Children as young as 7 ride wooden boards and glide adroitly over foot-high swells that break against the long stretch of white sand beach. It’s a sight that has turned the coastal village of Dahican here into a prime surfing destination in southern Mindanao.
Imagine trekking along 14 kilometers of unspoiled powdery white sand with nothing but the vast expanse of the West Philippine Sea and endless rows of lush forests and old coconut trees on both sides.
It is the story of three mountains, rather three maidens, a prequel written by poet Jun Balde of Albay who is like every good Bicolano oragon (hot). The three sisters were known as Masaraga, Malinaw and Magayon.
The private joke going around Samal Island is that it is home to the biggest brothel in town, with Norma Monfort as its unlikely mama san.
Bloody Mary singing about Bali Hai in the Broadway play and subsequent Hollywood movie “South Pacific” made us dream of islands in the sun, islands in the mist, an island paradise: “If you try you’ll find me, where the sky meets the sea. Here am I your very special island/ Come to me, come to me.”
It’s bathing suit season once again! That can mean two things: It’s time to not eat so you don’t pass off as a beached whale, OR if you did your homework and dieted ahead, you can now eat like a normal person again and appreciate food glorious food!
“My personal favorite destination is not really a secret one because it’s quite well-known. It’s the good old Miniloc Resort of El Nido because it’s what I would consider almost perfect. You live in a water cottage or a room by the beach. There’s a cove in front of you where you have a white sand beach and the bottom slopes gradually—perfect for swimming. Then at the edge of the resort’s wooden jetty, you can snorkel with jacks. Now how many places in the world can you have such things literally in front of your cottage? Then of course, there are other options beyond the resort. There’s kayaking, cave exploration, snorkeling, and diving. Also, when you cruise around the nearby islands, everything is still pristine. You barely see any human habitation or bare patches. Your banca just skims over clear water that changes from turquoise to mineral water-clear. A sea breeze blows in your face and you pass island after island, each with its own small, beautiful cove. Really, how good does it get?
About six years ago, I wrote a piece on Puerto Galera. I was in love with a French intern in Tabinay, and my article was peppered with lines like “a sea as blue as Paul Newman’s eyes,” and dreamy voyaging and sap and wanderlust.
Some may have misgivings about booking flights at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga because of the time it takes to travel from Metro Manila. But with a newly-opened budget hotel in the area, passengers may soon find themselves making the DMIA their preferred airport.
AirAsia, the country’s newest low cost carrier, further heats up competition in the local airline industry with its “red hot” all-in promo fare of only P799 one-way for Clark-Kalibo (Boracay) and Clark-Puerto Princesa (Palawan) routes.
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