Surigao City, and Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands Provinces - Compiled Threads [Archive]

philbern

July 21st, 2005, 08:02 AM

Here's another article about Surigao. Soon, it will become as famous as Maine for its lobsters!

Vol. XVIII, No. 255
Thursday, July 21, 2005 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Agribusiness

BY BEVERLY T. NATIVIDAD, Reporter

Small town sees success in lobster farming

Notwithstanding the penchant for eating seafood, lobster dishes are still rarely served owing much to the fact that they are generally high-priced, raw or cooked.
The lobster project has done a lot to improve the livelihood of the townsfolk.

In a remote town in Surigao del Norte, however, lobster farming has been a thriving business for quite some time due mainly to the combined effort of the local governments, cooperatives, nongovernmental organizations, and government financing institution Quedan Credit and Rural Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor).

The town of Libjo can be reached via a two-hour pump boat ride from the pier of the capital, Surigao City. Libjo is in one of the Dinagat islands, at the opposite of the more famous surfing island destination of Siargao.

While Siargao harbors the bigger waves of the Pacific Ocean, the Dinagat islands lie in the calmer waters of the Surigao Strait, making it ideal for seafood farming.

Lobsters, or locally known as banagan, are crustaceans with a hard shell, stalked eyes, four pairs of legs, a pair of antennae, and a handlike appendage for holding food.

They are far more expensive than other crustaceans like shrimp and crab with farmgate prices pegged at around P2,700 per kilogram (kg) during peak seasons. In Manila, they could be sold to as high as P4,000/kg when sold live.

"They are in great demand both in the local and export market because of their delicate flesh. Its dish is considered to fit for queen, emperors and the like," said Masicap Development Foundation Inc., a nongovernmental organization, in a feasibility study submitted to Quedancor.

Lobster farming in Libjo started when Vice-Mayor Romeo Villarosa Sr., invested in the venture in 2003 to help his constituents start an aquaculture of grouper, mud crabs, seaweeds, and lobsters, as an income-generating opportunity.

Eventually realizing the big market for aquaculture products for local consumption and export, the project proponents, with the help of Masicap Development, drafted a feasibility study to seek additional funding from Quedancor.

Since the Libjo residents had already started the aquaculture project with an equity of P7 million, Quedancor provided a funding of around P4 million as supplement working capital and for the construction of additional cages.

"Before financing projects such as this, we orient them with the type of projects that we support and then we require them to submit a project feasibility study. We want to see if they have sufficient manpower and expertise to undergo the project. Also, the proponents have to be real fisherfolk to qualify for funding," said Christopher Gilos, project coordinator for Quedancor.

The project proposal sought to sustain the aquaculture industry of Surigao del Norte through the farming of high-value aquaculture products to supply the increasing export demand for products such as lobster and groupers (lapu-lapu).

"The project will supplement the shortage of supply of aquaculture products particularly on grouper, lobster, mud crab, and seaweed for export. The financial ratios of this study proves the feasibility of the project since it will provide a [more than twofold] return with a payback within eight months and 15 days," said the study.

The lobster farming project was initially planned to supply the buyers and exporters in Surigao City as target market.

Considering, however, that lobster is a high-value product, they also planned to penetrate the export market.

In a survey of Surigao City buyers, particularly those registered with the office of the provincial agriculturist, the average monthly demand for live lobsters are around 11,700 kg.

On the average, they are priced between P600 and P1,000/kg, and could go as high as P2,700/kg during peak seasons.

From Surigao City, the aquaculture products (groupers, cuttlefishes, squids, abalones and sea cucumbers) are eventually purchased by Cebu and Manila middlemen and exported to neighboring countries.

"Export market for live grouper and live lobster are China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries where Chinese are highly concentrated," said the feasibility study.

The demand-supply analysis of the project shows that at present production rates in Surigao, the yearly lobster demand is pegged at around 140,400 kg, while the projected supply until 2008 is only between 10,080 kg and 10,620 kg.

bustero

July 21st, 2005, 09:32 AM

I'm heading to Surigao next month. My parents are originally from there. I was in Siargao and Bucas Grande 5 years ago. I kayaked at Sohoton Caves and Lagoon- really out of this world! Just amazingly beautiful. We stayed at the Governor's Beach house in Gen Luna surfing area, across Guyam Island. I'll try to revisit those places next month- weather permitting.

Ahhh you're so lucky!!!

bustero

July 21st, 2005, 09:37 AM

Well, I hope they just have enough/sustainable tourists. Just enough to stimulate the economy there.
If the Koreans and Japanese start coming in droves, that'd be the end of paradise. :bash:
Next thing you know, THEY own the place.

Ok lang iyan, Siargao is pretty big island not like boracay. They should make a decent airport there so it can be developed. If they come that will lift region 13 out of poverty, The area is one of the poorest in the country, you'd be surprised at how big the population is there.

Of course we must make sure that the native population of wildlife is preserve , like the giant crocodile (not the local bir mind you) :)

c0kelitr0

July 21st, 2005, 10:41 AM

^^wow that's good news, i guess i should ask my dad to revive his old investments in lobster farms :D

c0kelitr0

July 21st, 2005, 11:23 AM

WELCOME TO PANSUKIAN TROPICAL RESORT -- the only 5-star resort in Surigao located in Siargao Island. The Zobel de Ayalas are frequent guests.

Rates -- between $120/person/night to $260/person/night

Reception Area

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/reception.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/inreception.bmp

Sand Walkway

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/sandwalkway.bmp

Family Villa

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/familyvilla.bmp

Villa Gates

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/villagates.bmp

Garden Cottage

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/gardencottage.bmp

Typical Bedroom

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/firstbedroom.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/villabathroom.bmp

Bar and Restaurant

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/bar.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/food.bmp

More Pics

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/sunsalutation.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/hut.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/pagoda20at20sunset.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/windsurfing.bmp

kiretoce

July 21st, 2005, 03:11 PM

what u mean tourist trap, pls elaborate more, is it financially or is it the seawater. i heard that boracay was experiencing a bit of seapolution or whatever seatide

A "tourist trap" is what exactly what it means, a trap that snares tourists to remain in one place by providing everything they need, even down to the most cheesy of souvenir shops and other scams and gimmicks.

Edmundtanso

July 21st, 2005, 09:35 PM

wow.....now i want to siargao island....it's so beautiful!

tyronne

July 22nd, 2005, 01:37 AM

wow awesome! :drool:

can u also go a bit further down and feature nice places in Surigao del Sur? thanks.

Ang di kabalo magbinisaya, kidnapon.

paano na yan? :( dili ako makasabot ng bisaya.

c0kelitr0

July 22nd, 2005, 03:35 AM

wow awesome! :drool:

can u also go a bit further down and feature nice places in Surigao del Sur? thanks.

Here are some pics of Surigao del Sur. The place is remote and isolated . This province is one of the poorest in the country. The province's best highways are paved just like ordinary city streets and most are still unpaved. But there's one town there, houses are bahay kubos but with Nokia sattellite cable dishes jutting out of their roofs!

Tinuyan Falls

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/tinuyan-closeup-0202.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/tinuyan-vert20mm-0228.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/tinuyan-bottom-0126.bmp

Waikiki Beach -- yes, this is not Hawaii's Waikiki :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/waikiki-payong-hor-P6241609.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/waikiki-sunrise-hor-P625169.bmp

dudz

July 22nd, 2005, 03:48 AM

ganda naman ng falls! and those beaches!!! really nice! could rival those in crowded boracay and other more popular beach destinations in the country! punta ako dyan!!!haha!!

Lili

July 22nd, 2005, 04:17 AM

sobra! ang ganda! <--- sensory overload!

tyronne

July 22nd, 2005, 04:26 AM

Here are some pics of Surigao del Sur. The place is remote and isolated . This province is one of the poorest in the country. The province's best highways are paved just like ordinary city streets and most are still unpaved. But there's one town there, houses are bahay kubos but with Nokia sattellite cable dishes jutting out of their roofs!

yeah, i agree with you. i've been there in 1996 and it was really scary travelling by bus. parang dadaan sa gubat walang kabahay-bahay tapos sabi pa kasi nila daming NPA don. right after we reached Butuan City (from Tandag) may news na meron daw hinoldap na bus ng mga NPA. nag-alala tuloy yung grandparents ko kala nila kami yun.

pero i like the weather there. it's not as hot as luzon's weather. ewan ko lang ngayon.

c0kelitr0

July 22nd, 2005, 07:41 AM

yeah, i agree with you. i've been there in 1996 and it was really scary travelling by bus. parang dadaan sa gubat walang kabahay-bahay tapos sabi pa kasi nila daming NPA don. right after we reached Butuan City (from Tandag) may news na meron daw hinoldap na bus ng mga NPA. nag-alala tuloy yung grandparents ko kala nila kami yun.

pero i like the weather there. it's not as hot as luzon's weather. ewan ko lang ngayon.

The weather there is really what we call "weather-weather" :D it rains most of the year but it's not pronounced though.

Re: NPA, yeah Surigao del Sur is an HQ. The forests there are so thick, might as well be a good hideout for them. But now, they have lied down a bit, not too many holdups going on. I should know, my dad keeps farms there so he'd give me a bit of news from time to time. I just wish they improve the infrastructure of the province. Compared to Surigao del Norte which has enjoyed a sustainable growth, Surigao del Sur is really poor and is having a hard time catching up.

deheni

July 22nd, 2005, 09:02 AM

Surigao Islands will definitely on my intinerary nect time. Nice pic and website. Shhhh keep this place as a secret.

KulasKusgan

July 22nd, 2005, 02:18 PM

tyronne

July 22nd, 2005, 05:31 PM

here in mindanao, i think only surigao have typhoon. the rest of mindanao is typhoon-free. & since theyre facing the pacific ocean, they enjoy those gigantic waves.

@ tyronne: one of my officemate pag umuwi ng tandag, pagbalik may dalang alimango. further down surigao del sur is davao oriental na... home to the philippines' highest waterfalls.

again, secret lang to...

yeah, halos araw-araw alimango ang ulam namin non. samantalang sa luzon ang mahal nyan. tapos ang kape nila eh yung purong cocoa. tapos pag nagluluto sila ng kanin, hinahalo nila kaya pag luto na parang buhaghag siya. kaya naman pagbalik namin ginaya ko tuloy haha! ang bahay pa ng grandparents ko sa Tandag ang lapit sa dagat, lalakarin lang. kaya araw-araw kami sa beach.

nung nag-bus kami from Tandag to Butuan, dumaan ata kami sa part ng Davao Oriental, tapos umakyat papuntang Bukidnon, tapos Agusan, parang ganun. ang haba ng byahe eh, pagkarating namin ng Butuan ang kapal na ng alikabok sa mukha namin hahaha! but it was fun. parang first time ko makita mga relatives ko sa mother side kasi baby pa lang ako nung first time kami pumunta ng mindanao.

JoeyIncali

July 22nd, 2005, 05:44 PM

yeah, halos araw-araw alimango ang ulam namin non. samantalang sa luzon ang mahal nyan. tapos ang kape nila eh yung purong cocoa. tapos pag nagluluto sila ng kanin, hinahalo nila kaya pag luto na parang buhaghag siya. kaya naman pagbalik namin ginaya ko tuloy haha! ang bahay pa ng grandparents ko sa Tandag ang lapit sa dagat, lalakarin lang. kaya araw-araw kami sa beach.

nung nag-bus kami from Tandag to Butuan, dumaan ata kami sa part ng Davao Oriental, tapos umakyat papuntang Bukidnon, tapos Agusan, parang ganun. ang haba ng byahe eh, pagkarating namin ng Butuan ang kapal na ng alikabok sa mukha namin hahaha! but it was fun. parang first time ko makita mga relatives ko sa mother side kasi baby pa lang ako nung first time kami pumunta ng mindanao.
dat's great.
I've taken a trip from davao to Malalaybalay as well thru Calinan.
This was in the 80's so it was a rugged trip.
Now, sementado na raw ang kalsada. Malaybalay is like Baguio there in terms of climate.
Going to Butuan means you have to go thru Davao del Norte. East of davao del norte is the Compostela Valley. Compo valley has a lot of secret hideaways ( waterfalls, rivers and hot springs ). If you dare go thru Compo Valley, about 40 kilometers from the Compostela "proper" , thru the Katiil mountains and Agusan border is the really majestic waterfalls called Aliwagwag. Aliwagwag is quite possibly one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. I was there when I was twelve years old. I thought I was in heaven when I saw it. We swam in the lagoons. Even grabbed a "baging" from a tree and jumped on the water Tarzan style.

tyronne

July 22nd, 2005, 06:08 PM

dat's great.
I've taken a trip from davao to Malalaybalay as well thru Calinan.
This was in the 80's so it was a rugged trip.
Now, sementado na raw ang kalsada. Malaybalay is like Baguio there in terms of climate.
Going to Butuan means you have to go thru Davao del Norte. East of davao del norte is the Compostela Valley. Compo valley has a lot of secret hideaways ( waterfalls, rivers and hot springs ). If you dare go thru Compo Valley, about 40 kilometers from the Compostela "proper" , thru the Katiil mountains and Agusan border is the really majestic waterfalls called Aliwagwag. Aliwagwag is quite possibly one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. I was there when I was twelve years old. I thought I was in heaven when I saw it. We swam in the lagoons. Even grabbed a "baging" from a tree and jumped on the water Tarzan style.

wow that was nice! i dont know, i think i missed a lot when i was younger. i was not as adventurous as i am today. i preferred staying home with my books than going out with friends (nerd ba hehe). kaya nga hindi ako nakapunta sa "ilaya" kasi ayokong sumakay sa skylab. pano naman kasi nakakatakot, sampu yung nasakay don eh parang mahuhulog yung pasahero hehe!

KulasKusgan

July 22nd, 2005, 06:13 PM

this is what joey's talking about... aliwagwag falls. the philippines' highest with 84 cascading mini-falls... appearing like stairways to "heaven".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/sleepwalker_uno/dc/aliwagwagcaragapbasemillie.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/sleepwalker_uno/dc/aliwagwagcaragapbasemillie2.jpg

there are actually several unknown spots in surigao, agusan, compostela valley & davao oriental... lake mainit in surigao, agusan marsh, hotsprings in compostela, etc. di nga lang sikat which i think is good.

Mers

July 22nd, 2005, 06:28 PM

Ang ganda, masarap maligo!!! Punta ako dyan, kelan kaya?

