Ah, I just got some serious rest this morning! I needed it, too, because I just got home from an Island Adventure! Specifically, I just got home from visiting Dinagat Island. I’ve been wanting to go to Dinagat for a year or more now. Why? Well, Dinagat Island is the newest Province of Mindanao. As the Owner/Publisher of Mindanao Magazine, it is my goal to visit each and every Province in Mindanao. There are a total of 26 Provinces that compose Mindanao, and so far, I have visited 24 of them (and I’ve also visited a few others that used to be Provinces, but no longer exist). Dinagat Island was my 24th Province of Mindanao on which I set foot.
What a trip it was. I had some “first time” experiences too, one of which is something that I never thought I’d ever do!
For about 2 weeks, I have been thinking about making the visit to Dinagat, although I didn’t make the final decision to do it until Monday evening, August 24 at about 6pm. I was on the road at 9pm! Ha ha… I am really a spur of the moment kind of guy. I rarely plan these things much in advance, I just do it! As you will see as you read about my trip, I might have been better to have spent a little more time planning this one, though!
For the trip, I decided to bring along my oldest son, Chris. I figured it would make a nice time for some Father/Son bonding, which it did. I also decided to leave the driving to a bus driver this time rather than driving myself. So, Chris and I set out on Monday night, slept on the bus while making our way to Surigao City. It’s a long ride of about 10 hours, and the bus fare (aircon bus) was P606 per head.
When we were in Surigao City, which is where you catch a boat to Dinagat, I surveyed some of the boats, and found only one which would be departing for Dinagat. It was scheduled to depart as 12:30pm, so we toured around the City for a few hours before going to catch the boat.
When we went back to the Pier, around 11:30am, I talked to the Captain of the boat. We didn’t really plan to stay overnight on Dinagat, so I just wanted to make sure that the boat would be returning that day, and what time. The Captain assured me that the boat would return in the afternoon, at 5:30pm, back to Surigao City. OK, everything was set. We soon departed for a one hour boat ride to Dinagat Island.
The ride on the boat was beautiful. It really opened my eyes as to the beauty of Surigao del Norte. I had been to Surigao City in the past, but never did any island hopping, or even riding a boat in the area. I was kind of amazed at the beauty of the many, many islands in the area. White beaches, and from what I saw, it appeared that there were plenty of resorts in the area too.
As we neared Dinagat Island (still 30 to 45 minutes from where we would set anchor, though), I was surprised to see the number of beautiful, and obviously expensive houses on the Island. I didn’t expect that. I was really kicking back on the boat taking in the scenery of the Island, and I was loving it!
Now, after disembarking from the boat, the surprises of the day were just about ready to begin. We had gone to the Port of Dinagat. When we got off the boat, we found that basically there was nothing there! Oh, there were a few houses. I found a single Sari-Sari store, and a Police Station. Other than that… nothing! I started talking with a fellow at the Sari-Sari store, a very friendly guy, but he didn’t have good news for us. He asked me:
When did you arrive here?
About 5 minutes ago, I replied.
Do you have friends here? he asked me.
I replied that I had none.
Oops, he went on to inform me that there were no hotels or restaurants in the place. Well, at least it was only about 3 hours until the boat would be taking us back to Surigao City! That is when he informed me that it would be 3 days until that boat went back to the City!
Oh man… they told me 5:30pm, it would return. “Change of plans” the man told me. What would I do? Where would I stay? Where would I eat? The guy told me that if I didn’t have a friend in the area, I would be in trouble.
“There is one other option,” he told me.
You can go to San Jose, it’s a bigger town, with more amenities. They also have a boat that can take you back to Surigao today!
Ah, that was good news! But, then he went on to tell me that there were basically no cars, tricycles or jeepneys on Dinagat! The only way to get to San Jose is to ride on a Habal Habal (a motorcycle that carried a bunch of people). The ride was 16 Kilometers! Oh man, I haven’t been on a motorcycle for about 35 years! Also, I’ve never been a passenger on the back, I always drove it myself.
Here I was, with a couple of big backpacks. My laptop, my SLR camera, and I had to ride on the back of a motorcycle! Frankly, it scared me to death! Poor dirt roads. No helmet, not protective gear. Sitting on the back of a motorcycle. Soon, my butt was as sore as it could get! We were riding up and down big mountain roads (dirt), lots of sharp rocks along the road. If I fell off, I might be dead! Better hold on tight!
