Philippine Travel Notes

By outrigger boat… and that was a practical choice since I was already at Surigao City. I asked around the previous day and concluded that the best way was to hop on a boat called Bretphil at 6AM. I saw that boat … a big outrigger where there are two levels or decks. The early departure from Surigao meant an early arrival on Siargao that would afford me more time to explore the place. Nice plan but it did not happen hehe! Why? Well, when I woke up 5AM on my intended day of departure, the skies were very dark and there was a heavy downpour. Everywhere looked like it was still midnight. Gosh! Either I still wanted to sleep or was afraid to sail at such a weather condition… but that was it… no-go! Over breakfast though (still at Tavern Hotel), I did get some encouragement from the crews and the sun that played hide and seek with the clouds. The hesitation was still there since light drizzles were not totally off! There was a 1030AM schedule via a boat called Argie 2, and I could see it fr...

Seemingly nothing more of interest to do in Surigao City on a gloomy afternoon, I hired a tricycle (pakyaw basis) to tour me around the outskirts of the city with the Mabua Pebble Beach as my main objective. On first attempt at a tricycle… no deal. Flagged another, this time, the jolly driver said okay, and I was off to roam the western fringes of Surigao City! Trike driver’s first question was why I wanted to see Mabua and if I was someone from the government. I said I just wanted to see it since I heard from some people that it was one of a kind. I told him, I would also like to see other places along the way, like Sabang, Lipata and so on. He enthusiastically said “no problem! Hmm, I instantly knew I was going to enjoy the company of this old man! He said I can call him Eugene (I expected that since I could read his ID hanging inside the trike and in front of me). It says his name is Eugenio D. Dalagan. We joked and laughed about his surname for a while. He said he was proud his sur...

Nice enough tour. It probably helped that I had been in this city previously. Since I was billeted at Hotel Tavern, I started my roam with ‘the boulevard’ – but that’s been written on the previous entry, right?!. From there I walked towards the center of town with no particular place or destination in mind. I thought I would just walk around and see the city. I did! The western end of the boulevard is so busy with so many people and vehicles that to me it looked like a public market. I walked towards the left at an even busier little street perpendicular to the boulevard. Hmm, emerging from it unto Borromeo St., indeed I was in the public market area. I could see it was just a corner away. Just looked at the entirety of the market from that corner. But for some reason, it reminded me of the Dumaguete Public Market. Yep… relatively cleaner than most other public markets I’ve seen in this country. When in a city, tourists have a natural propensity towards trees and foliage. That is my li...

Virtually everyone in Surigao City is related to this boulevard directly or indirectly! It's such a big thing , they even have a Surigao City Boulevard Development Program and a Surigao City Development Authority . I'm not joking. Those are for real. As in! Involved in it are not only their local politicians but also the chambers of commerce. What is it anyway? Foremost it's a 1.8 kilometer stretch of a highway along the seafront. The concrete pavement tells me it is still new. That is it! Walang basagan ng trip! It is an emulation (kumbaga sa Tagalog pa: gaya-gaya ) of Roxas Boulevard in Manila, or pwede rin Dumaguete’s Rizal Boulevard - and many other seafront boulevards. Aside from being a “park” for the residents, it is supposed to be an attraction in the city, showcasing whatever bla-blah-blah to attract tourists from everywhere on earth. While I was inclined to raise my eyebrows, it did attract me. I was a tourist, right?! So okay, without a speck of d...

Called them up the previous night and was told the cheapest I could have was an interior room at P1400 a day with free breakfast. I thought that was a bit expensive but just the same, I firmed it. I chose this hotel due to its “central” location – relative to my intended activities. There are other even more central hotels and inns but comparing rates and reviews, Hotel Tavern was it. It is on Borromeo St. yes, but there is some driveway (parking area), thus, the tricycle noise is far. The facility has a big compound that even houses a two-level building for the hotel’s utility services and the city’s local chamber of commerce! Actually, the back of the hotel (the other front, if your point of view is the restaurant) faces what they call the boulevard. That is that newly concreted seaside road that serves as a wharf (the entire length) and becomes a promenade during late afternoons and evenings. Wi-fi is free at the lobby lounges (ground and second floor) plus at the restaurant. My roo...