The Art Side of the Island

Samal Art: undiscovered potential

The Samal Art has not been defined yet by the original settlers in this island, yet there are several influences that inspires the true island art. As time evolves the Sama art was never showcase not until there was a festival named PANGAPOG that indigenous people have showcase their arts and culture.

Few minutes ride from Samal District going to Kaputian is a surprise for artists at heart who loves to discover a place where art is enliven. It is inspiring to visit a place where arts are part of the attraction.

resident artists at work

The ingenuity of the artisan hands by using indigenous crafts that are commonly found in Samal Island is one of the most astonishing feat in the gallery.

The sculptures that made of driftwood are truly a touch of Samal art, for there uniqueness and expressive emotions that an artists convey in it’s masterpiece.

a driftwood sculpt

the driftwood sculpts in Samal island art legacy gallery

one man stand

stone carving

in utero

The wide range of Samal Island resources provided an artists wild imaginations and infinite creativity that captures the essence of arts.

dedication to art

lifting up(a driftwood sculpt)

the other side

The overall experience when visiting Samal island may not merely consists of beach hopping, resorts touring, scuba diving, and aqua adventure, but also to visit other unique venue that this island have to offer.

bamboo art

For more information how to get here, please contact me thru this: feritznang@yahoo.com, feritznang@gmail.com, and
cell.No. +639392386905 (smart), +639227340192 (sun)

Thus, everyone should visit Samal Art Legacy in Kaputian district for it offers unique experience and superb pasalubong/ souvenirs from Samal island.

good token from Samal island

the stairs

Welcome to the Art side of the Island.

the door to the art side of the island

Hot weekend is Coming

go out and play

The rain stop, the time to get out of our four corner office walls and be with outdoors. After, searching for the perfect spots for skimboarding here in Samal Island finally we landed to Pigasaan.

We realized together with my friend that this place calls for grueling adventure plus the challenging trails.
Immediately the site of the children playing with their improvised chipped plywood as skim board amazed us.
Now that we have a long stretched of sand to dozed around maybe a weekend skim boarding here is an exciting treat.

For more information how to get here, please contact me thru this: feritznang@yahoo.com, feritznang@gmail.com, and
cell.No. +639392386905 (smart), +639227340192 (sun)

Forgotten or unheeded?|Samal Island

Y ou can fall in love at first sight with a place as with a person. ~Alec Waugh
Far from the common knowledge of local and foreign tourists who visited Samal Island is that it possess best trails for hiking especially if someone wants a short but challenging terrain, plus to have an opportunities to see isolated shoreline in the island.

one of the unheeded place in Samal island

mobile photo shots going down to Pigasaan

Pigasaan, an unheeded place in Samal island is belong to Brgy. Tagbay. My fellow nature enthusiast Jeff Labor accompanied me with this trip. A motor ride from Tagbay for 30 minutes covers the trip, the rest is a challenging hike going down to the natural port of Pigasaan, a hike cover us almost 2 hours going downhill since we are not so familiar with the terrain. It was the peculiarity of the place that brings great sigh for trail hikers, far from the challenging terrain, it is noteworthy to see thriving species while hiking.

one of the unheeded place in Samal island

trail going down to Pigasaan

to get down

natural port in Pigasaan, Samal island

the guard house

chipped parts

hedonic reward

other parts of the ports

cavities

the village people

mobile photo shots going down to Pigasaan

chip plywood use as skimboard by the children

skimming the island way

the village people in Pigasaan

children of the sea

while other children play computers, they play with the sea.

house in the fishville

the rest house

shanty house in the hill

farmer’s house

the price of island development

After grueling hike for 2 hours this is the prize.

natural port in Pigasaan, Samal island

the guard house

chipped parts

hedonic reward

cavities

The village people around here are friendly and hospitable they entertained us and share their stories and experiences in this place.  The people gather around to get to know us.  The day was Sunday when we arrived and most people were having affair with the sea.

chip plywood use as skimboard by the children

skimming the island way

the village people in Pigasaan

children of the sea

while other children play computers, they play with the sea.