JoeyIncali

July 22nd, 2005, 06:46 PM

Ang ganda, masarap maligo!!! Punta ako dyan, kelan kaya?
Sama tayo. :-)
I might take a vacation in Davao come February.
I wuz there in 2000. My cousins and I went to a river and hot springs in Compo Valley.
Went island hopping around Samal as well.
Sadly, there are just too many way sapatos around Aliwagwag. I couldn't go. :-(
I wanted to go visit Aliwagwag again so so so badly.
Thnx for the pics Sleepwalker.
Aliwagwag is even larger than those pics.
The Katiil river is right below it. The Katiil river is also very wide and deep.
Before you get to Aliwagwag from Compo, you also get to pass by Bango Falls and Mambusao.
We lived there during summer b/c my father worked for a lumber company there.
I am fortunate to have spent my summers there.

amras

July 23rd, 2005, 01:02 PM

wow! ang saya naman dyan! tinitingnan ko pa lang ang mga pictures, relaxed na ko. :)

chymera00

July 23rd, 2005, 03:53 PM

Wow Surigao is too beautiful ... so unreal. Surigao City is also very captivating, theres a very tropical charm to it...

bustero

July 23rd, 2005, 07:24 PM

Hoy tama na muna iyang aliwagwag talk, lipat niyo sa davao thread, this is a surigao thread! hehe :)

Somebody should post pix of Lake Mainit, para back on thread a (although di siya island) not many people realize how big a lake it is!

c0kelitr0

July 25th, 2005, 02:54 AM

c0kelitr0

July 25th, 2005, 03:19 AM

Some pics of Lake Mainit (if i'm not mistaken, this is the third largest lake in the Philippines after Laguna de Bay and Lake Lanao)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55878-med-lake_mainit_fisherman.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55883-large-lake_mainit_boat.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55890-med-baoto_race.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55892-med-lake_mainit_islet.bmp

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/S_TSF_14.bmp

Shown in this pic are members of the Mamanwa tribe. They are the natives of Surigao and they are not related to the Aetas of Central Luzon. The Mamanwas travelled to the Philippines from Australia. They are very closely related to the outback's Aborigines.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55885-med-mamanwa_siblings.bmp

c0kelitr0

July 25th, 2005, 03:44 AM

More Siargao Pics...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55856-med-3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55860-med-11.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55865-med-16.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55867-med-board_walk.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55868-med-17.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55869-med-15.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55870-med-4.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55871-med-8.jpg

Cutest surfer around :lol:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55875-med-trying_hard_surfer.jpg

Moonrise in Siargao

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/55874-med-siargao_moonrise.jpg

Edmundtanso

July 25th, 2005, 05:02 AM

great pictures, thanks for sharing...i really hope that future developments wont destroy the beauty of siargao, just what we are seeing in boracay

mhe-ann

July 25th, 2005, 06:09 AM

c0kelitr0

July 25th, 2005, 06:14 AM

wow! so you're into surfing @c0kelitr0? obvious naman. hehe. galing! :okay: pano ba mag-surf? kahit windsurf di ako marunong. takot akong mamatay sa pagkalunod. :runaway: ilibre nyo naman kami punta jan para sa next ssc forumers meet. hehehe. :jk:

Yeah hehe i'm into surfing...it's pretty easy, just like skateboarding. the last pics show the spot where amateurs practice because the waves on that area are not as gigantic as Cloud 9's.

And...of course, you wouldn't drown...waves only break on shallow waters, don't they? :lol:

c0kelitr0

July 26th, 2005, 02:57 AM

The Fight for Dinagat's Last Rainforest

Dinagat Island is nowhere near as famous as her neighbor Siargao. Dubbed as the surfing capital of the Philippines, Siargao has attracted the limelight for many of the most recent years. Siargao is also a declared National Park whose forests and mountains are protected under the law.

But in terms of importance as a biodiversity haven, Dinagat Island definitely ranks up there with Siargao. The northern tip of the Dinagat, specifically the mountain ranges of Redondo and Kambinliw are home to some of the most interesting and rarest plants and animals in the country.

Located in the town of Loreto, the rainforests of these mountains host 36 species of mammals, 63 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 70 species of birds. All this biological wealth however is in danger of being lost forever to make way for the extraction of Dinagat’s other more convenient wealth—namely the minerals contained in its mountains.

Dinagat is a declared mineral reserve, and no less than eight mining companies have already staked their claims in different parts of the mountains of Loreto. With the Arroyo administration intent on revitalizing the mining industry, the scenic town of Loreto threatens to be turned into something like the other towns on Dinagat Island—scarred landscapes of red earth from which human beings can barely make a living.

Loreto today is still beautiful. You don’t even have to venture out far from the town center to appreciate it. The lush mountains can be seen from the Poblacion itself and almost everywhere else you go. Loreto is idyllic.

If the mining companies have their way though, Loreto will most certainly end up like its unsightly neighbors.

Wasted Lands
Travel to Loreto is most conveniently done by sea. It is at the northern tip of Dinagat Island. To get there, you take a boat or lantsa from the Surigao City pier and endure a four to five hour boat ride over often rough waters.

However, you can also take a landtrip through the island. To do that, you first take a one-hour boat ride to San Jose—on Dinagat’s southern side—and take a three to four hour jeepney ride to the town of Libjo from which you can take a one to two hour ride on a habal-habal to Loreto.

To really get a feel of the importance of Loreto’s rainforests, it’s recommended that you take the land trip from the town of San Jose. From the dirt road which winds through Dinagat’s mountain passes you can see the pressures that the land has been subjected to. Decades of logging, mining and conversion of forests into kaingin farms has transformed a large part of the island into a ugly mess.

From the jeepney, you won’t see any forests anymore. But you won’t see any productive farmlands or pasturelands either. Instead you see cogon grass clinging precariously onto red slopes where little else grows. The burnt stumps of felled trees also catch the eye, as well as the rubble from collapsed mountainsides.

Here and there, one passes through small huts. People try to eke out a living by planting rice, corn and vegetables but are obvioulsy meeting with very little success. The fact is that Dinagat’s soil isn’t suited for farming. The soil is infertile, laden as it is with too many minerals. Even cassava or kamoteng kahoy (a crop which is that is less picky about he kind of soil it grows on) seems to be having a hard time growing here.

There are probably towns in the country that are poorer and more destitute than the towns of Dinagat, but it’s doubtful that those places radiate the same anxiety one gets from travelling through Dinagat’s towns. The towns before Loreto and Tubajon are exhibits of ecological collapse and poverty.

Loreto, and its neighboring town of Tubajon are probably the last places on Dinagat Island where you can still find forests. And, though the people in these two northenmost towns aren’t exactly what you’d call rich, they don’t waft a scent of hopeless impoverishment either.

Mine, mine, all mine
Haribon’s involvement with the preservation of Loreto’s rainforests began in 1999. As part of a three-year project called Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance in the Philippines, Haribon went to Loreto with the aim of sharing its expertise with the municipal government. The aim of the project was empower the municipal government towards protecting the forests within its jurisdiction.

A field survey doen by Haribon biologists in 2002 confirmed Loreto’s status as an Important Biodiversity Area. Among the species confirmed to be there were the the Mindanao Bleeding Heart, and the Mindanao Hornbill—two of the rarest Philippine birds. Mt. Kambinliw and Redondo are also home to the Philippine flying lemur and Philippine brown deer, both of which are endangered.

Tarsiers also abound in the forests of Mt. Redondo and Kambinliw. But the survey also found out that nearly the entire range of Mt. Redondo and Kambinliw are covered by mining claims—the largest claims of which are Krominco Inc. and Naredeco.

At the time of the survey, the mines were still dormant. Nickel and chromite—the two minerals most commonly mined on the island—were fetching such low prices on the world market that they simply weren’t worth carving a mountain for. Thus the mines were silent. However, even back then, it was already obvious how much damage the mines would do to Loreto’s rainforests. On their way to the campsite, the Haribon team passed upon a sign that was simply reeking with irony.

Engagement
For two years, Haribon maintained an office in Loreto.

We worked with the community and the local officials, helping them appreciate the value of the unspoiled environment wherein they live. Haribon conducted training seminars and information activities in cooperation with the municipal government.

Though Haribon initially encountered problems in dealing with the local government, Haribon was eventually able to maintain a more or less harmonious working relationship with the administration of Mayor Andres I. Ladaga Jr. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Haribon Foundation and the Municipal Government of Loreto, Surigao del Norte on how to protect the rainforests of Mts. Redondo and Kambinliw.

However, even back then, it was already apparent that the local government was torn between the ideal of maintaining the pristine state of its forests, and opting for the quick cash of letting the mining firms continue their operation. The local government expressly asked that the mining firm Krominco be exempt from the MOU.

Haribon’s three-year project in Loreto ended in December 2003.

Earlier that year, the buzz of chainsaws was already being heard up in the mountains as one of the mining forms had already resumed operations. It must be pointed out that logging and mining go hand in hand. Before an area can be mined, it first has to be cleared of trees.

Though Haribon’s project with the local governemnt ended last year, it doesn’t mean that Haribon has abandoned the forests of Dinagat to the mercies of the mining firms. Rather, it is just acknowledgement that since the law declaring Dinagat island as a mineral reservation area is a national law, the struggle to preserve Dinagat’s forests has to be elevated from the local level to the national level.

You can help us preserve Dinagat’s last rainforest by helping us in our campaign against a revitalized mining industry.

c0kelitr0

July 26th, 2005, 03:11 AM

some pics from wow philippines...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/106.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/106_2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/106_3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/106_4.jpg

Edmundtanso

July 26th, 2005, 06:42 AM

another depressing article "The Fight for Dinagat's Last Rainforest".......i just can't see what goes on the mind of our politicians, is there anything in their brains?

philbern

July 26th, 2005, 07:51 AM

The plight of Dinagat's rainforest is but a microcosm of what is happening to the rest of the country's forest cover. The mahoganys, magkonos, hamoyawons, tanguiles and narras sustain the Philipppines' furniture industry and they are priced for their hardiness and natural shine on rich families wooden floors. Today, people still sneak tons of these lumber by bribing underpaid forest wardens and customs inspectors. The laws are in place but the implementation is flawed.

Why? Because the Philippines is continually governed by a bunch of hyenas waiting for the next prey. There is no inspiration and respect from the top. Our country is naturally abundant but power is so ingrained in our national psyche as a means to get rich and every fund that is suppose to be spent for the betterment of the people is instead used for TACKY personal investments. This cycle is malignant and if it were a disease, no amount of econotherapy can erase the already high poverty rate. Have you gone home lately and compared it to your last trip?

Drive your brand new Japanese car around and can't you see innumerable substandard homes and shacks sprouting like mushrooms along the sides of the road and railroads?

c0kelitr0

July 26th, 2005, 11:13 AM

RP, China enter into $1.5B worth of business contracts

PHILIPPINE and Chinese officials signed Tuesday at least US$1.5 billion worth of government-to-government and business agreements, including investments in the redevelopment of the Nonoc mining project in Surigao del Norte worth US$950 million.

The signing and exchange of pre-signed documents were witnessed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is on a three-day state visit in Manila.

Hu and Madame Liu Yongqing were welcomed in Malacañang with full military honors and a 21-gun salute. Hu and Arroyo then walked to the Malacañang Palace while Madame Liu and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo had a tour of the Palace. Hu signed the presidential guest book.

Arroyo and Hu had a 45-minute bilateral meeting at the Music Room before they were joined by other officials of their countries for a one-hour expanded bilateral meeting.

The two leaders then witnessed the signing of 10 government-to-government agreements and four business agreements. Arroyo presented to Hu the first edition stamp of the Philippine Postal Corp. commemorating the 30-year anniversary of Philippine-China relations.

The biggest government-to-government agreement that was signed was the $500-million concessional loan for the Malolos-Clark phase of the Northrail project, followed by a US$24.2 million concessional loan and a US$2.5 million grant for economic and technical cooperation.

The other government-to-government agreements were for the: opening of a Chinese consulate in Laoag; Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Infrastructure Cooperation; MOU on promotion of trade, investment and economic cooperation; MOU on the early harvest program under the framework agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean); MOU on the special treatment for Philippine rice under World Trade Organization rules; MOU on Maritime Cooperation; and Cooperation Agreement on Youth Affairs between All-China Youth Federation and the National Youth Commission.

The business agreement between the Philippine Nickel Corp. (Philnico)-Jinchuan/Shanghai Baosteel Company and the China Development Bank for a $950-million investment in the redevelopment of the Nonoc project was signed by Philnico Mining and Industrial Corp. chairman Everisto Narvaez Jr. and China Development Bank Gov. Chen Yuan.

The other business agreements are the: MOU of cooperation between the China National Technical Import and Export Cooperation and the Northrail Corp.; US$10 million worth of prospective investment for the Framework Agreement for Upstream Opportunities in the Calamian Area in offshore northwest Palawan; and the US$27 million supply contract for the Integrated GSM System project between Huawei and Digitel Telecommunications.

Planning Secretary Romulo Neri said China is the Philippines' "fastest growing trade partner."

Neri dismissed questions on the fairness of the Northrail project contract, saying it is very hard to find terms of three percent to the dollar with 20 years to pay and five years grace period.

He said the same term applies to the first phase (Caloocan to Malolos, worth US$400 million) and the second phase (Malolos to Clark, worth US$500 million).

Narvaez said the Chinese investors would have to conduct a six-month study to validate the findings four years ago on the prospects for the Nonoc redevelopment project.

"They want to update the information and do their own engineering study because they want to know how to apply advanced Chinese technology on the project and see how much equipment can be sourced from China," he said.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. said the joint military exercises between the Philippines and China has not been ruled out.

Cruz said the first annual RP-China dialogue will take place in late May in order to establish a formal dialogue mechanism and to follow on the discussions on the exchange of visits of senior, middle and junior military officials in order to explore areas of defense cooperation.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Hu and Arroyo welcomed the inclusion of Vietnam in the joint seismic exploration agreement on the South China Sea as a "very positive" means of solving the dispute among claimant countries. He said other claimant countries should not be deterred from joining the agreement.

Ermita said China gave in to the Philippines' request to open its market to vegetables from the Philippines.

He said the issue on the Korean peninsula was not taken up and that Hu only said they are doing everything in order to find a peaceful resolution to the problem in the Taiwan straits.

He said Hu also welcomed the sending of liaison officers who would help solve the problem of drug trafficking and transnational crimes.

At 7:30 p.m., Arroyo hosted a state banquet at the Ceremonial Hall in honor of Hu and his party. (JMR)

kiretoce

July 26th, 2005, 03:31 PM

I'm just curious....how popular is surfing among the local population? Or is it just a foreigner's sport? :dunno:

c0kelitr0

July 27th, 2005, 02:45 AM

I'm just curious....how popular is surfing among the local population? Or is it just a foreigner's sport? :dunno:

very popular especially among the kids and teens...there was one year when a local won the siargao cup.

c0kelitr0

July 27th, 2005, 07:01 AM

Surigao City Satellite Photo...look how tiny the downtown area is...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/SurigaoCitySattellite.bmp

c0kelitr0

August 5th, 2005, 05:01 AM

Filipino Starts Surf Business Back Home

LOS ANGELES — At 26, avid surfer turned businessman Lui Tortuya is poised to ride his biggest wave.

Two years ago, he went on a trip to La Union, a surfing destination five hours away from Manila, and promptly got splashed with the idea of making and selling surfboards.

“There I was, on the beach, in front of this massive, perfect swell. Without a surfboard, unfortunately,” he said, recalling his epiphany.

He noticed that rental cost for surfboards in the Philippines was prohibitive due to its scarcity and some of the sport’s enthusiasts had to “scavenge” for them when international surfing competitors bring them over.

That inspired him to put up Fiveforty Surf Co. with his friends as partners. Their goal: meet the demand for high-quality surfing goods that will be available for everyone at reasonable prices.

After spending a considerable amount of money, time and passion in building the business from scratch, they are now in a better position to barrel their way through the industry head-on. Their research and development gambit paid off, as they discovered a way to cut the materials’ cost significantly by actually manufacturing the expensive-to-outsource boards themselves in their shop in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, Philippines.

“Surfing in the Philippines is taking off in a big way,” Tortuya said. Luckily, this savvy entrepreneur is there to catch it.

He paints a scene out of a movie when explaining why he chose the company’s name.

“Around 5:40 in the morning is the best time to surf, it’s right before the sun comes up, and there’s no wind. Or in the evening, it’s when the sun sets. You could imagine yourself at that time surfing or sitting on the beach with someone, all sandy. Wow. It’s the most romantic time,” he said.

Thoroughly laidback and sporting a Tom Cruise-megawatt grin that belies an intense yen for perfection, Tortuya talks business like he surfs: fierce, fearless and passionate.

This former would-be lawyer and UCLA international development graduate makes even the most swimming-averse person get what surfers call the “stoke” when he talks about his liquid passion.

“Most people think it’s a sport, it’s more of a lifestyle than a sport. From the moment that you step on the board when you ride your first wave, you get hooked,” Tortuya said.

“It’s something that makes you change some life decisions. I didn’t go to college back East because I needed to be by the ocean. Surfing changes you.

You have as much fun doing it the last time as you did the first time. It’s the same feeling,” he said. “You’re hooked. It’s the surf stoke.”

Tortuya, who’s been surfing for more than 10 years, has ridden the waves of California, Hawaii, South Africa, and the Philippines. Half of the year, he attends to Fiveforty U.S. business and works part-time as a swim team coach and lifeguard trainer in Long Beach where he resides. The rest of the year, he stays in the Philippines to take care of his burgeoning business and to take part in surfing competitions.

