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“Where is Caraga, Grandma?” my 12-year old grandson asked.
“Have you forgotten? It’s in Mindanao. Region XIII,” I said.
“Are you going even if there’s a typhoon?” he pursued.
“There’s no typhoon over there.”
* * *
The Caraga Region or Region XIII is one of the 17 administrative regions of the Philippines. Located in northeast Mindanao, it is composed of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands.
A dark cloud had hung over the horizon as my sister Carol, brother-in-law Jun, and I arrived at NAIA 3 on June 18, 2013. Typhoon Emong was threatening Metro Manila and Southern Luzon where we live. To make matters worse, our 7:15 morning flight was delayed by almost two hours.
Surprisingly, the clouds lifted and the sun smiled kindly on the tarmac of NAIA 3 at about eight in the morning. When we finally boarded the aircraft, the pilot announced that we were expected to land in Butuan City at 10:42.
It was the best flight ever – dull and boring!
It was the best vacation ever – fascinating and spellbinding!
Left to Right: Carol, Cita, Author, Jun
Our cousin Cita, who has lived in Butuan City since 2000, whisked us from Butuan City Airport and took us to a sumptuous lunch at Aling Cora’s Lutong-Bahay in the city proper of Butuan.We feasted on tinolang lapulapu, grilled gangis, and kilawing blue marlin. Come to think of it, the dishes were simple but the meal seemed fit for royalty because we felt so happy and so blessed. We had double helpings.
Frozen Gangis
Carol at the bank of the Hinatuan Enchanted River.
Our driver, Mr. Renante O. Tener, took us to Hinatuan Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur. It is “enchanted” because of several reasons: first, its blue color. Second, nobody has succeeded in catching any of the multitude of fishes in it. Third, no diver has succeeded in measuring its depth.
The second day of our Caraga Expedition started with a trip to the Interna-tional Doll House in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. The dolls must have messed up our brains. We were suddenly giggling and behaving like kids. See our wacky photo.
Second childhood at the Int’l Doll House, Bislig City.
The second stop on the second day was the Tinuy-an Waterfalls which was also in Bislig City. The falls was fascinating and the water was inviting, but we didn’t wish to swim yet. We were looking forward to an island-hopping trip to Britania islands. Britania, Britain! Anyway, we chatted merrily and posed for pictures all over the Tinuy-an Falls.
At Tinuy-an Falls: Carmel, Cita, Carol, and Jun.
We had lunch in a seaside restaurant in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. We ate like famished tigers. The food disappeared from the table almost as soon as it was served. We kept asking for more crabs, more lobster, and more rice!
Full and sleepy, we drove from Lianga to Britania in Surigao del Sur. Britania is a group of islands and one could go island hopping. But we opted to simply take a stroll on its wooden boardwalk. But I didn’t stroll. I tottered, ambled, and staggered. Look at the picture and you will know why. I was scared but I had been left alone on the beach. So I staggered on. Personally, going from one end to the other end of the boardwalk was an epiphany for me. I suddenly understood that taking the narrow road (with gaps that make you gasp) is really terrifying. And this was not an alley or footpath on firm land. It was a rickety boardwalk from the shore to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The boardwalk was less than a kilometer, but it seemed like one hundred kilometers to me. I stopped several times to remind myself to focus and conquer my fear. I made it with a leap of faith!
The highlights of Day 3 were our drive to Pebble Beach in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte and a quick stop in Magallanes town, Agusan del Norte. Pebble Beach is the first beach I’ve ever seen which has no sand. Not even a grain. It is covered with stones of different sizes. It was hard to walk on the stones which shifted as one stepped on them.
As you can see in the picture, the four of us were no match to the circumference of the tree whose diameter was 2.9 meters. It is 500 years old and its local name is “bitaog.” We wanted to embrace it, but it was elusive. We were too young.
When we arrived on Tuesday, June 18, we became instant road warriors. We covered 820 kilometers in 2 ½ days. Our cousin Cita, who’s been around the Caraga region many times over, seemed as if she were seeing the scenic spots we went to for the first time. She was as enthusiastic and fascinated as the three of us from Luzon. Because of her infectious childlike joy and energy, our simple Butuan trip became a Caraga journey of love and faith in oneself, in our extended family, in our country the Philippines, and in our awesome Father in Heaven!