ISLA SIARGAO - PART II

On the third day...

So I have already survived the first two days. The arrival and first day of island tour!

The second tour package I’ve availed was the land tour which includes Sugba Lagoon and Magpupungko Rock Pools. And luckily, we managed to convince the guides to include visiting the bent tree as well! You can try convincing your tour guides too!

At 7:00am, I was picked up by the van, it was an hour ride to Del Carmen. You have to get a heavy breakfast as bringing food to the lagoon is strictly prohibited unless you’re going to let the staff from the lagoon cook you a sumptuous seafood meal. Yum!

I can recommend another option which my new friends, Dudz and Dee took. This is going to be another itinerary for the day though. Only if I had the courage to drive alone using that automatic motorcycle, I could have been with them. But I already scheduled mine with kuya Bebot. But I sure will tell you about it later. ;)

Before riding the boat, there’s a mandatory picture taking with your boatmates at the pier near the tourism office and you’ll have to claim it at Php50.00 after the lagoon tour. You can even have a view of the place with 4, 000 ha. of contiguous mangrove in Del Carmen alone and approximately 8, 600 ha. of mangrove in Siargao! And out of 54 mangrove species worldwide, 44 can be found in Del Carmen, Surigao! I am not kidding.

So during the boat ride to Sugba Lagoon, enjoy the Bahamas feels this place gives you.

Well, for the tour I have availed, it also included either kayaking or paddling (Php100.00 each) and the table (Php100.00) excluding the snorkeling gear though for Php200.00 (unlimited use).

And so by 8:00 am, we went to Sugba lagoon which gave us another two-hour ride and stayed there until 11:40am. There’s not much fish in the lagoon but you can sure jump at the famous platform, make sure to take a picture first, if you have a gopro cam, take it with you on your jump!

It’ a good thing as well is if you have time for the sunset here, go to the mangrove wharf, make sure it’s low tide so you could take a good shot. I was not able to do this as we were based in General Luna which was at the other side of Surigao. Maybe one boat ride will cost you around Php500.00.

But anyway, I had to stick with the tour schedule so the next stop was Magpupungko rock pools.

We had lunch at one of the huts, it was still high tide at 2:00pm and the water current was strong. You must have a dry bag here as you might get slipped.

Actually, you should always bring a dry bag with you alone wherever you are in the island.

So after a short natural pool dip time, we headed to the bent tree. It was just at the roadside when you’re heading to General Luna from Del Carmen. And there’s no fees or anything at all.

I really am very envious how the kids can do three turns on the rope just by holding at a single rusting metallic handle!
And when I tried to climb up at that bending coconut tree, tried to swing, I immediately fell. Yet it was a good experience! And another new friend, Jachim, took the video of me swinging!

The tour ended at 4:30pm, so I played table tennis for a while with another guest at Villa Solaria, took the numbers and facebook page of Jach and Mark. Until 6:00pm, I prepared for another chill night until 8:00pm, went out with Jach and for almost three days without a proper sleep, I felt the  sleep coming over me. LOL.

So we went early and had a good night rest for the first time.

For Dudz and Dee's itinerary, they rented a motorycle for themselves instead. Drove to Del Carmen at 6:00am, had the Sugba Lagoon to themselves at 8:00am. They rented a boat there for 2800.00 including a tour to two remote unknown islands to tourists which Dudz told me they had the islands to themselves on that day! So DIY sometimes has its own amazing perks!

Again if you're alone, it is highly recommended to join tours and meert friends and you can do DIY on your own by then. That's a tip. 😉

On the fourth day...

It’s surfing day finally!

So I wore my rashguard, rushed to Cloud 9, had a good first breakfast at Shaka Cafe and started the Surf with Dudz and Dee along with gladys who’ll take the photos of us for Php325.00 each!

Her Sony camera has this incredible lens that could focus and zoom in even though you’re there, just enjoying your first surfing experience with a professional instructor for Php500.00 an hour.

If it is your fist time to surf, I suggest that  you prepare your muscles to get sore as you need to paddle hard to get to te waves and do the three step preparation, push up, right or left foot bend (whichever you’re comfortable with), then put your other foot in front of the bending foot, bend your body altogether to balance and ride on the waves!

If you are a first timer on this, it is highly recommended you try it at the Jacking Horse just very near the Cloud 9 where the surfing cup is being held so you kind of feel like you’re one of them!

After the surf, we headed to the beachfront cafe called the Loka Cafe. They sell beer for Php60.00 each and a very good banana cake for Php50.00 and you and sit in a place with a carpet, a big umbrella, big pillows with leather case that you can sit on comfortably.

