The Island Explorer

Let me take you to a wonderful place called Surigao del Sur. I really didn't expect much of the place when I chose it for a shoot for our Microentreprenenur of the Year Awards. I said, hey, I've never been to Tandag, and hearing those rough roads for 4 hours didn't seem to bother me much. I've experienced worse. We landed in Butuan Airport in Agusan del Norte, and eventually travelled for 4 hours as warned. But the road wasn't all rough and rocky, there were nice asphalted ones nearer to the airport. As we hit the mountains, crossing to Surigao from Agusan, it was all dirt road. When we reached Surigao del Sur, I asked the driver if we took a shortcut. He said no, and that we were on a main highway. A rough road for a main thoroughfare. I thought all of Mindanao had great roads except for some in Lanao, Maguindanao and Zambo. Anyway, reaching Tandag City was a relief and as soon as I saw the coastline, I knew I was already in for a treat. True enough, Surigao del Su

I went to Bantayan about 2 or 3 years ago, without knowing anything much on it. I went there alone after a meeting in Cebu. I stayed overnight at a simple resort that had nice cottages. It wasn't the peak season, so it seemed that I was the only visitor in the island, sans some foreigners. There were no restaurants where I went, and had to eat in roadside stalls that sold nice chicken inasal at P20 each. I think I ate 3 pieces and 2 cups of rice. Anyway, I couldn't remember much of the trip, so I'm just posting some of the pictures that I took using a point and shoot camera. Bantayan Island is 3 hours North of Cebu City. Bantayan is a popular island getaway especially for Cebuanos. They call it their Boracay (like everyone does with their nice beaches). But it does remind you of Boracay, with powder white sand and a beach that continues on (not straight though like Boracay). The beach goes around the medium sized island. There are a lot of resorts to choose from as well. Yo

After an event in Cagayan de Oro last year, our group headed straight to Camiguin. This was my second time to visit the mystical island. From Cagayan de Oro, we took a minivan from Agora Market to the port of Balingonan that is around 2 hours away. From there, ferries are available on a regular schedule to the port of Benoni which is around 20 minutes from Mambajao, the capital. Camiguin is an island province, and you can see that they rely heavily on tourism. It is packed with visitors during the Summer season, and very lean during the monsoons. However, having good weather all year round, it is also best to go there during these times to avoid the crowds. You can also take a three-hour ferry ride from the Cagayan de Oro Ferry Terminal to Guinsiliban, also in Camiguin. We hired a multicab, those small trucks that can be found in the Visayas. It cost us P1,200 per day after negotiations. It is imperative that you seek transportation in Camiguin as it is a big island and there are no ta

Cagayan de Oro is one of the most pleasant cities in the Philippines. It has great restaurants, a laid back city culture and a passion for the arts. However, CDO is more known for something totally different, its adventure spots. I always wanted to go white water rafting, and so we headed off to CDO in the month of August, supposedly a good time for white water rafting as it was the rainy season. We took an early morning flight via Cebu Pacific, and was met up by our tour operator, Red Rafters. We arrived around 7AM in CDO, and grabbed a quick breakfast before heading off to the jump off point on the river. We were given some quick lessons. I was so excited that I really didn't pay attention to the lesson. We were joined by our tour operators, since you need at least four people to make the ride stable. I gave my camera to our driver and instructed him to take some pictures as we took off. It was great that we left early, as the tour operators said that most of the tourists arrive

After Bantayan and Malapascua of Northern Cebu, I had to go South. We were supposed to go to Moalboal, but I missed my turn and headed straight to the Southern most end of Cebu, the town of Oslob where you get off to get to Sumilon Island, privately owned by the Maribago Blue Water Group. Sumilon Island is another small island that is nearer to Dumagete in Negros Oriental than Cebu City. In fact, it will only take you an hour and a half by ferry to go to Oslob from Dumagete. So this is one option to take if you do wnat to go to this island. I must admit, I was hesitant in going here because it was privately owned and a bit on the luxury side. I was scared that it won't be as peaceful as I want my beach experiences to be. Though a bit pricey when you see it in brochures (P7k a night), all of this will go away once you're there. Sumilon Blue Water Resort has a port in the mainland where two rooms can also be found. The rooms here are priced lower, at 4,000 pesos a night.

Cebu is one the country's best islands. Cebu City is the Queen of the South and if I would escape Manila, I would move to Cebu. Imagine having nice beaches 30 mins. away and great ones just hours away. Let's start with the most idyllic and touristic island that is 4 hours by bus north from Cebu City, Malapascua. The island is listed in most international travel guide books, and Lonely Planet lists it in one of the best islands in the Philippines. As a result, foreigners make up a majority of the island's visitors. From the port of Maya in the mainland, passing through Daanbantayan, we ferried ourselves to Malapascua, for about 45 minutes. Once you arrive at Bounty Beach, the main beach, you will immediately feel at home in paradise. Malapascua has white sand beaches, and several beach front resorts. Prices are quoted in both dollars and pesos. We stayed at Blue Water Resort that cost us around 1,800 a night for a cottage. The laid back island is rather small, and one could

I've been trying to find one of the best beach retreats just 3 hours or less (200 KM roughly) away from Manila, and so far, I've selected White Cove (now Canyon Cove) in Nasugbu in Batangas and Laiya in San Juan also in Batangas. Now, I think I have found the best beach retreat that is 3 hours away from home, Anawangin. I thought the road to Anawangin was longer, so I was surprised to find out that it was less than an hour away from Subic. Well, to go to Anawangin, one can opt to stay in Pundakit, a barrio in San Antonio in mainland Zambales. Adventurers choose to trek for 4 hours to the place. Since we were a very big group, and some weren't into trekking or camping, we took the former option and stayed in Canoe Beach Resort. (More on the resort and Capones Island as well in another post) From there, we took a 20 minute scenic boat ride to amazing Anawangin Cove. The beach was wide with the bald yet mystical Zambales mountains painting the background. The sand wasn't a

It's time to go to the East Coast of Malaysia to experience what they say are their best beaches. Redang and the Perhentians are the top two destination in the Northern East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. When I inquired about the islands, they told me that they were closed. Yes, the islands were closed, and they are every monsoon season, from November to February. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so I asked directly from the resorts there. Fortunately, one responded that they will be opening on Feb. 1, the day we planned to visit. From Kuala Lumpur, take an Air Asia flight to Kota Bharu or Kuala Terengganu. We flew to the former since it was 30 minutes less travel time by land to the Kuala Besut jetty, the jump off point for the Perhentians. If you wish to go to Redang, Kuala Terengganu is the place to fly into. The flight takes only 50 minutes, the land trip around 45 mins and the speed boat also 45 mins (because of the rough waters). Make the total travel time three hou

Greetings! This is the first post of a journal that hopes to share the best kept secrets of the Philippines and the world. This journal will be featuring several destinations in the Philippines, some known, some never heard of and some you heard of but don't know much about. By getting a first hand experience on all these secrets, we hope to imbibe that sense of adventure that makes life worthwhile. Welcome to The Island Explorer.