a capital city wherein the seat of government is the most important aspect in dealing with peoples and services. The seat of government with its present look symbolizes a progressive Butuan.

butuan city hall, butuan city

In terms of tourism, The Department of Tourism posted a 73 percent increase of tourist arrivals compared to last year. The uncontrollable visits is considered as positive growth that resulted to creation of jobs, and well, we have here sprouting first class hotels to accommodate the increasing visitors coming from within and outside our territories just the same the one from Birmingham accommodation and the cheap hotels in Amsterdam.

I have just mentioned the major developments of Caraga at this moment. This is how the baby region stopped crying when she was a newly-born baby. And now the baby is growing strong at the end.

Peso Devaluation and the Side-Effects – cheaper hotels in caraga, and others

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Caraga hotels are much cheaper whose accommodation in Las Vegas is at par, due to peso devaluation in recent years. If you are from America or Europe the currencies such as euro and dollar are making big waves against Philippines peso. This in turn makes the peso weak, and resulted to devaluation. Devaluation of peso will affect the value of any products and services. In my own analysis it will simply increase the price of importation products and the lower value of prices of exportation products.

The Law of Supply and Demand is the most fundamental basic of economics. Since currencies manipulation in the market are getting high and having a backlash, then I will consider the Law of Supply and Demand is freezing at this moment since the forces that make currencies in the market unstable from time to time. This will make prices jump high without notice. While the foreign markets tend to be benefitted from the currency explosion, it makes them to become a powerful asset in terms of exportation of our own products.

In my own country the Philippines, we survive the economic plague brought about the peso devaluation due to the increased demand of exports, tourism industries, and the remittances of our OFWs. This is the key to victory. This is a square-off to manage economic onslaught from time to time when peso slides to its lowest level.

Like the in-demand products of agricultures, electronics, and minerals, these things will become the top assets in Philippine exports because of being a lower price compare to other competing countries.

And, of course, tourism is also a key to economy. Yes, foreign visitors love them coming to Caraga to explore natures. Products and services in a hotel where they stay are the most in-demand in tourism for being such affordable in prices like the demand of cheap hotels in Toronto and accommodation in Las Vegas. You can not keep yourself away from the beauties that have shown here, and have a great escape.

Jumping Season – Caraga goes to Manila at Oceanarium

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Here’s another jump from Caraga the way I did at Duka. Jumping season is another challenge because you have to track yourself the adventures that goes outside Caraga. The challenge is knowing stranger place, and here I’m getting trap at the most in-demand visit of Manila – the Ocean Park.

manila ocean park, manila
My friend got the oblivion visits…

manila ocean park, manila
I just excited when I went to this place with my two friends of mine who are also ecstatic to explore the best of ocean’s world. At the entrance, there were no fishes but a massive line up of people with their kids. Kids populated the whole scenery, and I’m also thinking of my little kids and I know they love this place too – exploring the best of the ocean’s world.

manila ocean park, manila

While I am getting a globe challenge here, it is clear to note that Philippines were surrounded with large bodies of seawater, and so, surrounded with different marine species as well. Abundance of seafood makes it a large percent of fish eater Filipinos.

Bahura Entrance

manila ocean park, manila

When I entered Bahura entrance, I dragged myself into a very cool atmosphere and feeling it like at the deep of the ocean. That’s the best of ocean world!

manila ocean park, manila

manila ocean park, manila

manila ocean park, manila

Here you witness different marine species that some of them you have not seen it in real life only in TV. Those creatures undersea remind me of my escape at Bagacay. The Bagacay escape making it the real turning of events the relationship between me and those sea dwellers.

manila ocean park, manila

manila ocean park, manila

manila ocean park, manila

Seeing those lovely creatures makes you feel that there are quiet friends out there who help you how to manage stress in life. Yes, just seeing those for hours and you will forget everything even those the bitter parts of day in your life, try to look the lovely swim and bitter became sweet. The money you have spent 400 pesos per head are worthy enough the value you have received, and it is more than that, it is a priceless possession. You can not buy happiness when you are at the deep of the ocean, really.

manila ocean park, manila

Well Not Just For Ocean Dweller

They are transforming the place not just for an ocean dweller but also for supermall lovers. Well this is just a perfect place for nature lovers combine forces of shopaholic individuals. The timing is right. Leisure is taking place in a one-stop shop affair.

manila ocean park, manila

Aside from the scenic marine dweller, after the tour, kids will be given an insight of what they learn and what they see. There will be an educational showcase with the arts expressing the beauty and respect of those creatures under the sea. Kids are enjoying a lot.