Children in this place are contented with their play in the nature some of them improvise what is available around them.  Their activities consists mainly of outdoor play, since this place don’t have electricity they mainly rely on kerosene as source of light at night.

This is the common houses in the place.

house in the fishville

the rest house

Along the hike one will clearly observe the poverty around the rural places not just here but also some parts of the country.  The poorest people are living among the nature.  I admired their resiliency in life, how they thrive against the harsh roads, lack of water source, and far from the basic social services provided by the local government.
Although this place provides potential site for tourism and hiking trails for tourists,  but it is better to uplift first the lives of the people around the village.

The local government should consider first their constituents and not merely biased on the profits of private investors but instead provide a people centered development.

shanty house in the hill

farmer's house

the price of island development

For more information how to get here, please contact me thru this: feritznang@yahoo.com, feritznang@gmail.com, and
cell.No. +639392386905 (smart), +639227340192 (sun)

Aside from beaches (must see places)| Samal Island

Beaches and resorts are common when we thought about Samal Island; in fact, every weekend Samal Island’s beaches are jammed packed with local tourists and foreigners and the high turn out of passengers both from motorboat operators to ferry station.

a place better to stay

Samal Island’s also have several fishing villages; here visitors can grasps the essence of island life, from people’s daily life to community activities, to the common trivial in the village.

mangroves habitat

mangrove frame

Community – based tourism are among the best way to share profits to the local community. Developing a community – based tourism enables community participation and cooperation. Although, Samal Island have several community – based identified sites but only few visitors have tried this local campaigns.

a place better to stay

mangroves habitat

mangrove frame

Personally, I have several encounters with community – based tourism beforehand in Bohol as development worker and I have observed that this campaign really helps the community. In addition, it provides the communities with additional income, allows them to value the existing marine habitat, and promotes better implementation with the coastal resource management in the island.

With the increasing number of visitors, here in the island it is also necessary to promote tourism in the community level.

For more information how to get here, please contact me thru this: feritznang@yahoo.com, feritznang@gmail.com, and
cell.No. +639392386905 (smart), +639227340192 (sun)

a place better to stay

mangroves habitat

mangrove frame

All about Samal Island’s must visit places |Samal island

Weekend nowadays are spend with quick nature trip away from the city life. No wonder every weekend the ferry rides in Samal Island are jammed up that every local commuters can observed the traffic along the Sasa highway. Moreover, getting to Samal Island via ferry caused so much stress.

On the other hand, most local tourists who came to visit Samal Island are people who want to get on the beach and enjoy the sea. Albeit, going to beach is not the activities that local tourists can do in Samal Island.

Like for example, hiking along foot trails here in the island is one of a better activity when in Samal. Walking along Samal island one should keep nature minded and observed how many species still thrive here.

tandawan

There are few must visit places here if you enjoy walking, if one intends to go towards Canibad for hiking. The walk here is great have try it once we cover almost 3 hours for 19-20 kilometers (approximate estimation only) the hike is uphill with loose sedimentary rocks. Wearing proper shoes is necessary. Do not fail to stop at the Pandawan viewing deck, this place provides better stop for sight seeing the gulf view.

the puting bato as seen in Catagman

A walk in Kaputian public beach shoreline is another option for someone who prefers to walk. These areas have a long white sand stretch a nice place to walk quietly and commune with nature. Prior to Kaputian district, hikers, cyclists, commuters will be amazed when reaching the barangay Del Monte since there are portion along the road that provides magnificent gulf view. A pause in this area creates a delightful experience.

