FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

Palm Viewpoint is a very popular stop for tourists traveling across Siargao Island¹.

It is located just off to the side of the main road, on a hilly part of the island, before Maasin River (where you find the Palm Tree Rope Swing, and further on is the Magpupungko Rock Pools), which is about 30 minutes away from General Luna².

Do not forget to stop, get out of your vehicle with your camera, and be amazed with thousands of palm trees below you, and far as your eyes can see.

Talk about having the best tropical vibes!

Video by Erie R. Ama, taken  January 7, 2019

We just stopped briefly on a spot recommended by our local driver, took photos and videos, during our 2019 visit.

I think I should try going to this breathtaking spot during sunset next time!

Read other posts re Siargao: SUN, SAND AND SEA AT GUYAM, DAKU AND NAKED ISLANDS (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), SUGBA LAGOON-KAWHAGAN ISLAND TOUR (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), MAGPUPUNGKO BEACH, TIDAL POOLS AND ROCK FORMATIONS (Pilar, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE AT SHAKA, SIARGAO,  CEV: Ceviche Heaven in Siargao, A BREATHTAKING VIEW AT SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK,  Seniors, Now You Know: S.E.A. MOVEMENT – FIGHTING TO PRESERVE SIARGAO!, and NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 SIARGAO.

This is not a sponsored post. I just want my readers to know more about the Philippines.

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear your comment/s regarding Siargao’s Palm Viewpoint.

See other interesting places through other posts in this category and other categories of SCapades, Pinoy Delights, and Smart Travelers – Foreign Travelers Ask, Now You Know, and Say, Say, Say. Happy reading, and I hope that you will appreciate what I shared and some of the featured destinations will be part of your future travel plans!

Remember to share this post with your friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, not familiar with Filipino terms, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea, almost 200 km southeast of Tacloban, in the province³ of Surigao del Norte⁴, in the Caraga⁵ Region⁶ of Mindanao⁷, in the Philippines. It has a land area of about 437 sq. km. (169 sq.mi.). It has one of the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, particularly in the municipality⁸ of Del Carmen⁹, covering 4,871 hectares.

It has excellent surfing conditions, particularly during the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, from August to November. Local and international surfers call its municipality⁸ of General Luna² as “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, with surfing pros enjoying the challenging waves in Tuason Point¹⁰ area as well. Siargao was also named by Surfer as one of the “Ten Best Surf Trips of All Time” in 1995.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Siargao”¹¹ and the Wikitravel page “Siargao”¹².

²General Luna is a fifth class municipality⁸ in the province³ of Surigao del Norte⁴, in the Caraga⁵ Region⁶ of Mindanao⁷, in the Philippines. It is the home of world-renowned Cloud 9 waves and so this town is called “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”. It was formerly called Cabuntog and currently has 19 barangays¹³, 15 of which are located on Siargao Island¹, while 4 are on the other outer islands. The islands of Anahawan, Daku and La Januza are within its jurisdiction. The area is protected within the Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS) under Republic Act 7586 (National Integrated Protected Area System Act) of 1992. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia pages “General Luna, Surigao del Norte”¹⁴ and “Siargao”.¹¹

³A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region⁶. There are 81 provinces (called “lalawigan”) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. In the Philippines, a province is divided into cities and municipalities⁸ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹³, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”¹⁵ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

⁴Surigao del Norte is a province³ in the Caraga⁵ Region⁶ of Mindanao⁷, in the Philippines. This province comprises two islands, Siargao¹ and Bucas Grande, in the Philippine Sea, and a small area at the northeastern tip of Mindanao. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur to the south. It is the second northernmost of the Mindanao provinces, and is an important transportation hub between Visayas¹⁶ and Mindanao. It was founded on June 19, 1960. It has 20 municipalities² and one component city, its capital, Surigao City. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Surigao del Norte.”¹⁷

⁵Region XIII, or the Caraga Region, is a Philippine region⁶ located in the island group of Mindanao⁷, with Butuan as its regional center. It has five provinces³: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte⁴, and Surigao del Sur; 6 cities: Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Caraga.”¹⁸

⁶A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces³, composed of cities and municipalities⁸ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹³, according to the Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”.¹⁹ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES?

⁷Mindanao, commonly known as Southern Philippines, is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines, located at the southernmost part of the country. It is the second largest island of the country and covers 6 administrative regions: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), CARAGA⁵ Region⁶, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), and Zamboanga Peninsula. It is composed of 22 provinces³ and 33 cities. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mindanao.”²⁰ The 2 other major geographical divisions of the Philippines are Luzon (in the northern part) and Visayas¹⁶ (in the central part).

⁸A municipality is small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province³, subdivided into barangays¹³, and is called town, or bayan. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials, and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”²¹ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: HOW MANY CITIES ARE THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

⁹Del Carmen is a fifth class municipality⁸ in Siargao Island¹, in the province³ of Surigao del Norte⁴, in the Caraga5 Region6 of Mindanao⁷, Philippines. It is the home of Sayak Airport, the island’s main airport. This town was formerly called Numancia until 1966. It currently has 20 barangays¹³. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Del Carmen”.²² Visit its website: www.visitdelcarmen.com

¹⁰Tuason Point is another surfing spot in Siargao¹, just walking distance from Cloud 9. It is similar to the latter but they say it does not barrel²³ as consistent as the latter. The bottom is the same, going from deep to just inches of water at low tides, and breaks²⁴ equally powerful and hollow, so this site is for intermediate, advanced and pro surfers.²⁵

¹¹“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siargao

¹²“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://wikitravel.org/en/Siargao

¹³A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a district or village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”²⁶

¹⁴“General Luna, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Luna,_Surigao_del_Norte

¹⁵“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines

¹⁶Visayas is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines. It covers 3 administrative regions: Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas. It consists of 6 major islands (Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Panay and Samar), mostly surrounded by the Visayan Sea, and is composed of 16 provinces³, according to Wikipedia page “Visayas”.²⁷ Visayas is located at the middle part of the country; the 2 other geographical divisions of the Philippines are Luzon (in the northern part) and Mindanao⁷ (in the southern part).

 ¹⁷“Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surigao_del_Norte

¹⁸“Caraga,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caraga

¹⁹“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

²⁰“Mindanao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindanao

²¹“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines

²²“Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Carmen,_Surigao_del_Norte

²³A barrel, tube, cave, keg, or green room, is the effect when a big wave rolls over, enclosing a temporary horizontal tunnel of air with the surfer inside. A barrel requires a powerful wave breaking¹² in shallow water. The hollow part of the wave is formed by the top travelling faster than the bottom. The idea is for the surfer to get into the tube or barrel, and is thereby barrelled! The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Glossary of surfing”.^{28 and 29}Photo taken from the Facebook account of  Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/760644954084724/?type=3&theater

²⁴A reef break is a fantastic wave created by a reef (often coral) under the water. The surrounding water can be quite deep, but due to the formation of the coral reef, the waves will break there, often seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A surfer needs a very long paddle, or a boat ride, to get to where the high tide waves are breaking. Beware, this wave can cause nasty injuries if you come off your board onto the coral, and get painful coral cuts.³⁰

 ²⁵http://siargao.surf/tuason-point/

²⁶“Barangay,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

²⁷“Visayas,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayas

²⁸“Glossary of surfing,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_surfing

²⁹https://www.cornwalls.co.uk/surfing/dictionary.htm

³⁰https://www.degree33surfboards.com/blogs/gettin-pitted/14071029-the-differences-between-beach-breaks-point-breaks-and-reef-breaks

CEV: Ceviche Heaven in Siargao (Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

LOCATION: Loose Keys Moto Culture, Tourism Road, municipality of General Luna, Siargao Island, province of Surigao del Norte

Picture this: You are in Siargao Island and staying in General Luna and it is your first night, or your next night/s after surfing or island hopping. Do you want to go to a bar yet try something different to eat? Well, why not go to Cev?

Loose Keys-Cev, located along Tourism Road, municipality of General Luna, Siargao

Loose Keys, the bar part of this establishment, opened sometime mid-2018, while the kitchen part, called Cev, opened on November 2018.

You cannot miss this cevicheria-bar, owned by David del Rosario, a surfer with a culinary course from the USA, who claims to be “living his best life” in Siargao.

Cev is along Tourism Road, the main road of the municipality of General Luna. It is near a popular restaurant called Bravo.

The open-air atmosphere in Loose Keys-Cev is cozy and perfect for relaxation after surfing or island-hopping. What’s that? You don’t drive, and have not rented a motorcycle? No worries. Just ride a tricycle. Pay PHP20 per person, and the driver will drop you right in front of this place.

Operating hours are 11:00 am till 9 pm daily.

Take three steps up the entrance, and to your left are the items for sale (shirts, surfing boards, etc.).

To your right is a billiard table and high stools with the wooden frame of the restaurant’s border where you can place your cold beer or cocktail while playing billiards, or when just chilling and enjoying a drink while facing the main road, watching people and vehicles pass by.

A little further to the left are two small dining tables for four, then a bar, where customers can sit, order drinks and chill.

To the inner right are longer tables for bigger groups to gather, eat ceviche¹ and kinilaw² dishes, drink, and enjoy each other’s company.

Cev is busy at night, so come early! (Photo from http://www.facebook.com/cevsiargao)

                                          Wall Menu, Loose Keys-Cev, Siargao

Dave del Rosario with the catch of the day (l-r): Mahi-mahi³ (the favorite fish),  Cobia (delicate, plump, almost sweet; 21 kilos in pic), Talakitok or Bigeye Jack (8.5 kilos in pic), all for Cev’s ceviche dishes and kinilaw rice bowls.  (Photos from http://www.facebook.com/cevsiargao)

                                                    Menu Card, Loose Keys-Cev, Siargao

Serving portions of two colorful and eye-appealing ceviche¹ dishes, PACIFICO and SANTA FE (at PHP320 each), are big enough to be shared by two to three persons.