He intends to be at this year’s Siargao Cup, which is being held on the island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte, Philippines until September 30. The upcoming Majestics Cup, slated for October 1-6 in Catanduanes, is also on the agenda.
Both locations boast of world-class surf breaks, and have caught the eyes of many international surfers.

Although he usually joins the competitions, Tortuya nowadays spends more time providing equipment support and documenting the exciting activities at these events.

Tortuya, whose father is Filipino, hopes to provide more support to local Pinoy surfers.
“They are awesome surfers,” Tortuya said. “The locals, they don’t have a lot of equipment, but they ‘shred’ harder than most of the surfers I’ve seen here.

These are fishermen’s kids, the same ones who sit by the beach eating camote because they can’t afford any other food. Then we get on the line up, and they ‘shred.’ Everybody gives them respect because they’re so good.”

“In every beach in the Philippines, between 30 of them, they’ll share about five boards. That’s a big shortage of equipment,” he said.

Surfing competitions that provide financial rewards as big as $25,000 (for the Siargao Cup) help alleviate the situation. That, and the vision of young Pinoys like Tortuya who aim to level the playing field for his compatriots by providing more affordable surfing equipment.

“There are already a lot of non-Filipinos trying to get into the business of selling surfboards. They’re already there, buying up all the lands in Luzon, in Siargao,” he said. “So we have to make something that’s good quality–made by Filipinos for Filipinos.”

His connectedness with his Filipino heritage grew significantly in 1991 when his parents, Larry and Nadine, sent the four siblings to study for two years in Aklan where his father’s family was from.

Tortuya, whose complete first name is Ludovico, also spent a year studying at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 2001, when he also stumbled upon a fringe benefit of having self-confidence and biracial good looks: Philippine showbiz came a-calling.

He joined on an impulse and became an MTV Philippines VJ Hunt finalist that year.

“Oh no!” he said, laughing at the memory of his early showbiz foray. “When I was selected as one of the 10 finalists, I was in Boracay and I had to give these headshots by 2 o’ clock that same day. I slipped into a Kodak (photo store), and got this passport photo. It was the ugliest photo I’ve ever had.”

“The next thing I know this ugly passport photo was all over newspapers and TV!” he adds.

Evidently, it didn’t matter, because through these MTV-related exposures, he scored product endorsement and hosting gigs.

He’s unable to keep his showbiz career busy though because of his Fiveforty commitments.

“The company is my priority, especially now,” he said. He admits encountering daily challenges in running the company, all part and parcel of getting a young company ran by young people off the ground.

Their storefront is their website, www.fivefortysurfco.com, where interested buyers could order custom-made surfboards and accessories. He admits they still have to do more in order to compete in the global surfboard business world, but he has tempered his big dreams for the company with a dose of patience.

Never the one to prematurely say “Surf’s up!” Tortuya has learned to wait for the big pay-offs in life from his surfing experiences. He recounted one of his biggest lessons in patience as he attempted to experience the Philippines’ most famous surf break called Cloud Nine in Siargao.

“Last year, because I’ve heard so much about the place, how great a surfing place Siargao is, I took an 18-hour flight from L.A. to Manila. Then rode a boat for 30 hours to get to Surigao, then another short boat ride, then a jeepney ride to finally get to Siargao.

It took me about 50 hours of traveling from L.A. to Siargao. And when I arrived there were no waves, it was just flat.

“I waited for five days. On the sixth day, almost thinking of leaving, I was walking by the beach, I turned a corner, the sun was just coming up and I see these mountain waves – the most beautiful waves I’ve ever seen, and it’s huge, and it’s perfect. That swell was there for weeks, it kept on rolling in,” he said.

With luck, patience and perseverance, Tortuya hopes to encounter that same perfection in the surfboard business world.

c0kelitr0

September 16th, 2005, 12:15 PM

The Mamanwa of Surigao: will they finally vanish?

By Anna Mae Morallas/MindaNews / 09 September 2005

It is a Friday morning, and about a dozen Mamanwa adults are the only ones left to greet me, a first-time visitor to their settlement in Sitio Baliw, Barangay Payapag of Bacuag town. The town – some 50 kilometers west of Surigao City – faces the sea, but Sitio Baliw, which goes inland five kilometers from the town’s poblacion, lies near the foot of a mountain.

I am inside the learning center, a rectangular bamboo-and-nipa hut built as a classroom for adults. I am seated on one of the bamboo benches that are nailed to the walls, which are also made of bamboo. The benches, wide enough to serve as beds, surround a wooden table in front of me. The table stands squarely in the middle, claiming most of the space that can accommodate twenty people at one time.

With infants, toddlers and out-of-school children in tow, the Mamanwa adults trickle into the learning center. There are more women than men. I stare at the Mamanwa’s faces expecting to see history tattooed on their black skin, seeing them the way I once looked at a remnant of the Ming dynasty, a porcelain jar, sitting proudly inside a glass case in a Palawan museum.

They greet me, give me shy glances, and offer me smiles that exposed bad teeth before they comfortably seated themselves on the bamboo benches. Two women, both wearing unbuttoned blouses, are cradling their infants. One baby is crying, and its mother immediately pulls out her breast, feeding her baby right in front of me. Oblivious to the mother’s breastfeeding ritual, the men who are gathered near the door continue discussing the corn and peanuts they have planted two weeks ago.

I return their smiles, mentally throwing the porcelain jar back into Palawan’s seabed.

Constructing myths and legends about the Mamanwa comes easy to me, a middle-class city-bred Bisaya. For after all, they are the ‘original,’ roaming freely the forests and coasts of Mindanao long, long before the Aetas came to do their own hunting in Luzon. The Mamanwa are more ancient than the other Mindanao lumad tribes such as the Ata-Manobo, Mandaya, T’boli, Teduray, B’laan and Bagobo. Today, the Mamanwa is as endangered as the monkey-eating eagle that sometimes they are called ‘vanishing tribe.’

My romantic notion of anything aboriginal is, however, not a usual way of seeing as far as the ordinary Surigaonon is concerned. The Bisaya - a generic term for settlers regardless of ethnic origin - who encounters the Mamanwa every ordinary day in the taboan, the barangay health clinic, the sari-sari store, the municipal plaza, or any other public place, characterizes the Mamanwa as a breed of beggars. This view springs from the annual activity of a group of Mamanwa that would go around begging in Surigao City all through the Christmas season.

Heritage from the elders

“We have always lived here,” Enrico Surigao recalls, “but the Bisaya would come and buy our farms with tobacco. Our elders would then pack up, and we had to start tilling the land again, in another place, farther up the mountains.” Enrico and his wife, Nita, are among those I visited in their homes in Sitio Baliw. The chosen datu of the community, Enrico suffers from tuberculosis and has been on medication for two months. Around his neck he wears, of blue plastic beads, a rosary with a missing cross; I stop myself from asking what church he belongs to, embarrassed that I wanted to know more out of curiosity than of genuine interest.

Nita tells me that their eldest son, a sixteen-year-old grade six pupil, goes looking for odd jobs in the mornings to earn money for the family, and in the afternoons, he attends classes at the barangay elementary school. Nita and Enrico’s sixth child, their youngest, is three months old.

Two years ago, Enrico and Nita, as well as the rest of the Mamanwa in Sitio Baliw, were living in makeshift houses. It is a practical solution. To the Mamanwa, temporary is a lifestyle. Somebody else, a tumaw (Bisaya), owns the land, and the owner would inevitably drive them away like a herd of cattle that is no longer welcome to eat the grass off the land.

The situation is not new to Enrico and Nita having spent their childhood constantly moving from place to place. Their parents and grandparents always chose to move away instead of putting up a fight for a piece of land. They would then move deeper into the forest, which became a refuge, for it was a generous giant, giving them wild pigs for food and not stopping them from harvesting the root crops they have planted.

But late in the ‘70s, the forest suddenly became crowded. The New People’s Army has encamped, inviting frequent encounters with government soldiers. The Mamanwa had to come out of their sanctuary; they had no choice but to live in the lowlands and to beg for the tumaw’s generosity, to lend them a piece of his land where they could put up their huts and spend the nights together.

The rule of Daday Delamente’s father, Aniceto, the former datu who, five years ago, died of bee stings, is ‘The family must stay together.’ Daday says that her father refused to have his family separated. Thus despite the hardships, her father would lead his children, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws to as far as Dinagat, a big island north of Surigao City.

“But we had to come back to Bacuag because this is our home, the land where we were born,” Daday says. And they did come back even if it meant living in a house that had no walls. Back then, Daday and nine other members of the family lived in a hut that measured about three square meters. The hut was made of bamboo, coconut lumber and nipa; it stood on stilts, and had no walls. What they used to protect themselves from the wind while sleeping were nipa shingles that Daday’s father would prop against the poles.

Enrico, Nita, and Daday simply accepted their lot: that it was their duty to help their elders in gathering vegetables and root crops for food; and that going to school was simply out of the question.

Development centered on people

Fortunately, a number of Surigaonons, most of them doing hands-on community development work, are genuinely concerned about the Mamanwa. The handful I met made me feel that there is yet a rainbow of hope for the vanishing Mamanwa tribe.

The day before my visit to Sitio Baliw, I stopped by the office of Sungcod – acronym for Surigao del Norte NGO Coalition Development – in Surigao City. The office is part of a two-story wooden house, one that a passerby will hardly notice because it is small and old. Beside it is a machine shop that manufactures ‘side cars’ for motorcabs. A narrow staircase leads to the second floor where the office is – its size is about a standard one-bed room. Inside the office are two computers, a wooden cabinet standing against one wall, a rectangular table the edge of which comes close to the edge of the door when it opens, and five staff, two of whom are volunteers.

Talking with Greggo Uriarte, Sungcod’s executive director, I get the impression that the personnel are driving full throttle a ‘60s Beetle, determined to get to the finish line before the gas in the tank dries up and the cash in their pockets is cleaned out. They have to deliver what they themselves have set out to do for their beneficiaries.

“It was only during this year’s annual congress that Sungcod has refined its five-year program, and even made some changes on membership policies,” Greggo explains. He says that he first got involved with Sungcod as an individual project holder. “I came in toward the end of 2002 because the project manager was resigning. Sungcod was registered with SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) only in 2001 because there was this need for non-government organizations to have a voice in local governance” Greggo says.

But prior to forming Sungcod, the people working with social development projects have already organized themselves into a coordinating council, the Surigao Integrated Community Services Coordinating Council. It was a response to and a method of implementing plans of action within the Integrated Community Health Services Project, a pilot project supported by AusAID that covers the province of Surigao del Norte. The responsibility of the coordinating council is to make sure that resources are optimized through a working relationship among non-government organizations and by facilitating links with government offices.

At the start, Sungcod had fourteen members under its wings, an odd mixture of non-government organizations and local government units. Today, it has been trimmed down to nine non-government organizations. But, Greggo says, a number of people’s organizations are queuing up to become part of the coalition.

From Sungcod’s orientation paper, I gathered some interesting concepts that have become its charisma: (a) development work is anchored on the recognition of the community’s inherent capability towards progress; (b) development work is a collective responsibility based on mutual and reciprocal partnership; (c) Sungcod must act as ‘facilitator’ for local community empowerment; and provide adequate technical support to the community in the management of local initiatives; (d) context-responsive community organizing; (e) integrated social services; and (e) community-managed and culture-sensitive education and advocacy.

What is written on paper would be tested when Sungcod takes the challenge of ‘facilitating community empowerment’ for the Mamanwa.

The gods are not crazy

To own a piece of land was far from Daday Delamente’s dreams.

But in July 2003, Daday and her family, together with 25 other families, moved in to their houses built on land that they own. The houses are made of coconut lumber and nipa, and they have walls. The land measures 12 feet by 12 feet. Yet the modest accommodation is reason enough for Daday and the rest of the community to give thanks for the blessing through a ritual called hinam-is.

Meantime, in Barangay Gacepan of Sison town, some forty kilometers south of Surigao City, another group of Mamanwa are offering some token of gratitude to the heavens. Fourteen families are also moving in to their own houses, on their own land. The land is smaller, 10 feet by 10 feet, but after a lifetime of running here and there, this piece of land is heaven itself.

Buying the land in Sitio Baliw and Barangay Gacepan is Sungcod’s response to the need articulated by the Mamanwa. It was clear that health education, which was then the focus, will not bear long-term gains if the Mamanwa remained squatters. There was no potable water system to speak of, no kitchen where they can prepare their food. Worst, there was not a proper toilet, not even a communal one.

That year, manna poured like rain on the Mamanwa in Sitio Baliw ang Barangay Gacepan. First, the Peace Equity Access for Community Empowerment Foundation, Inc., or Peace and Equity Foundation, approves a grant that covers the amount needed to buy land. Second, after haggling for the price, they get the land at a lesser amount. And third, the Peace and Equity Foundation allows them to spend the unused amount to put up a water system, install water-sealed toilets for every house, and provide electricity for every family.

The Mamanwa’s gratitude for Peace and Equity Foundation still flows like the water that gushes out of their faucets. They say ‘We are very grateful to PEF,’ and to me, it sounded like they were talking of a patron saint who has granted them their prayers.

But perhaps, the Peace and Equity Foundation did play the patron saint. Unknown to the Mamanwa, the Peace and Equity Foundation has been supporting communities in their efforts to extricate themselves from poverty – the support comes as loan for microfinancing projects and grants for basic services like water, shelter, and health. Leo Valle, senior project officer in Mindanao, explains that “there are priority provinces served by PEF, and these are the poorest provinces. We have, for instance, several projects in a number of ARMM provinces. But we also fund projects from non-priority provinces on a case-to-case basis.” Fortunately for the Mamanwa, the indigenous people of Mindanao are in the list of priority beneficiaries.

Today, the communities in Sitio Baliw and Barangay Gacepan are enjoying the basic services that their tumaw neighbors have long been enjoying. In Sitio Baliw, each house has access to water. In Barangay Gacepan, however, a water reservoir serves as a common source. The water source in Barangay Gacepan is too low that the pressure simply cannot reach the houses that are on higher grounds. Electricity is also available to the individual families although they have yet to install individual meters. At present, the electric bill is divided equally among the individual household regardless of the actual consumption, a practice that will eventually become an irritant among the residents. More importantly, the water-sealed toilets have answered the problem of human waste disposal.

Surviving on sturdy spirits

I wish I could say that having a title to their land, the Mamanwa are exultant as though they have reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Sadly, the cliché doesn’t apply.

In Barangay Gacepan, the land is filled with rocks that the mayana plants have to squeeze their way through. The wind during monsoon is fierce, and vicious during typhoons, that the Mamanwa are constantly doing repairs to their houses. Almost all of the houses that I visited in Barangay Gacepan have an unfinished look. It is a sad sight because the community is on elevated grounds, the land is sculpted like mini-terraces, and it lies below a majestic mountain range. It could have been picture-perfect.

Occupying only a land area of 1,400 square meters, the fourteen families in Barangay Gacepan have no extra plot to use for planting vegetables or root crops or even herbs. It is the only area that is available and affordable since it used to be public land. Thus everyday, they go up the mountain to see if their lit-ag (trap) has caught a wild pig, their one steady source of food. Most of the adults look for work in the neighboring barangay, earning three hundred pesos a month, at the most. Serlina Masano says that they get by with the little that they earn, but she worries about her teen-agers who are both in high school. She dreams of sending them to college but right now, she doesn’t even hope of seeing her dreams fulfilled.

There is, however, one ace left for the Mamanwa in Barangay Gacepan – their neighbors. The barangay captain of Gacepan, Glecerio Tadita, and his barangay council, are unwavering in their support of the Mamanwa. Perhaps, it helps that one of the barangay kagawad, Mila Buboy, is herself a Mamanwa. The barangay officials are looking into a new source of water from the mountain, one that will be sufficient to supply water to each household. The barangay captain has also asked the town mayor of Sison to have individual electric meters installed.

