San Remigio, the unseen paradise

one of the unseen beauty in Samal Island

Far from the noise and commercial resorts lies the secret garden of Samal Island. I was lost in translation that amidst the sprawling resorts that devastated Samal island, there are still few place that leave untouched.  I wish that when progress impregnated this place; development should not disturbed its tranquility.  I appeal for some readers in my blog, that if you find this place, please respect it’s beauty and sacredness for its only few left.

my island getaway

lost in a motion

 

The Hugyaw Festival

This is the second Hugyaw festival held by the Local Government Units here in Samal Island. Hugyaw, means to make some noise, to astound something, or shout….

According to our town mayor that we are one of the many cities here in the Philippines who have several festivals held in a year.  True to his word, I believe in his opening speech during the culmination night at the Samal public park which situated near the shoreline. 

Every 3 districts here in Samal Island has it’s own festival, there’s the Kabasan festival, White Nights in Kaputian, the Pangapog festival, and the Caracoles festival; not to mention the indigenous thanksgiving we held here, and several other thanksgiving celebration that we line up during summer time.

This makes us the most visited place here in the gulf.  As more and more mainland people heeding Samal Island for quick get away.  The accessibility of the ferry makes the island flock with local tourists every weekend and long holidays.

Festivals are one of the easiest way to attract local and foreign tourists also it creates opportunities among locals here to do business.   Aside from creating jovial mood among locals here in the island it is also another opportunities to meet locals for whom I haven’t seen for quite a while.

Pageant is also one of the highlights during Hugyaw Festival, its the only time when native from the island can join the contest and vie for the crown as the Mutya ng Byaneng, a yearly  contest held and good prizes awaits.

Local residence here contributes to the success of the Hugyaw Festival.

The Hugyaw festival captures the heart of its local constituents and so with other local tourists in the nearby town especially city dwellers who wants to have a change of scene. 

After the events party till the break of dawn, from show band to rock n roll band delighted the festive moods of that evening.  Place was jampacked with people ready to mingle and party.

One of the best value I get from Samal island festivities is safety.  Here we can party, bring friends and still feel safe, for almost every townfolks know’s me and I know they won’t cause any harm for any stranger whom I’d accompanied.  It’s good to feel that the streets I walk in knows my name, feels home again.

the town mayor

Meet our town Mayor if you happen to visit Samal island and wants to make sure that you are speaking with the right person, better be sure your speaking to this person.

the lady in pink is our brgy.capt. the guy his my cousin

In case you wander around Samal island and happens to be in Penaplata, which is one of the town capital of Samal district.  Just don’t be shy try to approach this lady.  A warm smile awaits you…

Going to Samal Island via Lantsa!!!

Make sure you land in this pier when you plan to take the other way in going to Samal Island. For more than 25 years this port have evolve, it use to be made of wooden planks tied together and secured by a nylon rope. The original port is handmade by lancheros from Babak, the boats where not as huge as the one we have at present, which can accommodate 200 passengers, 25 years ago boats (lantsa) are small some can accommodate only 25passengers enough to be filled within 15 minutes.

This pier are among the important landmarks in Samal island, this marks the first gateway of commerce among Samalenyos to the mainland of Mindanao.

Tricycles and motorcycles are still the primary way of transportation here in Samal Island, 25 years ago motorcycles and tricycles are only few in numbers. Nowadays, these transportation had become the main source of income in the island.

The great benefits we get nowadays is that transportation fares becomes inexpensive.

Few attractions that surprise visitors here in Samal Island. Families in the boat still exist here.

The Island Garden City of Samal

to take refuge, one must listen to the waves of the sea

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A CHE – CHE?

kissing a tarsier

The year was 2001, back then as fresh graduate I am in my 2 years stint in the island of Bohol, where I work as community organizer. The job was really fun and educational and it also involves traveling to different municipalities in the province of Bohol. As a 22 year old woman who’s life wants to travel and learn from this province where my mom was raised and become the most prolific grade one teacher in the island of Samal. So, Bohol was really a home for me, every year my mom wouldn’t miss the town fiestas here. She told me that I was brought to this world because she prayed to Sta. Monica that I will be conceived as baby girl, too lucky for her and here I am a struggling physical therapist.