We enjoyed Pacifico: fresh fish prepared with calamansi⁴ juice, cilantro⁵, and red onions, made creamy with coconut milk,and complemented in texture and taste by soft boiled sweet potatoes and soft sweet corn kernels, as well as the crisp fried sweet potato strings and tortilla chips. I surmise that the leche de tigre⁶ added a certain appeal to the dish among male customers (see the footnote below). You must try this ceviche¹ creation!

We also ordered Santa Fe. This ceviche¹ is very interesting! The fresh fish is prepared with calamansi⁴ juice, and flavored with red onions, and cilantro⁵, along with tomato puree. The tortilla chips and cucumber slices gave a contrasting texture and added flavor, and the fried bananas and popcorn offered an added treat for this dish.

Colorful and visually attractive kinilaw² rice bowls (at PHP280 each), good enough for sharing between two seniors, are available: General Luna (named after the town it is located), Daku, Guyam, and Naked (named after three popular islands in Siargao). Mix all the ingredients well so you get a bit of everything per spoonful. See their descriptions in the menu above.

We only ordered two kinilaw² dishes. The Guyam kinilaw² rice bowl, made of garlic rice, grilled pork belly strips, along with the fresh fish, made tangy with sweet calamansi⁴ and coconut vinegar, was very satisfying. The ginger, pickled papaya, red and green onions gave enough spiciness, while the crunchy cucumber slices and roasted corn provided added texture plus an element of surprise to this dish.

The General Luna kinilaw-garlic rice bowl features grilled eggplant, made creamy with coconut milk, and the fresh fish is combined with coco vinegar, ginger and red onions. The surprise was the combination of spiced mango cubes, fried sweet potatoes and black beans.

The alcoholic beverages offered are: Signature Cocktails (Drunken Monkey, Open Water, Sunken Sailor, and Treasure Chest), Classic Cocktails (Amaretto Sour, Margarita, Mojito, and Piña Colada), House Specials (Bacardi & Coke, Gin & Tonic, Jack Daniel & Coke, Rum & Coke/Sprite, Vodka Cranberry, and Vodka Soda), and Beers (San Miguel Light, San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Beer na Beer, Brew Kettle, Red Horse, and General Luna Ale⁷).

Our male companions ordered beer, which was served well chilled.

Non-alcoholic beverages include: hot or iced coffee (americano, cappuccino, espresso, latté, mocha), hot or iced signature drinks (almond, chocolate, salted caramel, toffee), juices and smoothies (banana, calamansi⁴, cranberry, mango, watermelon), and soft drinks (Coke and Sprite).

I ordered a watermelon smoothie. It was served in a highball glass with a bamboo straw, which I appreciated because of their non-plastic policy. This drink was just right: it was refreshing, creamy and not that sweet. Duirng our next visit, I ordered a Margarita. This cocktail was balanced, with the right amount of tequila, sourness, bitterness and sweetness. I definitely enjoyed this drink.

So, when in Siargao, why not stop by at Cev to drink a cold beer/cocktail along with Pacifico Ceviche (PHP320) while playing billiards, and/or order our favorite Guyam kinilaw rice bowl (PHP280) for lunch/dinner? Besides, you can get to meet the most friendly, hospitable, good-looking, and hands-on restaurant owner in Siargao, just ask for Dave!

Contact information: Instagram: @cevsiargao;  @loosekeysmotoculture;  http://www.facebook.com/cevsiargao

This is not a sponsored post. I paid for my visit in this restaurant.

Read my other posts about Siargao:  MAGPUPUNGKO BEACH, TIDAL POOLS AND ROCK FORMATIONS (Pilar, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), SUN, SAND AND SEA AT GUYAM, DAKU AND NAKED ISLANDS (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), SUGBA LAGOON-KAWHAGAN ISLAND TOUR (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK (Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines), FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE AT SHAKA (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines), and Seniors, Now You Know: S.E.A. MOVEMENT – FIGHTING TO PRESERVE SIARGAO!.

Did you find this post informative? Have you tried Cev? I would like to hear from you.

See other interesting places through other posts in this category and other categories of SCapades, Pinoy Delights, and Smart Travelers – Foreign Travelers Ask, Now You Know, and Say, Say, Say. Happy reading, and I hope that you will appreciate what I shared and some of the featured destinations will be part of your future travel plans!

Remember to share this post with your friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially non-Filipinos, those with “Senior-Moments”, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹Ceviche is a popular Latin American dish where the raw cubed fish or shrimp is diced and “cooked” in citrus juice, then mixed with other ingredients like red onions, cilantro⁵ and chilis, according to the Wikipedia page “Ceviche”.⁸

²Kinilaw is the Filipino term which literally means “eaten raw”. It usually refers to a raw fish or seafood dish, native to the Philippines, similar to ceviche¹, although lightly grilled meat and vegetables may also be used. It basically relies on (coconut or cane) vinegar to denature the ingredients, and has a souring agent like calamansi⁴, balimbing⁹, dayap¹⁰, green mangoes and kamias¹¹. It is flavored with salt and spices like black pepper, chili peppers, ginger and onions. The dish could be served as an appetizer, as a finger food (pulutan in Tagalog) with alcoholic beverages. There are many Filipino regional variations. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Kinilaw”.¹²

³The mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish, is a surface-dwelling ray-finned, compressed-bodied fish with a single, long-based dorsal fin extending from the head almost to the tail, found in off-shore, temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide. Males have a prominent forehead protruding well above the body proper while the smaller females have a rounded head. This colorful fish has a golden side, bright blues and greens on the sides and back, and an iridescent blue pectoral fin. Its color fades to a muted yellow-grey upon death. The name comes from the Hawaiian language which means “very strong”, through the process of reduplication. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mahi-mahi”.¹³

⁴Calamansi is a small (about 30-mm in diameter), tangy-sour citrus fruit with a thin, green skin (which turns yellow-orange when ripe), with a yellow/orange pulp. The juice is used in various food and beverages as a major/minor ingredient, seasoning or dipping ingredient.

⁵Cilantro, coriander, or Chinese parsley, is an annual herb where the leaves, with citrus overtones, and dried seeds, with a warm, nutty, spicy, lemony-orange flavor when crushed, are the parts most traditionally used in cooking worldwide. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Coriander”.¹⁴

⁶Leche de tigre (tiger’s milk) is the citrus-based spicy marinade used to cure the fish in classic Peruvian ceviche¹. Thus, it is the leftover juices of a ceviche, which usually contains a bit of fish juice, fresh lime juice, sliced onions, cilantro⁵ leaves, chilis, chopped celery ribs, thinly sliced garlic cloves, finely grated ginger, kosher salt and pepper.^{15, 16, 17} It is said to be the Peruvian version of Viagra and has aphrodisiac properties.¹⁸

⁷subject to availability

⁸“Ceviche,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceviche.

⁹Balimbing, carambola, or star fruit, is an edible fruit with the scientific name Averrhoa carambola, native to the Philippines and Indonesia. The oval fruit is about 5-15 cm (2-6 in.) in length, has (usually 5) distinctive ridges running down its sides, and commonly eaten out of hand. It has a smooth, thin, slightly waxy skin. The flesh is crunchy, firm, and very juicy. It does not contain fiber, and has a texture similar in consistency to that of grapes. The small type is sour/tart while the larger type is sweet. It is best consumed shortly after it ripens, just after all traces of green have disappeared, with brown ridges at the edges, and still fells firm. If you cut this fruit crosswise, each slice is shaped like a star. It can also be used in cooking, and can be made into juice drinks, preserves and relishes. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Carambola”.¹⁹

¹⁰Dayap is the Philippine variety of key lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia), a citrus hybrid (C. micrantha x C. medina). This spherical fruit is 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in.) in diameter. It is usually picked while it is still green and turns yellow, when ripe. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Key lime”.²⁰

¹¹Kamias is the Filipino term for Averrhoa bilimbi, an ellipsoidal, elongated fruit, measuring 4-10 cm, and sometimes faintly angled. The smooth to slightly bumpy skin is thin and waxy, turning from light green, to yellowish-green when ripe. The flesh is crisp and the juice is sour and extremely acidic, and therefore not typically consumed as fresh fruit itself. In the Philippines, it is often planted in backyards, and the fruits eaten raw or dipped in rock salt. It can also be sun-dried then preserved, used as a souring agent for Filipino dishes, or used to make salad, mixed with tomatoes and chopped onions, with soy sauce as dressing. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Averrhoa bilimbi”.²¹

¹²“Kinilaw,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinilaw.

¹³“Mahi-mahi,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahi-mahi.

¹⁴“Coriander,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander.

¹⁵www.bonappetit.com

¹⁶www.popsugar.com

¹⁷www.saveur.com

¹⁸www.miamiculinarytours.com

¹⁹“Carambola,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carambola.

²⁰“Key lime,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_lime.

²¹“Averrhoa bilimbi,” accessed January 4, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averrhoa_bilimbi.

SUGBA LAGOON-KAWHAGAN ISLAND TOUR (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

 

Dearest Seniors, have you been to Siargao¹? If yes, have you visited Sugba Lagoon and Kawhagan Island? A day tour to these destinations is offered by various tour operators. Well, if you have not, allow Tita S to share with you her experience.

SUGBA LAGOON AND KAWHAGAN ISLAND: AN OVERVIEW

First, let me give a brief description of these two destinations:

Sugba Lagoon is a small lagoon located on Caob Island, in the municipality² of Del Carmen³, in the northwestern coast of the island of Siargao¹, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, Philippines.

This lagoon is known for its clear, calm, turquoise waters and surrounding limestone cliffs. The locals say that you must take the challenge to dive from the wooden platform, for that iconic picture and/or video, in this destination!

Diving at Sugba Lagoon, https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/a.285014781583559/2196288190456199/?type=3&theater

Paddleboard, kayaks, bamboo rafts at Sugba Lagoon, https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/a.512267345524967/2124798377605181/?type=3&theater

For other tourists, you can still enjoy this lagoon – go kayaking, snorkeling, standup paddle-boarding, swimming, bamboo rafting, and even free diving. However, a group can only stay a maximum of three hours in this lagoon so other tourists to enjoy their visit there too.

