I grew up in pineapple country in South Cotabato. Specifically Polomolok, South Cotabato where the Dole Plantation has landscaped the flat area with hectares and hectares of pineapple. I had a lot of fond memories doing my own pineapple harvesting and looking for spiders within the huge plantation. Pineapple juice for me back then wasn’t something that came in a can, or even in a glass for that matter. Pineapple juice came from an actual pineapple crushed until it’s insides are gooey and then sticking a straw in it. The pineapple of course needs to be picked fresh. The fact that Dole’s plantation is right behind my house makes this easily possible. But this is something that’s best told in another story.

This post is all about Caraga, that region composed of the provinces of Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur and the Dinagat Islands and the many wonders that these provinces hide.

I started my mission of discovering these hidden jewels of Caraga last year after tiring of the usual tourism fare that one often sees on TV. I thought that with the vast number of islands that the Philippines has, surely not all of them have been covered by mainstream TV. True enough I found some tourist spots that hidden just below the radar of the usual tourists and adventurers.

I’ve documented my adventures here in posts pertaining to the enchanted river of Hinatuan, the many levels of Tinuy-an Falls, the secret beaches of Siargao, and of course the placid lake that is Lake Mainit. Even the hidden cove of Cagwait White Beach didn’t escape my attention. I have yet to venture to the jelly fish paradise of Bukas Grande where the Sohoton Cove lies, but for sure I will go there one of these days.

I thought I’ve already covered all the interesting sites of CARAGA until I saw this video that was shared in Facebook. This video opened up a whole can of adventure possibilities for me. Seeing the Sugba lagoon in this video makes me want to just jump on a plane and go there immediately and then there’s the mysterious Agusan Marsh. How can I call CARAGA my home and not see these things?

And this is why I’m counting the days when I’ll be back in my home province steal my girlfriend’s car and just race to as many of these locations as I can bringing with me my newly upgraded DSLR camera. Man what fun I’m sure going to have next week, and the week after that.

Be sure to subscribe to my feed to check out what I’ve been up to! You can also follow me in Twitter via @pinoytraveller. Cheers!

Hongkong has now blacklisted the Philippines as a travel destination for its citizens. The blacklisting although deserved to a certain extent still leaves a bad taste in the mouth and is a challenge for the current President and his tourism secretary on how to turn things around. I don’t know how our country can make things up to what happened yesterday but for sure it highlighted the ineptitude of our current police force to deal effectively with hostage situations.

I was amused when I read that one of the hostage negotiators was Isko Moreno, Vice Mayor of Manila. I was sure that he did his best, though his best only resulted to him getting on the trending list of some search engines and social networks. Off topic, if you search for Isko Moreno on google you’ll see some of his more glamorous pics. lol.

Anyway, I’m not sure if I’m just watching too many TV series or movies but usually when there’s a hostage situation, they put in a trained hostage negotiator to handle things. Somebody who really knows what to say or do in situations like this. I guess in yesterday’s hostage drama, such wasn’t the case.

I’m not sure if Hongkong’s banning of the Philippines as an unsafe place for travel would trickle down to neighboring countries. I do hope that’s not gonna happen. But for the time being this will have a definite impact on the countries struggling tourism industry.

Yesterday’s crisis was an unfortunate event, one that could have been prevented had there been more capable parties at work. Hongkong, in coming to grips with their grief lashed out with a stiff sanction, one that the Philippines surely felt, and one that HK authorities, I’m sure are hoping, would, to a certain degree, appease the outrage that HK citizens must have be feeling.

Hopefully the rest of the world would see this as an isolated appalling incident and not let emotions cloud their judgment. The Philippines is still a safe place to travel and one incident like what happened yesterday should not be the sole basis for judging whether this country is a safe place for tourists.

Only persons who were legally classified as ‘blanco’ (white) were allowed to live in Intramuros. These persons were the filipinos (Spaniards born in the Philippines), peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain), the tornatrás (persons of Spanish, Malay, and Chinese descent), and mestizos of Spanish-Malay descent.

Only white men were legally allowed to marry non-white women. White women were prohibited from marrying non-white men as it was against the social mores of the time. If a mestiza de sangley (Malay-Chinese) or india (Malay) married a Spaniard (filipino or peninsular), she was legally classified as ‘white’ and was allowed to live in Intramuros with her husband and children.

Illegitimate mestizo children of Spanish men were legally prohibited from living in Intramuros unless they were adopted by the men themselves.

Only mestizos de sangley (persons of Malay-Chinese descent) were allowed to enter strictly for employment purposes, but were required to leave and return to their section of racially segregated Binondo at the end of the day. Whites were legally exempted from paying taxes. Indios (Malays) paid the base tax, mestizos de sangley (Malay-Chinese) paid twice the base tax, and sangleys (Chinese) paid four times the base tax.

