Tag Archives: davao

Habal-Habal to Hagimit Falls

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“Treasures are just around the corner. You just have to dig and discover them.”- I.M.


This best describes my short trip to the Hagimit Falls last May2010. (I know it was long overdue. haha. But thanks to my vivid memory.)

It was a Sunday so part of the itinerary was to hear mass. Good thing, there’s the Immaculate Conception Parish in Penaplata, Samal Island, which is near the Hagimit Falls.

My brother, Lola, and I left Bluwaters Beach Resort in Limao, Samal  at around 3pm. Here’s a map to our destination.


The staff of the resort told us that the only way to get to Hagimit Falls was their local transport called the Habal-Habal (a motorcycle which can carry two or three persons depending on the size). Thank God, my lola agreed to ride the habal-habal. I paid Php 500.00 (back and forth ride) for the three of us.  The regular rate according to the staff is Php 300.00 (one-way) so we got a discount of Php 100.00 since we were booked at the Bluwaters.

So off we go on the rough road in Limao. It was one exhilarating ride passing by the residences of the locals. Since it was election time during our visit, my journalistic instinct struck me and so I asked the driver, “Kuya, sinong malakas dito sa lugar nyo?” And he said, “Si Erap. Si Erap ang iboboto ko.” I asked why. “E kasi di ba, naging presidente na ‘sya? So kaya nyang patakbuhin ang bansa,” he answered.


After an hour, we arrived at the Immaculate Conception Church for the mass. I was a bit torn since the sun was setting down  and I might lose the light I need to capture the beauty of Hagimit. We decided to stay and finish the mass. The sun was really bidding the sky goodbye so we hurried to the Hagimit Falls, which is about 20 minutes away from the town proper of Penaplata.

I was surprised when I saw the entrance to the Hagimit Falls. Based on previous research, the entrance was only Php 10.00 but the signage bears the amount Php 40.00.

Our good driver from the resort also acted as our tour guide. He said the place was developed by a wealthy family in Samal.


Hence, the way to the Hagimit Falls has been easier with the cemented stairs and pathways.  The 800-step stairs was helpful. You can hold onto the hand rail to assist you with the pull of gravity in going down.

I was really rushing to capture the best spot in the Hagimit Falls.  But coming unprepared with no tripod was a big mistake. I was so frustrated with my waterfall shots. But here are the best that I got:


Lessons learned:

1. Visit Hagimit Falls in the morning and not in the afternoon. For campers, you can stay overnight here since there are cottages. A cottage (bahay kubo where you can sit and eat) costs Php 250.00.

2. (For photoholics like me) Bring a lightweight/traveling tripod to take clear, sharp shots of the waterfalls.

I’d definitely return to take a dip and jump into the pepsi-blue nature pool. Hagimit is truly an enchanting place!


Suggested Trip Itinerary for future Travelers:

For a day trip:

1.AM- Visit Hagimit Falls. Take a dip into the pool! Refreshing Waterfalls.

  • Hagimit Falls and Nature Park

Cawag-Penaplata, Island Garden City of Samal

contact no: 0917-667-4831 /0920 587 2430

2. PM- Visit Monfort Bat Cave (home to the world’s largest colony of  fruit bats) in Babak, Samal Island (which is north of Penaplata)

Wanderlust in Samal Island (Part 1)

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Izah Morales

Beautiful is an understatement. The Island Garden City of Samal is enchanting! The wanderlust in me led me to see one of Mindanao’s treasure island.

When I drafted my itinerary for a trip to Davao, I made sure I had Samal Island on my list of places to go to. Samal Island lies in the Davao Gulf and is just minutes away from Davao City. Even if you’re on a tight schedule, you can still visit this island.


Let me count the reasons why you should go to Samal Island:

1. Hop from one island to another and capture the unspoiled beauty of the islands like Samal’s small neighbor, Talikud Island.

2. Swim in the turquoise waters

3. Snorkel and see the underwater wonders

4. Nature trip at Hamiguitan Falls

5. See the Monfort Bat Cave where the largest colony of fruit bats reside. It even landed on the Guiness Book of World Records.

6. Ride the Habal-habal and experience the thrill.

Check out my next post for our island hopping, underwater, and Hamiguitan adventures.

How to go to Samal Island

You have a number of options in going to this island.

1. Since we reserved a room at Bluewaters Beach Resort, we went to the Marina Wharf, Lanang Beach Club where Danica, the boat of the resort is docked. Lanang Beach Club, located at Lanang, Davao, is six kilometers away from Davao City.


Lanang Beach Club is also the docking area of the boat going to the world-class Pearl Farm Resort.

Pick-up time is 7:00am. If other guests are riding with you, then you don’t have to pay P200 to go to the resort.

Travel time from Lanang, Aplaya to Bluewaters is about 10 minutes.

The Waiting area of BlueWaters at Lanang

2. Another option is to ride a ferry at Sta. Ana Wharf at Magsaysay Park. Fare is 50 pesos. Or ride a bus going to Samal Island at Magsaysay Park.

Accommodation

Blue Waters Beach Resort


I chose this resort since their prices are affordable.  The apartel room costs 1,800 pesos for two persons and you just need to add 300 pesos in case of an extra person. It’s not your A-class resort but the rooms are decent and the people are friendly.

The staff even helped us in our inland and island hopping tour. I’ll tell more about it in my next post.

But what I didn’t like is the FOOD. It’s not that delicious and it’s quite expensive. It’s better to bring your own food. Two BBQ sticks with rice and mango cost around P180.

Food


The Resthouse of the owner of Bluewaters

The Apartel Room

The airconditioned room of the Apartel at Bluewaters is small but clean. The comfort room is clean as well.