Oh, by the way, Sugba Lagoon is closed for an annual monthly environmental recovery and rehabilitation, so when you plan your Siargao¹ vacation, be sure to check out the closure schedule ahead of time. In 2019, it was scheduled to be closed from January 10 to February 10. Good that we visited three days before that schedule.

Kawhagan Island is a small island near Sugba Lagoon surrounded by coconut trees. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwILymCjEco

It has a small beach which looks like a long narrow sandbar, about 150 meters during low tide, where tourists can swim, sunbathe, and take lots of photos and videos.

Kawhagan Island, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte – Source: https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/2219790818105936

THE SUGBA LAGOON-KAWHAGAN ISLAND DAY TOUR PACKAGE AND MY EXPERIENCE

You can visit Sugba Lagoon as part of a group package tour, or a private tour. Just google service providers. My group opted to avail of the tour package of Kermit Siargao⁹, in the municipality² of General Luna¹⁰ where we also stayed. We joined a group tour and it costs PHP2,000 (about US$40) per person.

Full payment, in cash or through credit card, must be made a day before the tour date, to guarantee a slot. A minimum of 6 persons is needed, or the tour will be cancelled. There are no refunds once payment has been made, unless weather does not permit the tour. So, leave a contact number for possible cancellations. You can opt to join the next tour but if you decide to cancel, only 50% will be refunded. Visit https://www.kermitsiargao.com/island-hopping

It was a day tour, with only two destinations: Sugba Lagoon in the morning, and Kawhagan Island for lunch and early afternoon. We were able to return to General Luna¹⁰ at around 4:30 pm.

The tour package was inclusive of van transfers from Kermit⁹ to Del Carmen³, boat transfers (for a group of 6-10 people), life vests, and barbecue lunch with drinks, as well as entrance, docking and tourism fees.

You can also book online via Klook, or avail of cheaper tours offered by other local tour operators in the island, around PHP1,500 (about US$30) per person, excluding lunch.

Some tour operators include a third destination – Pamomoan Beach – which is connected to Caob Island, same as Sugba Lagoon, just separated by hills and trees. Tourists can swim, snorkel, or just sunbathe while waiting for their lunch. The group can then proceed to Kawhagan Island after lunch.

You can also have a private tour for a group. A private boat tour allows for flexibility in your stay per destination. Here are options for your lunch: bring your lunch, order lunch in Sugba Lagoon for about PHP200-400 per person, or go to the public market in General Luna for the freshest catch of the day: seafood and fishes. Fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, may not be that fresh since they come from other towns. You may then have them cooked in Sugba Lagoon or Kawhagan Island, for a fee. A picnic table in Kawhagan Island can be rented, if you choose to bring your lunch and eat there.

For the younger ones who travel on a budget, you can rent a motorbike or driver in General Luna to take you to the Del Carmen Mangrove Propagation and Information Center at the port of the municipality² of Del Carmen³. There, you pay for an entrance fee, environment fee, and boat fee, and you will be assigned a boatman. You have three options regarding food and beverages: opt to bring your own food and drinks; order food to-go from Krokodeilos Restaurant, just beside the Center; or, buy lunch, around PHP200-400 at Sugba Lagoon’s two-storey pavilion.

As for my group, we had an early breakfast and immediately proceeded to Kermit⁹ at around 7AM. We rode a van for about an hour, till we reached Del Carmen Mangrove Propagation and Information Center.

Our guide arranged our boat ride while we went around the center to know more about the role and activities of this Center. The staff of the center gave a brief talk about the center, its mangrove forest, the conservation efforts of Siargao Island Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS), and the interesting (and for some, scary) crocodiles and other fauna in the island.

Del Carmen Mangrove Propagation and Information Center is located at the port of the town, Del Carmen³. It is in charge of the town’s 4,000-hectare mangrove forest which is considered the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the Philippines.¹¹, has the second largest mangrove system in the Philippines. It also serves as the breeding ground for a diverse aquatic life, including the king crab and a species of saltwater crocodile. Oh my, the latter made me nervous riding our boat but no worries, I was assured by the boatmen.

The boat trip from Del Carmen Mangrove Propagation and Information Center’s port to Sugba Lagoon is about half-an-hour.

Our boat passed by the healthy-looking mangrove area of Del Carmen³. It is such a beautiful sight, and it is so heartwarming to know that the local government has conservation projects in place to save this wonderful place. Del Carmen mangrove area, Surigao del Norte – https://www.facebook.com/SiargaoMangroveCenter/photos/a.561181530712164/861882160642098/?type=3&theater

I was told that the local government also offers a mangrove tour so tourists will learn more about the importance of mangroves, and enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding within the area.Paddleboarding at Del Carmen mangrove area, Surigao del Norte – Source: https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/2249614365123581

Then, lo and behold, in the interior limestone cliffs was our first destination – Sugba Lagoon!

There is only one entry to the lagoon and our boatman parked the boat along the entrance of a two-storey wooden pavilion at the center of the lagoon. We were assisted to disembark from the boat and led to the first level. Both levels had tables and chairs for tourists to stay, safekeep their belongings, and order food and beverages, if desired.

To the right, upon entering the first level is a counter where you can pay for rentals like kayaks, bamboo rafts and paddle boards, for about PHP300 per hour.

The first level was almost full of foreign and local tourists who arrived ahead of us. They occupied chairs, and placed their belongings on the tables. To the left, upon entry, were the stairs leading to the second level where there were additional tables and chairs.

We found an empty table with enough chairs for us all. From the second level, you could see a wooden diving board below, where the courageous tourists conquer their fears and jump to the waters below.

And guess what? My senior citizen husband took the challenge and dove! That is nearly 10 feet high! Here is his video.  

Late morning during peak season, you might have to line up a bit to dive, so come early.

Do not forget to check out the corals and marine life amidst the blue-green waters. They say there is even harmless jellyfish. So, guess what? Harmless or not, Tita S stayed out of the water and just settled on kayaking for an hour – her exercise for the day – being careful not to bump other kayaks, paddleboards and even people snorkeling and swimming around the large lagoon.

To enjoy the water activities, arrive early in the lagoon, around 9AM, so there will be less people around. Anyway, I did enjoy kayaking across the clear, calm waters with my husband, and this activity made me somehow relax and appreciate the beauty around us.

They say there is a “Blue Lagoon” further on, but I was contented to stay close to the pavilion. Our relatives, in another kayak, ventured onwards and were rewarded by a beautiful site. If you did too, can you share with me what you saw?

For the more adventurous, you can cliff dive from a wooden platform on a nearby hidden tree cliff! Kayak or standup paddleboard further to the right of the pavilion, around the corner, for about 500 meters to the far side of the lagoon. I was told it is dangerous, so do this at your own risk, younger and more courageous ones! You have to go up for about 7-8 meters until you reach a wooden platform which serves as the diving board. The thrill seeking tourists get a kick from this but if you miss a step, you might fall down on the rocks below!

It was almost lunch so our group rode the boat to a nearby island, Kawhagan Island, a small island near Sugba Lagoon, just 20 minutes away.Source: https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/2114654441952908

Kawhagan Island is a small island surrounded by coconut trees. It has many native huts for groups to stay in, or to leave their belongings in, when going around the island, or when swimming, snorkeling, or sunbathing.

The long narrow sandbar-looking beach has fine, powdery, off-white sand. It was a sight to behold since it was like this very small island extended a long-sandy-carpet for tourists to enjoy the sand, sea and sky!Source: https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/1905739586177729

The local and foreign tourists with us opted to sunbathe, then swim a little, or just chat endlessly under the sun, sit on the fine, powdery sand, and simply chill with family and friends, amidst the relaxing sea breeze.

We immediately went around to take photos and videos. It took a while before our lunch was served but it was satisfying, what with the newly barbecued meat, fish and seafood, vegetables, thirst-quenching water, soft drinks and even alcoholic drinks!

Fresh coconut and even cold beer are available, just ask your boatman, and be ready with your cash.

After lunch, we were allowed to explore the beach, swim, and take lots of pictures and videos. For sure, the nature lovers will appreciate the tranquility of the inner coconut tree-fringed portion, and the beauty of the sandbar-looking beach, of this island. We left at about past 3PM.

We then returned to Del Carmen’s Mangrove Propagation and Information Center and had a snack at Krokodeilos Restaurant, just beside it. Some members of my group even went to the nearby market and were able to enjoy soft serve ice cream. Our van arrived and we reached Kermit⁹ in General Luna¹⁰ at around 4:30PM. That is just the right time for Kermit restaurant’s Happy Hour!

Before I end this post, let me give you some suggestions on what to bring for this day tour to maximize your enjoyment:

1. Sunblock – apply beforehand and reapply as needed
2. Swimwear – wear this already, under your clothes or wrap, so it would be easy for you to dive and do other water activities
3. Fully charged cellphones, cameras, GoPro or similar gadgets, drones, extra batteries and chargers
4. Refillable water bottle – Kermit provides water and it is best to bring your own water bottle; just ask it to be refilled when needed. I personally prefer to bring my own water.
5. Personal medicine/s
6. Extra clothes, towel, basic toiletries – if you will dive, swim, or snorkel
7. A hat or cap – to wear during your boat ride, strolls around island/s, or any above-water activity
8. Cash – for that fresh coconut, drink, snack, or whatever else you might want to buy
9. Snorkeling gear – if you have one; you can also borrow snorkels from Kermit but you need to pay a PHP500 safety deposit which will be returned to you once you return the gear in good condition, upon your return.
10. Dry pack bag – to keep all your gadgets and belongings safe and waterproof.

This is not a sponsored post. We paid for the tour I shared with you.

