In Surigao

My recent visit in Surigao reminds me that I came from there. Actually I was born in Surigao City. But, I have never been in a place so long enough for me to say that I really was from there. When I was six, we moved to Bohol.

In a small fishing and farming village between a laterite mine in a mountain range and the sea in the town of Claver, is where my mother grew up and married. When the marriage failed she came back to this place to recuperate from pain and of course to bounce back from the blow.




The place was not the way she remembered it many years back. And it was not what I remembered when I lived there for a while. Back then, early in the morning when the tide was up, children would race to the sea and learn the basic of swimming in the then very clear sea water. Now, when the mine was opened up in the mountain, orange soil flowed down the river towards the sea. The once clear sea water at least the shallow part near the community became orangey and sea shells no longer thrive.

However, despite of that, what I always love that never changed and still remains--boating, still existed. Men in the village have been fishing ever since and will always be. There are small boats lining up the seashore. There was one very big boat for big time fishing.

I would ask someone to row the boat for me as I enjoy the scenery, the orange sea at the shallow part and the blue sea at the deeper part; the sunset and the sunshine; and the waves of course. Although our place has no big waves like that in Siargao, but one can enjoy the serenity of the sea. There are times when you think you can walk on the water because there are times the sea will become still that no waves disturb its surface and the reflection was that of a mirror.



Across the place where my lola's house is, is an island. It was called Carambanwa or Karaang Banwa. From afar, it looks like the upper half of a circle. It is an hour ride in a row boat and 15 minutes by motor boat. It has now become a sanctuary by the local government. The main purpose is to save the different family of fish and seashells as well as sea weeds. According to Tiyo Tikong a.k.a Teke Boy, who was a relative and manning the sanctuary, the island will be cordoned with white big floating balls about 50 meters around the island. Nobody is allowed to fish within the cordoned area. And it is expected that at the end of two years, fish of different kind and colors along with seaweeds and shells will thrive in abundance.



Sadly, if and when the mining up in the mountain will continue and there were already rumors that before the year ends, it will start again, the sea will be filled with laterite. And I am afraid that the next generation of kids will not be able to enjoy swimming near their houses thus, hampering many of them from learning swimming at an early age.

It was a good move for the local government to protect one island and turn it into a sanctuary for diminishing fishes and corals due to dynamite fishing.



Surigao is a beautiful place abundant with beautiful mineral filled mountains, wide deep blue seas, and beautiful islands. Even in the small fishing and farming village where I came from, I can say God is generous in giving us a beautiful little place.

In Suluan

Suluan Island.

This is a small island in the Eastern part of Samar in the Pacific Ocean. A ferry boat, or locally known as lantsa will take one from the town of Guiuan to Suluan. During the monsoon months like in October to December, the sea will be rough. Fortunately we traveled in summer.

We stayed in the house of our pastor's relative. The house has rooms for rent for strangers in the island. And the owner mentioned that some Taiwanese men would stay in the house. Taiwan's radio stations are usually the stations that the residents hear when they tune in their radios. That only mean one thing, Taiwan's territory is closer than we think.

The Island has its unusual charm that would make one wants to come back, at least for me. When our boat dropped anchor, I was thrilled at seeing the crystal clear green water. The corals and colorful fish are very visible that I wished I had a snorkel and right away dive into the water.

After we settle in the house where we were staying, I took a walk at the beach. The sand was fine and white. But I soon found out that not all the beach front around Suluan are sand. There are big rocks as well.

The next day, we distributed tracts for the evangelism rally at night. After the distribution we were allowed to roam around the island in groups. Our first destination was the lighthouse. Located on top of the hill, we have to climb the two hundred plus steps. The climb was ardous. However, when we reached the top, the tiredness was forgotten because the view was breath taking. We saw part of the widest ocean in the whole world. We saw part of the Pacific where cargo ships coming in from and going out to the Taiwan part came through. The deep blue sea was awesome. And the lighthouse was majestic even if it was old. When we visited there, the lighthouse was not functioning anymore because of no budget. A native there told us that when the lighthouse was functioning, it was magnificent seeing the big spotlight going to and fro while the ships passed by with signals.