The shaded dining area is a plus point to this resort. It also has a garden where you can sit and reflect.

The shaded dining area

But my favorite spot in this resort is Jack’s Cove! It’s located on the shoreline of the resort where you can sit and read a book or take a nap.

 

Jack's Cove

More photos of the resort:


 

Visit the local government website of Samal Island for more info:

http://samalcity.gov.ph/

The Japanese Tunnel: Unearthed

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Tunnels always appear to be mysterious with the way they are associated with history. Hence, the Japanese Tunnel made it to my list of places to see in Davao City.

Located at Ma-a Diversion Road, the 250-kilometer long Japanese Tunnel can be a stop-over before going to the famous Philippine Eagle Center in Calinan. That’s what we did.


I was surprised to see a restaurant and a pool beside the tunnel. My previous researches online didn’t mention that the tunnel is now within a resort.

We ate our lunch at the restaurant, which  didn’t offer Japanese food. lol. I was really expecting that they will offer Japanese food since they are promoting the Japanese Tunnel. They serve Filipino cuisine at affordable prices. A group meal of five viands (good for 6 pax) costs us Php 950 or Php 158.50 each. For internet addicts, you will love the resto for their free wifi.

After feeding our appetite, we paid an entrance fee of 50 pesos each (adults). The entrance fee for kids costs Php 20. (Previous researches noted that the fee for the tunnel was Php 10.)

At the entrance, I saw a tarpaulin with a short history of the place. It says that the Japanese Tunnel was excavated by Filipino war prisoners under the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. The tunnel was a hiding place of the Japanese during World War II.

But it was only in 1960 when the tunnel was discovered. The development of the Ma-a Diversion Road led to its discovery. Ammunitions, bayonets, and paper bills were among those unearthed. The paper bills were displayed at the entrance. Imagine– a five-peso bill during the Japanese period resembled a dollar.

Unlike other tunnels, this one was somehow well-lit. But seeing statues inside the tunnel saddened me. The essence of history was somehow lost by placing replicas. It should have been preserved rather than renovated. For photography purposes, it adds color but it degrades the value of history.

Admittedly, it’s good for photo-ops. But I do hope that the management will improve their services by giving more importance on the place’s history.

First time in Davao City

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Davao city, the largest city in the world in terms of land area (244,000 hectares), has been known for the smelly yet tasty durian, the Philippine Eagle, and the highest peak in the Philippines, Mt. Apo. I’ve heard a lot of stories about it but seeing it made me realize that there’s more to Davao than the things that made it popular.

It was my first time in this so-called Land of Promise. Exploring it for five days proved that it is indeed a promise land. But those days were not enough to see everything that makes Davao beautiful. I’ll definitely return and conquer the 9,690 ft- high Mt. Apo. Haha. Wishful thinking.

Here’s a summary of Day 1:

April 23

I barely had enough sleep as our flight to Davao City was scheduled at 6:00 am. That means we have to check in at the Centennial Terminal at around 4:00 am. But since my brothers woke up late, we arrived at the airport an hour later than the supposed check-in time.


I told myself I would let my eyes rest during the flight. But the photoholic in me prevailed. I couldn’t resist capturing the different cloud formations. Amazing!

Fortunately, I was awake when the plane was approaching the runway. The breathtaking view of Mt. Apo caught my sight. Of course, I immediately held Rash, my canon 450d, and pressed the shutter. The travel time from Manila to Davao was approximately one hour and 35 minutes.

Isadora Photography

Fast forward. We checked in at Crown Regency located at Cabaguio Avenue in Agdao, Davao City. If you’re traveling in group, it’s best to get the Villa, which costs 3,500 pesos and can accommodate up to six persons. Cost per person is Php 583.33.


The Villa has two bedrooms: One master bedroom and one twin deluxe room connected by the comfort room. Also, it has a kitchen and a living room. If you’re on a tight budget, you can cook your own food at the kitchen.

After putting our things in place, we proceeded to RiverFront along C.P. Garcia Road, where the Crocodile Park is.

We paid an entrance fee of 150 pesos each (Adults). Tickets for children cost Php 75. The tickets gave us access to the crocodile park itself, the Tribu K Mindanawan Cultural Show, and the Butterfly farm. Aside from these three attractions, you can also enjoy rolling inside the Zorb and eating exotic food at Riverwalk Grill. These places are also within the vicinity. (I’ll write the specifics in my next posts.)

If you’re just traveling to Davao City for one day or two days, then going to RiverFront Corporate City is advisable.

Itinerary:

9am-11am Crocodile Park, Tribu Mindanawan Cultural Show, Butterfly Farm. Take photos, interact with the Badjaos

  • Other options: the Zorb, Riverwalk Grill, Zip City
  • Location: Riverfront, Corporate City Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City

11:30am-Walk through the 250-meter long Japanese Tunnel at the Ma-a Diversion Road

  • Entrance fee: Php 50 for adults / Php 20 pesos for kids
  • Location: Diversion Road, Ma-a, Davao City

12:00pm- Lunch at the Japanese Resto beside the tunnel.

  • Location: Diversion Road, Ma-a
  • Food is okay. Affordable, if in group. Group meal costs Php 950 pesos (good for 6 pax).
  • Plus points for the Wifi zone resto.

1:30-3:00-Wandering around Malagos Park and Philippine Eagle Center

  • Location: Calinan
  • From Diversion Road, Ma-a going to Calinan, travel time is about an hour and 30 minutes.

6:30pm-8:00pm- Dinner at Taklobo Restaurant, Jack’s Ridge.

  • Location: Shrine Hills, Matina
  • The restaurant has an overlooking view of the city and Samal Island.

Check out more stories in my next posts.