Read my other posts re Siargao:

MAGPUPUNGKO BEACH, TIDAL POOLS AND ROCK FORMATIONS (Pilar, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

SUN, SAND AND SEA AT GUYAM, DAKU AND NAKED ISLANDS

A BREATHTAKING VIEW AT SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK

FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT SIARGAO

CEV: Ceviche Heaven in Siargao

A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE AT SHAKA, SIARGAO

NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 SIARGAO

Seniors, Now You Know: S.E.A. MOVEMENT – FIGHTING TO PRESERVE SIARGAO!

The collage cover picture is a combination of my personal pictures and https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/?ref=page_internal.

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear your comment/s regarding Sugba Lagoon and Kawhagan Island. Did you take the challenge of diving in the lagoon? Did you enjoy the sandbar-beach at Kawhagan? Were you satisfied with the tour you availed of, by Kermit or by another tour provider? Do share this post with your Facebook friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, not familiar with Filipino terms, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea, almost 200 km southeast of Tacloban, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. It has a land area of about 437 sq. km. (169 sq.mi.). It has one of the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, particularly in the municipality² of Del Carmen³, covering 4,871 hectares.

It has excellent surfing conditions, particularly during the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, from August to November. Local and international surfers call its municipality² of General Luna¹⁰ as the “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, with surfing pros enjoying the challenging waves in nearby Tuason Point area as well. Siargao was also named by Surfer as one of the “Ten Best Surf Trips of All Time” in 1995.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Siargao”¹² and the Wikitravel page “Siargao”¹³.

²A municipality is small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province⁴, subdivided into barangays¹⁴, and is called town, or bayan. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials, and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”¹⁵ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: HOW MANY CITIES ARE THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

³Del Carmen is a fifth class municipality in Siargao Island¹, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. It is the home of Sayak Airport, the island’s main airport. This town was formerly called Numancia until 1966. It currently has 20 barangays. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.”¹⁶ Visit its website: www.visitdelcarmen.com

⁴A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region⁷. There are 81 provinces (called “lalawigan”) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. In the Philippines, a province is divided into cities and municipalities² (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹⁴, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”¹⁷ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

⁵Surigao del Norte is a province⁴ in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. This province comprises two islands, Siargao¹ and Bucas Grande, in the Philippine Sea, and a small area at the northeastern tip of Mindanao. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur to the south. It is the second northernmost of the Mindanao provinces, and is an important transportation hub between Visayas (the central part of the country) and Mindanao (the southern part). It was founded on June 19, 1960. It has 20 municipalities² and one component city, its capital, Surigao City. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Surigao del Norte.”¹⁸

⁶Region XIII, or the Caraga Region, is a Philippine region⁷ located in the island group of Mindanao⁸, with Butuan as its regional center. It has five provinces⁴: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte⁵, and Surigao del Sur; 6 cities: Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Caraga.”¹⁹

⁷A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces⁴, composed of cities and municipalities² (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹⁴, according to the Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”.²⁰ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES?

⁸Mindanao, commonly known as Southern Philippines, is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines, located at the southernmost part of the country. It is the second largest island of the country and covers 6 administrative regions: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), CARAGA⁶ Region⁷, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), and Zamboanga Peninsula. It is composed of 22 provinces⁴ and 33 cities. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mindanao.”²¹ The 2 other major geographical divisions of the Philippines are Luzon (in the northern part) and Visayas (in the central part).

⁹Kermit Surf Resort and Restaurant is located at Purok²² 5, in the municipality² of General Luna¹⁰, Siargao Island¹, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. It offers accommodations, dining services, tour packages, and surfing and yoga lessons. Contact information: Cellphone numbers: Globe – +639176550548, Smart – +639209689934; Email: info@kermitsiargao.com; website: www.kermitsiargao.com

¹⁰General Luna is a fifth class municipality² in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. It is the home of world-renowned Cloud 9 waves, so this town is called “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”. It was formerly called Cabuntog, and currently has 19 barangays¹⁴, 15 of which are located on Siargao Island¹, while 4 are on the other outer islands. The islands of Anahawan, Daku and La Januza are within its jurisdiction. The area is protected within the Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS) under Republic Act 7586 (National Integrated Protected Area System Act) of 1992. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “General Luna, Surigao del Norte”²³ and “Siargao”.¹²

¹¹http://minda.gov.ph/news/226-minda-siargao-lgu-partner-for-mangrove-conservation

¹²“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siargao

¹³“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://wikitravel.org/en/Siargao

¹⁴A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a district or village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”²⁴

¹⁵“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines

¹⁶“Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Carmen,_Surigao_del_Norte

¹⁷“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines

¹⁸“Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surigao_del_Norte

¹⁹“Caraga,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caraga

²⁰“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

²¹“Mindanao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindanao

²²A purok is a division, or a portion of a less densely populated neighborhood, within an urbanized barangay¹⁴, in the Philippines. It often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. It is typically composed of 20-50 households, depending on the particular geographical location and cluster of houses. Its counterpart in a rural barangay is called a sitio. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Purok.”²⁵

²³“General Luna, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Luna,_Surigao_del_Norte

²⁴“Barangay,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

²⁵“Purok,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purok

 

A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE AT SHAKA (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

Dearest Seniors, have you heard of Shaka Café? If not, allow Tita S to tell you about this interesting restaurant.

THE SHAKA SIGN

First, I have to let you know what the term shaka means. The shaka sign is a gesture of friendly intent often associated with Hawaii, and surf culture. It is sometimes known as “hang loose”, and in South Africa as “tjovitjo”. This friendly gesture consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while holding the three middle fingers curled, and gesturing in salutation, while presenting the front or back of the hand. The hand may be rotated back and forth for emphasis.

Look at the right hand gesture of the man in the picture. That is the shaka sign!  Photo from the Facebook account of Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539292569553298/761257394023480/?type=3&theater

The residents of Hawaii use the shaka sign to convey the “Aloha Spirit”, a concept of friendship, understanding, compassion, and solidarity among the various ethnic cultures  residing in Hawaii. It can be used to express “howzit?”, “thanks, eh?”, and “all right!”. Drivers often use it on the road to communicate distant greetings and gratitude.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Shaka sign”.¹

SHAKA CAFÉS

Ben Plummer owns Shaka Cafés. He said that the term “shaka” expresses “good vibes” to his guests, and makes them feel relaxed during their dining experience.²

This all-day breakfast vegetarian/vegan café has four locations: Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol³; Lio Beach, El Nido, Palawan⁴; Moalboal, Cebu⁵; and, General Luna⁶, Siargao Island⁷, Surigao del Norte⁸.⁹

Shaka offers a healthy alternative to diners – tasty and satisfying food and drinks using fresh organic fruits and vegetables, without additives or preservatives.⁹

Shaka is likewise involved with the local community where it is located. It organizes regular beach and town clean-ups, promotes environmental awareness campaigns, and presents solutions for community issues. It also sponsors six local island surfers to pursue their professional dreams.⁹

Moreover, it is concerned with the environment, and prioritizes environmental sustainability. It provides wooden baskets to fruit vendors, only uses bamboo straws for drinks, and avoids the use of plastic water bottles. It does not serve animal products and believes that the reduction in meat consumption will benefit one’s health, and helps fight against global warming.⁹

 SHAKA SIARGAO

Shaka Siargao is located at Cloud 9, Tourism Road, in the municipality¹⁰ of General Luna⁶, Siargao Island⁷, in the province¹¹ of Surigao del Norte⁸, in the Caraga¹² Region¹³ of Mindanao¹⁴, Philippines.

Business hours are from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily.

My group woke up early during our last day in Siargao, tired of the regular breakfast offerings in our resort. We have heard so much about Shaka’s artistically created smoothie bowls and fresh cold-pressed juices, among others, and were eager to enjoy a healthy, vegetarian/vegan breakfast, while we savor our last sunrise in the island.

We rode a tricycle to Shaka, located along Tourism Road, then we walked towards Shaka.

We walked a bit till we reached a small hut with simple outdoor wooden long tables and chairs, such a laid back vibe.The open-air dining area was almost full and we were lucky to find a table with no obstruction of the view of Cloud 9 Surfing Viewing Deck and the seascape.

My husband and I told our niece to just order for us and surprise us with her orders, as long as we had two different power bowls so we can taste them both.

Shaka Siargao has a simple menu card. I appreciated that it was laminated but I did not like the haphazardly placed masking tapes on unavailable items with “N/A” written on them, using black and red ink.

The layout of the menu card was easy to scan, even with sleepy eyes early in the morning. The solid black prints were readable over a white background, with a shade of teal for the coconut leaves – a vertical leaf on the left side, and a slanting leaf on the bottom right.