Anyway, my 2 years stint in Bohol was really fun and I’ve gained more friends and learn too many Boholanos’ way of life. In 2001, this was the year were the reggae music scene was back and the music of Rage Against the Machine was all over, picture of revolutionista Che Guevarra was all over also together with Bob Marley. So, everywhere I can see young and not so old people walking around wearing these two icons. Well for me these things are okay, at least people will be reminded of what are their works and why these two icons will continue to evolve through the years.
And then one day going to work I was riding a tricycle. In the back of my mind I was wondering if some people are aware of what they are wearing. I was curious and really got a nerve to ask. I went to ask the driver, I’ve ask him this question, “who is CHE’ GUEVARRA?” the driver looks at his shirt and paused for a while. “Ahh…this one; he place his hand to his shirt. “This is BOB MARLEY’S BASS PLAYER!!” (boink!!!) I never ask for follow up questions. I was afraid to argue with him, he was driving. I nod, and said, ‘ahhh…really…’. So, I arrived in PROCESS-BOHOL, INC. my office smiling having to laugh on my own. My colleagues went to ask me why I am laughing. I’ve told them that I’ve ask this tricycle driver, “who is Che’ Guevarra?” the prints he had on his shirt and he answered me that he was the bass player of Bob Marley. Some colleagues burst into laughter others don’t bother.

I was wondering why my other development co – workers don’t bother, isn’t it that this Che’ guy put up a fight for what we call change for the oppress race. Isn’t it, his effort should be known to others who find their source of income being involve with development works?

Progress is a Mortal sin

Took me a long time to write about small details that have been happening inside Samal Island, back then it was just people talking and sharing laughter’s around the corner street of Samal Island. Writing these kinds of stuff allows me to share to anyone whosoever want to get into the daily life that traverse in a community that has its own vacuum of vagueness.

It’ll started back in the year 2000, when the city was still a new chartered city. People in
Samal was busy hauling their application hoping to get employed in the local government. When all the seat and positions were taken, one of the luckiest families was ours I’ll consider that, lots of my relatives were offered for the position, but maybe they are qualified since most of them got civil service. Anyway, I’m not going to talk about them so few to be of my interest either.

Part of the biggest gathering during Araw ng Samal was the Binibining IGACOS, wherein local town chieftains were given tasks to find a young maiden to represent their barangays (town). The lucky maiden shall be sponsored by the local officials, namely the town chieftain (Barangay Chairman), the local town councilors, and other rich patriarchs around their town. The search consists of the typical Binibining Pilipinas, wherein the ladies will have their pictorials around the most coveted tourists’ destination in the island. Ladies will also rehearse their tagline for the town they represent, series of swimsuit pictorials for the competition and so with the talent portion. These series of activities will be shown to the three districts here in the island. The most awaited part was the coronation night wherein all the big names, politicians and socialites of Davao del Norte province will be invited as judge for the search of Binibining IGACOS.

