The Island Explorer

An hour away from General Luna by motorbike is Pillar town. Located near the northeastern coast of Siargao, Pillar is not known to many people. Not even our resort manager, Babu, knew what was good there. But I saw a picture in the internet about a certain beach, which had natural coral pools that formed during the low tide. Without hesitation, and with a thirst for adventure, I immediately asked Babu to take me there. Welcome to Magpopongco. This was the beach that greeted me when I arrived in Magpopongco. It is the top attraction of Pillar town, and is the venue of the International Game Fishing Tournament. President GMA already visited the place last May for the international competition. Hence, the local DOT has developed the place. I had a nice chat over bottles of beer with the tourism official there. Well, the beach is actually not the attraction. Though wide and sandy, it is what lies beyond the rocks that has left each visitor mesmerized. A concrete walkway was constructed lea...

Cloud 9 is the place that comes into mind when you speak of Siargao. This world renowned surfing spot has actually been a destination for surfers for several years. It's just recently (well, in the last 5 years) that Cloud 9 was elevated to the world stage after being featured in several magazines. It is the Philippine's premier surfing spot. Getting to Siargao is an adventure, not until recently when Cebu Pacific opened direct flights to the island from Cebu. Now, most surfers go directly to Cebu and then catch a flight to Siargao. Cliud 9 is around 4 km from the center of General Luna. You cannot really walk to Cloud 9, but you can in 30 minutes I guess. Most people rent motorbikes, or stay in the Cloud 9 area. There are several resorts there, from simple bungalows to luxurious resorts. There is a wooden boardwalk that leads to the surf. There is also a platform at the end, used by judges during competitions. The boardwalk looks rickety, but is actually sturdy, considering th...

Imagine, this island was just in front of Patrick's on the Beach. It was around 10 minutes away via boat. Though the seas were rough, I made it a point to convince Babu, the resort manager, to take me there. He first told me that I could kayak my way there, but after seeing the waves, he was generous enough to take me there (P500 roundtrip on a big boat). The island was called Guyam. Guyam reminded me of Waniban Island in Mati, though it was much more picturesque. The sand was blinding white, though a bit grainy (not Boracay sand for those who always ask me). The tide was low, so a lot of sand was exposed. The island is surrounded 50% with a sandy beach. The rest was lined with battered rocks facing the raging Pacific. The wind blew hard that day, so the palm trees were dancing. The sun was up though when I docked, so it made my stay more pleasant. There were huts in the center of the island, and no inhabitants. The huts were set-up by the resort owners of General Luna. I heard tha...

The journey started in windy Surigao City. I was in the gateway of Mindanao in Surigao del Norte for a video shoot, so as usual, I decided to stay behind for a weekend in Siargao Island. The tropical getaway facing the Pacific Ocean is of course known in the Philippines as a top surfing destination. However, Siargao ihas a lot more to offer, which I am excited to share in my next posts. This was the port in Surigao City. There are several ferries going to Siargao. Just ask any friendly tricycle driver to take you to the port. The safest ferries are the bigger ones, though there is now a flight going directly to Siargao via Cebu. This is the more popular route nowadays. I arrived in Dapa town in Siargao 2 hours after. It was a long journey on rough waters, but I slept most of the way. From Dapa, I took another trike ride (P100) to General Luna, known for its beach. I opted to stay in General Luna as opposed to Cloud 9, since I wasn't a surfer. I stayed in Patrick's by the Beach ...