Orders were grouped into six:

1. POWER BOWLS – There are five kinds, at PHP 250 each:

• Blissful Butterfly – made of apple, banana, coconut, kiwi, and butterfly pea flower¹⁵
• Bom Dia – made of acai¹⁶, banana, berries, coconut, mango, pineapple and milk
• Cloud 9 Kook – made of banana, cacao, coconut milk and peanut butter. I guess this is for the sweet tooth!
• Green Out¹⁷– made of cucumber, ginger, kale, mango, pineapple, saluyot¹⁸, spirulina¹⁹, and coconut milk
• Super Bowl – made of homemade granola, island-grown fruits, quinoa, local honey, and a choice of homemade natural yogurt or coconut milk

Blissful Butterfly, Bom Dia and Green Out Power Bowls (two other power bowls below) – Photos from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/1249909525158262/?type=3&theater,  https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.548268098655745/972910432858174/?type=3&theater, and https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.548268098655745/1023218567827360/?type=3&theater

2. SMOOTHIES – There are four kinds, at PHP200 each:

• Berrygoodnice – made of banana, grated coconut, mixed berries, and coconut water
• Coconana – made of banana, chia seeds²⁰and coconut milk
• Island Dream – made of coconut, mango, mixed berries, pineapple, and calamansi²¹ juice
• Tropoloco – made of banana, mango, pineapple, and coconut flesh and water

Berrygoodnice – Photo from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/1242507252565156/?type=3&theater

Tropoloco – Photo from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/558835654265656/?type=3&theater

Photos from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/685000108315876/?type=3&theater -smoothies

3. FRESH COLD PRESS JUICES – There are six kinds, at PHP180 each:

• Flu Fighter²²– made of carrot, ginger, mango, orange and pineapple
• Green Day – made of calamansi, kale, mint, pineapple and watermelon
• John Lemon – made of apple, lemon, lemongrass, pineapple and watermelon
• Jungle Juice – made of apple, calamansi, cucumber, ginger, malunggay²³and orange
• Lady in Red²⁴– made of beetroot, calamansi, carrot, ginger and watermelon
• Mixed Mutt – choose 3-5 ingredients: apple, calamnsi, carrot, cucumber, ginger, lemon, malunggay²³, mango, mint, orange, pineapple and watermelon

Flu Fighter – Photo from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/769129379902948/?type=3&theater

4. COFFEE –

• Espresso (PHP80)
• Cafe Latte (PHP120)
• Cappuccino (PHP120)
• Flat White (PHP120)
• Long Black (PHP120)
• Macchiato (PHP120)
• Iced Coffee (PHP120)
• Matcha Latte (PHP140)

Photos from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.553520548130500/588766321272589/?type=3&theater and https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/1218439964971885/?type=3&theater

5. TEAS –

Strong enough to be re-steeped up to 3 times:

• • Lychee Black Tea (PHP100)
  • Haji Cha Green Tea (PHP120)
  • Chamomile Flower Tisane (PHP120)
  • Imperial Ginseng Oolong (PHP120)

Tea for Two: Red Amaranth Blooming Flower (PHP200)

6. SUPER EXTRAS (PHP30 each) –

• Acai¹⁶
• Bee Pollen
• Cacao Nibs
• Chia²⁰
• Granola
• Maca²⁵
• Spirulina¹⁹
• Yogurt

It took a bit of waiting for our orders but we understood; the staff were so busy preparing all the orders of those who arrived before us early that January morning. Anyway, I used the waiting time to take videos and photos of the awesome view, even if the wind was strong.

The outdoor dining location of Shaka offered a great view of Cloud 9 Surfing Viewing Deck and boardwalk, and then some! Photo from the Facebook account, Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539292569553298/1153842641431618/?type=3&theater

There is a swing where you can chill while appreciating the waves, the wind, the beauty all around!Oh, what a wonderful view of Cloud 9’s famous Boardwalk and Surfing Viewing Deck from Shaka Siargao’s swing! Know more about the former: A BREATHTAKING VIEW AT SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK

Finally, not noticing how long our orders took to prepare, they were served by a smiling and courteous female server. The power bowls were appealing because of their presentation. The portion, for me, is generous and a senior might not be able to finish one order, but of course, I could! LOL

Our niece ordered Cloud 9 Kook and Super Bowl for my husband and me. Both were served in coconut shells and attractively presented. My husband did not enjoy them but I liked both of them. The pleasing combination of the banana and peanut butter, with cacao and coconut milk, gave the special appeal to Cloud 9 Kook. I enjoyed the assorted tropical fruits of Super Bowl as well, along with the yogurt, granola and quinoa. Both power bowls made me happy, knowing I was eating healthy, and that the combination of textures and flavors was satisfying. Next time, I will try their beverages and other power bowls.

I like the concept of Shaka offering an alternative to the regular breakfast or snack offered in other resorts in the island. Eating a healthy vegan breakfast or snack reminds me to be healthy even during a vacation. Second, I appreciate Shaka’s concern for the environment by using bamboo straws for the beverages, and coconut shells as serving containers for the power bowls. Third, I admire the owner for choosing to buy local ingredients which they use in their products, so the next time the fruit served to you is not that sweet, just think that you helped a local farmer. Fourth, all orders are freshly made and does not contain any preservative or additive. Lastly, orders are presented in a creative way, not only for Instagrammable photos but to whet your appetite as well!

We took our last shots and videos and had to immediately go to Cloud 9 Surfing Viewing Deck since it was our last day in the island.

Bottomline, when in Siargao⁷, visit Shaka for a different breakfast or snack. Just go early because it easily gets packed.

My only wish during our visit was for them to offer a vegan bread, or something, to go with their hot or cold beverages, for those customers who do not want to order the power bowls. Can anyone tell me if they now offer freshly baked vegan banana and chia²⁰ loaf and fruity muffin, like other branches?

Notice the  baked vegan loaf at the bottom right, topped with banana slices. This photo was obtained from the Facebook account of Shaka Siargao, posted December 2019. Wish we had that option when we went there early that year. Perhaps that could be another reason to return to Siargao. -https://www.facebook.com/shaka.on.cloud9/photos/a.566507100501179/731553017329919/?type=3&theater

Can you share with Titas S if you ordered other power bowls, hot and cold beverages, as well as their baked vegan treats?

Contact information: Mobile – 0929-422-8956; Facebook – www.facebook.com/shakasiargao/;  Instagram: instagram.com/shaka_cafes/; Email – info.shaka@icloud.com; #shakasiargao

This is not a sponsored post and Tita S paid for her orders.

Read related posts re Siargao: A BREATHTAKING VIEW AT SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK, NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 SIARGAO, and FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT SIARGAO.

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear your comment/s regarding your dining experience at Shaka Siargao, or even other branches. Do share this post with your Facebook friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, not familiar with Filipino terms, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign

²https://primer.com.ph/food/restaurant-type/cafe-resto/shaka-in-general-luna-siargao-a-cafe-offering-the-healthiest-food-in-the-island/

³Bohol is a first provincial income class island-province¹¹ located in the Central Visayas²⁶ Region¹³, Philippines. It is the tenth largest island in the country. It consists of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands, with a land area of 4,821 sq km (1,861 sq mi), and 261 km (162 mi) coastline. Its capital is Tagbilaran. It was discovered by the Spaniards on March 25, 1565, and founded as a province on July 22, 1854. This province is known for its beaches and resorts, Chocolate Hills, diving sites in Panglao Island and other southern beaches, old churches, as well as the world’s smallest primate indigenous to the island, the Philippine tarsier. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Bohol”.²⁷ Know more about the tarsier in a related post: Short and Simple: THE PHILIPPINE TARSIER

⁴Palawan is a province¹¹ located in the Mimaropa²⁸ Region⁷ of the Philippines and was founded in 1818. It is called the Philippines’ Last Frontier and its capital is Puerto Princesa, according to the Wikipedia page “Palawan”.²⁹ It was chosen as the “World’s Best Island of 2017”³⁰ and of 2016³¹, as well as of 2013, by Travel + Leisure travel magazine.³² As early as 2007, National Geographic Traveler’s magazine chose Palawan as one of the Best Travel Destinations in the World.³³

⁵Cebu is a province¹¹ located in the Central Visayas²⁶ Region¹³, Philippines. It consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. It was founded on August 6, 1569. Its capital is Cebu City, “The Queen City of the South”, the oldest city and first capital of the Philippines, which is politically independent from the provincial government. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Cebu”.³⁴

⁶General Luna is a fifth class municipality¹⁰ in the province¹¹ of Surigao del Norte⁸, in the Caraga¹² Region¹³ of Mindanao¹⁴, in the Philippines. It is the home of world-renowned Cloud 9 waves and so this town is called “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”. It was formerly called Cabuntog and currently has 19 barangays³⁵, 15 of which are located on Siargao Island⁷, while 4 are on the other outer islands. The islands of Anahawan, Daku and La Januza are within its jurisdiction. The area is protected within the Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS), under Republic Act 7586 (National Integrated Protected Area System Act) of 1992. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia pages “General Luna, Surigao del Norte”³⁶ and “Siargao”.³⁷

⁷Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea, almost 200 km southeast of Tacloban, in the province¹¹ of Surigao del Norte⁸, in the Caraga¹² Region¹³ of Mindanao¹⁴, in the Philippines. It has a land area of about 437 sq. km. (169 sq.mi.). It has one of the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, particularly in the municipality¹⁰ of Del Carmen, covering 4,871 hectares.

It has excellent surfing conditions, particularly during the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, from August to November. Local and international surfers call its municipality¹⁰ of General Luna⁶ as the“The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, with surfing pros enjoying the challenging waves in Tuason Point area as well. Siargao was also named by Surfer as one of the “Ten Best Surf Trips of All Time” in 1995.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Siargao”³⁷ and the Wikitravel page “Siargao”³⁸. Read more about Siargao in related posts: A BREATHTAKING VIEW AT SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK, NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 SIARGAO and FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT SIARGAO

⁸Surigao del Norte is a province¹¹ in the Caraga¹² Region¹³ of Mindanao¹⁴, in the Philippines. This province comprises two islands, Siargao⁷ and Bucas Grande, in the Philippine Sea, and a small area at the northeastern tip of Mindanao. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur to the south. It is the second northernmost of the Mindanao provinces, and is an important transportation hub between Visayas³⁹ and Mindanao. It was founded on June 19, 1960. It has 20 municipalities¹⁰ and one component city, its capital, Surigao City. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Surigao del Norte.”⁴⁰

⁹https://www.shakacafes.com/

¹⁰A municipality is small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province¹¹, subdivided into barangays³⁵, and is called town, or bayan. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials, and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”⁴¹ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: HOW MANY CITIES ARE THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

¹¹A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region¹³. There are 81 provinces (called “lalawigan”) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. In the Philippines, a province is divided into cities and municipalities¹⁰ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays³⁵, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”⁴² See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

¹²Region XIII, or the Caraga Region, is a Philippine region¹³ located in the island group of Mindanao¹⁴, with Butuan as its regional center. It has five provinces¹¹: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte⁸, and Surigao del Sur; 6 cities: Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Caraga.”⁴³

¹³A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces¹¹, composed of cities and municipalities¹⁰ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays²³⁵, according to the Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”.⁴⁴ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES?