Back in Sitio Baliw, the men are into producing fertilizer out of organic components. They have learned the technology some weeks ago. Leo Pantilo, Sungcod’s community organizer, is the hand that carries out the projects in Sitio Baliw, from health and literacy classes to trainings in organic farming. The contract with Peace and Equity Foundation has been fulfilled, and now Leo is overseeing a livelihood project that is supported by the Philippine-Australia Community Assistance Project. The organic fertilizer project is in its initial phase, but it gives hope to the Mamanwa who are still struggling daily to put food into their mouths.

It is clear that the Mamanwa in Sitio Baliw are holding on to more than one ace. The community is situated in the lowlands and is less prone to the damaging monsoon winds and typhoons. It is quite accessible – with the exception of one river that a vehicle has to swim through, the road to Sitio Baliw is unbelievably smooth compared with the Barangay Gacepan road that winds along ravines, goes down and up like a roller coaster before revealing a wide riverbed that has to be crossed, only if it is not overflowing. And, the soil in Sitio Baliw is fertile, arable.

But then, in a country where poverty is palpable, where power politics is pulling the economy down to a precipitous cliff, are the Mamanwa’s chances of surviving this millennium far better than what their elders had?

What I have seen in Sitio Baliw and Barangay Gacepan makes me believe that the ‘vanishing tribe’ will live on. The Mamanwa have inherited the sturdy spirit of their elders. From outside, the Bisaya are reaching out, taking time to plan with the Mamanwa the next best step to take. Certainly, the future will not be without storms, Surigao being in a typhoon zone. But when the winds will have calmed down, the Mawanwa will still be standing on their own land, and they will no longer find themselves alone in clearing the debris.

Moreover, I do believe that in the future, the Bisaya will see a young generation of Mamanwa proudly wearing their ancestors’ history like tattoos on their black skin.

Christerdom

September 16th, 2005, 03:20 PM

wow!..very nice pictures....this is the first time i see surigao islands...it looks very much like the PALAU GROUP OF ISLANDS..

its infact very near to Palau Islands :)

Christerdom

September 16th, 2005, 03:24 PM

Surigao City and the Beaches around it

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Surigao2.jpg

amazing low-dense residential planning right there. seems like sim city to me :)

Lili

September 16th, 2005, 03:57 PM

It looks like very good urban planning. The grids show much potential -- just like the straight Manhattan grids.

c0kelitr0

September 19th, 2005, 02:37 AM

^^ actually that urbanized area is only 11 sq km composed of 5 barangays...

Washington -- 25,000 pop
Taft -- 23,000 pop
San Juan -- 7,000
Luna -- 6,000
Canlanipa -- 5,000

Total pop in urbanized area -- 66,000
Density in urbanized area -- 6,000/sq km.

Total pop within city borders -- 131,606 (2005 est)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/SurigaoCityLandUseMap.jpg

c0kelitr0

September 19th, 2005, 03:06 AM

NONOC NICKEL PROJECT DRAW BRIGHT PROSPECTS

The long moribund Nickel Refinery Project in Nonoc Island, City of Surigao draw renewed optimism with increased investor interests from China and the declared support of the national government to address pressing debt issues.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her visit to Nonoc Island and Surigao City last April 06, 2005 raised the possibility of restructuring the $300 million debt of Philnico, formerly Nonoc Mining and Industrial Corporation to draw Chinese capital. The target is to encourage Chinese companies to push through with their planned $1.0 billion investment on the project and seal the agreement in time for the April 27 visit to the Philippines of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

PGMA has already ordered the Department of Finance to work on the possible debt restructuring. The aim of the restructuring is to make sure that incoming Chinese investors will not inherit the roughly $300 million past debts of Philnico. Debt restructuring may involve several options including complete or partial debt forgiveness, moratoriums, interest rate reductions or term extensions.

Once realized “this will be the single biggest Chinese investment in the country” the president said. PGMA further notes the uniqueness of Surigao being one of the richest mining provinces in the Philippines if not the world.

Among the initial Chinese investors interested in the project are the Jin Chuan Non-Ferrous Metals Corporation and Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation. The Nonoc Nickel Refinery Project is among the major investment prospects promoted by the Board of Investments during the Philippine Mining Investment Roadshow held in Beijing, China last January of this year. A follow-through National Mining Summit held in Manila last February also bannered the project.

Earlier it can be recalled that the local development councils of the city and province of Surigao del Norte, with support from the Regional Development Council 13 have endorsed resolutions urging the national government to resolve key issues affecting the project’s attractiveness for investment.

The Nonoc Nickel Refinery Project is estimated to generate roughly 5,000 direct and indirect employment and about $300-$400 million in annual exports.

Edmundtanso

September 19th, 2005, 06:25 AM

i am impressed that there is a zoning made for surigao even though it's a small city. i hope other town and cities would do the same and implement it!

c0kelitr0

September 19th, 2005, 09:20 AM

^^ that's part of a bigger plan :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/genlanduse.jpg

tigidig14

September 19th, 2005, 09:32 AM

^^ whers the part of spurs, terrace, valey, cliff, sadeles, ridge. draw and depression in the map. o ye how bout the grid north n grid south. where are they in this map?

c0kelitr0

September 19th, 2005, 09:58 AM

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/economic.jpg

The City of Surigao, although a small city, has one of the most dynamic economies in this part of the country. Being the major growth and service center in the Mindanao Pacific Rim, the city has for the past decade continue to post positive tempos of urbanization.

Demographic indicators would show a positive migration trend into the city brought about by increasing economic opportunities. In the whole Caraga Region, the City of Surigao posted the highest population growth rate which is largely attributed to in migration. With an industrial base anchored primarily on mining and mineral processing, the expected resurgence of mining activities in the forthcoming years would invariably result to a boom in the local economy.

c0kelitr0

September 28th, 2005, 03:30 AM

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/flagship.jpg

Foremost is the citys flagship investment project - the PHILNICO Industrial Estate Special Economic Zone in Nonoc Island. A 590-has. special economic zone for heavy industries. The ecozone will be developed in 5 phases. Phase I development of more than 100 has. is already covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 192, dated October 6, 1999.

Target industry locators in the ecozone include the nickel refinery, power plant, foundry, oxygen and acetylene plant, drum making plant, nickel-chrome electroplating plant, and other related industries.

c0kelitr0

September 28th, 2005, 03:40 AM

Other Major Industries in Surigao City

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/fishery.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/infra_util.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/jewel.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/tour_services.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/real_estate.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/mining.jpg

c0kelitr0

September 28th, 2005, 04:03 AM

The City's labor force totaled 74,199 based on the census of year 2000. It has increased by a little more than 14% from the previous censal year of 1995. Province-wide figures would show a labor force participation rate of 68% and a very high employment rate of more than 98%.

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS
Surigao City/Surigao del Norte
YR 2000
Population 15 years old and over 74,199
Labor Force Participation Rate 68.0%
Employment Rate 98.2%
Unemployment Rate 1.8%

As a growing city with a relatively high rate of urbanization, the services sector account for the greater bulk of local employment at almost 50%.

The city, compared to highly urbanized cities, has much lower wage rates. This is an advantage for incoming investors to enjoy owing to a much simpler and less expensive lifestyle in the locality.

shotgun

October 21st, 2005, 05:48 AM

Hi to all,

I'd like to thank cokelitro for posting/sharing my pics in surigao, siargao and dinagat islands. I still have lots of photos from my last visit there in April 2004, but at the moment I don't have enough time to post them all.

The main link is here: www.photonski.com/shotgun/surigao

Some of these shots were actually from Dinagat island, some 4-hour ride by ferry boat from surigao city. It is my father's hometown. I spent my boyhood years there until I was 12yrs old, where we moved to cebu for my schooling. Now that I'm in Singapore for almost 10 years... I badly miss the place and the islands - something i just ignored as a boy!!

I'm planning to visit there sometime summer 2006, and hopefully can collect more photos. There is this one beautiful waterfall in Malinao (another town there) that my cousin has been boasting, and convincing me to visit. Nope, it's not open to tourists, but some natural and virgin place you can go without the $$$, build a tent, enjoy being close to nature and spend a night with bonfire ;)

Cheers!!

Shotgun

paulkrps

October 26th, 2005, 08:19 PM

c0kelitr0

October 27th, 2005, 02:27 AM

Shotgun!! wow! so it was you who took those pics! the pics are really great!

c0kelitr0

October 27th, 2005, 07:37 AM

Street Scenes of Surigao City

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/greenwich1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/charter4.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions46.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions49.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions50.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/jollibee2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions7.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/jollibee1.jpg

c0kelitr0

October 27th, 2005, 07:42 AM

Surigao City Public Buildings

Provincial Capitol

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/capitol1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/capitol4.jpg

Surigao City Hall

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions27.jpg

Public Market

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/market10.jpg

Water Works

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/water_works.jpg

City Airport

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/surigao_airport1.jpg

Ferry Terminal

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/lipata_ferry1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/lipata_ferry2.jpg

new Eva Macapagal terminal
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/evamacapagal.jpg

c0kelitr0

October 27th, 2005, 07:45 AM

City Park

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta4.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta5.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta6.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta7.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta8.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta9.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/luneta10.jpg

c0kelitr0

October 27th, 2005, 07:50 AM

Others

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/adrianos1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/adrianos2.jpg

Buenavista Cave
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/buenavista4.jpg

Mt. Carmel Farm
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/carmel8.jpg

Maharlika Hotel
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/maharlika3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/maharlika8.jpg

Peng U Restaurant
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/peng_u6.jpg

Gateway Hotel
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/gateway_hotel1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/gateway_hotel2.jpg

c0kelitr0

October 27th, 2005, 08:16 AM

Sagana Resort

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/SaganaResort.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Sagana1.gif

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Sagana2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Sagana3.jpg

chymera00

October 27th, 2005, 02:10 PM

nice pics .... Lots of commercial areas ....
that Buenavista Cave looks like a nice place to go to

paulkrps

October 27th, 2005, 03:21 PM

surigao city has really changed! last time i was there was 1990 i think. wow, so much changes! go surigao go!

c0kelitr0

October 28th, 2005, 03:11 AM

nice pics .... Lots of commercial areas ....
that Buenavista Cave looks like a nice place to go to

yeah, that's a really nice cave to go spelunking! it's huge and there's a natural pool inside.

c0kelitr0

October 28th, 2005, 03:16 AM

surigao city has really changed! last time i was there was 1990 i think. wow, so much changes! go surigao go!

the last time i was there was 2 years ago and there may have been a lot of changes in the past two years. it is after all the fastest growing city in Caraga economically and population-wise.

ThisFire

October 28th, 2005, 04:19 AM

What a cute and charming place!

shotgun

October 28th, 2005, 06:05 AM

Thanks!!

Yup, I've been to Buena Vista cave too, but too excited in the adventure I forgot about mounting my camera and taking pics!! LOL! It big, slippery, and it's got a natural "throne" (others call it "altar") at the dead-end. Careful not to disturb the snakes inside.

If you go there, i suggest you proceed to this nearby small but very lovely Bitaug beach. Small but very nice - more akin to di Caprio's "The Beach" albeit a smaller version hehe... super white sands, crystal clear blue waters, quite, natural. Boy I miss the place.

c0kelitr0

October 28th, 2005, 06:08 AM

Hope you can have a holiday soon and come back to work your wonderful magic with the camera! :D

c0kelitr0

November 4th, 2005, 11:48 AM

Thursday, October 20th 2005

Tagana-an ARC virgin coconut oil project gets fund support
posted @ 5:46 pm by Gladys in [ News ]
by Rene A. Durango, Fryan E. Abkilan

Surigao Del Norte (20 October) — The local government of Taganaan specifically, Barangay Laurel, is one of the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) recipients of the special projects implemented by the Department of Land Reform (DLR) and Upland Marketing Foundation Incorporated (UMFI) funded by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-Philippines-Australia Technical Support for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (FAO-PATSARRD).

In 2003, the assisted PO/Coop the Laurel Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (LAFAMCO) was identified by Mr. Rene Guarin, Project Director of UMFI to engage in a coco-based project, the virgin coconut oil production, for said PO is a coco-based ARC.

The technology transfer of Virgin Coconut Oil happened last last year, where the UMFI hired Mr. Paulo P. Mamangun, Jr. of Coconut Haven Philippines Incorporated as the resource personb. Mr. mamangun conducted lectures and hands-on training on Virgin Coconut Oil production to PO and ARB participants headed by Mr. Crespo Bonostro and PO Chairwoman Andresa P. Bonostro.

Presently the VCO production is done through manual procedure. Packaging in 150 ml. bottles and labeling with resealable caps was provided by the UMFI through their project officer, Ms. Ayee B. Omega.

Due to the voluminous demand for VCO in local and national market, the UMFI initiated moves to increase the volume of VCO production by provision of a mini-processing plant and procurement of equipments.

It has been known that Virgin Coconut Oil has a significant role to play in a well balanced, nutritious diet. Abandoning unhealthy lifestyles and reverting to natural foods can help to reverse many of the diseases that have manifested in our bodies through the highly refined diet of our modern society.

The UMFI provided funds for the construction of a 3 x 4 meters mini-processing building costing to P25,000.00 as grant. The PO, significantly contributed an equity of P17,000.00 for labor and other materials. LAFAMCO also availed a lean from UMFI amounting to P31,000.00 for the procurement of equipments.

The project turn-over attended by PATSARRD National Experts Aris Portugal, Vic Jurlano, PARO Pedro Condolon, LGU representatives headed by SB Member Edna Elipe, local DLR employees and PO’s was done last April 26, 2005.

At present, LAFAMCO is capable of producing 50 150ml. bottles of VCO a week at a gate price of P100.00 per bottle. Project monitoring is regularly conducted by MARO Rene Durango and the assigned Development Facilitator Virgilio Escalante. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

c0kelitr0

December 4th, 2005, 09:49 AM

GMA unveils plan to develop Surigao del Norte as top tourist destination

SURIGAO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has unveiled a P140-million Sayak airport expansion plan on Siargao Island to attract more foreign tourists and spur economic activities in the region.
At a proclamation rally of the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) attended by some 12,000 Surigaonons at the provincial gymnasium Saturday night, the President talked on government plans to make Surigao del Norte a top tourist destination.

The President said she had already discussed with Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and communications (DOTC) the airport expansion project.

"To accommodate the influx of foreign tourist to Siargao Island, we need an expansion of the present airport. The project will cost around P140 million. I’d already talked with Secretary Mendoza to allocate P50 million, and Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Robert Dean Barbers will provide P50 million for this project," she said.

The President also said that Barbers has earmarked an additional P50 million for the P140-million airport expansion project.

Aside from the airport expansion, the President also announced a P50- million modernization of the Siargao provincial gymnasium to revive sport activities in the province.

For expansion of the sport facility, K-4 former Senator Robert Barbers pledged P5 million; Congressman Robert Ace Barbers, P5 million Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers, P10 million; and PTA GM Barbers, P10 million. The government will subsidize the remaining P20 million.

c0kelitr0

December 4th, 2005, 09:54 AM

GMA wants Surigao fish marketed all over RP

SURIGAO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap to find more market for the fish being produced in Surigao del Norte and help local fishermen increase their income.

In a media interaction at the Philippine Nickel Corp. (Philnico) administration building on Nonoc Island here this morning, the President noted the cheap and abundant supply of fish in the province and how the government can help make cheaper fish available to the rest of the country.

"The improvement of the transport and market linkages of the surplus fish here will be attended by Secretary Arthur Yap and the Department of Agriculture (DA). This means more market for the fishing industry here in Surigao," she said.

The President said the improvement of the transport and market linkages would increase the income of farmers and fishermen and help stabilize the prices of basic commodities, particularly with the "unprecedented increase in the price of oil in the world market."

The Chief Executive arrived at the Surigao City Airport together with Yap, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, Land Reform Secretary Rene Villa, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board Chairperson Len Bautista, and Office of the Communications Director (OCD) Secretary Cerge Remonde.