After lunch time that day, we were supposed to go to this place. I just known the name of this place in Suluan, upon seeing this picture in one of the blogs of a certain Sol Eugenio, thanks to him, though I don't know him. This is the Blue Hole.

My brother and my stepbrother told me how they dove into the whole when the waves struck and a whirlpool was on its wake. When they dove into the hole they were frightened for their lives because they were afraid they might not be able to hold on because on the coming waves and they will be pushed into the bottom and never get out.

Although I was not up to what they did but it would have been fun just being there.

Another area that I was unable to go to because of prior engagements that day, was the Big Feet. I forgot what our pastor named the place. There were a number of foot prints. The largest ones are 2-3 meters long complete with foot print ridges. The natives have a myth for those big beet. They believed that a giant crossed the sea from Malaysia and rested in Suluan They believed also that the area was muddy but dried after the giants left. They can never explain how it came to be.

Another area we visited in Suluan was a beach area where people around in Suluan went there if they want a day's swim. The beach front in this area was really good for swimming. There were less seaweeds but lots of shells. And the water was not very deep. However, it was far from where we stay. To go there, we have to go around the big brown and granite rocks along the shore. Along the way, we gushed on how beautiful the rock formations and the water. and to go back, I was thankful a teen age boy followed us in his sleek pumpboat. He invited to take us home so we can prepare for the rally that night.

The island even if it is small has a fertile land. People plant crops like sweet potato, cassava, corn, and coconut. And the water was not salty unlike other places near the sea where water from faucets are salty and smells like mud. The sea around Suluan is filled with abundant fish of different kind. And in the front area of the island one can see a number of fishing boats.

I can say that the island is blessed with natural beauty in its land and its sea. I just wish no greedy individual will torn the island and transform it commercially because it's going to be a different story.

Moncado Hotel, Sudlon, Cebu

This hotel is located up in one of the mountain barangays of Cebu, in Sudlon (I forgot if it was I or II). We followed Trans-Central Highway going up towards Balamban or Toledo. Following one junction in a dirt road, we ended in a small and quiet barangay of Sudlon.

As the bus rolled towards the front of the hotel, we were amazed at how old the hotel was. It was a three storey structure all in wood. In front of the hotel was an empty 10 feet swimming pool. As we entered the ground floor where the supposed reception was located, it was as if we were taken back in time like 40 years ago. The glass display was dusty and the front desk looked like there was no front dest clerk in a very long time. The whole reception area was eerie with a sense of antique welcome.

We went up to the rooms in a narrow wooden staircase that creaked as our foot dropped in each step. We were led to the third floor and were assigned rooms that was facing the front. I found out that there were still other rooms behind our rooms. But most of those rooms are abandoned and only birds took them as their palaces where they built their nests.

Dinner that night took place at the topmost room where the kitchen and dining room was located. As we settle ourselves in the tables we were told that there is a cord that is tied near the kitchen and nobody must ring the bell. The bell once rung signifies emergency for all Moncadistas around the premises.

The Moncadista is a religious sect founded by Hilario Camino Moncado. The bell cord ran from the kitchen towards a hill across the wide lawn of the hotel. The hill was considered holy because it was there that Moncado himself was preserved. He was placed in a glass casket. His body did not decompose. He was looking very regal and still commanding even while lying inside the casket. We also found out that he was a four star general leading Filipino and American troops during World War II.

The next morning was a Sunday. We heard church bells ringing. The church was in a room at the ground floor of the hotel. What fascinated me most was the outfit of the men who were on their way to the church. Most of them were old men. They have white long beard that reached the breast. And, their clothing was a World War II khaki army uniform complete with badges and ranks. Some of them even have World War II rifles. The women, mostly were old women, were also in old fashioned dresses with a lace cloth on their heads. Just like the women of long ago.

I have been to the place only once and that was seven years ago. When I was still in college. I loved how they preserved the place, the old fashion way. They also preserved the history of their founder who not only founded the Moncadista but also helped the Fil-American soldiers. I wonder if the old hotel was still there until this time. I hope I can go back there once of these days and tell another story about it once again. :)