So we had a beer together from 9:00am to 11:00am, shared stories on our jobs, had a taste of what seems to be a big tortillos chip with coconut jam made of cacao and God it was delicious!

Since it was Dudz and Dee’s 3rd anniversary, they had a dark chocolate cake (Php250.00) and pizza (Php215.00) from Aventino’s, just in front, left side from Villa Solaria.

Then I rented an automatic motorcycle for Php500.00 since it was just for a day (Php350.00/day if you’re borrowing it for a minimum of two days).

We headed to the coconut tree view on the top of the road and to Tayangban cave pool which was a total of one hour ride. The trail to the Tayangban cave pool was an hour only. So we were done by 3:00pm, did not have much time to go to the Pacifico (Pacific Ocean) sadly as it will be another 2 hour ride back and forth and they had their own schedule ealy dinner as well and I don’t want to ruin that.

One good thing though, we were able to visit the Malinao beach,  plainly a white sand beach. Took some photos then I headed to Kermit Surft Reosrt while they headed to Harana Beach Resort. The best time is to wait for their afternoon pizza time (5:00-9:00pm) or happy hour (4:00-6:00pm), so since I was there at 4:00 pm, saw @maramatokong in the Gwapitos area just jokig around, I sat on my chosen spot, waited for an hour as I was able to choose my pizza carefully.

 Tuazon pizza famous for its truffles ingredient was my choice for Pp550.00. They also serve beer and cold and hot coffee for a reasonable amount.

Then it’s time for souvenirs! It will be the last night so it has to be the best.

The party’s scheduled at Rumbar. Since I stayed at Kermit until 6:00pm, bought souvenirs and prepared for the night, at 8:00pm, I went to Rumbar.

 A very good thing here is that, people born with different races are here to party, dance all the way up, drink to their limit and take a bath at any of the beaches. The beach at Kitya’s was open during the night. You can enjoy the night beneath the twilight there for free. It’s near the cemetery but it’s not a delicate place you can just leave your bags and even take a bath at that beach naked. You can own it and have it to all yourselves through the night! It's just very low tide. So it will take a hundred or two hundred meters before you can reach the actual level of water at normal sea level.

Here are the party schedules. I was not able to take the other schedules for one whole week though.

Party Schedule:
Friday – Jungle Disco and Octopus
Saturday – Harana and Rumbar
Sunday – Kitya’s and Bravo
Monday – Rumbar
Tuesday – Harana

The Primitivo bar holds an artists night every night as told by Louie who came all the way from Boracay (since it was closed) and continued to live the island life. That maybe the reason why they play a good music, they have so much time to chill out and hone their talents here.
For the last day, since my flight was 12nn, I had to check out at 10:30am at least. So I woke up at 5:00 am where there’s moon and sun at the same time. Drove to Cloud 9 and Shaka Cafe. Headed straight to the top of the road and at 8:00am, after I had my last breakfast at Shaka cafe, I prepared my bags and ready for living.

I already missed the place the first minute I passed General Luna. I sure will come back, Siargao.

Thank you for taking the time to read everyone!

Please do visit my IG: @chasingmeagan
FB: @Meagan Mangoma.

Thank you! Til next time!

ISLA SIARGAO

BUHAY ISLA SA LOOOB NG LIMANG ARAW (ISLAND LIFE IN FIVE DAYS)

DAY 1 AND 2

I have finished my blog about all the other places I’ve been in order to write this piece for my 22nd birthday. It is such an overwhelming experience to be able to travel independently. I always keep in mind that I have to forget about all the stress the city life gives me before I go to Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

There’s a lot of places, beaches, islands, resorts, activities to discover, but I chose this place. I am not a good swimmer, but I managed to do cliff jumps and snorkeling without a life vest.

There’s just a lot of people and tourists who watch you conquer your fears. This place, I suppose, is a combination of all the other places in the Philippines. Palawan (Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido), Cebu, La Union or Baler for the surfing experience. Though Siargao has the most impressive waves and this is where I was able to witness the 24th national surfing cup personally!

On September 28, and every time of this year until the first week of October, they hold the international surfing competition and we have our own representatives here in PH as well. It is the time of the year that they hold the competition as it’s the perfect time for high tides and big waves.

There are locals from Siargao who had been practicing the whole time as they can have the island to themselves when it’s not time yet for the surfing cup. This is an advantage for them. Though the winner was from San Diego, CA, @maramatokong from Kermit Surf Resort (a friend of the ‘gwapitos’) landed second place, I’m still proud I was able to witness it with my own eyes.

At the opening of the 24th surfing competition.