The President and her party were warmly welcomed by residents and local officials led by Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers, First District Rep. Glenda Ecleo, Second District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, City Mayor Alfonso Casurra, and former Senator Robert Barbers.

She immediately proceeded to the city public market here and was very happy to see that the National Food Authority (NFA) rice is within reach of the masses at P16 per kilo. The Chief Executive was also informed by the traders/vendors that they have plenty of stocks of the low-priced NFA rice.

The President was also glad to see that blue marlin sells at P80 per kilo, which compares with P220 a kilo in Manila.

"That really shows that there is a very big supply of fish here in Surigao," she said.

While the province is exporting fish to other countries, the President asked Governor Barbers to assist the DA make its abundant and low-priced supply of fish reach other parts of the country, including Manila.

Sinjin P.

December 5th, 2005, 10:17 AM

Surigao, how I'd like to visit this enchanting place. ;)

manileño

December 5th, 2005, 10:24 AM

I always been fascinated by places ending in 'ao'.

Davao. Surigao. Mindanao. Danao. Lanao. Argao.

and outside Fil: Palau. Macau. Sao Paulo (Brazil).

Aw aw!

c0kelitr0

December 5th, 2005, 10:30 AM

^^ hahaha "Ao" means "Land".

Sinjin P.

December 5th, 2005, 10:31 AM

So, what does
>DAV
>SURIG
>DAN
>MINDAN
>LAN
>ARG
>MAC
>S PAU
>PAL
mean? :D

manileño

December 5th, 2005, 10:33 AM

Currimao, Ilocos Norte

c0kelitr0

December 5th, 2005, 11:58 AM

So, what does
>DAV
>SURIG
>DAN
>MINDAN
>LAN
>ARG
>MAC
>S PAU
>PAL
mean? :D

i don't know about the rest but surig means swift currents.

Sinjin P.

December 5th, 2005, 12:01 PM

Oh, so those words really have meanings..

SURIG (swift currents) + AO (land) =

SURIGAO (land of the swift currents)

..sounds weird huh. :D

tigidig14

December 6th, 2005, 07:30 AM

cloud 9 sa siargao (http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=aqKS5P4Csc4&search=Filipino)

galing ko first time i made a link :tyty:

Lili

December 6th, 2005, 07:41 AM

^ Another great find Tee. It's really different when you look at stills as compared to video clips. Parang ang saya mag-surf pero gasgado ang balat mo kapag tumama ka sa coral reefs.

KulasKusgan

December 6th, 2005, 03:12 PM

So, what does
>DAV
>SURIG
>DAN
>MINDAN
>LAN
>ARG
>MAC
>S PAU
>PAL
mean? :D

DAV = kalapati
PAL = Phil Airlines
ARG = alt reality gaming
LAN = local area network
MAC = mc do

c0kelitr0

December 12th, 2005, 01:31 PM

Surigao City Port

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/SurigaoPort.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/SurigaoCityPort.jpg

c0kelitr0

December 12th, 2005, 01:32 PM

Suhoton

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Suhoton2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Suhoton.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Sohuton4.jpg

c0kelitr0

December 12th, 2005, 01:33 PM

Siargao Island

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Siargao3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Siargao2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Siargao.jpg

chymera00

December 12th, 2005, 02:27 PM

Suhoton

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Suhoton2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Suhoton.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Sohuton4.jpg
Beautiful!!! the waters are so prestine .... I want to go to Surigao real bad..... its too beautiful :)

________________
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/feelthedrumsbeatingsmall.jpg (http://chymera.freespaces.com/mylokality/)

Edmundtanso

December 12th, 2005, 10:43 PM

where is suhoton in surigao island? looks so beautiful

Askal82

December 13th, 2005, 01:21 AM

Surigao rather than Boracay can compete with Phuket and Bali. I can see the potential. It just have everything. Its drop-dead gorgeous :eek2:

c0kelitr0

December 13th, 2005, 05:04 AM

where is suhoton in surigao island? looks so beautiful

it's in socorro...

as shown in the pic, there's a cave which is accessible and can go through from one end to another by boat.

Edmundtanso

December 13th, 2005, 05:43 AM

it's in socorro...

as shown in the pic, there's a cave which is accessible and can go through from one end to another by boat.

thanks....i do plan to visit one of the islands in the philippines when i visit next year. i think surigao island would be the one...

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:10 AM

SO you thought you've already seen the best of Surigao? think again! :D

Welcome to Dinagat

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island2.jpg

more on next page --->

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:11 AM

<---continuation...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island4.jpg

manileño

December 19th, 2005, 10:12 AM

:applause: nice. is this palawan? jk :wink2:

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:12 AM

This is NOT Palawan :D This is SURIGAO!!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island5.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island6.jpg

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:13 AM

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island7.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island8.jpg

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:16 AM

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Island9.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Islands.jpg

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:17 AM

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Cliff.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Dinagat.jpg

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:18 AM

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/Dinagat2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/ParadiseISland.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/SurigaoSunset.jpg

tigidig14

December 19th, 2005, 10:22 AM

ang galing ni Fhoy, isang araw nasa Makati, ngayun naman nasa mindanao

c0kelitr0

December 19th, 2005, 10:25 AM

^^ hahaha they're not my photos...but beautiful aren't they? :D

boybleauXx

December 19th, 2005, 10:31 AM

nice pics coke!

GORGEOUSSSS!!!!

sand...sea.....sun.....and surf ~ Surigao !

Madiyaw Kadjyaw !

Edmundtanso

December 19th, 2005, 11:00 PM

really beautiful there Coke...thanks for the photos, now i a going there next year! =)

paulkrps

December 19th, 2005, 11:11 PM

great pics fhoy!

Matteo

December 20th, 2005, 12:03 AM

hey is Surigao Islands different from Siargao Islands?

Animo

December 20th, 2005, 01:39 AM

^^ Amazing pictures cokelitro!

tigidig14

December 20th, 2005, 01:47 AM

hey is Surigao Islands different from Siargao Islands?
no

DaimosLA

December 20th, 2005, 01:52 AM

Here's a cool link

tropicalpix.com and search "Philippines". Lots of great surfing pictures from Surigao. Plus Samar!

manileño

December 20th, 2005, 02:46 AM

Siargao is just one of the Surigao Islands. There's Dinagat Is, Bucas Grande Is, etc.

This is all i could contribute:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/siargao.jpg

sista

December 20th, 2005, 04:17 AM

stig! paradise talaga!

Sinjin P.

December 20th, 2005, 04:19 AM

Siargao is just one of the Surigao Islands. There's Dinagat Is, Bucas Grande Is, etc.

This is all i could contribute:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/siargao.jpg

OMG! ^^ Sa Pilipinas ba 'yan? Ganda! :okay:

mhe-ann

December 20th, 2005, 12:38 PM

wow! :shocked:

KulasKusgan

December 20th, 2005, 03:10 PM

tara na, byahe tayo!

dancethingy

December 20th, 2005, 05:29 PM

Wow Fhoy and Manileno, those are just awesome photos and looking at them makes my go baliw given that i'm in the midst of all this asthma inducing pollution.

Surigao is FUN-F*%&-FABULOUS

drfeelgood17

December 21st, 2005, 06:08 AM

^^ is that what's making you baliw? hehe

c0kelitr0

December 25th, 2005, 11:19 AM

Busy air traffic in Mindanao noted; Surigao tops growth
Saturday, December 24, 2005

BUSINESS upswing and stable peace and order condition in Mindanao have remarkably brought in a busting aircraft movement and air passenger traffic at the island-region's airports during the first half of the year.

Year-on-year data processed by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) showed that Mindanao airports hit a total of 1.69 million air passengers and 18,809 flights during the first semester this year, which translates to an increase of 1.84% and 3.42% respectively over the same period last year.

Midyear figures of air traffic and volume in Mindanao are normally being generated and processed towards the end of the year.

Davao City International Airport registered the busiest air passenger traffic with a total of 874,825 passengers served in the first six months, which accounts for over 52% share of the total air passenger volume during the period.

DIA is followed by Cagayan de Oro City Airport with a total of 266,370 passengers (15.73%), Zamboanga City International Airport with 189,375 passengers (11%), General Santos City Airport with 149,785 passengers (9%) and Butuan City Airport with 62,149 passengers (4%).

In terms of growth rate in passenger traffic, Surigao Airport registered the highest at 457.32%, marking a dramatic rose from just 3,393 passengers in the first semester of 2004 to 18,910 this year due to the increasing tourist arrivals in Surigao, particularly in the surfing capital of Siargao Island. Data also showed that both Surigao and Siargao airports manifested a significant growth in aircraft movement, attributed mainly to the increased flight frequency of small airlines in Surigao City and Siargao.

Mindanao's aircraft movement this year is buoyed by small airline companies such as Asian Spirit, South Phoenix and South East Asian (Seair) airline, which were notably linking areas not served by other national carriers. These areas include Tandag, Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro, Siargao, Camiguin, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi as well as Malaysia and Indonesia for some seasonal routes.

Asian Spirit, for instance, has recently expanded operation in Mindanao when it opened major hubs to small, yet profitable destinations called as "missionary routes." These existing air routes have been benefiting these areas as it has encouraged more tourist arrivals in the region.

Meanwhile, a hectic air cargo movement in Mindanao was also seen during the first semester when total volume of cargoes passing through the island's airports climbed 7.82% or 33,761 metric tons from 31,311 metric tons last year. Davao City International Airport consistently captured the biggest bulk of cargoes with 60% of the total share, followed by Cagayan de Oro Airport and General Santos City International Airport with a twin share pf 13%.

A significant increase in cargo volume was also noted in the airports of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) where air cargo volume rose from 26.42 to 45.29 metric tons this year, boosted by the eight-fold increase in cargo volume served by Sanga-Sanga airport in the island province of Tawi-Tawi. Sanga-Sanga airport has served this year a total of 41.04 metric tons in cargo, up from 19 metric tons in the first half of 2004.

"The bustling traffic of passengers and cargo in the skies of Mindanao is indicative of Mindanao's bullish economy that is reeling towards greater, accelerated economic growth. It is worth noting that these are some of the gains out of the intense advocacy effort and collaborative work by the government and private sector to enhance air linkages in the remote areas of Mindanao as a means to fully integrate development in the island-region," Secretary Jesus Dureza, chair of Mdeco, said.

He added that such growth may be attributed to the fast growing visitor arrivals in several areas of Mindanao which have been regarded as business and tourist destinations in the country.

KulasKusgan

December 26th, 2005, 05:35 PM

Condolence to the family of ex-Sen Robert Barbers.

c0kelitr0

January 1st, 2006, 08:28 AM

Surigao del Sur as free port pushed

Surigao del Sur may soon be elevated from its current status as one of the 20 poorest provinces in the country if a proposal by its representative Prospero Pichay to develop the province into a special economic zone and a free port area will be implemented.

Surigao del Sur with its strategic location, rich natural resources and human capital with varying skills and trades highly qualifies as an economic zone, Pichay said.

The proposed Surigao del Sur Economic Zone will not only contribute to the development of one of the nation’s 20 poorest provinces, but also contribute to regional and national development, Pichay said. “The capital, technological and knowledge spillovers of the proposed Surigao del Sur Economic Zone will filter throughout the country thereby helping attain the government’s agenda of economic dynamism and competitiveness.”

The vice chairman of the Commission on Appointments said Surigao del Sur qualifies as a potential economic zone because of its strategic location along the border area, which allows easy transit of goods, it has sufficient road networks, sea and air transportation infrastructures, and has been blessed with raw materials and human capital at varying levels of skills and trades.

Pichay underscored the need to establish more economic zone in favorable geographic positions such as Surigao del Sur to enable the country regain a steady footing in the export industry.

KulasKusgan

January 23rd, 2006, 12:28 PM

Caraga solons push Dinagat as province
By Ben Serrano
Caraga correspondent

SURIGAO CITY -- Caraga lawmakers who are co-authors in the proposed law filed before Congress as House Bill 0084, otherwise known as An Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Province, are pushing for the immediate passage of the law at the Senate.

But oppositors, mostly independent lawyers, have also urged Congress to investigate allegations of padding census results that allegedly bloated population figures.

They claimed that even names of dead persons and those residing in Davao City or outside Dinagat were included in the population list.

They added that the law, once enacted, would be designed to feed the political ambition and greed of some politicians or vested groups who want to reign in the island.

Overdue dream

Caraga Region lawmakers who are authors of the bill are Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, Agusan del Norte Representative Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante, Surigao del Sur second district Representative Peter Paul Jed Falcon, Surigao del Sur first district Representative Prospero Pichay Jr., and Butuan City Representative Leovigildo Banaag.

Fifty-seven other congressmen, including House Speaker Jose De Venecia and Cebu Congressman Eduardo R. Gullas, were named co-authors of the bill.

The bill's principal author is Dinagat and Siargao Islands Representative Glenda B. Ecleo (Lakas-CMD, 1st district Surigao del Norte).

The lady lawmaker is mother of two Surigao del Norte town mayors, Gwendolyn Ecleo of Dinagat town, BenGlen Ecleo of San Jose town, and Surigao del Norte Provincial Board member Alan B. Ecleo I.

The lawmaker's late husband is the popular PBMA Divine Master and leader Ruben Ecleo Sr. His namesake and controversial son, Ruben Ecleo Jr., is a former San Jose mayor. Ruben Ecleo Jr. is touted as the inherent successor of his late father, Divine Master Ruben Ecleo Sr.

Congresswoman Ecleo explained the passage of her bill would provide opportunity for Dinagat Island to prosper.

Barbers in a text message to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro said it is about time that the long overdue dream and aspirations of the people of Dinagat Island are achieved through the passage of the bill.

"Dinagat Island has rich natural resources and fishing grounds, which if given opportunity to be created as separate province, can help make provide economic activities giving jobs to its people," Barbers claimed.

Dinagat Island is about an hour's boat ride from this seaport city with seven municipalities, namely Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, San Jose, and Tubajon.

It has a total population based on the 2000 census of 106,951, with an annual growth rate of 1.55 percent in the 2000 census and a total land area of 80,205 hectares.

Around 54,223 hectares of the total 80,205 hectares of Dinagat Island are considered as mineral lands. Among minerals found abundantly are Nickel Silicate ores, Saprolite, and Limonite and Metallurgical Chromite, gold, and silver.

c0kelitr0

January 24th, 2006, 04:56 AM

Diving in Surigao

http://www.grepstad.no/images/v1.jpg

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Lili

January 24th, 2006, 05:32 AM

Great underwater shots. What beautiful coral reefs. :)

Animo

January 24th, 2006, 09:13 AM

^^ Yeah, Surigao looks fanstastic. I think I should post photos of it in the Spanish forum. Meron kasing forumer doon na plano daw mag-vacation sa Philippines after seeing the photos of Manila. Marami kasi akala nila walang ganung mga buildings sa Philippines.

Askal82

January 24th, 2006, 09:22 AM

^^ Baliktad ang assumptions nila :)

c0kelitr0

January 24th, 2006, 11:56 AM

St. Paul University Surigao
Celebrating 100 Years of Life and Mission
(1906-2006)

From the Cartilla or Doctrina School which the last group of Spanish Benedictine Missionaries founded in 1906 with the Religious of the Virgin Mary as administrators, the school evolved into the Escuela Catolica de San Nicolas under the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart or the Dutch Fathers who later renamed the school as San Nicolas School.

In 1926, the St. Paul of Chartres Sisters came to administer the School in response to the invitation of the MSC Fathers. From that year onwards until today, the SPC Sisters have journeyed with us through the varying seasons of the institution’s existence.

The evolution of the school came about in a stride and never dramatically. The primary school which opened in 1915 was in existence for more than twenty years before the high school was opened in 1938, and it took another ten years before college courses were offered in 1948. It was almost half a century before the Doctrina School metamorphosed into a higher education of learning.

Continuing its educational pursuit, the missionary spirit of the school was undaunted even with the travails it encountered. There was the 1st World War in 1941 which destroyed the dormitory and the school and caused classes to be suspended; two super typhoons, “Louie” in 1964 and “Nitang” in 1984 which caused damage up to millions of pesos in infrastructure, but these were sieges which did not dampen the determination to restore and to rise again so that with its entrance into the second half of the century, the school has been developing and growing remarkably.