Despite the steady destruction of the old that progress is taking on Metro Manila, Intramuros continues to struggle to preserve its historical structures or whatever’s left of it. I went around Intramuros yesterday and all I can see was a lot of wires and a lot of people. Some of the structures were still standing, some with a few renovations on them, while some have been completely overhauled and looked like wounds in an otherwise flawless skin.

There was still the moss covered walls, a few cobbled stone streets, the impressive churches, but sadly modernization is not something that went well with this once snobbish little city. Where one would hope to find harmony between the new and the old I only find dissonance and garishness. But that’s progress for you, it may not be always pretty but we all hope and pray that it’s a step in the right direction.

See pictures below.

This fish pond operated by Kap Larry is situated in Coloong, Valenzuela. It is a favorite of avid recreational fishermen because for one, it is pretty large, two, it has a few cottages that the whole family can gather together, and of course it’s very affordable. It is common for families near the area to go over there when celebrating special occasions. They just bring their food with them, eat, and at the same time enjoy some inland fishing.

Kap Larry's Pond

If you’re an expat in Manila (or even if you’re a local) and you enjoy fishing AND you don’t have a lot of time but you want to catch yourself a little fish, you might want to do a little inland fishing at Kap Larry’s Pond. Here are a few details about Kapitan Larry’s pond.

- The place is situated in Coloong, Valenzuela (see map).

- The place is open from 5 in the morning until 6 in the evening
- It has at least 5 cottages the cost to rent range from 300-500 for the entire day.
- Entrance fee is 50, but this is waived if you rent a cottage
- Price of the fish you catch is as follows:
– Tilapia P75/kilo
– Bangus P90/kilo
– Pangasius P100/kilo
- You have to bring your own fishing rods
- There’s an area where you can grill your own fish
- If you want your fish to be grilled for you, that can be arranged as well
- If you caught nothing the entire day, you can actually buy tilapia from there at the same price of P75/kilo
- Better bring your own transportation as they have a parking area

Catching and Eating The Pangasius

Last weekend my good friend Ceblogger and myself were quite excited to go back to Coloong after 3 weeks of absence. We arrived at 3 in the afternoon which means that we only have 3 hours to catch anything.

An hour and a half after and we still have squat. We were already entertaining thoughts of going back the following day when I got a bite. It was a beautiful half-kilo bangs and it put up a good fight before I finally reeled it in. Ceblogger on the other hand was still holding his breath. Moments later he felt a tug on his fishing rod and I can see that he caught a big one as his small fishing rod was almost bent to breaking point.

I thought he caught a really big bangus but when I helped him by scooping up his catch with a fishing net, i saw a flash of pink and thought he caught a big tilapia instead. As it turned out, it was a big Pangasius with its protruding belly.

The thing about the Pangasius though, once you’re reeled it out of the water, it completely gives up the fight. Unlike the bangus who would continue the fight even when it’s no longer in the water, the Pangasius just stayed still as if it has already accepted it’s fate and knew that the only place that he would be going to next is the dinner table.

We went home satisfied with our bangus and Pangasius that night. Something weird though, once we arrived home and cooked the fishes, I can’t bring myself to eat them. It’s not pity or anything but somehow they just looked very unpalatable to me. Not sure if that’s normal.

But anyway, for sure next weekend we will be back in Coloong again and chase after their fishes there. I think with fishing, we are reminded of our primal instincts to hunt and eat our prey.

Join us next time!

The river near my place was also a place where the neighborhood ‘labanderas’ would wash their clothes every weekend. There was not much talk then about how detergents would poison the rivers. Going to the river to wash was something that was done for generations. I do not see these labanderas now when I go back to the province but the bridge which used to shade this labanderas and which people used to cross from the main town to a little barrio was still there.

It was this bridge where I learned how to fish. Back then, the only fishing rod I know was the bamboo kind. You tie one end of string to the end of the bamboo, put a hook a the end of the string, skewer a little worm with the hook and you’re good to go. I only caught little ibis then but with volume this little ibis fishes were something that can actually provide a meal for a small family.

Years have passed and though I am living in a big bad city now, memories of me fishing on that river has remained fresh as if it’s only a weekend ago when I last cast my bamboo rod and felt the tugging of those little ibis fishes. So when my friend invited me to go fishing with him one Saturday night in a bar, all those fond memories came flooding back in. My friend, along with his wife has become quite enamored with fishing and every chance they get, they fish.

Now the problem with being in the big bad city is that opportunities for a good fishing experience is few and far between. I thought the only way that I could do some respectable fishing was to get out of Manila and go to the neighboring provinces where the rivers or the lakes has not gone the way of the Pasig river. I do know that Subic could be a good fishing spot having seen a few folks casting their rods there whenever I pass by the place.