It’s family bonding time. There are problems in our life that can be that is sticky to loose but can be split in a seconds. Here it can split in seconds, and gone. The color of the story on how oceanarium affects our way of life is not on the group of fishes how they bonded together in one place. How sweet when I see them swimming together. But the lovely scene was when a child speaks to his parents, and parents do the same, the happiness reflects in their face is immeasurable enough. This will surely push a tight bonding, or else, bridging the gaps for those who are in breaking.

Caraga and the Caraganon Way of Life – how to connect them as one

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It is very important to note that the way of life in Caraga can be understood through connecting ourselves in one setting. By the way, you can be part of Caraga and the Caraganon way of life by having you as part of the team, and that is be a part of networking site for friends and others.

I have submitted myself through different networking sites that are tantamount to knowing the culture of others. In this way, I have in mind a site that is for unity in one blood and one culture, one history and one way of life. I prefer myself to launch another site for this. And I’m in humble to say I can do it in the future to make go for reality of my dream.

Presently, I have a keen for this beautiful site the Jurnl.com. Although, it is newly launched last February, 2009, it has powerful features like the integration of iphone for mobile blogging and photo sharing that is unique from others.

Nowadays, the evolution of networking sites involves the most important thing like sending messages and articles where ever you are. That is the convenient way if you are far away from your love machine – the laptop mania. Yap, this is the best way in connecting yourself to others, especially connecting the Caraga and the Caraganon way of life.

I have already bought a domain name for this, and in the future I have visualized that it will be for one society. Shout for yourself when you became a member, and discovered a new country for Caraga.

Go Caraga!

Family Trip to Masao Island – pieces of history in caraga started in mazaua

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We have decided having a side trip with my family to Masao Island. Just a purely family affair having we call it bonding time for all of us – me, my wife, and my two little angels. Going to Masao Island is the only thing that I have in mind since it is the best place to refresh you, and become in love with nature again. This is how I love Caraga.

Masao Island is found in barangay Masao which is one of the 86 barangays of historic Butuan City. It faces Butuan Bay and at the back was Masao River. I think the only place in Butuan City that is a beach resort, and to think that Butuan has 86 barangays, so sad to think that only two are on the coastlines and one of them was barangay Masao where Masao Island located.

In history, its old name was Mazaua Island. Almost the same tone of Limasawa Island of Leyte that is both names fighting the history of where the first mass was held in the Philippines.

Happy Faces of People

I remember 15 years ago when I went to this island, it is just a quiet place to see – no cottages and few peoples roaming around particularly the fishermen and their family to search food in the sea. And now when I came back, peoples are everywhere and the shorelines were lots of cottages lined-up. Peoples are keep coming from the city and enjoy their journey here.

One particular development was the construction of bridge along the river that makes it easy accessible to the island unlike before it is just a wooden bridge. Those beach goers diverted from neighboring town beach resort to Masao Island since it is closer than anything else.

With my family we enjoyed so much just like taking vacation away from home. The peoples that surrounds can never compare the feelings when they came here. It’s all fun, and forgetting those hustles and bustles behind. People all walks of life diverge in one setting. Butuanons and caraganons are really peaceful and fun-loving peoples.

Although the setting was cloudy, I have here the dramatic shot.

masao, butuan city

masao, butuan city

masao, butuan city

masao, butuan city

The sand was fine but not fine white sand like what I did in Siargao. But capturing the beauty is not in the sand but the happy faces of peoples that surround us.

This town folk serenaded us with his invented bamboo-made xylophone.

masao, butuan city

My little angels on the loose…

masao, butuan city

masao, butuan city

The Tone of History

Two Butuan kings, Rajah Siagu and Rajah Colambu were brothers who ruled Butuan in pre-Spanish times. When these two Butuan kings met, they proceeded to Mazaua Island (now known as Masao) as their hang-out for fishing and swimming. They devoted their time in Mazaua Island as bonding time like we did with my family and the rest of butuanons.

When Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan came on March 29, 1521, they met and settled in Mazaua Island where they established the first ever recorded blood compact in the history of the Philippines. Then on March 31, 1521 before Magellan left, a mass was held offered by Fr. Pedro Valderrama before the two Butuan kings, and later on, became the celebrated First Easter Mass in the Philippines (not Limasawa of Leyte as disproved by Geo-morphologists and Archeologists).

The footnote of history between Masao and Limasawa of Leyte is when chronicler in one’s of Magellan men calling it as Mazaua. The name itself provided the changes at the end by calling it as “masao” instead of adding”li” in “limasawa” which is telling us as Masao today and not Limasawa of Leyte.

Sometimes I have to think, ‘history is a mystery’ to me until proven guilty.