Dahican Beach Resort

Want to go skim boarding? Or just prefer to enjoy the scenery of long white sand coastlines and prestine blue waters?

Well, you'll surely love Dahican Beach Resort. The home of 6th International Skim Boarding Champ in Penang, Malaysia, Sonny Boy "Bayogbog" Aporbo. 

This amihan native guy and his team used to teach newbies in skim boarding. It's a smaller counterpart of surfboard, gliding across the incoming waves and back to the shore... It's nice a try but, truly difficult to make it... I wonder why, even the kids does but difficult for me to have even once... 

There are also cheap bonsai for sale in the resort ranges from P 200.00 to P 3,000.00 depending on age and beauty...

Its a must try place for people who want to enjoy nature's wonders...

Commemorating Good Friday, "Bisita Iglesia"

The best thing in Holy Week is Holiday. Yes, for many it is (lets thank Judas because not for him, there might be no Holy week, thus no holiday at all) tahahaha. Just kidding...

Holy Week particularly the Good Friday is one of the anticipated religious holidays in catholic church. People commemorate the sufferings and resurrection of Jesus Christ just to redeem the world from sins. A time where most Filipinos take their form of penance to repent for their mistakes. Some does the reenactment of Christ's crucifixion, some refrains from customary activities such as partying, social drinking, eating meat, and others usually engage in prayer and fasting.

Bisita Iglesia, usually visiting seven churches and pray for the stations of the cross. A simple gesture how we value our true Christianity. 

Today, I want to share with you how we commemorate in our own little way the passion of Christ to redeem us from our sins. 

This what we had today:

Our First Stop: Sto. Rosario Parish, Toril, Davao City 

We have had our first and second stations

Second Stop: San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Talomo, Davao City is just few minutes away from our first church. We had our third and forth stations here.

Third Stop: Holy Spirit Adoration Convent in Seminary Road, Catalunan Grande, Davao City.  It is located near the highway, and one of the beautiful churches we visited. It is convent for pink sisters where you can write your prayer request in envelope same as pink sisters in Baguio City. Our fifth and sixth stations are here...

the views are nice which can't refrain me from doing this...  

 religious devotees doing their stations of the cross too.

Fourth Stop: Our Lady of Lourdes in Davao Central Park Subdivision, Bangkal, Davao City 
Had our seventh and eight stations of the cross.

Fifth Stop: Ascension of the Lord Parish Height, Matina, Davao City
Had our ninth and tenth stations of the cross.

Sixth Stop: San Pablo Parish, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City 
Had our eleventh and twelfth stations of the cross here

Our Seventh and Final Church Destination: One of the most well known pilgrim sites in Davao City, the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus in Matina Hill, Davao City.  There are stations of the cross area along the road going on top of the hill where the shrine of infant jesus is situated. Vehicles are not allowed to enter during this season. Meaning you have to walk going to top of the hill... 

We had our thirteenth, and last stations of the cross including the closing at the shrine.

 Lots of people flocked here for this year's stations of the cross. 

Going on top of the hill is quite exhausting walking under the heat of glaring sun. Though thirst quenchers and foods are available on the road, we tried to at least realize our fasting...

 souvenirs, food and drinks and other stuff are available on the road going to the top.

 Of course, the travel isn't enough without the souvenirs available in souvenir shop inside the shrine. I bought mine, a blessed (accordingly) stainless rosary worth P 200.00  

 selfie din para completo ang lahat

 mainit talaga...

Thanks God. We have had our seven churches visit safe and sound. i never though that i will do this here in Davao. I never had this thing for my several decades of existence. 

Thank you Davao and of course, we wouldn't make it without the car of poging poging Joel Palma, the just bought Mitsubishi 1995 went on test drive for seven churches in Davao City. 

Truly, the experience is worth remembering.

Discovering Balut Island, Davao Occidental

Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan...

When I was in my high school and college years, I thought of Mindanao as chaotic, a fighting arena for several leftist groups known to sow terror in the region... So when I was ordered to transfer here, I felt numb.. quite uncertain since this is the first time I will fly to Mindanao. 