¹⁴Mindanao, commonly known as Southern Philippines, is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines, located at the southernmost part of the country. It is the second largest island of the country and covers 6 administrative regions: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), CARAGA¹² Region¹³, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), and Zamboanga Peninsula. It is composed of 22 provinces¹¹ and 33 cities. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mindanao.”⁴⁵

¹⁵The butterfly pea flower is the flower of the plant species belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is also called Clitoria ternatea, Asian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, blue pea, cordofan pea, and Darwin pea. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it is ascribed various qualities, including memory enhancing, anti-stress, anti-depressant, anti-convulsant (to prevent/reduce convulsions), anxiolytic (to reduce anxiety), tranquilizing and sedative properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant has been ascribed properties affecting female libido due to its similar appearance to the female reproductive organ. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Clitoria ternatea.”⁴⁶ Shaka further claims that it also has anti-aging, anti-diabetic, and has fever-reducing properties. Clitoria ternatea, taken in Thane district, Maharashtra by Dr. Raju Kasambe, CC BY-SA 4.0, created 21 August 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoria_ternatea#/media/File:Clitoria_ternatea_flower_by_Dr._Raju_Kasambe_DSCN15171_(8).jpg

¹⁶Acai, or acai berry, is a small, round, black-purple drupe fruit of a species of palm tree (Arecaceae) called Euterpe oleracea. It is about 25 mm (1 in.) in circumference, similar in appearance to a grape, but smaller, and with less pulp, and produced in branched panicles of 500 to 900 fruits. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Acai palm”.⁴⁷ Shaka claims acai to have anti-aging, anti-cancer, and energy-, immunity-, and libido-boosting properties.Acai palm with fruit (left photo) and Acail fruits with acai virgin oil (right photo) – Photos taken from Wikipedia:  CostaPPPR, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 12 February 2012, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acai_palm#/media/File:Acai-DSC_2933.jpg, and P. S. Sena, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, created 7 April 2011, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acai_palm#/media/File:Acai_oil.JPG

¹⁷The Green Out Power Bowl of Shaka claims that the kale in this order offers more calcium than milk and that the sweetness of this bowl comes from the mango and pineapple.

¹⁸Saluyot, jute mallow, nalta jute, tossa jute, bush okra, krinkrin, molokhia, Jew’s mallow, or Western African sorrel, is a species of shrub in the family Malvaceae. The edible parts are its seeds and leaves. The latter are rich in potassium, iron, vitamins A, B6 and C. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Corchorus olitorius”.⁴⁸Edible leaves of saluyot – Photo by Judgefloro, own work, created 29 August 2015, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corchorus_olitorius#/media/File:01827jfHappy_Meal_Toys_McDonalds_productsfvf_17.JPG

¹⁹Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that people can take as a dietary supplement. It is considered a superfood due to its excellent nutritional content and health benefits. It is high in protein and vitamin content, excellent for vegans and vegetarians. It has antioxidant and inflammation-fighting properties, and helps regulate the immune system. It also helps people lose weight without losing nutrition. It improves gut health, lowers cholesterol, manages the symptoms of diabetes, boosts metabolism, prevents heart disease, controls a person’s blood pressure, plays an important role in mental health, and can help improve or reduce allergy symptoms.⁴⁹

²⁰Chia seeds are edible seeds of Salvia hispanica, a flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to central and southern Mexico, or of the related Salvia columbariae of the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are oval and gray with black and white spots, having a diameter around 1 mm (0.04 in). The seeds are hydrophilic, absorbing up to 12 times their weight in liquid when soaked and developing a mucilaginous coating that gives chia-based food and beverages a distinctive gel texture since it absorbs up to 12 times their weight in liquid when soaked. They are a rich source of B vitamins, thiamin and niacin, a moderate source of riboflavin and folate, and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc.⁵⁰Chia seeds, up close – Photo by Keegan Fields, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, created 4 March 2017, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chia_seed#/media/File:Seed_of_chia_(Salvia_hispanica)Salvia_hispanica_group.jpg

²¹Calamansi, calamondin, or Philippine lime, is a small (about 30-mm in diameter), tangy-sour citrus fruit with a thin, green skin (which turns yellow-orange when ripe), with a yellow/orange pulp. It is rich in vitamin C, and certain antioxidants, such as limonene, as well as potassium, vitamin A and calcium. It has the ability to boost the immune system, soothe acidity in the stomach, aid in weight loss, stimulate growth and repair, bleach the skin, detoxify the body, lower cholesterol, manage diabetes, and give relief from respiratory infections, among others. The juice is used in various food and beverages as a major/minor ingredient, seasoning or dipping ingredient. ⁵¹Calamansi – Photo by Obsidian Soul, own work, CC0, created 6 September 2019, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamansi#/media/File:Calamansi_(Philippines).jpg

²²Flu Fighter is a fresh cold pressed juice drink said to be packed with Vitamin C, what with its ingredients: carrot, mango, orange and pineapple.

²³Malunggay, drumstick tree, moringa, or Moringa oleifera, is fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent. The leaves contain a variety of proteins, vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, and C) and minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc). It protects and nourishes skin and hair, treats edema, protects the liver, prevents and treats cancer, treats stomach complaints, fights against bacterial diseases due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, makes bones healthier, treats mood disorders, protects the cardiovascular system, helps wounds to heal, treats diabetes and asthma, protects against kidney disorders, reduces high blood pressure, improves eye health, and treats anemia and sickle cell disease. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Moringa oleifera”.^{52 and 53}Maluggay leaves – Photo by Obsidian Soul, own work, CC0, created 1 May 2017, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera#/media/File:Kalamunggay_(Moringa_oleifera),_Philippines.jpg

²⁴Lady in Red is a drink full of Vitamin A and potassium, anti-cancer properties, lowers blood pressure.

²⁵Maca, Peruvian ginseng, or Lepidium meyenii, is a Peruvian plant grown in the Andes mountains which produces a cruciferous vegetable. It increases libido, reduces erectile dysfunction, boosts energy and endurance, increases fertility, improves mood, improves blood pressure, protects the skin from UV rays, promotes antioxidants in the body, reduces menopause symptoms, and improves learning and memory. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Lepidium meyenii”.^{54 and 55}Maca plants, maca roots up close, and maca root powder – Photos taken from Wikipedia:  Vahe Martirosyan, own work, CC BY 2.0, created 30 October 2011, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_meyenii#/media/File:Lepidium_meyenii,_Tsaghkadzor,_in_culture.jpg, Gust4vo, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 30 September 2006, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_meyenii#/media/File:Macav.gif, and Masa Sinreih in Valentina Vivod, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 7 December 2011, http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_meyenii#/media/File:Macae1.JPG

²⁶Region VII, called the Central Visayas Region, is a Philippine region¹³ located in the central part of the island group of Visayas³⁹, with Cebu City as its regional center. It consists of 4 provinces (Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor) and 3 highly urbanized cities (Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue). Central Visayas is bordered to the north by the Visayan Sea, west by the province of Negros Occidental in Western Visayas, south by the Bohol Sea, and east by the Camotes Sea and the island of Leyte in Eastern Visayas. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Central Visayas”.⁵⁶

²⁷“Bohol,” accessed November 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohol

²⁸The Mimaropa Region is an administrative region¹³ of the Philippines in Luzon (the northern major island group in the country). Mimaropa is an acronym for its constituent provinces¹¹: Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. It was designated as Region IV-B until 2016. It is now also called the Southwestern Tagalog Region. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mimaropa.”⁵⁷

²⁹“Palawan,” accessed November 2, 2018, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palawan.

³⁰https://philnews.ph/2017/07/12/travel-leisure-magazine-ranked-palawan-worlds-best-island-2017/

³¹https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/islands#palawan-island-philippines

³²https://issuu.com/filjapmag/docs/filjap_issue__10

³³https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/71504/palawan-listed-among-world-s-best-tourist-sites/story/

³⁴“Cebu,” accessed November 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu

³⁵A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a district or village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”⁵⁸

³⁶“General Luna, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Luna,_Surigao_del_Norte

³⁷“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siargao

³⁸“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://wikitravel.org/en/Siargao

³⁹Visayas is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines. It covers 3 administrative regions: Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas. It consists of 6 major islands (Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Panay and Samar), mostly surrounded by the Visayan Sea, and is composed of 16 provinces¹¹, according to Wikipedia page “Visayas”.⁵⁹ Visayas is located at the middle part of the country; the 2 other geographical divisions of the Philippines are Luzon (in the northern part) and Mindanao (in the southern part).

⁴⁰“Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surigao_del_Norte

⁴¹“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines

⁴²“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines

⁴³“Caraga,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caraga

⁴⁴“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

⁴⁵“Mindanao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindanao

⁴⁶“Clitoria ternatea,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoria_ternatea

⁴⁷“Acai palm,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acai_palm

⁴⁸“Corchorus olitorius,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corchorus_olitorius

⁴⁹https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324027

⁵⁰“Chia seed,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chia_seed

⁵¹https://www.organicfacts.net/calamansi-juice.html

⁵²“Moringa oleifera,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera

⁵³https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916#what-are-the-benefits

⁵⁴“Lepidium meyenii,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_meyenii

⁵⁵https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322511

⁵⁶Central Visayas,” accessed December 30, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Visayas

⁵⁷“Mimaropa,” accessed November 2, 2018, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimaropa

⁵⁸“Barangay,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

⁵⁹“Visayas,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayas

NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

Have you heard of Cloud 9? No, I am not referring to the name of the popular Philippine milk chocolate bar, filled with layers of creamy caramel, nougat and peanuts! I was referring to a place in Siargao¹ named after that famous chocolate bar.

If you want to know more, let Tita S tell you about it.

1. Cloud 9 is the famous surfing spot in the municipality² of General Luna³, Siargao Island¹, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, Philippines.

Photo taken from the Facebook account of Kermit Siargao: https://www.facebook.com/kermitsiargao/photos/a.285014781583559/1823392657745756/?type=3&theater

Photo taken from the Facebook account of Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.548268098655745/915792701903281/?type=3&theater

Siargao¹ offers other surfing spots, for beginners, intermediates, competent, top amatuer, and top world surfers.