On this year before the school reaches its 100th year of life and mission, we take a glimpse of our school’s stature as an institution of learning. Today St. Paul University Surigao

• Is the only university in Caraga Region
• Is Accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities or PAASCU (Level III)
• Is ISO 9001:2000 Certified by TUV Rheinland Philippines, Ltd.
• Is Center of Development in Teacher Education
• Is TESDA Competency and Assessment Center and Career Development & Testing Center
• Offers 25 degree programs, 7 Certificate and Associate programs, secondary, elementary, kindergarten and nursery programs
• Is blessed with 90,000 sq meters extension campus at Luna, Surigao City

With San Nicolas de Tolentino and St. Paul, our patrons, and Mary, our model, we continue to implore the God of Life and Mission to bless our University with a stronger missionary zeal in its educational service to the people of the Philippine Republic, particularly to the populace of Caraga Region and more particularly to the residents of Surigao province. And together we resolve to live our motto: “Caritas, Veritas et Scientia”. CARITAS CHRISTI URGET NOS! (“Love, Truth and Excellence.” The love of Christ urges us!)

Edmundtanso

January 24th, 2006, 06:12 PM

fhoy
did you took those pictures in surigao (diving)? looks nice

dancethingy

January 24th, 2006, 06:13 PM

Fhoy are you a diving fanatic? do you dive?
I am desperate to learn. It's just one of the things i hope to get to do before my time is up. :)

Edmundtanso

January 24th, 2006, 10:35 PM

not sure if i like surigao to become a free port, i think the country have so many already and they should concentrate on one at a time and not keep on making many places a free port since the demand is not that much.

also, in order to keep the beauty of surigao, they should not make it a free port, i could just imagie all the pollution problems...sayang

c0kelitr0

January 27th, 2006, 03:15 AM

^^ no i didn't take the photos. they were shot by a diver who is opening a diving resort in surigao.

mhe-ann

January 27th, 2006, 03:37 AM

those are superb underwater shots! :applause: di ko magagawa yun kahit kelan. takot ko na lan malunod. :D

c0kelitr0

February 11th, 2006, 08:51 AM

SINO firm to invest $4 million in Surigao mining

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed today the signing of a $4-million Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Chinese investors and residents of Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte for the right to mine the province’s rich chromite deposits.

Chromite is one of the main components in making stainless steel.

The MoA involves the residents of Minahang Bayan ng mga Mamamayan ng Dinagat Island Cooperative, the Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation, and Macao Quanta Mining Co. Ltd. of the People’s Republic of China.

According to the MoA, Macao Quanta will agree to fund the mining operations of the cooperative which, on May 14, 1992, entered into a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the Philippine government to "explore, develop and commercially use" chromite deposits found to be buried deep within the Surigao Mineral Reservation in Loreto and San Jose, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte.

Also under the MoA, Oriental Synergy "represents itself to be technically competent to manage, develop and supervise the mining operations of the cooperative."

Aside from mining, all parties agreed to protect the environment, the residents of the province and to operate a mining operation "geared towards a holistic, sustainable and integrated development strategy of Dinagat Island."

According to the cooperative’s lead counsel, lawyer Rodel Batocabe, this new Chinese investment is expected to boost the province’s economy and strengthen its reputation as being the premier mining site in the country.

Also Present during the MoA signing were incoming Presidential Management Staff Chief Michael Defensor, Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo, Dinagat Island Mayor Ruben Ecleo Jr., Minahang Bayan president Benglen Ecleo, Oriental Synergy chairman Jiang Jie Ying and Macao Quanta chairman Zhang Tiang Ming.

released 1/23/2006

c0kelitr0

February 14th, 2006, 07:31 AM

AIM study lists top competitive cities

By EDU H. LOPEZ

Five metropolitan cities have made it to the ranking of the most Philippine competitive cities in 2005.

The study on competitiveness of cities as a place for living and doing business identified the metropolitan cities of Davao, Las Piñas, Makati, Marikina, and Muntinlupa.

For medium-sized cities that have populations of more than 200,000 inhabitants, the most competitive were Bacolod, Batangas, Iligan, Iloilo and San Fernando in Pampanga.

Ten smaller cities with populations of less than 200,000 inhabitants made it the most competitive ranking * Dagupan, Koronadal, Legaspi, Naga, Olongapo, San Fernando in La Union, Sta. Rosa, Surigao, Tagbilaran, and Tagum.

The study was conducted by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center in collaboration with the Asia Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the German Development Cooperation.

The results were based on a survey of 65 cities across the country categorized into 13 metropolitan cities, 15 midsized cities and 37 small cities.

Seventy indicators were identified, scored and converted into a ten-point scale based on national and global benchmarks.

The study was designed to promote healthy competition among Philippine cities in order to motivate local government leaders become economic and development managers apart from being providers of outstanding public goods and services.

Dr. Federico Maca-ranas of the AIM Policy Center said the ranking was also intended to recognize the outstanding performance of cities, assess their weaknesses and strengths, and encourage decentralization.

The cities were ranked based on the seven major drivers of competitiveness adopted from the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Yearbook.

These drivers are cost of doing business, dynamism of local economy, human resources and training, responsiveness of local government, quality of life, infrastructure, and linkages and accessibility.

Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from city statistics culled from the official publications of various government agencies and executive surveys administered to owners and managers of small and medium enterprises in the participating cities.

The Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project (PCCRP) 2005 was conceived to gauge the capacity of cities to provide an environment that nurtures the dynamism of its local enterprises and industries.

It assesses the city’s general ability to attract investments and entrepreneurs and uplift the living standards of its residents and provides benchmarks that help individual cities in measuring competitiveness.

Edmundtanso

February 16th, 2006, 10:39 PM

guys....i plan to visit surigao this year, any suggestion on clean hotel that is less pricey than pinasukan? thanks

mhe-ann

February 17th, 2006, 02:46 AM

uy, edmund, sama kami kung treat mo. hehe. :jk: I will try to ask my workmate (taga-Surigao) kung saan may mura. :)

c0kelitr0

February 17th, 2006, 03:57 AM

guys....i plan to visit surigao this year, any suggestion on clean hotel that is less pricey than pinasukan? thanks

Edmund, please check this out: Surigao Islands (http://www.surigaoislands.com)

tigidig14

February 17th, 2006, 04:16 AM

si fhoy sasabitan ka ng sampaguita pag dating mo, Edmundtanso
sabihin mo lang kelan

c0kelitr0

February 17th, 2006, 04:30 AM

^^ ay hindi na uso yan...panahon pa yan ng That's Entertainment :lol:

Edmundtanso

February 17th, 2006, 05:47 AM

guys and gals..thanks for your help, appreciate it.....lets all go to surigao! =)

Edmundtanso

February 17th, 2006, 06:00 AM

cokelitro
thanks for the link...

bustero

February 17th, 2006, 06:05 AM

how much is land in siargao, let's say bechfront in general luna or dapa

c0kelitr0

February 17th, 2006, 06:15 AM

Bustero, it's pretty much cheap...

please check out these beachfront properties for sale:

Malinao, Siargao Island (http://www.surigaoislands.com/realestate/gen_luna01.html)

Caub, Siargao Island (http://www.surigaoislands.com/realestate/delcarmen43.html)

bustero

February 17th, 2006, 06:27 AM

c0kelitr0

February 17th, 2006, 01:07 PM

Since Surigao is a part of this Historical Theory, I think I should repost it here (originally posted by GoldExplorer)

ACTUAL SITE OF MAGELLAN’S FIRST EASTER MASS, MAGELLAN’S BURIAL SITE AND A TRIBUTE TO TWO NOBLE CARAGANON RAJAHS

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

It was also Easter Sunday in 1979 that I got interested in the dispute on where the first Easter Mass in the Philippines which was celebrated by Magellan in March 31, 1521.

Until now, after 484 years, whether it was held in Limasawa Island or in Masao, Butuan City, cannot be positively established because historical and geographical data seem not to fit either of this location.

The 485th anniversary of this is coming this Easter and I would like to try to put Magellan’s body and soul to rest. I truly believe that he has been haunting me for the last ten years to do this.

We will present historical data, geographical conditions and the most recent maps to show that Magellan landed in Mahaba (Masapild) Island in Surigao del Norte where he was met by Rajah Kulambu of Butuan and then went on shore to the palace of Rajah Si-Aui, brother of Rajah Kulambu at what is now called the Municipality of Claver and celebrated the first mass on the shore now named Barangay Magallanes at the mouth of the Magallanes River. And then sent some men to climb what is now called Mount Magallanes to plant the cross to claim the land for Spain and to look at the seas beyond Surigao to decide whether he could enter the Surigao Strait and go that way back to the Spice Islands.

It is believed the names to honor Magellan was given by the second wave of Spanish explorers in 1543 led by Villalobos and accompanied by Gines De Mafra who was with Magellan on the first trip in 1521. This is only 22 years after the trip of Magellan so Rajah Si-aui was very much alive and Mafra led Villalobus straight to his settlement at Claver on the
eastern coastal area of the Caraga Region which was heavily colonized by the Spaniards as noted by the Spanish place names along the entire coast line from Surigao on the north to Davao on the south.

Butuan got involved here because Rajah Kulambu, King of the Butuan region was visiting his brother Raja Si- Aiu of the Eastern Caraga Region. Rajah Kulambu was the first person to meet Magellan when he landed.

We will also conclude that after Rajah Kulambu took Magellan to Cebu where he was killed brought back Magellan, now his bloodbrother, back to his home in Butuan and buried him in what is now named Magallanes in Masao, at the mouth of the Agusan River at Butuan City.

I am an exploration geologist working for over 10 years in eastern Mindanao and during the Easter in 1970 a strong typhoon cancelled our plane flights from Surigao City to Manila.

I was completing my reports when the Sunday papers came thru Davao City. An article on the controversy on the first mass was published in the Sunday magazine of that newspaper.

With several maps right in front of me and my detailed knowledge of the geography and ecological date of the area, I came to the conclusion that the first mass was celebrated in what is now called Magallanes in Claver, Surigao del Norte.

And for over ten years data just keep coming to support my observation and I would like now to finalize what I think really happened to put the souls of Magellan and his good friend and great Butuanon Rajah Kulambu to rest in peace. And I hope this paper will recognized the greatness of these two men.

The landing at Mahaba Island, Surigao Del Norte

Magellan crossed the Pacific Ocean and first landed at the island of Homonhon, Samar Province in what is now Philippines.

When they were in Guam earlier, and now in Homonhon, all his men wanted to head directly south to the Spice Islands (Mollucas) and head home to Spain from there.

But Magellan spotted the Surigao Strait and he was thinking that there could be a way through this passage to the ocean farther west on the way back to the Spice Islands.

So he made three scouting trip to the vicinity while his men were resting and recuperating in Homonhon Island.

But it was Easter week, and it was full moon, the rip tides on the Surigao Straight and Dinagat Sound was strongest and Magellan saw the strong sea currents, and the whirlpools and he thought to make the crossing would be dangerous for his small boats

This is the strongest reason against the first landing either in Limasawa or in Masoa. Because it meant that Magellan made the strategic decision to enter the Surigao Straight and although he was already an experience sea man, unless he had an expert guide it was dangerous or impossible for his fragile boats to make the crossing during strong rip tides (full moon). Easter is always celebrated on the third full moon of the year. This is one point strong against Limasawa and Masao as the site of the first mass, as claimed by Mr. Anderson, an American historian who wrote bout this in 1902 with very limited geographical knowledge and other data.

One map showing the route of Magellan from Homonhon shows the flotilla headed due south, where Magellan heeded the wishes of his men and probably decided to head back directly to the Spice Islands.

When he reached the southern part of Bucas Grande Island his route shows he made a sharp heading to the west towards mainland the coast of eastern Mindanao.

The strongest reason for this is, by this time he already saw the vastness of Mindanao Island, and already passed more than six big islands. He was promised two of the six new islands he could discover for Spain so he decided to further explore and claim for Spain the archipelago he just discovered.

It was recorded that when he was nearing the shores of Mindanao, Magellan saw lights of a settlement which he avoided and sailed farther north and anchored near an island named Mazzava, now mark on maps as Mahaba Island, located at Latitude nine and two thirds degrees.

Magellan during that time was using an Astrolabe (or Cross Staff ) to determine his latitude location and the accuracy of this instrument is plus or minus one degree. The must have landed and then check their latitude location which is why they could read to a one third of a degree which they could not have done on a moving ship. There was no way during that time to determine Longitude as the chronometer which could measure Longitude was only invented by James Harrison, an Englishman, in 1740.

Mazzava Island appears on present detailed maps of the area to be Mahaba Island in the Municipality of Placer, Surigao Del Norte, Magellan could have mistaken Mahaba Island , a small island to be part of Masapilid Island, because if is almost touching this bigger island ia and at low tide it could easily be mistaken to be connected the bigger island at the northern tip. This could be the reason that the island where they landed was described as shaped like a sting ray, which Masepilid is, and about 10 x 5 miles in area,

If present maps (1: 50,000 sheet Taganan No.) will be examined today it will be noted that Mahaba Island is very close to the Island of Masepilid and the flotilla of Magellan most probably anchored between these two Islands. It will note also that Masepilid is shaped like a sting ray as described by Pigapetta.

Stefan Zweig describes the landing as follows:

On the fourth day, March 28, the day before Good Friday, of voyage from Homonhon, the fleet reached Mazzava. At Mazzava, a tiny islet of the Philippine group, so small that only with a lens one can find it on the map.

It will be noted on the above 1:50,000 modern maps you don’t need a lens to find Mahaba Island which clearly is the islet Mazzava Zweig was referring to and exactly on Latitude ten degrees and 40 minutes or nine and two thirds degrees. During Magellan time they no instrument to measure in the accuracy in minutes.

Now let us examine first what Magellan actually “discovered” and the conditions of the Butuan Nation (now the Philippines) at that time when he landed in Mazzava on March 28, 1521.

The Butuan Region from 10th century to the 15th century appears to be the main settlement and a prosperous trading post for foreigners, Chinese, Indians and others foreigners.

The Chinese Imperial court in AD 1011 recognized Butuan as a State under King Sri Bata Shaja.

The Butuan state was recognize internationally by China, Vietnam and India.

This people that Magellan did not came across arwe not savages but people of an establish prosperous nation who for centuries have been used to trading with people from different countries diplomatically.

In 1521 north eastern Mindanao was ruled by two brothers, Rajah Kulambu of Butuan, the Butuan Nation (Agusan River Valley) and his Brother Rajah Au-Aiu of Calagan, or Caraga on the eastern coastal areas.

On the day Magellan landed in Mahaba Island, on the eastern coast, Rajah Kulambu of Butuan was visiting his brother at Calagan (Caraga).

Rajah Kulambu of Butuan was the one who met Magellan and so was the mistaken notion that Magellan was anchored on the shores of Masao, Butuan. This is the main reason for the claim of Butuan to be the site of the first mass.

Following are quotes from records of Pigapetta:

On Good Friday, the captain (Magellan) sent ashore the said slave (Enrique) our interpreter, to the King (Si-aui) requesting him to cause some provisions to be given for his ships. The King hearing that, came with seven or eight men in a boat and boarded the ship and embraced the captain, and give him three porcelain jars covered with leaves and full of raw rice and two orades (dorado) which are fairly large fish and other things.

"In the island of that King (Kalambu) who came to the ship are mines of gold , which are found by digging from the earth large pieces as large as walnuts and eggs, and all the vessels that he uses are likewise gold, as are also some parts of his house which was well fitted in the fashion of this country . And he was the most handsome person whom we saw among those peoples. He had very black hair to his shoulders with a silk cloth in his head, and two large gold rings hanging from his ears. He wore a cotton cloth, embroidered with silk, which covered him from his waist to his knees. At his side he has a long dagger with a long handle, and all of gold, the sheath of which was carved wood. Withal he wore on his person perfumes of storax and benzoic . He was tawny and painted all over. His island is called Butuan and Calaghan (Surigao). And when the two kings wished to visit each other, they go hunting on the island (Mazau ) where we were. Of this Kings, the aforesaid painted one is Raia Kulambu, and the other Raia Si-aui."