My new destination: Davao City. When I got here, what I thought was actually different from what i expected. A beautiful place, urbanized in a different perspective, qualities of people are notch higher compared to what I used to...    

 

The day after I arrived Davao City, we were scheduled to depart Davao going to Balut Island. So i got the chart and look for it. From our current location to Balut Island is 131 nautical miles distance. We traveled it for 11 hours in 10 knots speed on board our home, MCS 3005, a 30-meter yacht owned by BFAR but manned by officers and men of Philippine Cute and Gentlemen (PCG).

If you will travel by public means:  (I just researched this details from my buddy who stayed in Balut Island for quite sometime)

From Davao City you will ride a bus going to General Santos City, fare is P 250.00 with estimated 4 hours  travel. Then Ride a tricycle going to wharf, P 10.00
There is a Wharf fee of environmental fee of P 20.00 each and then you will board a vessel that will take you there preferably MV Dolly, MV Nicky or MV Sabgangat in Puting Bato wharf. 

Going there isn't easy though the weather is good, the sea condition is totally rough to heavy to extreme seas. Big waves, strong currents will definitely bring newbies to barf everything in ther stomach... 

When I've seen the island right in front of my eye for the very first time... clear blue waters, white sand coastlines, virgin forest covering the island... truly weariness and fatigue of some sort vanished, though sound of waves smashing the boat kept on resounding in my mind and after effects of vomits made me quite uneasy...

While approaching to the island's mabila wharf, we requested for assistance of  a fisherman to guide us through. It is necessary to be cautious because there are areas with shallow waters, that you might ran aground. Vessels plying the area used to leave at night, perhaps they look for calmer sea condition, but for newcomer, it is suggested to arrive and leave daytime for better and safer navigation.

Lets take a little peep on what Balut Island has to offer. Balut Island is also known as Sanguil. It is a volcanic island meaning an island of volcanic origin. It is located southern  tip of Davao Occidental (western part) in Mindanao region. Center of the island is Balut Volcano. Actually I was asking local residents why they called it Balut since they don't have balot literally there. So one of them told me, that the entire island is covered with (grass or something), that's why they call it the way they do. It is a fumarolic volcano with no historical eruption. there's a lot of hot spring in the area but we've no enough time to discover more since our stay is quite limited. 

This island is separated by the saranggani straight. Balut, saranggani and olavinan island make up the island group known as Saranggani Islands. The group comprises the Municipality of Saranggani of Davao Occidental. Mabila in Balut Island is the town's center of commerce and local government. Residents primary source of livelihood is fishing and coconut crafts. 

We met the Mayor of Municipality of Saranggani (oops, you might thinking saranggani province of of our boxing icon... well it far different) Hon Mayor Cawa, she's the wife of former Mayor Jerry Cawa. They are hospitable, kind and brave as they tell us stories and experiences os chiefs. The crime rate is low... but election related violence is high

Though this place is one of the poorest municipalities of the country perhaps due to its geographical location, the place is substantially equip with the basic services, hospital, learning institutions. they have covered court and the likes, but lack of bank/atm services. there are inns to stay, resorts...  really kept me admiring how these people handle their constituents amid limited access and capability.

  

Accordingly, there are talks between US and national government on the establishment of US military bases in the topmost area of the island. In fact US have already had an ocular inspection in the site... this is just a story of Mayor Cawa and has no proof to support the claim... but its quite interesting to note.

This what we got...

Boating courtesy of CG Station Saranggani.

Rubber Boat Operations for shallow water soundings and later island hopping...

devour the pristine clear turquoise blue water 

Discovering magnificence of Saranggani Island  

 thought cast ako ng dyesebel... wahaha (fan of dos lang)

 rock formations 

 the beach resort owned by Mayor Casa  

 a fortunate kid who doesn't need to travel and spend more just to see this wonders   

visit to CG Station and went to boarding crossing station of Indonesia

There's a lot of things this island has to offer. if you are outdoor enthusiast, you can do mountain climbing, if you want relaxation, there's hot spring, you can do swimming... 

 Its nice to see this place and hope you see this too.