It was a rainy week. A low pressure area (LPA) in the South China sea was threatening Luzon's west coast while a typhoon is zipping by the north eastern side. While most put their weekend travel plans on hold, I was on a 4AM bus with two friends to Real, a small rustic town facing the Pacific Ocean, on a falls hunt. I decided to pack light and return to Manila in the afternoon so I just brought minimal photo gears and a small lunch (3 pieces of boiled sweet potato and 2 pieces of banana).

The fresh mountain air (non air-conditioned bus) and the beautiful sunrise made the 3 hour bus ride enjoyable. Our bus snaked along the Sierra Madre mountain road at full speed. The hair-raising cornering (I had the pleasure of a window seat with a full view of the chasms and cliffs off the side of the road) was enough to keep me awake the whole time.

We arrived at Brgy. Tingnoan in Real just after sunrise. I was getting excited to reach Balagbag and see how it looks in the rainy season. Its been 4 years since I last visited the falls, and the last time I went there I was just carrying a point and shoot camera.

Since "tourist season" is over, we found the falls practically deserted (save for a group of 5 who were about to leave). Nothing much has changed with the place since I last saw it. But the falls are now fuller due to the recent rains.


The catch basin is just big enough to fit a couple of persons. Its like having your own personal cascade and hydro-massage setup. Tempting as it was, the cold water kept all of us from jumping into the small pool.

By midday it started to darken as storm clouds began to form. In my excitement to get photos I forgot to arrange a pick up with our tricycle. So we just skipped lunch, packed our gears, and started the long walk back to the main road. In hindsight, I'm glad I forgot. It was a great hike along a scenic coast road, and my friends needed the exercise.

The beautiful beach of Gumasa in rustic town of Glan in Sarangani province (southernmost tip of Mindanao) recently got featured in Sidetrip travel magazine. Two of my photos were used for the article.


True to what the article mentioned, Gumasa's white sand beach is pristine and untouched by large scale tourism. Its considered to be the "Boracay of the South", sans the resorts, and the blaring dance music and parties.

You might want to check out my previous entries about Gumasa:

• Gumasa Getaway
• Our Gumasa Morning

Now that the rainy days are here, its nice to look back at the sunny summer days, the fine beach weather, blue skies and white cotton clouds. We had one perfect day a couple of months ago in an aptly named resort called Paradise in the island of Samal.

Samal island (officially known as IGACOS or Island Garden City of Samal) is a small island (although its the largest there) in the gulf of Davao in southern Mindanao. The island is surrounded with fine white sand beaches and pristine waters, and great dive spots and fish sanctuaries.

I prefer the western side of the island (the one facing Davao city) when ever my family is with me. My kids particularly like Paradise resort because of its shallow waters and a teeming marine life just a few meters from shore. We often go there whenever we are in Davao.


The resort is just a 10 minute boat ride (yes that short!) from their dock in Davao City. They have a parking lot so its OK to leave your cars there.


The place has all the bells and whistles of great resort: well staffed, fine accommodation, clean facilities, sports and playground areas, and great food. Plus a great avairy. I don't really care much for all of these, give me a tent on nice beach and I'd be contented. But the kids love it, they buy ice cream and run into an air-conditioned room when it gets too hot. My kids have ingenious ways of leading me to the ice cream stand and souvenir shops.


Low tide was just after sunrise when we were there, its perfect timing for a dip while the sun not yet scorching hot. You won't need to go far to snorkel, just a few feet from the end of their pier and you get to see a whole lot of fishes. If you want to go further and deeper, they have dive equipment for rent and PADI certified dive instructors.


What you'll see in Paradise resort is just the "tip of the iceberg", so to speak, when we talk about the Samal island experience. There's a whole lot more in Samal: sea turle sancturies, bat caves, and waterfalls. I'm planning a trip there again sometime in August, this time without the kids in tow.

If you want details on Paradise island resort, you may visit their website here.

I was finally able to get to Brgy. Tasiman the last time I went to Lake Sebu. Its a remote barangay perched on the mountains on the northern side of the lake. Tasiman offers a unique view of the lake side town below but few tourists ever venture there, probably for security reasons (the fact that its remote and its in Mindanao is enough to scare most, although I personally think its one of the peaceful places I've been to). Most would be contented in staying at the resorts and visiting the nearby 7 Falls or Lake Seloton.

We followed the snaking road going Tasiman after a hearty lunch in a T'boli home. The road is rough and the stones are loose. Good thing we were on a pickup truck. I could image how bad the road could get during the rainy season while you are riding on a motorcycle (the most common form of transportation there, locally called habal-habal).

Our first stop is Sitio Sepaka, known (well at least locally) for its cool streams. From an obscure fork there is a shaded foot trail leading to the side of a hill.


The trail opens into a small clearing carpeted with carabao grass. A perfect quiet spot for a picnic. From there you can explore the small criss-crossing streams. The water is cold even at midday.


A couple of photos and one cool dip later we were heading to the highest point in Tasiman. A friend knows a T'boli local named Mafil and we headed to his house on top of a hill. He wasn't there at that time but the folks there, hospitable T'bolis that they are, let us in without so much of a complain.

Related post: Finally meeting Ma Fil (Mafil)

From a vantage point on the side of the hill I could make out Lake Sebu below. The lake, which is already about 1000 meters above sea, looks like a small pond from there.


Nearby fire trees are in full bloom. One particular tree had its top densely covered with bright orange-red flowers. The flowers seem to pop out from the green backdrop of the mountain side.

I sat on a rock for a while, savouring the fresh air and the fantastic mountain view. Soon the lure of a quick siesta was overwhelming and I decided there is no reason to resist.

other things I did that day:

• Shoot the sunrise in Lake Seloton
• Visit the 2nd Falls and get really close to it

how to get to tasiman

• You can hire a motorcycle to take you to Tasiman (and to Sepaka). Transportation back to town is scarce and most folks there just walk to town so its best that you tell your driver to wait for you.
• If you want to stay at Mafil's house (overnight), look for him in Punta Isla resort. His sister Mayang (0918-767-1063) also offers homestay accommodation.