I think my son got a nice bit of entertainment out of this. He rides motorcycles pretty regularly, but I doubt he ever expected me to be on the back of one! Also, I’m a big guy, and this was a little 100 cc bike carrying me and the driver! Oh my!
Well, we made it to San Jose, and I was still alive. When I got off the bike, though, my butt was still not feeling well! Luckily, we made it just in time to get our tickets for a return boat trip to Surigao City, though.
One thing about it, though, this kind of trip on the back of a motorcycle allowed me to see quite a bit of the island, and I must say that it is picture-postcard beautiful. If you can rough it a bit, and enjoy the whole “tropical island” experience, this might be the perfect place for you! I like it myself, but I could not spend too much time there or live there…. it’s too much “off the beaten path” for that kind of commitment for me.
In addition to the motorcycle ride, seeing the many islets surrounding Dinagat while we rode on the boat was really a nice way to see the place. Dinagat is a beautiful place, and if you have a chance to visit, I’d say to give it a go!
I’d recommend that you sail into the Port of San Jose, though… you’ll find it a little more able to accommodate a tourist!
after reading your dinagat escapade, you're even more filipino than most of us, bob. you've visited so many places here! i couldn't imagine myself riding habal-habal but you survived it! i'm glad that you decided to tag chris along — more than just a father-son bonding, trips like this will surely encourage him to love the philippines too. keep the stories coming, pare!
Hi Pareng Orms! Nice to see you here, thanks for stopping by! It was quite an adventure going to Dinagat, and I enjoyed it a lot! I thought I was gonna die, but it was still fun! Ha ha..
Hey, congrats on your new blog!
Hi Bob. Yes those islands up there are absolutely gorgeous. There is a certain tranquility assicated with all the Islands in Surigao Del Norte region. Too bad you didn't plan more and try and see the others, it really would have been worth it. Hey I know you are a busy man and didn't plan for more but it would be such a monumental waste if you don't try Siargao next as soon as you can as it is dry season now. There are many beach front resorts most with very good restaurants and a long nice beach. The island has waterfalls, lagoons, crocadiles hahaha, mangrove swamps and many other interesting things. They do adventure races there as well. Also the big wave surfing starts about right now. From there you can rent a banca and day trips to the other also beautiful islands. There are actually many expats living in the various Islands and have very rich, full lives but of course quiet. And yes most travel by habal habal or tricycle and some have minicabs. They are also perfectly situated out of the typhoon belt.
I would love to buy something there but I don't know if it would be practical for my active lifestyle. But take a vacation every year for the absolute peace and quiet FOR SURE. It blows the door off of places like Boracay, Samal and Camiguin islands at least for me and my family.
My mistake. I remember asking about Typhoons on a trip there and they said that they gets lots residual stuff like massive quantity of rain and flooding but rarely do they get hit head on by one and something about how they usually pass to the north near Samar Island. One thing for sure is I wouldn't want to be on any of those isands during a typhoon. By the way, which is the difficult province you still need to get to?????
Hi Bob, I'm sorry I was really sympathetic through the story until the part about you having to take the habal-habal with all that gear, and I had to laugh at the absurdity of it all! Anyone who has spent any time in the Philippines knows to expect the unexpected and that you will have to take risks and maybe do something scarey or risky sometime, because things just happen that way sometimes and you have no choice. I'm truly impressed with your guts to ride the back of habal-habal Bob, that's a ride that's hard to describe to anyone who hasn't seen one pass them at breakneck speed piled with passengers–I guess you could say you've given new meaning to "flying by the seat of your pants" Way to go Bob! I'm sure you'll never forget that adventure and you'll be glad you made it and lived to tell it!
Hi Queenie – Ha ha… it was quite an adventure, I'll say that. I have to admit, while my butt was aching on the back of that motorcycle, I was thinking to myself…. "why the heck did I want to come here?" Ha ha… as I look back a few days, though, I'm so happy that I made the trip. It was a quick visit, but it was a lot of fun! Maybe I'll have to go back for a second stab at the Habal Habal! If you do it once, you can do it again, right? 😉
NOT! Save your strength for your next wild adventure!