After my friend’s fishing invitation, the subject has been coming up regularly overtime we and some other friends with us meet up. I even went so far as to propose to my own circle of friends that we go on a fishing trip. I didn’t have any idea yet as to where to go but it seems the idea has hit a receptive audience. I guess in their case fishing evokes of Ernest Hemingway and his Old Man and the Sea, although truth be told I don’t have any fantasies of doing battle against a huge sea monster. If I can get my hands on a little fish that would look appetizing on a grill, then I would be happy.

My first fishing trip in Manila came a few weeks after my good friend’s invite. We were supposed to go to Pulilan as recommended by another friend but as that other friend could not make it to our impromptu trip, we followed another friend’s advice and went to Lakeshore instead. Lakeshore, if you haven’t gone up North in your life, is in Mexico. The one in Pampanga, not North America.

I think it’s one of the few privileges in life when you are able to live in a subdivision, or a community, if you will, that has a fishing spot. Some subdivisions might offer a tennis court or a basketball court, but rare is a subdivision that has its own lake for fishing. Of course we’re talking about Mexico here and not Mandaluyong (though you’re very much welcome to fish in the Pasig River if you must).

We arrived at Lakeshore shortly before 5 in the afternoon. The lake, which is the subdivisions fishing spot is pretty, scenic even. And with a few tents by the lake, I am inclined to believe that it is a very popular spot for weddings. When we went there, there was in fact a wedding going on. I assumed that it was a rich couples wedding judging by the three helicopters parked beside the tent.

Unfortunately for us however, we arrived too late for our fishing plans. Lakeshore does not allow night fishing and they close at 6 pm, which made our three hour drive from Manila futile. But nevertheless, after seeing the lake, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before we make a comeback. If only we didn’t have to drive that far.

Next up! Good fishing spot in Manila, Philippines.

One model that the local government can look at is the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex that was created by Governor LJ Villafuerte. Perhaps even the good governor can serve as some sort of a consultant for this endeavor.

One thing going for Lake Mainit is it’s accessibility. It’s along the National Highway so people should not have any problem going to the area. There’s also the Airport at Butuan City so even folks from outside Mindanao can easily go there. I can already see a lot of pension houses, bars, and commercial establishments being created along the Lake Mainit water front. The commercial potential is really huge.

The only thing that scares people away from this place I guess is Schistosomiasis. Now that’s a scary thing. Here’s what I researched about this disease:

Health issue: Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is found in Lake Mainit and in the Tolosa-TabonTabon area. For those volunteers working or going to these areas the following information is important. If you have any questions you can contact the VSOP office or the VSO Medical section in London

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic worms.

How can I get schistosomiasis?

Infection occurs when your skin comes in contact with contaminated fresh water in which certain types of snails that carry schistosomes are living.

Fresh water becomes contaminated by Schistosoma eggs when infected people urinate or defecate in the water. The eggs hatch, and if certain types of snails (here’s the link to this type of snail)are present in the water, the parasites grow and develop inside the snails. The parasite leaves the snail and enters the water where it can survive for about 48 hours. Schistosoma parasites can penetrate the skin of persons who are wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water. Within several weeks, worms grow inside the blood vessels of the body and produce eggs. Some of these eggs travel to the bladder or intestines and are passed into the urine or stool.

What are the symptoms of schistosomiasis?

Within days after becoming infected, you may develop a rash or itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches can begin within 1-2 months of infection. Most people have no symptoms at this early phase of infection.

Eggs travel to the liver or pass into the intestine or bladder. Rarely, eggs are found in the brain or spinal cord and can cause seizures, paralysis, or spinal cord inflammation. For people who are repeatedly infected for many years, the parasite can damage the liver, intestines, lungs, and bladder.
Symptoms of schistosomiasis are caused by the body’s reaction to the eggs produced by worms, not by the worms themselves.
What should I do if I think I have schistosomiasis?

See your health care provider. If you have traveled to areas where schistosomiasis is found and had contact with fresh water, describe in detail where and for how long you traveled. Explain that you may have been exposed to contaminated water.

How is schistosomiasis diagnosed?

Your health care provider may ask you to provide stool or urine samples to see if you have the parasite. A blood test has been developed and is available at CDC. For accurate results, you must wait 6-8 weeks after your last exposure to contaminated water before the blood sample is taken.

What is the treatment for schistosomiasis?

Safe and effective drugs are available for the treatment of schistosomiasis. You will be given pills to take for 1-2 days

Not really sure if this is still prevalent in the area, but I’ve read some past publications saying that was the case then.  I’m not sure if such is the case until now.  If it is, then that would be a really sad thing. Who would want to dip in Lake Mainit if this parasite is around.

