Surfing Surigao

PLANNING a route this summer or escape in a romantic seclusion?
Stand on a surfboard in the oceans of Surigao. Unknown to many, the extreme sports of wave surfing has change the tourism landscape in Mindanao. From Siargao, General Luna and Lanuza down to Tandag, coastal towns and cities with hurdles of Speedo wearing adventurers ride the waves under the heat of the sun and at night simply stargazing with the elements of air from the breath of the Pacific Ocean.
Days ago, the CNNGO.com, came up with a No. 8 ranking for Surigao as the “world’s top 50 best surf spots”. A recognition that helps pumped the needed tourist receipts to the countryside.
As the sun dips out of sight, couples on the beach with Havaianas sandals and Project Rudy goggles splurges on San Miguel Light Beer and Barbecued Chicken making a leap of difference from what used to be a fisherman’s village.
Wave surfing take us to the next generation of world travelers with less cash on hand but carries a bundle of plastic credit cards to settle their holidays from their debit accounts in France, New Zealand, Australia or Japan.
These nations’ ranks among the loyal and regular new market niche for special interest groups attracted to the cocoon like waves.
We cannot wait for March till October having fun all summer long. Oceans, rivers and streams in the Philippines have all been touched by man. Stakeholders in Surigao are forewarned that development should be controlled as we learned a lesson in Boracay of overcrowding and stretching the island’s resources to the limit driving prices high.
It’s more fun, in the Philippines, if tourism is made simple and affordable. It’s even more fun if we prevent toothpaste and soap out in the oceans from turning into a bubble bath.
Surigao used to be a logging and wood processing coastal provinces. There are significant mineral deposits of iron ore and gold in Punta Tugas in Carrascal that according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau is the largest in the hemisphere estimated to be three billion metric tons. That will turn the whole province upside down if allowed to be developed. God forbids a scenario of the remaining trees cut and uprooted bringing down chemical poisons floating out at sea threatening life on land. Mining footprint in Surigao has to be regulated.
Tourism initiatives in Surigao and the whole Caraga region is driven with enthusiasm and hard work by the diminutive Letty Db. Tan, the Regional Director of the Department of Tourism, Region 13. I have met the hard working lady who never gets tired of shuttling around the tourist destinations and the probable identified development area. She talks to investors and single handedly arrange business matching, a treat uncommon in the bureaucracy reaping rewards in terms of interests and growth in the region.
Arrivals in Surigao registered 145,739 in 2010, up from the previous year’s figure of 114, 324. For 2011, Surigao accounted 31.21% increase in arrivals with an estimated P4.372 Billion in tourist receipts as reported by the Office of the Governor, Gov. Sol Matugas. Resorts occupancies for a total of more than 600 rooms stood at 33.72%
Butuan City in Agusan del Norte which seats as the regional headquarter for all government agencies in Region 13, it is accessible daily by air from Manila with Cebu Pacific mounting three flights daily and one flight from Cebu City. Philippine Airlines and Air Express also have one flight each daily from Manila and Cebu. Another airport in Surigao City hosts various flights from Cebu and could land chartered Beach Craft or Q-400 type jet propelled air craft.
Recently down south, the private airport once operated by the Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur was activated to host a Cebu to Bislig flight of Mid Sea Air Express, a new player in the airline industry based in Cebu City.
On May 1-4, 2012, the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour will be launched in General Luna. The National Men’s Surfing Championship follows on May 5-9. By October, the 18th International Surfing Cup reels off with a bigger and larger contingents anticipated by the organizing committee. Marajao na pag-abut sa Surigao!


Ped T. Quiamjot is one of the brilliant columnists of a local newspaper in Cagayan de Oro City and currently the General Manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel Cagayan de Oro. His column talks on various issues and concerns affecting the business sector and tourism industry.

Bon Appetite for Bulad!

THINKING of a gastronomic adventure after the Lenten season? Continue meat fasting with “Bulad” or dried fish loved by many Filipinos and viewed as disgusting by many foreigners. Dried out from the heat of the sun along the fish ports of Puerto Princesa or the household backyards of Bantayan Island or Pagadian City, Bulad is cheap and delicious that is missed and longed by many during breakfast. It is a favorite fare to as far as many overseas Filipinos whether one leaves in a plushy Manhattan apartment in New York City or in the bunk house of the construction worker in the Middle East. It chooses no enclaves, rich or poor Filipinos just love this food that leaves salty taste in our palate.


Many different types of Bulad which are sold from Jolo in Tawi Tawi to Bantayan Island in Cebu up to Aparri in Cagayan Valley are fractions of an industry that delivers money from sunrise to sunset. Market places stink to high heavens when dried fish change hands from the supplier to the sellers up to the consumers. It is a top commodity in the whole sales and retail business as millions of pesos are pumped to the underground economy created by this industry.

