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Tinuy-an Falls in Surigao del Sur will be temporarily closed

There will be a temporary closure of the road leading to Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur to give way for the completion of road construction. The closure shall take effect for 45 days starting from June 4 to July 18, 2018. Tinuy-an Falls will also be closed (no operation) on the same dates.

#Tinuy-an Falls #Bislig City #Surigao del Sur #region xiii #CARAGA Region #Mindanao #Philippines #Tourism #Travel

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The unseen Tandag City of Surigao del Sur

I remember back in college whenever I introduce myself and where I come from, a lot of times I got asked where Tandag is and what do we have there. I could easily answer that it’s in Surigao del Sur and it’s the capital of the province but I sometimes struggled to proceed to the latter.

We do not have beaches. We do not have museums. We do not have delicacies unique in our place.

Tandag is located at the heart of Surigao del Sur. It is the business central, and the gateway to different spots in the province. With its location and accessibility, the city could use it to its advantage.

It was only in the recent years that I was able to explore my hometown. While there’s no big tourist spots [yet] within the city, Tandag is undeniably charming for several reasons, and the list below would prove that:

5. DAWIS BRIDGE

The bridge connects downtown and rural Tandag. It can be viewed fully from a local seaside restaurant in Bongtud. Sometimes locals bring with them their rods, and fish on the bridge. Currently, the expansion of it is ongoing.

4. TANDAG GROTTO / OUR LADY OF LOURDES GROTTO

The grotto is located in Bongtud facing the port of Tandag. On the first level of the spot, there lies the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. From there, you could see the small fishing community of the barangay.

The back area of the grotto leads you to a totally different view. While it can be tiring as it requires a small trek, the view of the ocean and the island in front will be your reward when you reach the top.

3. TWIN LINUNGAO AND MANCAGANGI ISLANDS

There is no recognized island hopping activities in Tandag as of this writing but there exists beautiful islands just downtown. From the port located in Bongtud, visitors could closely appreciate the beauty of Twin Linungao and Mancagangi. The same can also be viewed from afar at Dawis Bridge.

2. SAN NICOLAS DE TOLENTINO CATHEDRAL

The cathedral is located at the heart of the city. It is one of the oldest, if not the only, structures in Tandag. Currently, a new and bigger one is being constructed in Rosario. While the excitement is there for the new one, the locals hope that the existing one will be rehabilitated as it has already been part of the city’s history and the locals’ lives.

1. TANDAG CITY BOULEVARD

The boulevard is the melting pot of the city. People exercise there in the morning; have street food snacks in the late afternoon until evening; dine at the bbq stalls at night; and eat balut and lomi in the late night until dawn.

The boulevard has become a hangout place to many. The two things that make people go back are the view of the pacific and its lively vibe. During the night, people also look forward to the colorful lamp posts aligned along the area.

The simple things are what make Tandag special. The whole laid-back lifestyle attracts people especially those from the busy environments. Hopefully in the next years, other potential natural spots will be developed to help boost the tourism scene in the city.

Image credits:

5. Astro James Lugo on Facebook; 3. Tandag City Tourism Council official Facebook page and leylander.wordpress.com; 2. @meiosis21 on Instagram; 1. Ervin Azarcon on Flickr and @haidrrr on Instagram

#Tandag City #Surigao del Sur #Region XIII #CARAGA #Mindanao #Philippines #Tourism #Travel

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The next big spots of Surigao del Sur

Mr. Sun is starting to strengthen its heat again! And we all know what that means: it’s time to plan out our summer adventures!

Surigao del Sur has become a tourist destination over the past few years. In fact, some of its spots have gained international attention -- Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Enchanted River in Hinatuan, and Laswitan in Cortes to name a few.

For this entry, we’re presenting to you a list of the next big spots in the province you should check out this summer:

6. ALAMEDA FARM

The farm is nestled at the top of Hamburger Hills in Barangay Gata, San Agustin. It is overlooking the vast forest land, and the famous Britania islets of the municipality. Aside from the scenic view, the visitors may also enjoy different outdoor activities like ATV, sky bike, and zipline. 

The farm also boasts of their organic products. For the farming enthusiasts who wish to further their understanding on the field, they can learn different techniques there. 

5. CARRASCAL EXTREME ADVENTURE PARK

The adventure park is located in the municipality of Carrascal. It is the best place for those who seek thrill and adventure. The place offers different outdoor activities such as 1.1-kilometer zipline, 900-meter cable car, 50-feet giant swing, 50-feet wall climbing, and kayaking. It is the first, if not the only one, of its kind in Region XIII (CARAGA).

4. GRAN OLA

Gran Ola is a surf, skate, and skim camp located in Lawis, Lianga. The camp is a one-stop place for people who enjoy the aforementioned activities. 

The camp is also famous for its beautifully-painted houses. Each unit transports visitors to different spots of the world.

3. WAKAT / PAMUTUANAN CAVE

Just when you thought Surigao del Sur only has Enchanted River for crystal clear water, we introduce to you Wakat / Pamutuanan Cave located along Lianga-Barobo road. This spot is just down the road, and is open to public. 

2. BAOBAO FALLS

Baobao Falls is located in the municipality of Lianga. It resembles the Hagimit Falls of Island Garden City of Samal. While it is not as famous as other falls in the province like Tinuy-an Falls and Magkawas Falls, Baobao has its own charm. For nature lovers, this should definitely be included in the list of spots to visit.

1. BAROBO ISLANDS

When it comes to island hopping in Surigao del Sur, what automatically registers to the mind of the people is Britania islets of San Agustin. The Cabgan, Turtle, and Vanishing Islands of Barobo have long existed but it is only in the recent months that these islands gained overwhelming attention. Each has its unique feature -- rock formations for Cabgan; literally turtle-shaped island for Turtle; and long spread of fine sand for Vanishing.

Accessibility-wise, it shouldn’t be a problem for travelers who wish to visit the islands. Barobo connects Agusan and Davao provinces.

Surigao del Sur is a big province gifted with so many beautiful spots. Should the trend continues, the province is set to become one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country, and possibly in the world.

Among the spots listed, which one excites you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Image credits:

6. Alameda Farm official Facebook page; 5. Carrascal Extreme Adventure Park official Facebook page; 4. @aeceeedeano on IG; 3. @ninjarod on IG; 2. @kiribate on IG; 1. @janri.puj and  @patriciaraebueno on IG

#Alameda Farm #San Agustin #Carrascal Extreme Adventure Park #Carrascal #Gran Ola #Lianga #Wakat Cave #Barobo #Baobao Falls #Cabgan Island #Vanishing Island #Turtle Island #Surigao del Sur #Tourism #Philippines #CARAGA #Travel

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Giveaway: Siargao Surf Cap

We’re doing a little giveaway to mark our upcoming 6th month (on 2.7.18) in online world!

Our friends from Kaayo Clothing PH sent me some stuff, and I decided to give away the pink Siargao Surf cap to one of our followers. 

Here are the mechanics:

1. In the comment section below, tell us what makes Surigao special to you.

2. Like us on Facebook (fb.com/iamsurigao) and follow us on Instagram (@iamsurigao).

3. Tag a friend in the comment section of the giveaway post on Facebook and/or Instagram.

4. Leave your Facebook name and Instagram username below right after your answer to number 1.

This giveaway is open to all followers living in the Philippines. Winner will be announced by the end of February or first week of March through Facebook post and Instagram story.

#Siargao Surf #I am Surigao #Surigao #Tourism #Philippines #Mindanao #CARAGA

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Laswitan is temporarily closed

Laswitan in Cortes, Surigao del Sur is “temporarily closed for any activity whether for leisure, tourism, and/or any other economic purposes, by residents or visitors, to allow comprehensive use preparation and initial rehabilitation.” This is effective December 31, 2017 until April 30, 2018.

A great number of visitors was still able to enjoy the Laswit the past days despite the issuance of the ordinance. But yesterday, the local government of Cortes has already fully enforced the closure of specified roads leading to Laswitan, and Laswitan itself.

Please see following image from Mr. Vincent Duenas for your reference:

#Laswitan #Cortes #Surigao del Sur #CARAGA Region #Region XIII #Region 13 #Mindanao #Philippines #Tourism

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I am Surigao official blog

In second quarter of 2017, I was thinking of creating a digital community page that would mainly cover travel. I went through the web and found countless of pages doing the same. With that, I thought it would be hard to penetrate the market considering how overwhelming the number of established communities there is.

It was clear to me that I am sticking to the idea of creating a digital community page but it was not yet clear to me what direction to take. I did a little research, and studied the content of the existing pages.

The idea of presenting the best of Surigao came into the picture when I got so much interest with the local tourism scene in the province. Like what I learned from digital marketing, either you gotta be the first or you gotta be the only. Surely in the category I’ll be in, there are a lot of different pages but locally, there could possibly be only just us.

On 7th of August, I finally materialized the plan – I am Surigao was born. I actually written down other possible names – Si Surigao, Sur Travels, SurSur among others – but I am Surigao felt more right. I wanted to come up with a name that people could easily remember and could easily associate themselves to.

I am Surigao could be the people. I am Surigao could be the places in it. I am Surigao could be the way of life. And I am Surigao is a representation of all of the aforementioned.

I am extremely happy of the great reception and feedback. I did not expect that people around the globe would be so interested in what Surigao has to offer.

As we start a new year in just few weeks time, this website shall contain different detailed entries that you may find helpful in your future trips. Also, the page will start branching out to other regions in the Philippines in the first quarter of 2018.

I am Surigao and beyond it is. The page will slowly widen its scope from provincial to regional to national. But despite this, it is sure that the dominant content will still be about Surigao.

Exciting new year ahead all of us! Please do continue to support us by following us on different social media pages. We are always active on Facebook and on Instagram at @iamsurigao. Use our official hashtag #iamsurigao if you want to be featured. You may also shoot us an email at [email protected].

See you all around Surigao in your future trips!

#Surigao del Sur #Surigao del Norte #CARAGA Region #Region 13 #Region XIII #Mindanao #Travel blog #Department of Tourism