Next time I should try the skylab, Queenie! 😉
What's the skylab Bob?
Ah, come on, Queenie! You guys must not have Skylab in Cebu! You know the old Skylab space station? Think of like an "X" pattern. Like you have the motorcycle going back to front, then they put a board, or some kind of seat that goes from side to side that can hold 4 or 5 people.
Ohhh no Bob–we're too cool in Cebu for that kind of stuff. We're strictly "old school" habal-habal for sure!
Hi Bob, I think I know which Skylab you're talking about. If I remember it right, It was featured in your Mindanao Magazines web site some months ago or was it in this site?. Reminds me of the "flight of the Phoenix" movie. People hanging on for dear life on both wings as the modified plane took off. I've never seen one before till I saw it here. Seems like it can take 6-7 people (driver included).
Hi Jun – Indeed, we have featured the Skylab on Mindanao Magazine a number of times! Ha ha.. it's a unique invention!
Hi Bob, I totally agree with you. It's so "unique" I saved and used it as my screen saver for a while. Somebody should write a book about it and call it "The Flight of the Habal-Habal".
Am glad you and your son had a wonderful time during your recent trip.
Hi Bob!
I bet it shocked some of the people that you met in the remote areas that you were fluent in Bisaya. It also probably surprised some that you were open minded enough to accept your fate and ride the habal habal. You are a fine ambassador for kanos in the Philippines. I hope to meet you and thank you for sharing your knowledge someday.
Hi Bob,
You are too funny! I couldn't stop laughing what an adventure.
I don't know about the ten hour bus ride, all I could think of
was flying to the Island. I didn't get the habal habal, what is
that?
well, if you must, there's a few skylabs in samal. that's how i got to see the island interior with 2 other friends. 2 of us on one wing & the other, much larger friend, on the other end. it was an awkward uphill ride on a narrow dirt road on a tiny bike. i'm guessing this is close to how you did it — minus laptop, SLR & a frantic race to catch a boat 🙂
Hi Jun – That sounds like a movie! Ha ha.. But, habal habal doesn't have the wings, that's only skylab, right?
Hi Tom – I was kind of surprised, because in Surigao they have a different dialect of Bisaya. I thought I'd have some problems communicating, but it was just fine!
Hi Cina – Habal Habal is a motorcycle that carries passengers. I have seen up to 8 people on a single motorcycle this way (not with a sidecar, just a regular motorcycle!). 😀
Hi macky – Ha ha… I didn't ride a skylab, though, just a habal habal, so no wings, just riding behind the driver on the very tail end of the seat! It was indeed an adventure!
Hi Bob, I have had this on my mind all today and wanted to ask you if you don't mind "Why the rush"?. I'm in no way trying to judge but you have a beautiful country at your feet and based on your recent travel forays to Cebu and now Dinigat you seems to always be in a rush to leave and go back home. Considering it takes so long to get to many of these places why not try to really enjoy them and actually explore them more and then relay them back to us. Much better than reading a tour book. Honestly, spur of the moment or not, I would have at least dome some more research to see just what was in Dinigat and then instead of immediately going back to Surigao you probably could have gotten a boat easily to another island.
My wife and I actually have places to stay in Davao, Manila and Cebu and use them to jump off to other places and we make it a rule to try and take trips with our daughter to new places around my work schedule of course. Just two weeks ago we went to Naga and Bicol region to look in awe at that perfect volcano and then Hidden Valley on the way back to Manila. We actually have plans to do the complete RT of the Philippines by RORO. We have already laid it out. Geez it will be expensive just in RoRO fees but we figure it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this Country more intimately.
Anyway just my fourteen and half cents.
Pretty funny Bob, I especially like how you can set your watch to the ferry schedual.!! Sounds like a fun adventure…!!
Hi Bill – We all have commitments and things we need to do. I spent 4 days in Cebu, for me that is not a rush at all. I spent a day in Dinagat, and I had business commitments that I needed to take care of. I can't afford to leave my business languishing so that I can report back to readers… frankly, my businesses put food on the family table. Taking a trip to Dinagat does not.
I hope, Bill, that when you take trips, you will do what you enjoy, stay as long as you want, or as short as you want. I will also do what I enjoy. We all have our own likes and dislikes. Not trying to be mean or smart, just stating the fact.