But before I totally sound like the harbinger of doom here, let’s go back to Lake Mainit’s pictures.

I was shitting in my pants but I couldn’t really say anything as she was in the zone and nothing I said was reaching her. Fine, I got chewed up really bad when I voiced my complaint so I just sat there scared out of wits but stayed silent the whole time like the sissy little boy that I am.

Imagine zooming down those flat roads– virgin forests to your left, lush yellow green rice paddies to your right with the horizon going on and on. Man I could see myself riding a Ducati and going full throttle for hours on end. Except that I don’t have a Ducati. Oh well, one can dream.

Perhaps the coming election has a lot to do with these roads being done on time. I couldn’t really complain as everything was just marvelous. Kudos to the provincial government of Surigao Del Sur for getting this done. Or should I say kudos to the people for paying their taxes. At least we know that our taxes are working for us. Majority of those taxes may have ended up in a few people’s pockets but hey, non-politicians can’t be choosers so we just have to be thankful with what we can see and experience. Don’t agree with me? Well that’s too bad.

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My pet province so far has been Surigao. And though certain parts of this province has received international attention, Siargao immediately comes to mind, the rest of the local tourist spots have been suffering in silence, relegated to playing second or third fiddle to their more marketed neighbor. Which is such a shame really considering that these places are really, really awesome and could give some of the more popular Philippines tourist spots a run for their money.
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But back to photography. I started taking pictures of my travels using a 3.5 megapixel Kodak digital camera. I thought it was the bomb back then, though now this is certainly laughable considering that that camera can’t even be re-charged! I had to buy 2 triple A batteries overtime I think about using it. Still those were the fun days. You know, taking pictures just for the sake of the moment. The pictures were taken merely for documentation purposes, you know, just to show that you were really there and not just blowing smoke.

After a visit to Singapore, I decided to go a little more high-tech (though not as high-tech as I should have) and go for the more sophisticated Sony Cybershot DSC-H7. I didn’t really care for DSLRs back then, thinking that those digital monsters are way beyond my budget. Ironically the cost of the Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 would have purchased an entry-level DSLR had I given it a little thought. But no matter, the H7 was portable, packed a mean 18x zoom and makes a nice little Sony sound.

I got disenchanted with it when I started photographing action shots. I found that I’m always left behind, courtesy of slow shutter-speed and all that. I tried photographing wakeboarding maniacs once and my photographs were left showing mist and blue skies. It just couldn’t keep up!

It took me a whole year, well almost a year, to finally land a really nice prosumer camera, the Canon EOS 7D. A really, really sweet piece of equipment but built like a tank. Everything about it is perfect. From the sound that it makes to the strength needed to hold it up for a day. It is one beautiful monster.

Now I’m seeing a marked improvement in my pictures. But really, when your baseline is the floor, there’s really no way to go but up.

Hopefully, I will be able to seamlessly integrate posts related to photography here in this decidedly travel blog. I may just have to restrain myself from putting it up as a featured post. Well, unless there’s one really cool picture associated with it.
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I planned on going to Surigao’s Sohoton Cove last December and swim with the jellyfish there but unfortunately mother nature thought it was a bad idea so she had rain visit my hometown every day forcing me to stay indoors and accumulate fat. I decided not to tempt fate and listened to the rhythm of the falling rain. hmmm.

It wasn’t really such a good holiday season for me. True I get to go home to Buenavista, Agusan Del Norte, stayed at my adopted city– Butuan City and played cashier in the SO’s store. Though truth be told, I was only pretending to do some cashiering– I was too busy with the internet to really notice the shoppers who came into the store. My holiday was short-lived though. I was able to spend Christmas with the family but I was painfully alone during the New Year which is some kind of a mortal sin if you’re Filipino. But what can I say, as a corporate slave (not for long though) I have to do the bidding of my corporate masters.
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My first real trip for the year occured a few days after new year and this was another road trip to Pampanga. I went to Alfredo’s Resort which should be one of the premier summer outing destinations for Manila based companies. Especially for those who have a large number of employees. Of course there will be a post on this one and lots of pictures too!

Another first for the year is my first overseas trip. I went to Macau to see the Venetian Hotel and did a little side-shopping in HongKong. The good thing about this trip is that instead of the usual all expense paid trip courtesy of yours truly, this time I am the recipient of one. Sweet yeah? The trip lasted for 4 gloriously painful (to the feet) days. In fact, it ain’t over yet. I’m actually at the Hong Kong International airport typing this quick update.

I love the wifi here. PCCW provides the free WIFI to passengers. Not sure if the government of Hong Kong compensates the Li family for this but I’m almost positive this service is on the Li Ka Sheng house.

I should have a more interesting account of this trip in the coming days. In the meantime, stay cool, stay mobile, and keep on travelling them Philippine Islands!