The dispute on where the first mass was celebrated begins on the notion that it was celebrated on the place were Magellan first anchored when he entered Mindanao.

If the Pigapetta notes were to be read carefully he said that on good Friday Magellan sent Pigapetta and Enrique to the palace of King Si-aui to request for supplies and when friendly bonds were made they went back to on Easter Sunday March 31, 1521 to celebrate the first mass in what is now know as the Philippines.

Magellan then planted the cross on a nearby hill to claim the islands for Spain.

So, now the real question is where is the place of King Si-aui is exactly located, if this could be pin pointed then it is the site of the First Easter mass.

This is now what is called Barangay Magallanes on the town of Claver, Surigao del Nor, about 5 nautical mile from Mahaba island and easily accessible by the small boats of Magellan.

From the description of Pigapetta and examining modern maps this appears to be at the site now marked Magellan, at the mouth of the Magellan River at the Municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte. The head waters of the Magellan River are located at what is now known as Mount Magellan. The Municipality of Claver was divided from the old Municipality of Gingaquit.

This is also bid rice fields are in the vicinity and the site of Magellan is at the mouth of the Magellan River where fresh water could have been loaded in the small boats and taken to the flotilla,

Thee are also is wide swamp areas where nipa grove and wine until now is being produced. These wines are locally called “laksoy”.

The place had o be a wide sprawling area to accommodate at least a thousand men.

It was described during Magellan’s visit there were two camps, the of King Si-Aiu and his other and quest Kulambu guided Magellan to Cebu with over a 1000 Balanghais, this could need more that 500 people to man.

Gigaquit fits all he physical characteristics described by Pigapetta, the gold mentioned is now in Placer that Masapilid island where Manila Mining is operating a gold mine very near the landing place at Mahaba Island.

THE TRIP TO CEBU AND MAGELLAN'S DEATH

Rajah Kulambu convince Magellan to go to Cebu on April 3 and provided an armada of “Balinghais “to escort the flotilla to Cebu..

As history very records Magellan was slain in Cebu on April 26 by Rajah Lapulapu.

Four days after his companions was still trying to negotiate for the release of his body but some was lured to a trap back to the island and likewise slain whereupon there main boats left Cebu headed back to the Spice islands..

Then Stefan Zweig writes:

No one knows what became of Magellan’s body, or to which element his mortal envelop was returned; whether to fire, to earth, or to air. No witness was there to tell us; and his grave, if he was buried, remains secret all traces of the man who wrested its last mystery from the unknown have vanished.

Rajah Kulambu with Enrique brings back
Magellan’s Body to His home in Butuan.

As Historian Zweig mentioned there is no record or witness as to what happened to Magellan’s body, but there are heavy obvious circumstantial evidence on what could have happened after the companions of Magellan abandoned his body in Cebu.

Rajah Kulambu accompanied Magellan’s flotilla with an armada which could mean hundreds of men and boats. It is clear that the Rajahs in Cebu were his friends and trading partners which why he was able to convince Magellan to go to Cebu.

It is also clear that Rajah Kulambu was a King, Diplomat and international trader and his majestic character is beyond dispute. And no Filipino today had given him the honor he deserves and as plainly and shamefully treated as a savage.

And there is Enrique, Magellan’s faithful friend, who circumnavigated the world with him and who chose to remain with his dead friend rather than go back to Spain.

These two honorable people could not have made any other decision but to carry Magellan’s body to the home of Rajah Kulambu in Butuan and bury him there.

Rajah Kulambu buried Magellan in his home place now called Magallanes at the eastern side of the mouth of the Agusan River.

This is the home of Rajah Kulambu since the wide river-sea inlet now called Magallanes river is the only place in Butuan which could a safe place to anchor the king’s armada of boat or Balinghais. It could not have on the banks of the Agusan River because of the strong river current and the frequent flood that occur in the region

And for the last word: Rajah Kulambu must have been buried in the same place along with Magellan and Enrique.

Magallanes in Butuan City, instead of making a disputable claim as the site of the first Easter mass should be honored by being the burial place of two great men Magellan and Rajah Kulambu.

Enrique should like wise be honored because he could have been a Filipino, since he spoke the language of the times he very well be the first Filipino who circumnavigated the world,

And on the eastern side Brgy, at Claver at the of Rajah Siagu and an archeological place. It is amazing that not a single piece of archeolocal piece have been discovered here.

There much to research and this should be further researched by experts with the new findings and modern maps. To settle once and for where he first Easter mass in the Philippines was celebrated and most important to recognized thart Magellan was buried in Magallanes, Butuan.

Watch out for the next posting as we will write bout wealth and nobility of Butuan before the 13th Century.

We will tell you about the archeological treasures of Butuan specially the story of the Golden Tara, the lost mine from where gold from this statue was mined in Butuan..
It is still there. And we know where to find it.

Just let us know if you are interested to find the lost treasures of the Butuan Balanghai and the Lost Mine of the Golden Tara.

c0kelitr0

February 17th, 2006, 01:13 PM

Ah it's about Php 500 to Php 1000 per sq.m. I thought it was around php 100 like Samal. Anyway looks very nice.

Fhoy, how often does a storm pass by this place. I know it's not part of the typhoon belt right, but once in a while I guess a passing typhoon hits it, how often please. ty.

maybe once in 3 years now...it used to be a part of the typhoon belt...but for the past few years, the typhoon belt has shifted northwards...so surigao is rarely hit by typhoons...and if it is, usually signal #3 lang or #2.

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:01 PM

Surigao Golf Driving Bay
Ipil, Surigao City

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoGolfDrivingBay.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:07 PM

Maharlika Hotel
Lipata, Surigao City

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Maharlika.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:08 PM

Mabua Pebble Beach
Mabua, Surigao City

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/MabuaPebbleBeach.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:11 PM

Rock Formation
Dapya, Surigao City

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Dapya.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:13 PM

San Jose Beach
Surigao City

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SanJoseBeach.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:15 PM

Lake Mahucdam

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/LakeMahucdam.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:16 PM

Surigao Peak

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoPeak.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:27 PM

Dinayhugan Dam

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/DinayhuganDam.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:28 PM

Cantilan Tribunal

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c0kelitr0

February 18th, 2006, 02:35 PM

<-------continuation

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Beach.jpg

sista

February 18th, 2006, 05:36 PM

woahhhh! surigao is sooooooo beautiful!

Askal82

February 18th, 2006, 06:42 PM

:eek2: :eek2: Can't wait to book a flight.

cyrusal

February 19th, 2006, 04:10 AM

Chinese traders eye $1-B investments
By Ben Serrano
Caraga Correspondent

SURIGAO CITY -- Ten top level foreign mining executives are expected to arrive February 21 for a 3-day meeting, visit and consultations with local mining and government officials in this city and the region, Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra announced.

Two Chinese mining firms, two of the biggest in China are set to invest $1.2-B for processing and mining nickel, chromite and other minerals in Nonoc Island this city.

In a fax sent by two of the mining firms through their Manila office, confirmed to arrive here in Surigao City next week are Bao Steel Group Senior Manager Liu Bo, Lawyer Xu Lei and Accountant Xu Yang

Chinese mining firm, Jun Chuan (JNMC) Group delegation will be headed by JNMC Vice President Wang Wei, Yi Shuli, the firm's Director of Science and Technology, Lawyer Shang Qiong, Senior Acountant Qi Dexiao, JNMC Manila Office Representatives Li Yunjin and Zhang Junming.

The mining firms' executives are to be accompanied by China Development Bank (CDB) official Luo Wuhma, CDB Director for International Finance Department.

Tbe group met Philippine officials in Beijing and Shanghai last month for the two Chinese firms reiterated interest to invest in joint venture with local mining companies for a nickel, chromite and other minerals in mineral rich Nonoc Island, an island barangay of this city just thirty minutes motorboat ride from this seaport city of Surigao.

Complied

Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra said the Chinese mining officials will meet with local officials and visit the mining and processing area abandoned by its former operator, Philippine Nickel Company or Philnico.

"The two Chinese mining firms in conglomerate with local mining firms will lease the island for thirty years but with strong control, supervision and monitoring of the City Government and concerned government agencies to see to it that mining laws are strictly complied," Casurra added.

The island which is located few nautical miles away from this city has millions of metric tons of nickel, chromite, some gold ore and other mineral deposits.

Because of labor, alleged mismanagement and revenues problem, the former operator Philnico closed shop and declare "bankruptcy" then the whole island was turned over to the government under stewardship of the Asset Privatization Trust (APT).

The Pacific Nickel Philippines, Inc owned by the Cabarrus family took over the island operations after it assumed some $300-M incurred debt by its former operator Philnico.

The government in return pay through guarantee all Philnico's private and public debts with taxpayer's money.

The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Caraga Region claimed Pacific Nickel never made its promised to pay the government of its $300 million obligations despite quarrying operations by Taganito Mining in the island.

The issue is now being resolved at the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) after the government through the APT filed a case against Pacific Nickel.

During last year's visit of President Arroyo in Caraga Region, she said the two Chinese mining firms' interest to invest in mining in Nonoc Island worth $1.2 billion is the single biggest dollar investment in the country in history.

Arroyo said, the mining investment will open some 3,000 to 4,000 jobs to local workers in and outside Caraga Region notwithstanding the indirect economic benefits the mining investments can give to local communities.

However Arroyo said the government won't compromise the environment even if huge investments are at stake, saying her administration reiterated official stand for responsible and sustainable Philippine Mining Industry.

Arroyo also ordered then DENR Secretary Mike Defensor to coordinate with the Department of Finance over the $300 million debt of Philnico to the government.

c0kelitr0

February 19th, 2006, 04:52 AM

^^ YESSSSSSSS! Finally an update! Surigao will finally be able to stand up from where it fell...At that time when Nonoc first started operations, Surigao's population doubled in just 5 years due to migration from 30,000 to 60,000 (urban: 35,000+)...
and even at that tiny population, there were 5 cinemas in the downtown area; there was a large two-storey bookstore; big department stores; more restaurants than it has now; ice cream parlors and coffee shops; and it could claim the best nightlife in that part of mindanao when every night was a saturday night...

when Nonoc closed, many businesses have gone bankrupt...monthly fires razed the city because people wanted to claim their insurances (late 80s to early 90s)...yun naabutan ko nung dumating kami dito; i was wondering bakit linggo-linggo may sunog...it was a miracle that despite the poverty, the city did not turn into a ghost town...it strived to survive and grew to what it is now (pop 2006: 140,000)... and has become one of the most competitive cities in the country; independent of the mining industry.

if Nonoc will open in 2009 as targeted by the government...that single company alone will give more than P500 million in taxes to the city coffers which in turn will fund more projects...will provide high-paying jobs...will lure back the men who have gone abroad...will revive old businesses and bring more new investments as the purchasing power of the surigaonons increases...it is such an exciting thought...such an exciting thought...

c0kelitr0

February 19th, 2006, 08:10 AM

Surigao Port Area

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoPort.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 19th, 2006, 08:13 AM

San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoCathedral.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoCathedral2.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 19th, 2006, 08:14 AM

Sexy Surfers :D

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Surfers.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Surfers2.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Surfers3.jpg

Lili

February 19th, 2006, 10:16 AM

^^ Wow! Reminds me of Blue Crush. If I were a better swimmer, I would love to try out surfing.

bustero

February 20th, 2006, 09:33 AM

^^ate lily, you don't need to be a better swimmer, mas sexy ka naman kaysa kanila i'm sure!

c0kelitr0

February 20th, 2006, 09:39 AM

Japan extends more than P4 million ODA for children in Surigao City

Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki and Mayor Alfonso Casurra of Surigao City , signed the grant contract for “The Project for Construction of Residential Center for Street Children in Surigao City ” a t the Ambassador's Residence on 07 February 2006 . The Project, amounting up to US$ 86,586 (PhP4,844,486), will be funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) under Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA), as part of the celebration of this year's 50 th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan . Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) witnessed the ceremony.

The City Government of Surigao, through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), has been addressing the increasing number of street children in the area. The CSWDO looks after the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being of the children while also facilitates their reintegration to their families or referral to existing homes for rehabilitation. However, the only existing home in the City can accommodate a limited number of girls. Meanwhile, the City-managed Center for Street Children is made up of makeshift materials and has limited space causing inconvenience among children and making them vulnerable to sickness.

Under these circumstances, the City Government of Surigao sought assistance from the Embassy of Japan. The Embassy will extend an ODA grant for the construction of a new Center with spacious dormitories that can accommodate 50 children at a time in barangay Anomar. The facility will also have rooms for counseling, play therapy, dining/kitchen, library, and conduct of training activities. Thus, this project will help in improving the City's services, thereby increasing chances of the children to have functional and productive lives in the long run.

This project is the fifth to be funded by the Embassy's GGP in Mindanao under the present Japanese fiscal year. This manifests Japan 's special concern for human security, protecting individuals and communities from threats to their lives, livelihoods and dignity through empowerment, which most of various assistance schemes under Japan 's ODA focus on.

Japan 's GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaging in grassroots activities. Since then, 357 grassroots projects amounting up to a total of more than US$13 million (ranging in cost from roughly PhP 1 to 4 million) have been implemented by NGOs, local government units, and other non-profit organizations.

Overall, this project is expected to contribute to further strengthening the cooperation between the Philippines and Japan . For this year, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared 2006 as Philippines-Japan Friendship Year to mark its Golden Jubilee.

c0kelitr0

February 21st, 2006, 09:20 AM

DENR told: Stop illegal logging in Surigao Sur

Feb 20 2006
Ronnie E. Calumpita

A social democrat group on Monday urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to stop the illegal logging activities in Surigao del Sur.

Fr. Erwin Torres of Aksyon Sambayanan and the assistant parish priest of St. Vincent de Paul in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, said the residents fear that landslides and flashfloods may happen in the province due to alleged illegal cutting of trees by PICOP Resources, Inc.

"It has been raining in our province for several days now and waters from the mountains have been coming down. This may trigger a landslide because there are few trees to hold the water and avert soil erosion," said Torres, also a leader of the Kalihokang Bantay Kabuhatan, a group that focuses on forest protection in Surigao del Sur.

Torres and some 150 demonstrators— several of them came from Bislig City, picketed in front of the DENR Monday morning to stop PICOP from conducting logging because its logging permit has not yet been renewed.

c0kelitr0

February 21st, 2006, 09:53 AM

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/bonok.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/bonok3.jpg
Mandaue Contigent 2005

HISTORY OF BONOK-BONOK

One of the oldest and still existing tribes in the Philippines are the Mamanwas, who are quite similar to the Negritoes in physical profile. Although forced to settle in the hinterislands because of the advent of development, they still practiced, however, their customs and traditions. Among these is the belief about “KAHIMUNAN”, a tribal festivity, where music and graceful dancing are distinctive features. They chant and play accompanied with their instruments, such as: the gimbar (drum), the gong and the bamboo called the “kalatong” and “katik”. A “baylan” or priest officiates the celebration as a tribute to their God, “MAGBABAYA” and ancestors for good health and bountiful harvest intercessions.

During the “kahimunan” or tribal festivity, wild pigs, chicken and different fruits are offered to the ancestors. A thanksgiving dance called “BONOK-BONOK” is performed by the different village chieftains and babaeyons. Happiness and friendship are expressed through dancing, shouting and singing. They wave scarves of “BANAY” as signs of good will, prosperity and blessings for the entire tribal village.

Thus, Bonok-Bonok is a ritual dance which originated from these early settlers. The rhythm usually starts with a slow beat and gradually gets faster, causing the dancers to work at pace with the music. Adding to the attraction of the dance, is the colorful raiment, which includes beaded headdresses or tubaw, bracelets and anklets of the women. The ceremonial dress of the men and women are likewise ornate in design, and of various colors.

