Travel Diaries| The Other Side of Dinagat Province

“The country’s newest province never fails to amaze me!” 

Tagged as the “Mystical Province of Love”, Dinagat Province is a mysterious lady; an undiscovered paradise and seclusion keeps its beauty untouched and preserved.

I keep on coming back in the country's newest province not just for the work-related tasks that I am required to do, but also because of the personal interest and opportunity to discover and explore what the real Dinagat is. 

Once you've been and lived with the beautiful nature and people of the province, you'll surely forget the hesitations and bad stories associated with. Iba ang ganda ng Isla!

Rock Formations 

TRAVEL NOTES

My work simply means TRAVEL and community visits. So every time I do my usual daily work itineraries I also consider the easiest and fastest way in going to a certain destination. The normal route going to the province is Surigao Boulevard to San Jose Port but I found another option a month  ago after we established our new unit/office in Municipality of Libjo.  Surigao to San Jose is 1 and half boat ride then another three hours land travel from  San Jose to Libjo compared to only 3 and 1/2  hours boat ride from Surigao Port to Libjo Wharf. One of our staffs advised me that if I am going to Libjo, in order to save time plus avoid the hassle of rough road from San Jose to Libjo, I should  take direct fast-craft trip from Surigao City to Port of Libjo. And gotcha! His suggestion not just lead to less tiring travel going to the other side of the province but also to my discovery of the province’s hidden gems.

The common huge waves welcomed us 30 minutes after we left port of Surigao City. Got the chance to photograph a not so familiar and underrated island with white sand beach (the first photograph)  in an area covered by Municipality of Basilisa. Then an hour later I shout OMG as it is like my first time to see groups of beautiful rock formations. My seat mate, a local from Tubajon- municipality next to Libjo, said  “yan yung mga rock formations pero mas madami pa maganda diyan specially yung Lake Bababu” (with smile). 

I pause when I heard the word “Lake Bababu”. I can't imagine the beauty of the lake kung mas maganda pa dito. One of these days mararating ko rin yan!

WORDLESS, just see the photographs below.

Untitled

one of the white sand beaches

Fifteen minutes of clicking and never-ending subjects; my cam’s monitor says “BATTERY EMPTY!” Okay, no problem as I already took shots of the beautiful rock formations. An hour after, I've realized that what I saw earlier were only “welcome remarks” of  the "main speech”. Another “OMG” as we enter big and small lagoons going to wharf in Plaridel and Magsaysay. Why are these beautiful and scenic places in Dinagat were not even featured in travel magazines or in a travel show. Before my P and S cam says “goodbye for now” and shut down, I hurriedly took photographs of towering rock formations with natural bonsais rising from the blue sea; spots of limestone islets they named “kisses islets” -as the shape of the small limestone islands is same as the shape of the famous chocolate brand; pristine white sand beaches and lagoons with clear turquoise  water.

Closer to one of the "kisses Islets"

One of the small lagoons in Magsaysay

One of the rock formations in Plaridel

Wordless| turquoise!

Plaridel wharf| A glimpse to a beautiful rural community

TRIVIA

Dinagat Province is situated on the southern part of Leyte Gulf. Dinagat Islands had been part of the First District of Surigao del Norte Province until it was declared as the country’s newest province on December 02, 2006 with the approval of Republic Act 9355, the Charter of the Province of Dinagat Islands, in a plebiscite. 

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Just imagine you’re in a fast-craft and what you will see are these nature's beauty at its finest.

El Nido or Coron of Mindanao? NO! These beautiful spots in Dinagat have their own names in Philippines' Eco-tourism map. That’s for sure!

I will come back soon to Dinagat Province, and I am expecting something new to discover and share while doing this work/travel.

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