Samal Island · The Real Deal

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January 2nd 2010

Published: January 2nd 2010

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feritz

the oldest main road in samal island

this road connects the 3 districts in samal island

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First, I have to inform everyone that I live here in this island, for how long well maybe more than 20 years. I've seen how this island evolves from being an island to tourist destination here in Mindanao. Aside, from the numerous beaches spawning to every shoreline that can be seen during a boat ride to this island sprawling of various real estate also have invaded the place. After all more people coming from different places have bought a share of land hoping this will increased their profit. The new tag line for big city social high hats now is “you’re rich if you have a piece of beach line in
Samal”, well that’s the real deal now. Hanging on to this tag line gained Samal Island to its place as tourist destination here in the South. More than that the ferry ride opens its whole new accessibility to the local tourists and enables them to visit the island anytime of the day, bringing along their whole friends and

pipol

families to see what the real deal is. Before the ferry, accessibility to this place were among the major problem, aside from this the island used to have no electricity, though the local government at that time find their way to provide electricity to the major barangays. The electricity before was provided by a small dam situated in Upper Benoling, Cawag, the common name for Hagimit Falls, which is now an overly promoted tourist site by the city government. Back then I can recall that electricity was up only for 4 hours, and by that time all townsfolk’s should find their way to charge their car batteries. That was the life before electricity came to this island. Electricity was provided on mid - year of 1987 if I am not mistaken I was in my primary school age. Now, it has been more than 20 years and people are relying nowadays with the electricity provided using underwater electricity cable. Roads too had change a lot from dusty loose sedimentary rocks to solid cemented road tracks coursing along the national highways. Roads that abut the three main districts namely the Babak, Samal, and Kaputian. Looking back, this island which I have

Babak bar

some bars thrived here

inhabited for quite sometime makes me linger on what we have lose and gain through out the years. This island now haven’t changed a bit still the old cemetery exist, the old river in Triding (as we speak) still here with more shanty houses at her side, the old pier that glimmer with the southern sunset, the old Penaplata school built before World War 2 still here, except that it is now not so beautiful, old trees been cut off, and the famous 200 meters Bermuda ground are not well trimmed anymore. The island can never be changed only the people around changed the island. Forever innocence and hope this island can bring to everyone who try to visit and stay maybe for a while or forever.

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