On the first day...
All the surfers were just walkig to the cloud 9 beach with their bare feet, shorts, sexy body, and surfing boards. Only Skyjet and Philippine Airlines offer a direct flight to Siargao though and it might get a bit expensive if you book it like a month or week before your flight. Some of those people that I was able to be with in the island hopping activities booked their airfare for only Php2, 400.00 to Php3, 000 roundtrip with PAL from Clarke Pampanga, as they were on sale and it was their first time to do the direct flight. Since I was not able to catch that promo, I booked with Cebu Pacific around two months before the flight which had cost me Php6,958.00 in total for my round trip. There’s a transit in Cebu. So from Manila, NAIA terminal 3, I boarded to Mactan Cebu airport at 5:30am then waited at the Cebu airport for 3 hours before my flight to Siargao.

Photo taken by: @grybxx (insta)

Good thing you can sit down at one of the cafes at the aiport and review your itinerary. So far, I was following a tight budget. Php12, 000 was my pocket money. There's no atm machine in the island! If there is, it's going to be far for sure. So make sure you withdraw enough cash once you're at the airport.

At exactly 12:00 PM, I was at the Sayak airport already. There’s going to be vans lined up and everyone knows where Villa Solaria is or wherever you booked your stay with. It will be Php300.00 per way. It was a one hour ride to the place. You’ll be able to pass by General Luna where everything that I’ve researched for in the internet came to reality!

The Shaka Cafe, Kermit Surf Resort, Bravo Beach Resort, Kokai Resort, Viento Del Mar, Bleu Resort, Barrel, Souvenir shops and tattoo bars, Primitivo, White Banana Beach and Harana (which are just beside Villa Solaria) were all happening on the first day! There’s not a part of the road where you cannot see coconut trees! It is true the coconut trees were lined up as if someone really planted them with their own hands. I was too overwhelmed with where I was. Everyone will be.

It is also inevitable that when you plan out of town trips, there will be friends who won’t be able to make it therefore leaving just a few in the actual travel experience. But I had to go, I had my leaves fixed, my mood set, and my eyes ready to witness whatever there is to see in this place everyone had been talking about.

When I talk about going to this place, everyone would be in awe and would envy me. Because it’s every city person’s dream (wink).

Of course, it was the opening of the competition, so I went to Cloud 9 beach. It was just a 10-minute walk from Villa Solaria. Entrance was free due to the event. Beside the famous Cloud 9 was the Jacking horse, most common beach for beginner surfers. Rate is Php500.00 with instructor. Php200.00 if you’re just renting the surf board for an hour and Php400.00-500.00 for the whole day.

After that, I looked for whatever’s looking for at night, a place to chill. There’s the famous Shaka Cafe near the Cloud 9 but it only serves breakfast meals from 7am-5pm so I went for a mexican cuisine near Cloud 9 then headed to Harana (just passed by) as the party during Friday nights are at Octopus and Jungle disco according to the locals. Then I found White Banana Beach Club, it was serenity and peace that I found there, the beach is right in front of you and there were couches everywhere. Beach couches I mean. so I settled down and listened to the live music. I love local artists in the islands, they’re incredibly great!

On the Second day...
KUYA BEBOT’S ISLAND AND LAND TOURS

So I was lucky, upon going out on my first day, there’s this one woman who approached me after settling down in a small room if I had booked for my tours already which I was exactly looking for. It was Php 1700.00 for the first set of tour for my birthday, three island tour (Naked island, Daku Island, and Guyam Island with Sohoton Cove – a cave hike adventure with underwater cave swimming experience and cliff diving) and Php1,600.00 for the second set, the day after my birthday, at Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen with Magpupungko Rock Pools.

So I said yes instantly as it was within my budget expectations.

First stop was in Sohoton cove, it was a 2-3 hour boat ride. Here, I proved that if there’s an airplane jet lag, there’s a boat jet lag. For real!

I'm smiling but jet lag is real!

First activity was going to the cave underwater. It’s just a 6 minute boat ride from Sohoton stop, where you have to wear an engineer’s cap (LOL) for the stalactites and stalagmites. First was we had to swim undewater for 15-20 seconds with a guide holding your neck down and dragging you to swim underwater in order to enter the cave.

The first time for me was unforgettable, I almost was not able to breathe but thank God I made it! So make sure that you breathe slowly and properly before asking the guide to drag you down the waters. It’s too delicate to just go under without breathing properly you might get drowned. It's a 15-20 second underwater pass for God's sake.

Second was climbing up a cave to the diving platform. It was my first time to jump in a platform, it’s the only way out, so you have to jump!