During the coronation night participants will be in their best feat for this night will be the declaration of the new Binibining IGACOS. During also this evening local people from my island will find their way to cheer for their representative, this is the only night where all the local folks will try to bring their entire neighborhood just to cheer up for their candidates. One of my most awaited part will be the question and answer portion, wherein, even me would always wanna hear them answering questions given by the judges itself. Imagined, our biggest auditorium was jampacked with people and some of them stayed outside just to hear their candidates. Or some of them just wanna be around the area to meet some friends get drunk, like me we usually stayed outside for couple of hours just hanging around meet with old friends talk and having some few beers. But most of my friends will always be interested in the question and answer portion.
So finally after 4 hours of waiting outside and getting bit of tipsy by the beers we consumed. We wrangled to the crowd in order for us to watch the candidates answering the question and answer portion.
Of the most memorable, it was the contestant number 7 (if my memory serves me well), she was really charming, sexy and able to bear her evening gown fairly well. So, a judge went to ask her about something that was related to the promotion of the island ranging from investors, tourism spots, to the common youth problem like pre marital sex, early pregnancies and drug addiction. The question was astounding; the judge explains first the premised of his question. This is how it goes; Miss Contestant number 7, you are aware that your island are now a city and with that a lot of investors would come in to invest in your island. In your opinion, “WHAT IS PROGRESS?” So, contestant number 7, never loses her poise that night, she thanks the judge, who gives her the question. After that, she paused for a while, she was smiling still….she answered….PROGRESS IS A MORTAL SIN, I THANK YOU!!!. So, the emcee escorted her back to her place and voila….the crowd went crazy the gym was packed with noise, others holding up their stomach laughing so hard. I was there standing laughing with my friends even smacking them in the shoulders. So, the coronation night comes to an end she was still part of the top 5. People slowly taking their exits and still her answer lingers among the crowd. Lots of them were smiling remembering her answer. The next day, people gather in the kanto (corner of the street) still talking about her.
8 years have past now, and I ‘ve often told that joke to most of the people I’ve encountered or mingled be it in some acquaintances or to new found friends still it made them laugh. I came to realize that her answer is as innocence as true to what happen now in Samal Island. The sprawling of leisure resorts, the fencing of shorelines that averts common people to gain access in the shorelines, the displace people who sold their land in lieu of millions, the poor implementation of indigenous rights, the uncontrolled influx of realtors that abuse the uneducated landowners. Isn’t that progress is a mortal sin for those who see it as an opportunity to greed?

The real deal in Samal Island

solitude

First, I have to inform everyone that I live here in this island, for how long well maybe more than 20 years. I’ve seen how this island evolves from being an island to tourist destination here in Mindanao. Aside, seen during a boat ride to this island sprawling of various real estate also have invaded the place. After all more people coming from different places have bought a share of land hoping this will increased their profit. The new tag line for big city social high hats now is “you’re rich if you have a piece of beach line in
Samal”, well that’s the real deal now. Hanging on to this tag line gained Samal Island to its place as tourist destination here in the South. More than that the ferry ride opens its whole new accessibility to the local tourists and enables them to visit the island anytime of the day, bringing along their whole friends and families to see what the real deal is. Before the ferry, accessibility to this place were among the major problem, aside from this the island used to have no electricity, though the local government at that time find their way to provide electricity to the major barangays. The electricity before was provided by a small dam situated in Upper Benoling, Cawag, the common name for Hagimit Falls, which is now an overly promoted tourist site by the city government. Back then I can recall that electricity was up only for 4 hours, and by that time all townsfolk’s should find their way to charge their car batteries. That was the life before electricity came to this island. Electricity was provided on mid – year of 1987 if I am not mistaken I was in my primary school age. Now, it has been more than 20 years and people are relying nowadays with the electricity provided using underwater electricity cable. Roads too had change a lot from dusty loose sedimentary rocks to solid cemented road tracks coursing along the national highways. Roads that abut the three main districts namely the Babak, Samal, and Kaputian. Looking back, this island which I have inhabited for quite sometime makes me linger on what we have lose and gain through out the years. This island now haven’t changed a bit still the old cemetery exist, the old river in Triding (as we speak) still here with more shanty houses at her side, the old pier that glimmers with the southern sunset, the old Penaplata school built before World War 2 still here, except that it is not so alluring as before, old trees been cut off, and the famous 200 meters Bermuda ground are not well trimmed anymore. The island can never be changed only the people around changed the island. Forever innocence and full of promises this island can bring to everyone who try to visit and stay maybe for a while or forever.