One of the best time in visiting Samal Island is summer. Months from March to July is great for diving, snorkelling and other beach activities. Yet, one must not failed to be captivated by the famous sunset facing the Majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak.

Going to Talikud island especially in Babusanta this side of the island facing Davao city is a must visit place. Just bring on some extra outdoor stuffs and water since this part of the island have a certain distance for potable water. This hindrances will not suffice your enjoyment since this part of the island is where the famous coral garden underneath lies the vast coral reefs of Samal Island.

So this hot summer try some alternative. Go to Samal island in the Philippines.

This is my home.
This is where I want to be.
Running in the beach smiling.

This is where I saw my naked soul.

http://samalislandtherealdeal.blogspot.com/

Part of the shoreline

“What is the essence of living in Samal Island?”

“Who are the people of Samal?”

It has been 6 years that I wanted to tell a story about people of Samal Island, and I barely know my own people who have been with me since childhood.  Not until I joined them in one of the struggles.   The Samal Island people unite against the shoreline eviction case filed by a foreign financier, who marries a local settler.

This is our story:

The year was 2006, the shoreline eviction case of Purok 2, aka, Triding, Penaplata, Samal.  A rich Neri patriarch who happens to marry an Australian citizen filed the eviction case.  It affects more than 20 households around the purok.

These more than 20 households are awardees of land by the local government since 1960’s, and there occupancies are visible even at present.

mangrove at the shoreline as part of their claims in eviction case

The affected people united in order to counteract the claim of eviction. These people were merely habal – habal drivers, local fish vendors, shell gatherers, anglers, and although some of them were influential people in Samal Island, but then sense of unity is required in order to topple the eviction case.

The eviction case united the whole neighborhood that all of them cooperate and putting best efforts to win the case. Even though, some of them barely earning minimum wages but still we have managed to come up with monetary fund’s to provide for private lawyer.

The case never prosper right there and then it was dismiss in Kaputian circuit court.  The first hearing was amazing all the affected people were there to witness the hearing. Local government even assisted the locals with a vehicle going to Kaputian district.

fisherfolk repairing his net

Finally, the case dismissed and at present, they awarded the lands to the legal occupants.  The Traiding people (as commonly called to the place) never give up and their sense of unity enables them to overcome their great obstacle.

I know the eviction case is one of the best examples of unity among people here in Samal island especially that it involves unlawful claims of lands. Nowadays, Samal Island is developing towards tourism development and some of these heartless business people from local to foreign investors want shoreline for their own consumption. The Samal people are being threatens of eviction especially for those settlers in the shoreline whose ignorance of the law makes them vulnerable.  Winning the eviction case through the efforts of the settlers may served a lesson for any local settlers here in Samal Island, and that we will instill to others that we are the rightful owner of our shoreline.

At present, Samal Island is the second city that implement Shelter Code,which protect shoreline settlers and other illegal settlers their inherent rights against unlawful evictions of their abode.  As tourism increase and influx of investors who are buying shoreline lots for resorts.  Political will to implement the Shelter Code is needed to provide Samalenyo settlers a protection.

The call to act and properly implement this Shelter Code is challenging since development is faster than it is projected and most relatively people in Samal Island are still settling in the shoreline due to lack of income to pay for the relocation sites.

Weekdays is over far from buzzing streets and city cars noise, Samal island always the great weekend quick getaway. One of the best to spend weekend is to play Frisbee in the white sand. The Frisbee during sunset was different feeling, the humidity of sea air that rush to the lungs creates reverberating breathe among the players. The sweat from fast pace running in the sand and throwing of the disk burns more calories that normal exercise in the … Read More

via all about samal island

Adecor a small barangay in Samal Island though much have been said about this small fishing ville. The name ADECOR is tagged along by the famous Aguinaldo Development Corporation who operates pearl farming in Samal Island for almost 30 years . BALON, as old folks call this place, the name were long forgotten only the structure were visible. ADECOR's name continues it's fame after the Floreindo family purchase the lot and made this into a premiere … Read More

via all about samal island

The famous actor who played frisbee

The young team from Samal island who’s passion for frisbee is relentless finally meet the famous actor Derek Ramsay.

Two feet steps from different soil.

They walk on the same earth.

They breathe on the same air.

There strangers on this planet, why?

On infinite spin two must collide.

In transcience life only traces remains.

On Maryeve @ March 31,2011 (11:38pm) Davao City, Philippines

The Medical Mission in Pigasaan

This blogs at first attempt is solely to give information on places to go when in Samal, but then there are great stories to tell about people inside the island. Mundane and miniscule but shape up what is the real deal in our daily life.