Gulf view as seen in Del monte side

Hikers, cyclists, and motorists can also visit barangay Limao especially in the Moncado white house wherein the splendid site of the gulf provided.

as seen at Moncado House in Limao

windows with gulf view inside the Moncado house

For more information how to get here, please contact me thru this: feritznang@yahoo.com, feritznang@gmail.com, and

cell.No. +639392386905 (smart), +639227340192 (sun)

Fireworks in Samal island|samal island

fireworks in Samal island

Indeed, fireworks was amazing in Samal Island, unlucky me my dslr was run out of batteries, but seeing it for free outside the Camp Holiday was a great!!
Well my childhood friend Jepoi Labor was with me at that time. What we did was we ask for the caretakers to barge in to their sea wall so we can have a clear view. It was truly a memorable experience for a new year start. We were shouting thank you lord for the wonderful fireworks in the sea and aside from the advantage of seeing near by towns having their other fireworks. I truly appreciate the cool breeze in the shoreline with all the magnificent fireworks right in front of us while sitting in the seawall.

It was the first shout of the year, and the first shout was “I love Samal Island!!” and ” I love you my GOD!!”. Their was a feeling of great exhilaration to stay in the shoreline and watch the amazing fireworks all around us.

Season Holidays in Samal Island|Samal Island

a quick glance in Babak district @ midnight

Babak after dark

The holiday season’s celebration creates more activities in Samal Island, in fact, as I observed during second week of December most of the people from Davao City were celebrating their Christmas party in the beach of Samal. The ferry rides were jammed with all types of vehicle heading towards the Samal Island. The local commuters coming from Davao del Norte or heading towards north undoubtedly felt traffic in the Sasa ferry station. As everyone observed that most of these private vehicles are going to Samal Island for Christmas party and holiday treats with their families, co – workers and friends.

a walk in the Lighted street of Babak/Samal island

Upon entering the Babak District every local and foreign tourist are greeted with vibrant lights in Barangay Villarica, these city lights has been practiced for quite a while, providing holiday ambient in Samal Island.

For the past 3 years, more and more local and foreign visitors spending their Christmas holidays here in Samal Island this must have been the results of the accessibility and close proximity to the city. (I observed this just recently, since every holiday I spent my time here in Samal Island.)

Firecrackers are not banned in Samal Island, thus, most firecracker vendors are hauled their goods here and the city government provides them a place to sell their goods. In Babak District, these vendors are situated in Babak pier and in Samal they are public parks. However, there were no reports of worst victims of firecrackers during holidays.

firecracker vendors

Therefore, most Samalenyos celebrate their holidays traditionally wherein common family reunions and school reunions are celebrate in beaches.

newly constructed boulevard in Babak District

The newly constructed boulevard in Babak district, another place for people to relax.

Finally, in my own observation this island provides jovial mood for holiday seasons whether from local or foreign visitors who wants a quick easy weekend holidays, and that this island situated in the heart of Davao Gulf is one of the most visited island.

On the contrary, even if I observed the hauling of private vehicles on and off in Samal Island that leave an impression for local visitors that this island creates good opportunities for business. Well, this is just an impression or façade for there were still plenty of jobless people around. I do not know if tourism provides job security for Samalenyo’s for some of these resorts owners are not giving fair wages to local folks they employed.

Awakening to nature|Samal Island

silence

Ti’s might be the season of noise and laughter, but isn’t it also a time to take a break and ponder of the past year that we have had. The how, why’s, what’s and the would’ve, could’ve we have in the past year.

What ever this New Year might bring us, still nature has its own way of bringing us back to ourself, and that to be truly aware of what we want we have to be awake.

Twilight weekend in Samal Island

after a day work

boats @ shoreline stretch

Weekend the lazy side of the days in a week it’s a time to stay long in bed, getting cozy with our love one, playing with our children, taking the dog for a walk, take time to feed and watch our other pets at home, sit down and eat in the garden and nurture our spiritual side. There are too many ways to spend our weekend.

lazy walk in the sand

justkeep walkin

A twilight weekend in Samal Island consist of life intertwined with the sea. A walk in the shoreline provides solitude and getting in touch with the individual spirits. The scenery of the island and the daily life activities that evolves around the coastal areas reflects the simplicity of life.

everyday life

life in mono....life in stillness

nature is my home

A walk in the sand brings back the nurturing side of nature and its healing capacity, it relax and soothes the feet and body. To sit around and observe everything awakens the untouched spirits of an individual.

puting bato in afternoon

days with the sea

In the twilight weekend here in Samal Island consists of people coming home after several hours in the sea. Other fisherfolks were busy keeping their catch fish off to market for their daily needs. Some, getting ready to ashore for the night fishing there are no weekends here without fishermen off the shoreline, except for some bad weather.

Sometimes weekend here in Samal Island you can catch a glimpse of children playing in the shoreline with kites, and some women and children gather shells for food during low tide.

At weekend also, if high tide sets in sunset, most fisherfolks will go fishing using paddle boat (banca).

With the commercialization of shoreline here in Samal Island there are few remaining shoreline to walk around. Most of the remaining shoreline is already privately own but not yet develop.

Twilight in the White House|Samal Island

The Moncado House Entrance

The White House as named by local folks in Samal Island. This house years ago is one of the vestigial point when looking through Samal Island. When i was young my friends in Davao City usually ask me, ” have you gone to that White House that we often see in Samal island?” I answered them, ” yeah, I’ve been there twice but it’s too far from my house.

Took me 15 years to visit again the White House (Balay Ni Moncado), I was amazed how time passed that the house wasn’t restore. Although, I truly admire now it’s heritage that it brought through the island.

idyllic to its age

facing the gulf

Moncadian or Moncadista as we commonly call the members, for they are raw vegan eaters. They practice strict fasting either from dry to liquid fast thats truly unique in their way of living. Inside their houses you will observe that they don’t have stoves. They eat their foods in raw. Their teaching is based in Man’s Moral concepts teach by Gen.Hilario Moncado.

the pioneers of Moncado colony

Gen.MOncado

Fascinating pioneers

old pioneers

left but not useless

Taking an inside tour in the Moncado hall brings back the old history of the people in Samal Island. I believe that there existence in that time was more significant for they have acquired certain advancements and influence in the island. Their pioneers have provided them lands, agricultural practice and even way of living that are truly a raw vegan eating habits. Such practice way back in Samal island was consider strange and often scrutinized by the common folks around.

gulf view inside the house

to the second floor

The White House ( Balay ni Moncado) is a two storey house with an attic. The second floor which house the General’s room provides splendid view of the Davao Gulf, which fascinates me a lot personally. I could’ve imagine how magnificent the gulf was way back 80 years ago.

gulf view in frame

The second floor has a veranda that provides magnificent view of Davao gulf. Both sunrise and sunset are astonishing features here in this side of the island.

veranda outside

the general's bathroom

other room

The White House way back time was such a grandeur as one old folks said that it was a stunning features in Samal island that people from the city will literally be intrigue by its features.

facing the Davao gulf

haunting yet splendid

splendid shot

Nowadays, this place are slowly dilapidated left in time, thus,some parts of the house are slowly rots and eaten by termites.
One of the problem here in Samal Island is that nobody tries to preserve the old heritage of Samalenyos pioneers. They said history defines the place yet here slowly the important landmarks are left behind. Like for example the Kimura house was destroy and replace it with the resorts for commercial use.

I am appealing for everyone that there are few left to be restore in Samal island lets not forget the importance of the past. Yet let us pondered how we developed this island through time. As part of this island I am appealing to preserve our few remaining historical sites. Let this White House be preserve and roll up our sleeve to help restore old heritage in Samal.

We are prying on tourism, yet we neglect the fact that this old White House ( Balay ni MOncado) can attract more tourists.

For more information how to get here, please contact me thru this: feritznang@yahoo.com, feritznang@gmail.com, and
cell.No. +639392386905 (smart), +639227340192 (sun)