See http://haranasurf.com/siargao-surf-spots/ and other surfing websites.

Surfing lessons are also offered for beginners, so whatever your surfing skill, Siargao is your surfing heaven!Early morning surfing lessons for eager beginners, Cloud 9, Siargao, January 2019

Just go to Cloud 9, in the town of General Luna, Siargao,  to avail of surfing lessons. It is located to the left of the Surfing Viewing Deck from the main street

The are several (sorry, I did not count) board rental, surfing lesson, and surf guiding providers at Cloud 9, Siargao

2. Cloud 9 also refers to the thick, hollow tubes in this famous surfing spot, with the same name, as stated above. It is also called a perfect barrelling⁹ right hander¹⁰. It is a relatively short wave but it barrels nearly the whole way and guarantees high satisfaction for expert surfers. The wave breaks over a spongy reef, and it is best to surf during mid to high tide, with eastern swell and western shift winds, from August to November, though it still works from April to August.¹¹ Read about breaking wave in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_wave.

Photo taken from the Facebook account of Shaka Cafes: https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/a.539299776219244/782303238585562/?type=3&theater

3. The high number of both small and big reef breaks¹² in Siargao Island¹, including Cloud 9, have earned the island recognition as one of the best surfing destinations in the world.¹³

Video taken by Erie R. Ama, January 6, 2019

In Cloud 9, waves go as high as 12 feet, and in some places, at 8 feet, from September to November.^{11 and 13} Generally, the peak swell¹⁴ season: in General Luna³ where Cloud 9 is located, is from May to November; and in the municipality² of Pilar¹⁵, from November to April, but expect some heavy rainfall.¹³

Beginners can surf during the lean months of summer because the swells¹⁴ are manageable for learning how to balance and get their timing right.¹³ 

4. This world-class surfing site was discovered by travelling surfers in the late 1980s. It was named by American photographer John Seaton Callahan after the chocolate bar I mentioned above, and was featured in the US-based Surfer magazine in March 1993, and then named as one of the “Ten Best Surf Trips of all Time” in 1995, especially in General Luna³ and Tuason Point¹⁶, well known as “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”.¹⁷

Cloud 9 was also dubbed as the Top 9 (among the ten) World’s Best Surfing Spots by CNNGo, a travel site of CNN International. Jade Bremner wrote on July 1, 2013: “This drastic and powerful reef break, which crashes onto shallow razor-sharp coral, offers right and left death rides. Fearless surfers will experience a slice of paradise or hallucinations as waves wrap over them like a liquid cocoon. Skin, and sometimes bone, are often ripped to shreds by the ocean bed.”¹⁸

However, despite the danger of having cuts in the coral reef below the wave, surfs cannot help but be drawn to Siargao. In fact, some never leave the island, like Autralian surfer Kyrone Rathbone, who features Siagao surfers in his videos.¹⁹

5. Cloud 9 is the site of the annual Siargao Cup, a domestic and international surfing competition sponsored by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte⁵, held annually in September. The Siargao National Surfing Cup provides local surfers a venue to showcase their talent and move up the national rankings. The Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup has a QS3000 rating²⁰ where the world’s best surfers join to earn points to improve their rankings and get the chance to participate in other competitions worldwide. It would be awesome to even be a spectator of such events.¹³

Read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Surf_League for more details about the World Surf League (WSL), judging, championship tours, and the roster of WSL championship tour champions.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Siargao”.²¹

Two of the photos used in the featured picture collage (barrel wave and surfer) were obtained from https://www.facebook.com/shaka.cafes/photos/

So, what are you waiting for! Surf’s up²² at Cloud 9!

Read other posts re Siargao:

MAGPUPUNGKO BEACH, TIDAL POOLS AND ROCK FORMATIONS (Pilar, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

SUN, SAND AND SEA AT GUYAM, DAKU AND NAKED ISLANDS (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

SUGBA LAGOON-KAWHAGAN ISLAND TOUR (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

CEV: Ceviche Heaven in Siargao

A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE AT SHAKA, SIARGAO

A BREATHTAKING VIEW AT SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK

FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT SIARGAO and

Seniors, Now You Know: S.E.A. MOVEMENT – FIGHTING TO PRESERVE SIARGAO!

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear your comment/s regarding Cloud 9, as a surfer or non-surfer. Do share this post with your Facebook friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, not familiar with Filipino terms, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea, almost 200 km southeast of Tacloban, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. It has a land area of about 437 sq. km. (169 sq.mi.). It has one of the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, particularly in the municipality² of Del Carmen²³, covering 4,871 hectares.

It has excellent surfing conditions, particularly during the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, from August to November. Local and international surfers call its municipality² of General Luna³ as the “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, with surfing pros enjoying the challenging waves in Tuason Point¹⁶ area as well. Siargao was also named by Surfer as one of the “Ten Best Surf Trips of All Time” in 1995.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Siargao”²¹ and the Wikitravel page “Siargao”²⁴.

²A municipality is small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province⁴, subdivided into barangays²⁵, and is called town, or bayan. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials, and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”²⁶ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: HOW MANY CITIES ARE THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

³General Luna is a fifth class municipality² in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. It is the home of world-renowned Cloud 9 waves, so this town is called “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines”. It was formerly called Cabuntog, and currently has 19 barangays²⁵, 15 of which are located on Siargao Island¹, while 4 are on the other outer islands. The islands of Anahawan, Daku and La Januza are within its jurisdiction. The area is protected within the Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS) under Republic Act 7586 (National Integrated Protected Area System Act) of 1992. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “General Luna, Surigao del Norte”²⁷ and “Siargao”.²¹

⁴A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region⁷. There are 81 provinces (called “lalawigan”) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. In the Philippines, a province is divided into cities and municipalities² (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays²⁵, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”²⁸ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

⁵Surigao del Norte is a province⁴ in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, in the Philippines. This province comprises two islands, Siargao¹ and Bucas Grande²⁹, in the Philippine Sea, and a small area at the northeastern tip of Mindanao. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur to the south. It is the second northernmost of the Mindanao provinces, and is an important transportation hub between Visayas³⁰ and Mindanao. It was founded on June 19, 1960. It has 20 municipalities² and one component city, its capital, Surigao City. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Surigao del Norte.”³¹

⁶Region XIII, or the Caraga Region, is a Philippine region⁷ located in the island group of Mindanao⁸, with Butuan as its regional center. It has five provinces⁴: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte⁵, and Surigao del Sur; 6 cities: Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Caraga.”³²

⁷A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces⁴, composed of cities and municipalities² (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays²⁵, according to the Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”.³³ See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES?

⁸Mindanao, commonly known as Southern Philippines, is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines, located at the southernmost part of the country. It is the second largest island of the country and covers 6 administrative regions: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), CARAGA⁶ Region⁷, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), and Zamboanga Peninsula. It is composed of 22 provinces⁴ and 33 cities. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mindanao.”³⁴ The 2 other major geographical divisions of the Philippines are Luzon (in the northern part) and Visayas³⁰ (in the central part).

⁹A barrel, tube, cave, keg, or green room, is the effect produced when a big wave rolls over, enclosing a temporary horizontal tunnel of air with the surfer inside. A barrel requires a powerful wave breaking¹² in shallow water. The hollow part of the wave is formed by the top travelling faster than the bottom. The idea is for the surfer to get into the tube or barrel, and is thereby barrelled! The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Glossary of surfing”.^{35 and 36}

¹⁰A right hander is a wave that breaks¹² to the right, from the surfer’s vantage point. Surfers know that the side of the wave with the steepest angle is the direction in which the wave will break, and that is the direction in which they will ride. Remember, wave directions are always identified from the surfer’s perspective when facing the shore. So, for a right hander, people from the beach will see it as breaking towards the left.³⁷

¹¹http://haranasurf.com/siargao-surf-spots/

¹²A reef break is a fantastic wave created by a reef (often coral) under the water. The surrounding water can be quite deep, but due to the formation of the coral reef, the waves will break there, often seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A surfer needs a very long paddle, or a boat ride, to get to where the high tide waves are breaking. Beware, this wave can cause nasty injuries if you come off your board onto the coral, and get painful coral cuts.³⁸

¹³https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/islands-and-beaches/surfing-siargao-guide

¹⁴A swell is a series of waves that have travelled from their source in a distant storm, and that will start to break once the swell reaches shallow enough water. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Glossary of surfing”.³⁵

¹⁵Pilar is a fifth class municipality² in Siargao Island¹, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, Philippines. It is bounded by the municipality of San Isidro³⁹ to the north, the municipality of Del Carmen²³ to the west, the municipality of Dapa⁴⁰ to the south, and the Philippine Sea to the east. It became a municipality on October 31, 1953 and now has 15 barangays²⁵. It is popular for hosting the Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament. It is also known for the following tourists destinations: Magpupungko Lagoons and Limestone Rock Formations, Caridad Beach, Lukod Beach, Tagbayanga Islets, Taglungnan Beach, and an extensive mangrove forest reserve. It is also known for a less crowded surfing spot (compared to Cloud 9), half an hour boat ride from General Luna³, and best surfed during northeast swells. It has good breaks in front and near the town proper, and in Barangay Caridad. This town as offers homestay facilities for tourists. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Pilar, Surigao del Norte”.⁴¹

¹⁶Tuason Point is another surfing spot in Siargao¹, just walking distance from Cloud 9. It is similar to the latter but they say it does not barrel⁹ as consistent as the latter. The bottom is the same, going from deep to just inches of water at low tides, and breaks¹² equally powerful and hollow. Like Cloud 9, it is not a long wave but it is considered the best left on the island, although it also breaks right¹⁰. The hard breaking waves are very powerful that break very hard and build up quickly over a shallow rocky reef, with big holes and cracks, so this site is for intermediate, advanced and pro surfers. They are hollow, shallow, fast, and only good over three feet, best at medium to high tide. There are multiple peaks and surfers better watch out for the currents when they get back out. They should also check the tide schedule and avoid surfing at low tide.⁴²