The dance ritual has been brought down through the generations and still being practiced today. In reverence to the Patron Saint San Nicolas de Tolentino, the people have already adopted the “Bonok – bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw” Festival which is a reflection of Surigao’s rich cultural heritage.

c0kelitr0

February 21st, 2006, 10:09 AM

The 11th Siargao International Surfing Cup Champion

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/surfing_champ.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/surfing_opening.jpg
Ceremonial breaking of the surfboard to open the event

----------------------------------------------------------------
Pasayan Festival

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/pasayan_feastival.jpg

The first “pasayan” Festival was successfully launched during the city fiesta where an impressive 500 kilograms of shrimps were cooked to hopefully make it in the Guiness World Book of Records as envisioned by the Chairman of the Bonok-Bonok Foundation, Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers.

The governor also took the chance of promoting the bountiful harvest of shrimps from the fishermen of the Municipality of Gigaquit and its nutritional value, and he demonstrated it together with Madame Tricia Barbers, by feeding the orphans of Surigao City from Tugbongon with the deliciously cooked shrimps.

A throng of excited Surigaonons were eagerly waiting for their turn to buy the cooked shrimps, as it was sold in a very affordable price of P100.00 to which the proceeds will go to the funds of the Bonok-Bonok Foundation.

Gov. Barbers who financially financed the said festival was very thankful to all the Surigaonons for showing their support and to Knorr Sinigang Mix being one of the major sponsors.

c0kelitr0

February 21st, 2006, 12:47 PM

Surigao City Port

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoPort3.jpg

OtAkAw

February 21st, 2006, 01:52 PM

coke, are you a native of surigao? You seem to know so much about it.

Edmundtanso

February 21st, 2006, 10:45 PM

what an embarassment to DENR, they are being asked by local citizens to stop "illegal logging"....omg, get your up together DENR!

bustero

February 22nd, 2006, 06:01 AM

Surigao Peak

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SurigaoPeak.jpg

I like this pix although it kinda reminds me of that leyte town!

c0kelitr0

February 24th, 2006, 04:38 AM

coke, are you a native of surigao? You seem to know so much about it.

i have spent a few childhood years there...and most of my holidays :D

c0kelitr0

February 24th, 2006, 01:52 PM

Bonok-Bonok Festival

http://www.sam21phj.com/mindanao%20is/Surigao%20city/surigao%20city1.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 24th, 2006, 01:56 PM

Silop Cave

http://www.surigao-city.de/pictures/silop2.jpg

http://www.surigao-city.de/pictures/silop3.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 25th, 2006, 10:37 AM

Surfing at Lanuza Bay

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Lanuza.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 25th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Paradise on Earth - Surigao

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Paradise.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 27th, 2006, 11:16 AM

Daku Island

http://static.flickr.com/30/44231089_8f76d6a35e.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Daku.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 27th, 2006, 11:22 AM

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Daku2.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 27th, 2006, 11:26 AM

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Daku3.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 27th, 2006, 11:33 AM

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/SiargaoIsland.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 27th, 2006, 11:34 AM

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/DAku4.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Daku5.jpg

c0kelitr0

February 27th, 2006, 11:38 AM

Guyam Island

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Guyam.jpg

Edmundtanso

February 27th, 2006, 11:10 PM

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/Daku2.jpg

cokelitro
wow, those are amazing pictures. i specially like this one, do you know where was this picture taken?

we are going to stay at www.balanghai-surigao.net

those pictures reminds me of boracay back in 1992, very crystal clear water!

Edmundtanso

February 27th, 2006, 11:14 PM

is there any resorts in Daku island? thanks

c0kelitr0

February 28th, 2006, 04:44 AM

i think there are quite a few but i'm not sure about that...we would always stay at siargao island kasi...daku island is less than an hour away by boat (you can rent a boat at very cheap prices)...everytime we go to daku, we would only stay from morning til afternoon...then head back to siargao...

what i love about daku is that you have the island all to yourself! there aren't too many people...

flashlight

February 28th, 2006, 05:05 AM

wonderful photos coke. last month we tried to go at Siargao by SEAir, unfortunately we have to go back to Cebu bacause of heavy rains. good thing was the ticket is now open and valid for six months. we will definitely be there one of these days when we have time and weather is ok, hehehe :)

c0kelitr0

March 10th, 2006, 04:30 AM

Philex says drilling in Surigao yields 'excellent' results
Posted: 11:35 AM | Mar. 07, 2006

PHILEX Gold Inc., a subsidiary of publicly listed Philex Mining Corp., reported "excellent" drilling results at the Boyongan site in the province of Surigao del Norte in southern Philippines.

"PGI is very pleased with the excellent drill results from initial in-fill holes at Boyongan," Philex Gold chairman and chief executive officer Walter Brown said in a statement.

He said Philex Gold's joint venture partner, Anglo American Exploration, has committed to 17,000 meters of confirmatory drilling.

"(This) will upgrade the resources from the 'inferred' to the 'indicated' category necessary to advance the project to a pre-feasibility stage," Brown added.

At 10.49 am, Philex A, restricted to local investors, gained 0.06 pesos or 3.49 percent to 1.78. Philex B, open to foreign buyers, advanced 0.06 pesos or 3.23 percent to 1.92.

mhe-ann

March 10th, 2006, 06:30 AM

whow! ganda nun silop cave though parang nakakatakot. hehe.

Sinjin P.

March 18th, 2006, 07:37 AM

Surfing Capital of Asia & Siargao Ichiban kawaii mizugi (Siargao cutest bathing suit)
http://siargao.com/i/front01.jpg

c0kelitr0

March 19th, 2006, 04:26 AM

...and one of the cutest surigaonons around...sam... :drool:

http://www.journal.com.ph/@/news_section/sam%20milby5.jpg

c0kelitr0

March 19th, 2006, 02:00 PM

Gov’t may sell Philnico nickel mine in Surigao by Q3

By Des Ferriols
The Philippine Star 03/19/2006

The prized nickel mine of the Philippine Nickel Co. (Philnico) could be put on the auction block as early as the third quarter of the year once the financial model for the sale of Nonoc mines is finalized by next month.

Finance officials said the financial package for Philnico is expected to be completed by next month and would pave the way for decisions on how China-based nickel giant Jinchuan Group and Shanghai Bao Steel Corp. could proceed with their investment in the mining interest.

According to Finance Undersecretary Jay Singson, the feasibility study is scheduled for completion this month and would, in turn, be the basis for drawing up the financial plan for the Nonoc mines.

"The deadline for that financial plan is the end of April," Singson said. "It would tell us what our options are in terms of how Jinchuan and Bao Steel could come in."

Although the Nonoc mines have been sold by the government years before to Philnico, the company was never able to pay for the mine, except for a small initial payment right after the sale.

Singson said this made it less straightforward for new investors to come into the company and help develop its primary asset since Philnico would have to settle its obligations with the government first.

Despite the legal tangle delaying the privatization of Nonoc mines, however, Singson said the Jinchuan consortium has indicated it is willing to wait for the case to clear up.

The consortium had originally signed a six-month memorandum of understanding with the government but this has since lapsed. Although not formally renewed, Singson said the Chinese consortium is still "very much involved in discussions".

"We told them about the March deadline for the study and they said they were amenable to the timetable that has been set," Singson said. "This indicates that they are still very much interested and they are willing to wait."

The government was forced to go back to the drawing board to revalue the controversial Nonoc mines before the Chinese consortium buys into the Philnico.

The Jinchuan-led consortium had been promised a quick resolution of the Philnico case but the re-appraisal of the mine would push the Chinese investment back longer than originally expected

"There’s really no way around it, we have to know what we are talking about and how much it is worth," Singson said. "Only then can we start talking about terms."

Singson said even talks with the Jinchuan consortium have not reached the level of detail where the government could start considering its options on how to collect Philnico’s arrears.

Philnico owed the National Government at least $300 million when it bought Nonoc nickel mines in Nonoc Island, Surigao. Singson said the company made a small payment when the transaction was completed but it has not made any other payment since.

"The bottom line is that we have to make this happen as soon as possible," Singson said. "We are glad that Jinchuan is interested in

Nonoc mines, but that investment can happen only after Philnico settles government’s claims."

In 2005, the Arroyo administration begun considering an out-of-court settlement with Philnico just to expedite the court case and finally facilitate the entry of the Chinese mining consortium.

Jinchuan is China’s biggest nickel mining and processing corporation, with a nickel reserve of 5.5 million tons.

According to Singson, however, there was a fundamental disagreement over the present and updated valuation of Nonoc mines. "We can not proceed with any of the arrangements we have to make until we get this done," he said. "We don’t know how much government will be paid for what Philnico still owes and we don’t know what is possible and what isn’t until we do this."

c0kelitr0

March 25th, 2006, 05:59 AM

City of Bislig snapshot

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/jafhoy2/BisligCity.jpg

Edmundtanso

March 26th, 2006, 06:00 PM

it's just alarm me reading all the mining, fishing developments in surigao. i hope thy dont over do it because idont want to see the island to spoil.

c0kelitr0

March 27th, 2006, 11:41 AM

More health projects implemented in Surigao Norte

SURIGAO CITY (22 March) -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) here had been doubly busy initiating more health projects in support to Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers' reform and sustainable health programs, while heeding the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in providing better health care services of the people,

It can be noted that right after the approval of this years' budget, simultaneous repairs of district hospitals that has been neglected and left to rot for so many years by past administrations had been done. Procurement of medical equipments has been conscientiously acquired to ensure efficient delivery of health services in the whole province of Surigao del Norte.

Recently, Congressman Ace and Gov. Lyndon Barbers have initially distributed medical kits and Anti-Dengue Apparatus, by pooling their resources together, to provide front line health workers like the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Brgy. Nutritional Scholars (BNS), Day Care Workers and Brgy. Captains with the necessary medical apparatus that they direly need in their respective work. Most of them have expressed how grateful they were for the noble gift that the Barbers brothers had given.

"We recognize the important roles of our health workers, the BHWs, BNS, Day Care Workers, and our Brgy. Captains, in establishing healthy communities. Health concerns are not sole responsibility of those who are in the health sectors, but most of all, by every member of the community. You need to be empowered as you share this enormous responsibility to ensure everyone's well-being, and part of that empowerment is to provide you with the necessary materials you need. Progress and development can only be true when we see healthy people living in the community." Gov. Barbers said. (PGO-Media Affairs/PIA Surigao del Norte)

mhe-ann

March 28th, 2006, 08:36 AM

^^ great! that's good news!

c0kelitr0

March 31st, 2006, 04:23 AM

Surigao del Norte Capitol

http://www.tagana-an.gov.ph/image/surigao-capitol.gif

caloy

March 31st, 2006, 09:43 AM

how much will it cost me for a two to three days of visiting surigao? including fairs from manila. thanks... the pictures are really enticing. and what are the recommended places to stay and worth looking?

c0kelitr0

April 3rd, 2006, 08:55 AM

FROM SURIGAO LAKE TO MANILA SUPERMARKETS
Northern Mindanao produces first class dried fish
Posted: 7:56 AM | Apr. 02, 2006

Myrna Rodriguez-Co
Inquirer

MAINIT, Surigao del Norte— Local folks call it pijanga. Elsewhere, it is known as white goby. However it is called, this freshwater fish will go on record for having made it from Lake Mainit in Surigao del Norte to a processing plant in an agrarian reform community in the province, to big supermarkets in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

Dried pijanga, produced by the Mainit ARC II, has begun to be sold in 100-gram, 250-gram, and 1 kg-packs in retail outlets in the metropolis. Considered "first-class dried fish"—in the category of dried bisugo and danggit—dried pijanga commands a premium price in the market.

How this was accomplished is a story of a collaboration among three partners: A team from the Philippine-Australia Technical Support for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (PATSARRD); the Upland Marketing Foundation Inc. (UMFI), otherwise known as the private-sector partner, and a women's group from the Mainit ARC II.

The story shows that with right products, adoption of private sector business strategies and collaboration with private sector partners, agrarian reform communities can develop value-adding products worthy of big or "mainstream" markets.

Identifying the product, site

Lake Mainit, with a 124,700-ha area and a 50-km stretch of lakeshore, is the fourth largest lake in the country and the most significant water body in the province. It teems with catfish, mudfish, carp, tilapia and eel, aside from pijanga.

A resource inventory revealed the bright potential of pijanga for new product development and subsequent wide-scale marketing. The harvest of this fish is estimated to be 61,000 kg a year.

Subsequently, a pre-feasibility study of pijanga-drying determined the work process, equipment requirements, and production capacity. It also forecast sales, predicted break even points, identified marketing methods and channels, and studied financial aspects like capital and startup costs, income targets, costing and pricing.

Eighteen women from Mainit ARC then proceeded to train in fish drying technology and eventually in managing the project. They were selected for their interest, willingness to learn and commitment.

Conducted by the UMFI, the training initially focused on two aspects: Good manufacturing processes (GMP) and basic food processing.

An industry requirement, GMP training ensures the safety and sanitation of the production operation and the final product. Training on basic food processing was hands on. Each woman had to do step-by-step processing while strictly observing GMP.

The women received follow-up training—as the products went into a series of laboratory and market testing, and as the formulation and process continuously evolved. Today, even as full commercialization is about to take off, the women have been taught to expect even more training.

Product development

The initial prototype of dried pijanga was developed in a makeshift workplace at Surigao del Norte College of Agriculture and Technology. Four trial production runs were done. From the results, production process and formulation were improved.

A series of sensory tests followed to determine how the market would accept the product in terms of taste, aroma, color, texture and other physical attributes.

In a month, a final prototype was ready.

Meanwhile, product packaging and labeling were also evolving. At prototype stage, the product was wrapped simply in cellophane wrapper. This was modified several times as results of the various tests came in.

The final packaging adopted was a high-density polyethylene plastic box—attractively labeled, reusable and microwaveable.

Marketing

A marketing plan was prepared by the women, after training on marketing and business systems with UMFI experts.

The plan identified both local and mainstream markets.

The local market are the local residents as well as tourists and travelers either visiting or passing through Surigao en route to other destinations in Mindanao. Seaports, bus terminals, public markets and supermarkets in the province were specified as crucial locations.

The mainstream market is the 100 plus retail outlets in Metro Manila and Central Luzon that comprise the network of UMFI. Mainstream marketing

With final product formulation, skills and markets in place, full production is eyed soon.

By this time, the project would have installed its own mechanical dryer, courtesy of the municipal and provincial governments, which pledged donations.

By then, full capacity production of 150 kg fresh fish a day would have been achieved. By then too, the enterprise would have been licensed by the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD).

At full capacity, the plant should be able to produce 205 kg of dried fish a month, at P52,685 production cost. This will generate sales of P71,750 a month and net profit of P19,065.

Full-blown production would also enable the project to go into full-steam marketing.

For the UMFI market network alone, the requirement is 125 kg of dried pijanga a month, involving only a few of its huge retailing network.

Short and long term benefits

At the present limited volume, each of the women stands to earn an additional income of about P1,500 a month. This compares well with the meager income from rice and coconut farming.

Aside from earning income, the women are learning technical and managerial skills. Not only are they being trained to produce and adopt technology but also to market products, supervise workers and manage finance. This is notches above poverty-alleviating activities many rural women are used to. This prepares them for entrepreneurship of the innovative kind.

As sales increase and production grows, more workers need to be hired, creating job opportunities in the community, increasing purchasing power and building the local economy.

Fishermen around Lake Mainit stand to prosper, too, as they try to meet the fish-drying facility's growing demand for their white goby catch.

Long journey

It has been a long way from the lake waters of Surigao to the supermarkets of Manila. As Vic Jurlano of PATSARRD puts its: "The way has neither been easy nor smooth, taking 15 months of capability building, product development, market building and, yes, partnership in development."

"But the project is worth all these—especially when the project becomes sustainable and replicable as it is expected to be," adds colleague Aris Portugal.

Myrna Rodriguez-Co of the UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries is a contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer