Camiguin Island: Gateway to the Southern Philippines

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As the Chinese would say “the journey is the reward”..

Truly it is. We traveled for more than 6 hours by plane, taxi, bus, tricycle, ferry and a multicab but nothing is more rewarding than to set foot on Camiguin Island.

We took the Air Philippines flight Friday (Nov.23) morning, 8:20 to be exact going to Cagayan de Oro. As expected there was a delay in the flight and they texted us a day before the flight that it was moved to 11:50 and I immediately called their office to transfer our flight to PAL because I need to go to Cagayan de Oro by 10 a.m. and without hesitation they transferred us to PAL’s 7:20 a.m. flight to CDO. So we arrived 8:30 to CDO’s Lumbia Airport and by 8:50 a.m. we were able to clear ourselves in the Airport and went out to get a cab going to Agora Market Bus Terminal, there were lots of Taxi’s waiting outside the airport but the CDO Tourism Assistance said it charges around 300 pesos (about 6 USD) going to Agora but if we go out of the Airport and go directly to the main road it would be only around 150 pesos (3 USD) but there were also lots of people there bargaining for the fare not knowing that these were just all middlemen so we closed at 200 pesos (4 USD) then the middleman brought us to the taxi waiting outside the airport, the ride took us another 20 minutes thanks to the help of his reckless driving 😊 it could have been 30 minutes or more. So we arrived in Agora Bus Terminal, thank God in one piece 😊, and we took the Bachelor Express Bus bound for Butuan for 110 pesos (around 2 USD), the bus is nice and clean and unlike other buses in Manila this has spacious leg room so your feet can relax well and you can even recline the seat without bothering someone at your back.



The ride took another one and a half hour going to the Bus stop near Balingoan Port. After the long bus ride we then took another tricycle ride for 40 pesos (1 USD) going to the Port. So we arrived 11:45 a.m. in Balingoan Port by that time the next ferry Scheduled to leave is MV Hijos a.k.a MV Naghihikahos 😊 (which I suggest you try to avoid) this is an old and small color green ship. The fare is 100 pesos (2 USD) and they said the ride will only take 1 hour but actual travel time is about 1 and half an hour. The ship is so scary, because of the strong waves it feel likes your riding a roller coaster and log jam combined, you wouldn’t even dare to stand near the railings because it is really banking so hard you will feel that it might break in to two. We should have taken the MV Yuhum or Super Shuttle ferry which is actually faster, MV Yuhum left the port 15 minutes later than Hijos but they arrived in Camiguin a few minutes earlier than us. Then after the roller coaster ride here we are in Benoni Port (now finally in Camiguin) and it is already 2:00 in the afternoon. As soon as we docked we were stormed by porters, multi cab drivers and their middlemen. I was bargaining with this middleman named Renato who is charging us 250 pesos going to Bahay Bakasyunan but I was able to lower it to 150 (3 USD). Actually there was this something funny and weird thing I found out in Camiguin, while I was bargaining Renato to lower the price from 200 (his initial tawad) to 150 there was this man who offered 150 to me so I asked ok where is your multi cab, he was pointing to a 2 seater motorcycle like the ones that popped like mushrooms in Manila, he saw us (me and my girlfriend) holding 2 bags each weighing at least 4kg each how do he think we will be able to fit is his motorcycle then? I started to get crazy with this people and their stupid bikes. Later I found out that it is one of their means of transport, a lot of this bikes can be found in their Bayan (Town Proper), there were this bike, one time I saw, with 4 passengers so there were 5 people in a motorbike, only in Camiguin, I guess. 😊



While on our way to Bahay Bakasyunan, which took us another 30 minutes, we were able to enjoy the view of Camiguin. Their roads were nice though there were some rocky roads in few areas. I love the view of Camiguin from their coastal roads specially the ones on top of the mountain. Renato made an offer to tour us around the island for 1,500.00 (30 USD) I tried my luck by bargaining the 1,500 but to no avail. Prior to going to Camiguin I already made initial canvassing and the lowest I got was 1,800.00 so I think 1,500.00 is really a good deal so I asked him to pick us up the next morning. Finally at 2:30 p.m. we were able to lay our backs in the soft and cozy room of Bahay Bakasyunan, everything about the room is nice although it lacks one thing I need the most, a ref. We made reservations a month ago to this resort for 2,675.00 a night, although there were rooms that are cheaper, you can check resorts like Paras Beach Resort or Camiguin Highlands.

We rested for a few minutes before exploring the Town ourselves, we took the tuk-tuk like tricycle going to their Town Proper. The ride costs 6 pesos each which takes about 5 mins. We looked for the restaurants recommended by Renato, Pedros’s and Vjandep (pronounced Vyandep) the makers of the famous pastel of Camiguin. They are actually situated in front of one another. We decided to go for Vyandep first since there are early drinkers in Pedro’s 😊. The food is very cheap yet the serving is good for 3, we tried their garlic shrimp which is actually good but it could have been better if the shrimps were bigger. Then we tried also their lumpiang shanghai and their supreme fried rice 😊 and of course their famous pastel 😊

Saturday November 24,2007

At exactly 7:00 a.m., Mang Billy (Driver) arrived in our resort this time without Mang Renato. So we took our complimentary breakfast at the resort’s restaurant before proceeding with the tour. We left the resort at around 8:00 a.m. with our bag of swim and extra clothes and my camera bag. As we go on I started to pull out my DSLR took out the cap and turned it on to prepare for some unexpected shots. For starters we went to Katibawasan falls, on our way up to the falls there were lots of Boy Scouts hiking (they are contingents of the Centennial Jamborette of the Davao District). The road going to the falls is so remote I felt like I was on an assignment for National Geographic, it was like a dream come true for me. 😊 I was like shooting and shooting while almost half of my body is outside the window of the multicab. The trees are about the height of four-storey buildings, atleast, and you can see nothing but green and more green 😊. At first I wonder why the Camiguin province don’t want to improve their airport so they can accommodate bigger planes but when I saw all this I told my self that it would be better this way so as not to touch any of this rich and thick forestry. If the bigger plane comes in, these trees might soon be replaced by Jollibee, McDonalds and Etc.



I was so excited to see this falls because this is the first time for me to see such tall water falls. As I go down the steps towards the bottom, me and my girlfriend started to take pictures of us and the falls of course =). It took me some time there and several angles as well trying to get the perfect shot and exposure. After their two mile hike, the Scouts soon joined us in the bottom of the falls. We wanted to take a dip in the falls but there is no decent shower room in the area so we just decided to dip our feet in the water while chatting with some Scouts.

After the falls we went to Ardent Hot Spring, my girlfriend wanted to take a dip in the “not so hot spring” 😊 so we stayed here for a while. This place is not so special because there are lots of this in Pansol, Laguna which I think is hotter 😊 only that the water that comes in Ardent, I heard, is the water that channels down from the volcano so it could do something good to your skin since volcanoes is a known source of sulfur. After a few minutes of dipping in the spring we then decided to check out the souvenir shops outside, we were attracted by this souvenir shop with two little girls dancing on the dance theme of Camiguin, it’s kinda catchy, in fact I suffered LSS for 3 days 😊.



From Ardent Mang Billy then took us to the boat station that will take us to White Island. The boat costs 400 pesos (8 USD) for a two way ride and it will take only 10 minutes going there. So I prepared my ever trusty laundry bag inside my camera bag so wrap my SLR and other stuff, it was a good decision since water will surely splash on to you and your things. White Island is a very small but wonderful Island, it is just about the size of five basketball courts positioned side by side. The water is so clear and the sands, of course, are really white, the wind is also strong it can blow you away 😊. The view from here is wonderful but it could have been better in pictures if the skies were blue. After swimming for 30 minutes we then decided to go back to go on with the other spots. The only thing I hate in this island is there is no available shower room for changing to your normal clothes so we dried our clothes on our way to the other spots.



At around 2:00 p.m. we are now in the Walk to the Old Volcano and Station of the Cross. At first we enjoyed the walk because of the thick and green forestry that surrounds the stations. Because of its height we decided to end the hike in the fifth station 😊.



We then proceeded to the Sunken Cemetery, it is quite far from the Old Volcano but the road going their exhibits a breathtaking view of the coastal part of the Island. Upon arriving in the Sunken Cemetery we were asked if we wanted to go to the cross by boat but since we can see it clearly from a far and I notice nothing special we decided not go and stay on beach to take some good pictures. BTW the cross that stands above the sunken cemetery was built to remember the submerged cemetery which was caused by the eruption of Mt. Hibok-hibok. You can also dive in this spot if you have the guts 😊.



My favorite spot in Camiguin is the remains of Cotta Bato, destroyed by Mt. Bulkan in 1871, this could have been one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Its thick adobe walls still stands for centuries now and inside this church is small chapel where the locals hold their Sunday masses and other religious activities. Outside this remains is what could have been a garden during its time of existence, blessed with thick and green bermuda grass felts like your walking back in time. Right beside the church's remains is a tower like adobe structure which I believe is its old bell tower, basing on its structural shape and height. This could have been one of the most beautiful churches in the country not only because of its age but also because of its setting, it stands near a cliff with an overlooking view of the beach which actually faces west, so it gives you a panoramic view of the coastline during sunset.



Our last destination was the Sto. Niño cold spring, just like the Ardent hot spring there was nothing so special with this one since there are lots of this in Nagcarlan also in Laguna 😊. We didn’t stayed long because there were lots of people here. The only thing I love in this spot was on our way here mang Billy pointed to us a unique triplet Volcano or what the locals call the Tres Marias, they are volcanoes standing side by side of each other.

We were able to go back to the Resort at around 5:00 p.m. and we rested for a while and cleaned our selves before enjoying a nice and delicious dinner in Pedro’s. we notice also that business in Camiguin ends up so early. They close at around 7 p.m. including the tricycle goes out of the street that early, I thought we will have no choice but to ride on of the motorcycles there but luckily after a few minutes of waiting a tricycle soon arrived.



Too bad we were able only to set the vacation for 3 day 2 nights, we should have made it to 4 days because there were really lots of thing to explore in this island. So if you are planning to go here, stay for at least for days because going back and fourth here will take you a whole day and will leave you no time to enjoy and explore if you stay for only 3 days.

As stated in the wall of Vjandep restaurant, Camiguin means ''come again'' and in a few years time, we will surely Camiguin here 😊..

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Photos

Downstream
Water falling down the stream from the falls

MV Hijos
MV Hijos a.k.a. MV Naghihikahos =)

Bahay Bakasyunan
Bahay Bakasyunan at dark

Katibawasan Falls
Katibawasan Falls

White Island
A tiny island few minutes away from Camiguin's main island.

Walk to The Old Volcano
On our way up the Old Volcano and Staion of the Cross

Sunken Cemetery
A marker stands in the sea to remember the Cemetery submerged under the sea

Old Church
The Remains of Cotta Bato

Driver
My girlfriend Claire, Mang Billy and me in front of his multicab

Ardent Hot Spring
Ardent "not-so-hot spring"

Comments

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nice trip!
i envy you rj! :) hehehe...this is one informative travel blog. hopefully we will travel with ate cathy, kuya cis at ate jolyn next time you go there..hehehe...well of course with your labidoods claire :) byahe na tayo! set ka na next year! :)