siargao — Page 2 — Caraga rising paradise

Siargao Escape – falling in love the sands of general luna

August 30, 2008 16 Comments

The series continue when going to Siargao Island as I jumped from one place to another. This time focus myself in the town of General Luna, Siargao Island, province of Surigao del Norte. It was such a lovely place for hideaway takers far from the bustle and hustle of the city.

General Luna not only endowed with beautiful surfing sites, islands and islets, rock formations, snorkeling, diving but the beach itself. It was just an opposite character of Mabua Peeble Beach where stones ruled and became endemic. While here it is not. Just a pure powdery white sands and became a hotspot for anyone who loves the sands and the seas. The coastlines were white, an inborn gift of rising paradise in Caraga.

When I’m in Butuan City, if someone talks about General Luna, the thing that bolsters my mind was the pristine white sands that are stretching for miles in the coastlines, and of course this is how Siargao Island became famous (but Siargao has many beautiful spots to offer aside from the sands). General Luna is one of Siargao gifted son.

The Coastlines, Islands And The Sands

Everywhere in the shorelines of General Luna was a luscious white line that symbolize of being a white achiever in the sands that makes me fall in love with white. I can see in my naked eyes while in the beach, in front of it, was the sweet Guyam Island that is drawing near with white line. In the near distance of Guyam Island was much bigger Dako Island in which half of it was a neat white line in the right side. Closer again was the white Bikini Island, all white and nothing else, it was called in other name as naked island because it’s a pure white sands getting naked and unleashed from nowhere – almost no green thing you can see and no dark spots at all. Closer again was another hot spot, the silent Corregidor Island. The farthest was a group of islands called La Januza, and spent your time there in a far away place that have never been touched and kissed by wild vacationers. When I see the pictures of La Januza in Balanghai Hotel in Butuan City, I could not believe of what I saw. The tantalizing world of curve white beach formation, and the romantic sunset in one of the islands, will put your soul in a calm and serene place. The pictures itself speak a worry-free and stress-free human world.

Walking in a distance, I usually drained my naked feet in this pure white sand beach making them smooth rubbing and tickling, and even, dancing and jumping for a moment. Even you take it for miles, you will never feel the strain because of smoothness of powdery white sands that completely startled your feet, and the joy of making it. You will be surprise of the revelation taking some steps, it seems you are just floating in a window of heaven where you are surrounded with white things, everything is clear and clean. Your eyes became watchful but for the love of nature that surrounds you. Of course, the refreshing cool winds follow you with sweet embrace, and gaze the never ending horizon in the sea.

The Surfing Greats

General Luna was a home of the best international surfing site called Cloud 9. But there was another water breaks that gaining fast ground for neophyte surfers which is Dako. In the new era of surfers, you can choose of which way to go, and mark your name as the best surfer in the world. You will never forget in your life you have been part of General Luna’s priceless possession – world class surfing sites.

In times like this, you should take all the opportunities and exploits everything that may come on your way. Show how your body energize and activates your sense of being, unleash the wildest part of you, like a soul in an ageing body and feel young again (but I’m not that old, huh!). This is the way I blend with nature in my days with General Luna. When I’m come back to my birthplace, Butuan City, it is surely a missed thing to do of my entire life.

special thanks to freida of butuanon dot org for the pix

You can reach Siargao by MV RORO for 4 hours or by super cat for 2 hours from Surigao City, and from Butuan City to Surigao City for 2 hours by bus.

Siargao Escape – the series continue at Cloud 9

June 25, 2008 2 Comments

You can not ignore the waves, and have a second look when the surfers began to smash in the perfect waves that began to form in the beach of General Luna, where Cloud 9 located. This is one of the best of Siargao!

General Luna not only gifted of being white sanders, beautiful Guyam, Dako, Bikini, La Januza, and Corrigedor Islands, but was a home to professional surfers of the world. Cloud 9 is just one of the surfing sites to make it big and became a hit in the international scene.

Witness different surfers coming from the different parts of the globe gathered in one place, and have some fun in the sea. A contest of who will be the best surfers in the world takes place in the last week of September, dubbed as Siargao International Surfing Competition. Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines.

When I set foot in front of Cloud 9, along the white sand beach of General Luna, of course, it is still a long way to go. You have to take a walk the stairway to heaven before reaching Cloud 9. Of course, heaven is far away…but this time clouds will become your heaven when seeing the waves of Cloud 9. A ticket of your dream in reaching the tip of your soul which is peace and happiness within yourself as you take a look between surfers and the waves, waves and the horizon, islands and white sands, and friendly peoples along the way. These are the way we belong to Caraga.

The Magic of Cloud 9

Reaching the end of the stairs, you can grip yourselves, relax, and see surfers in action. You forgot something in this world before you seeing those waves began to form in giants. Fantastic things began to emerge in one unique setting between surfers and the waves flying and smashing. I remember my friend saying that when you are a starter to this field you have to give time to play with the waves…later you will become addicted to it. Even you’ve got a hard fall and devastated with pain and bruises, you still manage to go and become a surfer. The best part of being a surfer, you enjoy of what you are doing. You have to take your time and pass it on to the world you belong, and forget everything in this world. And done the best of your life.

But for spectator like me, yes, I’m still part of Cloud 9. Even though you are not a surfer but you enjoy seeing them – the waves and the surfers – and me, became the third party which completes the scenery. Showing us the innate beauty of this unique place, all you have to do is look and navigate every angle of the waves, and you can say (wow!) as time passes by. The intimate feelings you’ve got when looking at Cloud 9 is so different. It will make you healthy and powerful person to live with as you go with nature like this. Do not miss single seconds of the day as the show began in its place.

pix from freida of butuanon dot org

You can reach Siargao by MV RORO for 4 hours or by super cat for 2 hours from Surigao City, and from Butuan City to Surigao City for 2 hours by bus.

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.