Island Garden City of Samal

What to do. Where to go. How to get there.

Island Garden City: Samal

There has been quite the confusion about Samal and Davao City since the new president took seat. Just to be clear, Samal is not under Davao City. It is however, under the same region: Davao.

At around 7 am, we checked out of our inn at Davao City (12 hours stay), took a jeep to Victoria Plaza (P7). We bought water from 711, where Belle also bought her lunch and I bought mine from Chowking - sue me 😂. From Victoria, it was a long ride by jeep to Sasa (P10).

At the Sasa pier, we waited for the bus to take us to Central (P40 all in). Barges from Sasa pier dock at Peñaplata (P15/head if you don't take the bus). We preferred the bus because from Peñaplata to our first destination, it would've probably costed us each P50-100 more. Sasa to Peñaplata travel time is around 15 minutes.

 

Davao Central is a supermarket (?). It is where you can ride the bus back to Davao (I can't remember if it's also the last bus stop). There are also habal-habals (motorcycle) and tricycles there. They have the same rates but I suggest you take the habal-habal instead because the tourist places in Samal are far from each other.

Central to Hagimit Falls by habal-habal P50/head. Travel time is around 20-30 minutes.

Before entering Hagimit, we paid P5 for environmental fee and P50 each for the table. I can't remember if we also paid for entrances or it's already included in the P100 we paid for the table.

I don't know how to swim so kuya, the guide, was actually at the side ready to pull me out of the water after I jumped. The whole time before the jump I was like, "Kuya baka matanggal bra ko" lol

Hagimit Falls was the highlight of our trip! We super enjoyed climbing waterfalls, rowing balsa, cliff diving (around 13ft I guess) and cave exploring. The cave was pretty small so there wasn't really any exploring to do. It was hello claustrophobia in there.

Balancing the bamboo raft is a struggle - it looked so easy in movies!

There are teenage kids there that would offer to take you around Hagimit and take pictures for you. That's why Belle and I had so many! Two of them guided us. It's up to you how much you'd pay them. We decided to give P50 each - they had to endure us for atleast 2 hours lol.

The walk back to Hagimit's entrance is tiring. Stairs!!! Not as tiring as Tinago Falls in Iligan City but ugh, still tiring. We noticed on our way back, they had these obstacle courses. I'm not sure if they operate during weekend when people flock (like Maxima Aqua Fun) though. Too bad they didn't operate when we were there. I love obstacle courses - I finished the longest one in the Philippines!

The good thing about Samal is that they have fare tariffs posted in their tourist spots so you know you're getting the right value for your money. Fare is expensive in Samal though :( We paid P100 each to Monfort Bat Sanctuary.

Entrance to Monfort Bat Sanctuary is P100/head. That's with a tour guide already. We arrived during lunch time and the tour guide was out so we paid P50 each instead and explored the place on our own. I thought there was a mountain and I had to hike up to the opening... but the cave (wth I typed cake) was actually a hole on the ground. Literally.

Belle and I aren't into wildlife much so a non-guided tour was quite fine and the cave was easy to locate from the entrance. Beware, they smell. What I saw in that cave, I imagine is what we would become in the future if we don't control our population. Fascinating and repulsing at the same time. I'm repulsed because of how many they are. Probably because I'm claustrophobic?

PS. I am super bothered by their penis.

Thank you filters for making us look like we got a tan lol

We spent some quite time after at Sunset - drying our undies jk sunbathing. We hurried back to Davao to wakeboard at Deca Wake Park but sadly, the traffic was bad :( so we ended up eating at a korean resto and strolling around Abreeza.

Plus 220 for food

Palm City Capital of the Philippines: Tagum

What to do. Where to eat. Where to go. How to get there.

Tagum City: City of Palm Trees

Day 1 of my last hirit for summer, my bestfriend Belle and I planned to backpack Tagum, Davao and Samal. Originally, it was Cateel, Tagum, Mati, Davao and Samal but her folks changed their mind days before our trip. I was so disappointed to the point of wanting to cancel going on the trip but I'm glad I pushed through because I had so much fun despite the change of plans.

Gensan to Davao (P190) to Tagum (P80) took about 6 hours. By around 11am, we finally reached the city. Starving.

We ate lunch at 823 Kitty Coffee Shop (P7 for tricycle + P145 each for food). If we had the luxury and Belle isn't allergic to seafood, I would've loved to try Punongan - you will pass by this if you're going to Davao.

Read about my experience here: 

http://helloteni.blogspot.com/2016/07/823-kitty-coffee-shop.html

From the coffee shop, we headed to the terminal (P7) to ride a jeep (P25) to New Corella.

I would've loved to topload but the sun was at its peak :(

Tagum to New Corella took about 50 minutes. The jeep will drop you off at the town's palengke where you can either ride a tricycle or a motorcycle to Panas Waterfalls - both P25-30/head. It will take about 20 minutes. 

New Corella has other attractions like Balaang Bukid and Matin-ao too!

Pay a P20 entrance and you're good to go exploring the parts of the waterfalls. Sadly, we didn't get to see the beautiful parts because we went south instead of going north huhu. We were chasing time since we went to New Corella late :(

I suggest you bring a lotion for bugs because you will get super itchy after. Also, last trip back to Tagum City from New Corella is around 6pm but try not to cut it too close or you might get stuck.