There are few good Samalenyos whose concerns for the island should be credited and there simple act of service are noteworthy to be praise.

unsung heroes

I first went to Pigasaan to take pictures and post it in my blogs for this place is almost forgotten or unheeded for its unfriendly terrains the place is isolated. After taking pictures and talk to some fisherfolks in the village I realized that I should do something for them. The villagers were warm and very hospitable during our visit. After we left the village my friend Jepoy Labor, founder of Samal Warriors Online Community in Facebook, agreed that we should do something in that place not just merely taking pictures and post it in the internet for local tourism promotion.

I remember talking to adolescent girl, she told me a story how her father hiked 12 kilometers in the middle of the night using only a torch made of coconut leaves just to get her to the island’s nearest emergency hospital. The road from Pigasaan via Brgy. Tagbay is a tough hiked with steepness of almost 80 degrees incline, loose coralline gravel and unfriendly trails. She was carried by her father in his back with torch in his hand and a bag on the other side, he walked in his bare feet amidst the drizzling rain and darkness. They reached the Samal District Hospital at 4 o’clock in the morning and she was saved from the life threatening illness of dengue. It stuck in my mind for a while how human courage produced during tough times. The courage of her father embodied the true spirit of Samalenyos, brave, courageous and compassionate about life.

orientation on how to take the meds

the Pigasaan people

people are all ready to listen for the orientation

flock with people the outreach was indeed a success

It took us a month to gather resources for people in Pigasaan, we contacted active Samalenyos in Samal Warrior Online Community In Facebook to share something for people in Pigasaan. The simpliest goods we produced are cash, used clothes, vitamins and over the counter drugs. The cash, we agreed that we have to buy more vitamins for children and mothers and the rest we bought dental products to make the medical mission complete.

getting ready with the goods. the crew.

With 9 active members of Samal Warriors we proceed to our mission to distribute our goods to people in Pigasaan. The mission is very successful almost all the village folks received their goods and all of them are happy and delighted. We informed them that those goodies they receive came from fellow concerned Samalenyos.

Indeed, there are real people are those who want to get things done. No flaunts from their actions but act without getting noticed. No credits and no local recognitions just a simple act of doing good things

love is wonderful feeling

Tired of getting the usual dinner date in February?

Try something new…something more funny, unforgettable and exciting date. Getting yourself a knack to get your date bounce out of their usual mundane activities. I took this two couple for their First anniversary in the unusual adventure and they get very excited. We did motorcycling from Samal to San Remigio. It is whole lot of fun and thrill as we stroll the dirt and mud trails heeding to San Remigio.

This love month of February is the most appropriate time for lovers to boost adrenaline fun in the outdoors. Samal Island can offer grand treat for lovers and families get together for February. Reliving life with people we love is the best way to be alive.

the San Remigio

Adecor, Samal Island, Philippines

Adecor a small barangay in Samal Island though much have been said about this small fishing ville. The name ADECOR is tagged along by the famous Aguinaldo Development Corporation who operates pearl farming in Samal Island for almost 30 years .

BALON, as old folks call this place, the name were long forgotten only the structure were visible.

ADECOR’s name continues it’s fame after the Floreindo family purchase the lot and made this into a premiere beach resort in the Philippines known as Pearl Farm. Samal Island is place in the map of tourists destination in the world. Now, it’s prestige continues and attracted more local and foreign tourists in the world.

ADECOR, at present are still a fishing village with fisherfolks settlers living in the shorelines and stretched of fish boat dock in the shoreline. Common liveihood at present were fishing and farming in the upland also local employment from the resorts.

Much of the shoreline fish folks I asked around during couple of visits here said that they are threatened by relocation.

@ Malipano Marine Sanctuary

What to do?

Snorkelling in Malipano are one of the activities a visitors should try. Diving in the shipwreck are also exciting for diving enthusiasts. Kayaking or boating to nearby islets within the ADECOR should not be miss. Try the SUTUKIL in the nearby eatery or buy fresh fish and ask locals to cook it.
Sunset is one of the spectacular sight to capture for avid sunset photographer.

How to get here.

By land:

Davao – ADECOR:

Bus ride from Sta. Ana Pier or boat ride in Sasa 11 pier. In Penaplata, bus station a motor vehicle ride for common back packer. For private vehicle road to Brgy. San Jose are the shortest way. Ask any folks around they are hospitable and would like to point you the right way, make sure you will not be confused when locals gives their right and left direction. Above all, enjoy the unexpected thrill when visiting new places.