Hi brian – Funny how that works!
Well Bob,
Welcome to the world of cruising via sailboat. Although your trip was very short. You have gained a small glimpse of what Melanie, and I do. Via sailboat from island to island. Constantly meeting new, and different ways of life. Stranded in some remote area, because travel has been canceled.
Beautiful views upon beautiful views, and especially from sea. Now just imagine doing that in a 1000sq.ft. house. Your bed, kitch CR, and porch are taken with you. You drop the anchor in many new locations. Cook your dinner, and possibly have a nice drink while the sunsets, and feel like one of the luckiest humans on earth. Not to mention watching the night sky, and looking our for SKYLAB to fall to earth in the Philippines, but that's another story…..hehehehehehehe
Hi John – Actually, I didn't travel on a sailboat, I traveled on a pumpboat. Sorry if I said something to indicate that it was a sailboat.
It sounds like a wonderful life. For me, I would miss being on dry land, though! 😆
Kamusta ka Bob,
A great adventure, and sounds like fun. Trips like this are very fun, maybe not at the moment you are doing these things, but in hind sight, an enjoyable time.(meaning the unexpected change of plans).
Sounds like another beautiful part of the Philippines to explore.
See now you have another story to tell your grandchildren, and a great memory to always share with your son Chris!! 🙂
Salamat kaayo, og ingats!,
Danny 🙂
Bob,
I understood it was not a sailboat. I was just making a comparison to the travel on the sea. Many people cannot fathom what we do, or how we live. Especiialy in Melanie's community of Filipinos. We once had party at the boat, so all her friends could just visit, so they would understand.
I have always been interested in this area. Everything I read, and photo I see just makes me want to visit there even more…….i2f
Hi John – Yes, that is a very foreign lifestyle here. Heck, it is probably a very foreign lifestyle almost everywhere in the world. I hope you make it to the Dinagat area someday! I'm sure you will enjoy it.
It is an awkward ride, isn't it? when I was studying in UPmin in Mintal, the habal habal was my regular ride from my dorm to my class because I kept missing the bus. The ladies were sometimes hesitant to ride sandwiched between driver & 2 other guy friends. Good times.
Hi Macky, funny you should say that. You and others might already know this, but the name "habal-habal" was given as a funny sexy way to describe the way passengers are obliged to kind of ride in a forced intimate way. The thing with habal-habal though, it's sort of a motorcycle taxi, with each passenger paying their fare. If you're willing to pay the fare equal to all the passengers combined, you can ride alone with the driver like Bob did.
wow bob sounds like a trip to my property glad you and your son had fun that's all that counts now days …Phil n Jess
Hi Bob!
hi, kmsta po. kayo jan ako po pala jun2 regala ask same adress san jose dinagat island phils.
ask of now.
i can relate with your experiences there.Ive been in Dinagat Island last May, 2009 and the place really amazed me. Luckily, i was able to visit Ecleo's Shrine and White Castle in San Jose to think that its kinda hard getting there especially when you don't have any friends on that area to take the tour for you.But,it's a chance for me because my sister's work area used to be at Tag-abaca(35 minutes to San Jose).I'm planning to take a trip again in Dinagat Islands.
Very awkward, macky. I won't be making a habit of riding the habal habal!
Hi Carla – Enjoy your trip!
Sometime it happened. They tell you that the boat for the return trip will come but most often it will be late or it never turn up. If ever you were stranded on that island and you are so philippinoes like anyone else, you will be taken care of. Cos i know philipinoes are very closely bonded towards each other when it come to helping out. In malaysia where i stay, they are a very closed society and most will help their own country fellows temporary in terms of place to stay or meals.
Hi Bob, I'm a constant lurker here hoping to find some fresh ideas for Philippine travel. I couldn't help but laugh when you recounted your experience with the habal-habal. I can so relate to that. I had to ride a habal-habal as well in my visits to Hinatuan's Enchanted River and the Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig. I hugged my knees before climbing behind the driver thinking that it would be the last time I'd be able to do so knowing that I would surely lose my kneecaps if we got into an accident. There were 5 of us in a single 125cc motorcycle! Anyway, riding a habal-habal is one heck of an experience.
Is a skylab where they run a board through a bike, and multiple people sit on the boards?……..i2f