By 3pm, we were back at Tagum terminal. We headed to the New Christ the King Cathedral which housed the World's Largest Rosary whose beads looked like those floating thingies in beaches keeping you from going too deep. We actually knocked on the beads to see if they really were... found out they were made out of cement.

The church's exterior is really something. I loved how symmetrical the front is!!! The interior, they could polish and hopefully have a Sistine Chapel-like ceiling.

Chase doves at the back of the church and feel like you're at Roma. Bring dove food for bribe.

I'm sort of a history slash conspiracy buff and this church's gate was shaped like an eye and at the center of the front facade of the church was a circle-shaped religious design. So me trying to put two and two together, it looked like the eye of providence idk. Tell me your thoughts when you do go visit.

Marvel architecture, landscape and sculptures at Tagum City Hall (P10 from New Cathedral). It was one of the most welcoming city halls I've seen. They were streaming Duterte's SONA at the lobby when we visited!

We went back to Davao after this, checked in at D'Morvie and ate at Outback grill. I will be writing about this on my Davao post. Stay tuned!

Here's a breakdown of our 1 day backpacking expenses to Tagum, from Gensan:

 Plus P312 for food (expenses for this really depends on the kind of traveller/eater you are).  The key to budget travelling: ask people (about 2-3 persons) the regular fare rates, bargain the price and make use of your student discount!

Miag-ao, Iloilo

The Municipality of Miag-ao is a one and a half jeepney ride from the main city. You can ride a jeep for Php48 (Php38 for students) to Miag-ao from Iloilo Terminal Market/"Super" (we rode from here), Mohon Terminal in Molo or the terminal in Arevalo. You can also ride buses going to Antique.

The entire ride, I was super sleepy. I've been sleeping usually around 3am. I was mentally slapping myself awake. It was not helping at all that I went with my little sister and little cousin who kept on falling asleep during the ride. You could say I was nanny for the day. But that beats travelling alone.

Miag-ao Church, also known as Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, is indeed a sight to behold. It's the prettiest church I've seen. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". 

I could totally see myself getting married here. But ugh why is it so far from where I live. I doubt my guests would make their way to this town just for my wedding lol //We ate fillet mignon (Php180) at The Bistro for lunch.

Of course, I just have to visit University of the Philippines, where most of my friends go to. ...where I could've also gone to if I decided to push thru with my application. You can ride tricycles from the back of the church for P7 per head.

After this, we went to Miag-ao Cemetery Camposanto but sadly, the structure there was already ruined. But seriously, you can walk these 3 places.

I really wanted to go to San Joaquin but my lola wouldn't allow me. That and because of my companions. My sister isn't exactly the best travel buddy. She hates walking. I guess I'll be visiting San Joaquin, Guimbal and Tigbauan next time!

National Heritage Month: National Museum

I wasn't able to take any decent levitation shots other than this because there were a lot of people.

Lately I've been hanging out at National Historical Commission of the Philippines. I know you'd be like, what the heck am I doing there when my course deals with numbers. Research *cough cough* studying, I mean. Because the main library at my uni is closed 'til June 8 and the National Library is under renovation. And I'm almost broke so I can't really spend every day at cafes.

May is National Heritage Month. AND National Museum is having FREE ADMISSION for the whole month of May! FREE! Regular rates for adults is P150 and P50 for students.

Anyway, since I was in the area studying my arse off and planning my last hangout with my friend for this school year because he's leaving for the province already (how unfair is that? TT_TT), we took advantage of the free admission.

It's my second time - the first one was last year - in National Museum (the building near Luneta not the one near the City Hall) and I must say, the way they handled their artifacts are much better than last year. I was so disappointed when I visited last year because you could like touch the artifacts and no cctv or personnel would reprimand you for doing so.

I've had this preconceived concept of museums and I guess I expected a lot from National Museum since it's "National" so it's supposed to be like the best (or the forefront) museum in the country where not only us Filipinos would learn about our country but foreigners who visit as well. 

And you could what? Touch hundred or thousand of years old artifacts just like that? - Sorry. Too much conviction about this topic.

 They also have this new exhibit up called Lantaka of War and Peace showcasing weapons just like the last picture!

PS. In the National Museum near Luneta, the air conditioning fails (bring fans if you want) and the elevator is so slow that I recommend you use the stairs instead. No need to worry about that in the National Museum near the city hall though :)

National Museum (near the city hall):

I find National Museum's doorknobs cool.

So much love for Fernando Amorsolo's sketches <3

I didn't really appreciate modern art. I just couldn't figure them out. I'm boggled.

The green room is my favorite. //Painting pictures are raws except for Spolarium

The thing I was looking forward to for this trip was definitely Juan Luna's works. I was not disappointed. I loved them! <3 <3 <3 I also tried a #followmeto pose but it was a fail so I'm not posting it here.

We toured both museum building for about 3 hours I think. I just wish there'd be tour guides who would explain the significance of paintings and artifacts though. I ended up telling my friend wrong facts. We ended up stalking a man who seemed knowledgeable about history because he was explaining to this girl about the paintings.

But, good job National Museum - you're definitely bringing Filipinos closer to their heritage!