Third was riding in a very small boat, good for only two persons, so it’s just me and the bangkero whose name’s Raul. He willingy took photos of me, gave me one of his pastries as I told him I was hungry and it’s my birthday (LOL) and that he even thought it was my eighteenth birthday! Haha.

We headed to the jelly fish area. There’s not much to see here, I was more impressed actually with the very blue water that even a white jelly fish can be seen! And there’s the brown jelly fish while we were paddling, I enjoyed my unsolicited photoshoot with kuya Raul.

I gave a tip, it’s what he deserves and my genuine smile of course. He said I was his fourth boat passenger of the day and that he loves all of his customers. Wow!

After that small boat trip, the most awaited part, the buffet meal! It was exactly 12:00 NN when we finished the activities. I ate all the seafoods available, because, I won’t be able to eat them everyday in Manila.

The Naked Island

After lunch time, we already headed to the three famous islands. It took us around 2 hours from Sohoton Cove to the Naked Island. Literally, this island is bare. And it’s so hot it strikes your skin inside. Please make sure you have a sunblock lotion at least with SPF 50-150. It will help with the burning of the direct heat of the sun.

The three islands were just a few minutes boat ride apart. So the next was Daku (meaning big) Island. The biggest of the three. Beside it was a private resort but they let us enter at the the area and you can ask the boat men to order you a fresh buko juice for only Php40.00.

The last island was the Guyam Island. It’s where I witnessed the most beautiful sunset ever in my life.

It was 6:00pm when the tour ended. Then I immediately took a bath as I had to prepare for my birthday night. I decided to go to Bravo Beach Resort at 8:00pm and ordered the most delicious Creme Brulee with Mango. I jammed with the local artists with my song Down the Road. Everyone welcomed every artist and I was so happy with the crowd at that night. This is the first birthday gig I had and it was so pleasant! One of the artists invited me to jam for the second time singing Love Story of Taylor Swift. Of course!

The signal for internet is slow, so since I had to do a ‘mass thank you’ in social media as almost everyone who knew me greeted me on my very special day, I had to thank them. You’ll get to know  lot of people and you’ll know who really cares.

After the dinner and jam, I watched the moonlight at the beach, it was a calm night, full moon, and breezy. I walked at the beach with a new friend Louie and he told me about the party schedules. The party at that night was at Harana, just beside my place so we went there, all vehicles and motorcycles were there, a lot of people partying. So we opted for a more quiet place, the beach front and drank beer together talking about tattoos and music and life.

I believe you’ll get to realize how simple life can be and how being happy can be as simple in an island full of beautiful and kind people.

The night ended solemnly with Glynn, who said “hi” to every beautiful girl,  Louie, who accompanied me in my song, gave me party schedules and experience island vibe at night, and his brother who played the guitar for me at the jam as well.

It was a very long day that I had, and I’m in love with this kind of celebration.

Thank you for taking the time! Did you enjoy it? Then visit the island as well!

If you must need contact information, get ate Gladys’ number at 09493098866. She will immediately contact kuya Bebot and include you in the amazing tours!

See my third to fifth day on my other article:

Siargao – Sugba Lagoon, Magpupungko, Bend Tree, White  Banan Beach club Experience.

IG: @chasingmeagan
FB: @ Meagan Mangoma

One Ilocos Norte

Ilocos and Its Forever Crowning Glory – Local Tourist Destinations

The Saud Beach in the afternoon

This is probably one of the hardest features on my blog that I’ll be writing because it’s in my own hometown. It actually deserves an advertisement, for free, from me and from any other Ilokano (local person from Ilocos region in the Philippines) writers, I believe.

It’s not going to be hard, it’s going to be challenging because it’s where I came from and that I should establish a very good impression to everyone who’ll read this. I won’t try as hard though, I’ll make the photos as a proof instead (wink).

Burgos Lighthouse

Many of you might have heard about Ilocos a hundred times from your peers or read around twenty blogs about how refreshing it is to be in a place that is home to beaches and Spanish historical places with of course, the famous Ferdinand Marcos who lead the Philippines for two decades.

 I’ll focus instead at the place I’ve been constantly visiting with my family since I was six or seven years old – Saud, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Of course, I won’t bore you with a single place, other than Pagudpud’s Saud Beach, there’s a lot of treasures you could see for yourself on your way to the island life.
The Hidden Treasure and The Mini Batanes of the North (both located in Caunayan, Pagudpud).