¹⁷https://asiasociety.org/philippines/siargao%E2%80%99s-cloud-9-dubbed-one-world%E2%80%99s-best-surfing-spots

¹⁸https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/50-surf-spots/index.html

¹⁹https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/315993/siargao-named-one-of-the-world-s-greatest-surf-spots/story/

²⁰QS stands for “qualifying series” for the World Surf League (WSL). This means that the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup is a one of the qualifying events for international surfers to improve their rankings and get a chance to compete in international surfing competitions. A WSL QS 10,000 event is held at premium venues with a restricted field and offers WSL QS 10,000 World Rankings points. A WSL QS 1000, 1500 and 3000 event are lower levels of competition, compared to a WSL 6000 and 10,000 event, with their importance indicated by how many points they are assigned; more points means, generally, better competition and prize money. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “World Surf League”.⁴³

²¹“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siargao

²²Surf’s up is a surfing phrase used when there are good waves worth surfing and one should get ready to ride them, according to the Wiktionary page “Surf’s up”.⁴⁴

²³Del Carmen is a fifth class municipality² in Siargao Island¹, in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, Philippines. It is the home of Sayak Airport, the island’s main airport. This town was formerly called Numancia until 1966. It currently has 20 barangays²⁵. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Del Carmen”.⁴⁵ Visit its website: www.visitdelcarmen.com

²⁴“Siargao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://wikitravel.org/en/Siargao

²⁵A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a district or village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”⁴⁶

²⁶“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines

²⁷“General Luna, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Luna,_Surigao_del_Norte

²⁸“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines

²⁹Bucas Grande is an island in the far eastern part of the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷ of Mindanao⁸, Philippines. It is contiguous with the municipality² of Socorro, in the said region. It has a total land area of 12, 445 hectares. Its name means “large mouth or opening” in Philippine-Spanish, in reference to the wide strait in between Bucas Grande and Socorro Island. It is the site of the Sohoton Cave, a tourist attraction consisting of a cluster of small islets with lagoons, natural limestone caves amd rock formations. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Bucas Grande.”⁴⁷

³⁰Visayas is one of the 3 major geographical divisions of the Philippines. It covers 3 administrative regions: Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas. It consists of 6 major islands (Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Panay and Samar), mostly surrounded by the Visayan Sea, and is composed of 16 provinces⁴, according to Wikipedia page “Visayas”.⁴⁸ Visayas is located at the middle part of the country; the 2 other geographical divisions of the Philippines are Luzon (in the northern part) and Mindanao (in the southern part).

³¹“Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surigao_del_Norte

³²“Caraga,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caraga

³³“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

³⁴“Mindanao,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindanao

³⁵“Glossary of surfing,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_surfing

³⁶https://www.cornwalls.co.uk/surfing/dictionary.htm

³⁷https://www.booksurfcamps.com/news/how-to-read-waves

³⁸https://www.degree33surfboards.com/blogs/gettin-pitted/14071029-the-differences-between-beach-breaks-point-breaks-and-reef-breaks

³⁹San Isidro is a fifth class municipality² in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷, in Mindanao⁸, Philippines. It has a total area of 42.03 sq. km. (16.23 sq. mi), with 12 barangays²⁵. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “San Isidro, Surigao del Norte.”⁴⁹

⁴⁰Dapa is a fourth class municipality² in the province⁴ of Surigao del Norte⁵, in the Caraga⁶ Region⁷, in Mindanao⁸, Philippines. Most of the municipality is situated on Siargao Island¹, but Middle Bucas Grande and East Bucas Grande Islands are also within its jurisdiction. It is known as the “Growth Center of the Beautiful Islands of Siargao”. It has 29 barangays²⁵. It is the home of Siargao Sports Complex which was inaugurated in January 2020. It is also considered the center of education in the Siargao. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Dapa, Surigao del Norte.”⁵⁰

⁴¹“Pilar, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilar,_Surigao_del_Norte

⁴²http://siargao.surf/tuason-point/

⁴³“World Surf League,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Surf_League

⁴⁴“Surf’s up,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/surf’s_up

⁴⁵“Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Carmen,_Surigao_del_Norte

⁴⁶“Barangay,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

⁴⁷“Bucas Grande,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucas_Grande

⁴⁸“Visayas,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayas

⁴⁹“San Isidro, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Isidro,_Surigao_del_Norte

⁵⁰“Dapa, Surigao del Norte,” accessed October 13, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dapa,_Surigao_del_Norte

Now You Know: S.E.A. MOVEMENT – FIGHTING TO PRESERVE SIARGAO!

S.E.A. stands for Siargao Environmental Awareness Movement, a non-profit organization that is “a collaborative effort to help preserve the natural resources and beauty of the island which the local and the travelling community rely on for a simple, yet beautiful, life. It acts as a hub to connect networks of people with unique skills – surfers, artists, writers, journalists, IT experts, policy-makers – to contribute in solving the island’s environmental problems.”

The Movement wants to instill in everyone a sense of responsibility and ownership of the growing environmental problems, starting with young surfers.

               All photos were obtained from the Facebook account SEA Movement

A Brief History of S.E.A. Movement

The surfers behind the Siargao-born surf brand, Kudo Surf, started this movement as their “answer to the pressing issue in climate change, increasing tourism, and the need to educate local communities about the importance of ecological diversity. Protecting the environment is protecting their livelihood and their future.” Starting the brand allowed them to merge their passions – surf traveling, environmentalism and commerce – together.

“We are grateful to Mother Earth for giving us great waves and the raw materials to make our products. We just gotta do our business and live our lifestyle responsibly. We believe that businesses should be more eco-conscious and we do our part by contributing to the improvement of environmental issues in Siargao, where our headquarters is.”

Projects of S.E.A. Movement

1. Monthly Beach Clean-Up and Placard Posting – This project started on October 2015. Volunteers are asked to clean up the beach.This shows the locals how much garbage is thrown carelessly all over the island. The local municipal office helps in the monthly beach clean up by providing a garbage collection truck.

The Movement also makes placards set up in public areas where people can be reminded: “Ayaw Paglabog Ug Basura” (Don’t Litter), “Barura Dili Marajaw” (Garbage is Not Good), and “Plastic is Not Fantastic”.

2. Plastic Bottle Campaign – S.E.A. encourages Siargao business owners to provide water stations and re-usable water bottles to reduce, and eventually, eliminate the use of single-plastic bottles in the island.

3. Her Planet Earth for the Women of Siargao – This is an environmentally-conscious program which “aims to train and equip underprivileged women with the tools and skills to sell bags and other fashionable items made with recyclable materials gathered from the sea”.

“This project simultaneously provides the community with a livelihood opportunity and reduces plastic waste and pollution in the oceans, thus, empowering the community of warm and friendly people by creating awareness around gender equality and visibility of men and women’s contributions to society and teaching responsibility towards environmental preservation.”

This program is the collaborative effort of S.E.A. Movement, Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the local government of General Luna, Siargao Masaya, and other partner agencies and NGOs.

4. Solid Waste Management Localized Videos – S.E.A. has created, and will create, videos aiming to help educate and teach people, especially children about Solid Waste Management (SWM) and how important it is to segregate wastes.

So, for the techie readers of this post, why not volunteer to create fun/animated and educational videos!

5. S.E.A. Movement Awareness Campaign – It would be awesome to help spread the word about this Movement and the campaigns they are working on. Calling on experienced marketing professionals or social media experts, your help or advice would be very welcome.

6. Other Projects
a. Read-Aloud – In 2016, a US-based NGO, Bagong Kulturang Pinoy, donated eco-awareness-specific children’s books so volunteers read aloud to groups of children in their classrooms, or at the beach, for the latter to learn about the environment, how to love reading, and how to have more meaningful relationships with buddy volunteers.

b. Segregation and Recycling Stations – A big project of the Movement so there will be a proper waste disposal system in the island, leading to zero-waste management.

c. SEA and Public Schools – General Luna public schools have opened their libraries to house the SEA Movement’s eco-books. They also initiated tree-planting and a clean-up drive with the students.

d. Short Film on Eco-Awareness – The Movement plans to make an entertaining and educational short film that will inform the local community of Siargao and its business and government sectors about the importance of eco-consciousness.

e. Fund Raising – The Movement is a non-profit organization so it needs to generate funds for their projects. Some activities are: SEA Movement Shirts and Canvass Shopping Bags to help spread the Movement’s agenda and reduce the usage of plastic bags; Let’s Get it OM! (Benefit Yoga), a by-donation yoga session led by volunteer yoga teachers; and Crowd Funding, i.e., the acceptance of donations of any kind from kindred souls.

I hope I did my small share by writing this post in my blog.

Let us all help to preserve the natural resources and beauty of Siargao Island!

The information was obtained from http://www.seamovement.ph and http://www.mylifeonboard.net.

Contact information: Facebook account: SEA Movement; Tel. No. 0945-837-9202; Instagram: @s.e.a.movement

Read my other posts about Siargao:

MAGPUPUNGKO BEACH, TIDAL POOLS AND ROCK FORMATIONS (Pilar, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

SUN, SAND AND SEA AT GUYAM, DAKU AND NAKED ISLANDS (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

SUGBA LAGOON-KAWHAGAN ISLAND TOUR (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

SIARGAO’S CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK AND SURFING VIEWING DECK (Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines)

CEV: Ceviche Heaven in Siargao

A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE AT SHAKA (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

NOW YOU KNOW: CLOUD 9 (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

FOR NATURE LOVERS, DO NOT MISS PALM VIEWPOINT (Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines)

This is not a sponsored post. I just want my readers to know more about the Philippines.

See other interesting places through other posts in this category and other categories of SCapades, Pinoy Delights, and Smart Traveler – Now You Know, Short and Simple, and Say, Say, Say. Happy reading, and I hope that you will appreciate what I shared and some of the featured destinations will be part of your future travel plans!

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