There are also places like Paoay (famous for the Paoay Sand Dunes and Paoay Church), The Rock sand that formed like a boat (Kapurpurawan Beach), The Wishing Tree, where you can drop any amount of money at its fortress, Burgos Light House, Bangui Wind Mills, Patapat Bridge (a very long bridge), an abandoned mansion lying above the sea and at the end of the bridge, and Paraiso ni Anton (a very fresh water coming from the mountains).

Instead of the usual beach outing, we went to the Patapat Viaduct, the Vista Grande Resort where naturally fresh and cold water run. There’s vey big rocks all around the place that if you don’t old to them, you’ll be swept by the strong flow of the water.

It was quite an adventure that I had here. And it was home at the same time. I was with my family and cousins. This was a two day trip over the weekend and I was able to do these things:

Day 1
At 10:00am, we took the road to Saud. You can stop over at the town of Pasuquin where the famous ‘biscocho’ (a type of bread) is located. This is the only store that sells freshly baked ‘biscochos’.

Just before the Burgos Light House, we stopped over at the famous ‘Balete Tree’ in town which people believed as a wishing tree. Then we were on the way up to the light house. It was all our first time to go there. Entrance fee is only Php20.00 and someone will offer you a photo op where they are good at doing panoramas! At the front of the house, it looked like you were standing in a big ship. And beside the light house (originally called Cape Bojeador) was already the open view of the sea. It perhaps served as a place for people of Burgos to see any activities or people coming to and from the light house.

Afterwhich, we headed to the sanctuary. Plainly, this is a place of sharp rocks and clear waters. We held a short picnic session and headed directly to Bangui. At the top of the hill, there’s a place where tourists could buy delicacies and have a view of the many windmills surrounding Bangui and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. This is for free! It’s picture perfect!

And then we were for Saud already. You might want to shop first at their main town before heading to the beach place to save a little time and money.

It was nostalgia, seeing the place together with my parents again after 14 years maybe. I remember that big shell which was a sign that we were already near the place. Tarpaulins all around directing you to the beach.

We finally arrived at our relatives’ place, it was my uncle’s widow and her daughter with her cute grandson in the house. It was already 3:00pm, usually it will just take you two hours to go there if without stop overs.

When you ride a public transportation by the way, from the city of Laoag where the airport is near as well (30-45 mins ride), you can ride at the Pagudpud terminal or GMW bus liner. Just tell the driver to drop you off at the town of Pagudpud.

Then there’ll be a line of tricycle ready to take you to your destination. There are a lot of hotels at the beach and they are cheap, you won’t regret coming here. You may want to check or book online if you’e planning ahead (which I suggest for you to know where the most tranquil or convenient place is).

There was no rest, though it was cloudy, we headed to the main beach. They offer water activities in some resorts like trying water sailing with a professional teacher. I was just too afraid to be taken by the big waves, so I di not try. LOL.

It was the best time of the day to visit the little Batanes of the North. It was a one hour tricycle drive for Php200.00-Php300.00 back and forth. Haggle, haggle, haggle!
At night, you may want to camp instead of staying at your home for Php150.00-Php200.00. There’s a place for you to grill and do hotdog party except for doing a bonfire. This is a white-sand beach, okay.

Day 2
In the morning, catch the sunrise at the beach and indulge yourself in a good breakfast. There’s a lot of fishermen who sell freshly fetched fishes at around 6:00am in the main beach.

Since we were a big group, we decided to go to the Patapat bridge all the way to Paraiso ni Anton. That trip could take you two hours each way and depending if you’re going to stay for the Vista Grande for a dip.
We were done at around 3:00pm and for the two remaining hours, the others used for a drink and beach waves. That burned me.


We were at Laoag city by 7:00pm, exactly a two hour ride this time as I needed to go back to Manila.
If you’re looking forward as well to go to Hannah’s beach resort, you will pass by the place when you’re on your way to the Patapat Viaduct.


If you want to try the Paoay Sand Dunes, it’s going to be a different route and this includes a 4X4 desert-like ride for Php2500.00 for a group of at most 5-7 people.

For Ilocano cuisines, like longganisa and empanada, they are all over the town.
In Ilocos Sur, what I could recomend is in Viga, Ilcoos Sur. They already have a food park that could satisfy all your cravings!
There’s museums and Calle Crisologo. Feel the old vibe!

Other than those mentioned above, there’s just a lot of places you can check out here in our town. Well, of course the Sinking Bell Tower is still sinking. While it’s still there, take a photo. They say it sinks about 3 inches every years. It’s a quite long journey for the tower still.

Thank you for dropping by! Check my IG @chasingmeagan. And facebook at Meagan Mangoma. Message or comment down what you think.

Mabuhay, Ilocos!