Anyone who is interested to discover every kind of dried fish imaginable from our city may just take a “Motorela” trip to Carmen or Cogon Markets. No one can miss these places, dry and wet places painted violet, topsy turvy traffic and vendors of all kinds that blocked the side streets. These places are overpowering with odor, the smells stick to your clothes and no amount of perfumes can help much. But that is all part of the exciting adventures that one can indulge this summer in Cagayan de Oro.

There are countless varieties of Bulad to choose from in the Philippines, Dangit, the most popular is crunchy and crispy when deep fried. Tonsoy that comes from Zamboanga is a favorite dish to the toughies in Tondo, Manila. The fresh catch is the type of fish that goes to the production of Montaño Sardines of Dipolog City.
Pusit or dried squid seasoned with sugar is a top take out product of Bacolod City. The Espada, a sword fish that has a white meat when dried is a pride of Aringay, La Union. Summer travelers from Manila coming down from Baguio City never miss the Espada as pasalubong. While dried Seahorse in Ongpin, Chinatown, Manila is aphrodisiacs to many of the older males with erectile dysfunctions. Interesting! Seahorses swim always in a standing position.

The taste of Bulad is addictive. Once you get to taste it, you crave for more and there is even a catch and a joke that although prices are low it is a leading causes to high blood pressure. But that is all part of the exciting gastronomic adventures found peculiar in our Filipino food. Even against a Doctor’s advice, anyone can die with pleasure.

A beauty pageant contestant in the late 70’s when asked of the secret of her physique, answered it’s her diet of Toyo a Tagalog version of Bulad. She advanced to the front runners in the semi final and won for the Philippines our first Miss Universe title.

In the 80’s a favorite commercial of a leading beer product endorsed by the late champion boxer, Flash Elorde and comedian, Bert “Tawa” Marcelo popularized “Dilis” or dried anchovies as beer tandem for “pulotan” and after a saucer full of dilis is cleaned up, the beer drinkers, tossed and asked for, Isa pa nga! Whether the clamor was for Beer or for the hors’ de oeuvres, it’s more fun and appetizing for Filipinos to eat Bulad.

Ped T. Quiamjot is one of the brilliant columnists of a local newspaper in Cagayan de Oro City and currently the General Manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel Cagayan de Oro. His column talks on various issues and concerns affecting the business sector and tourism industry.

Cagayan de Oro’s challenge

PHILIPPINES’ population has grown to 92.3 million from the latest census of the National Statistics Office in 2010.
Cagayan de Oro contributed 602,088 to the total population figures with an increase of 15.31% from the 2007 census.

Current statistics reflect that almost half of the city populations that live in the urban center of our city come from Carmen district as the fastest growth area.
With a city population expected to grow closer to the 1 million mark in the next 5 years, the danger of informal settlers growing the same rate with the city population cannot be discounted.
The latest census for Manila 2 years ago has a population of 16 million. According to the Asian Development Bank report in 2010, the Manila informal settler’s ratio is “showing an increasing pattern with the other urban cities of the Philippines”.

It shows little indication of changing over the years. Government has acknowledged that the influx of migration and shortage of housing contributed to this factor.
Fastest growing cities carry the burden of informal settlers growing nearly the same rate as that of the cities themselves. Politicians have shifted the nomenclature of “squatters” to informal settlers as a paradigm shift to get government attention to fund housing and social services to upgrade these strata in our society.
While at the same time, this is a segment identified as attractive market for politicians, to buy huge number of votes during elections at a discounted price. Informal settlers are proven swing votes for politicians.
Manila which is one of the world’s most populated city with 11 million people in 1998 and about 35% of the household which falls under the informal settler’s classification delivered the highest votes for Joseph Estrada during that year national election over his next closes rival.

Estrada, a rich scion of landed parents succeeded in projecting himself as pro poor from his roles in the movies.
Informal settlers have branch out with a voice to become urban poor. It has produced political clout through the Party List system and now has a voice allied with the other progressive block in Congress.
These agrupations are branded as bane to property owners and developers which are contesting unutilized titled lands over their prolonged unauthorized used.
Government right of ways for infrastructures often runs in conflict with this sector when demolitions are ruled.
Budget allocated for right of ways are even competing with other cost overruns to cover settlement for relocations.

Relocating these informal settlers to government land has not been drawing success.
Since the early 80’s, Imelda Marcos as Minister for Human Settlement has been hauling “squatters” from Taguig, Rizal to give way for the Food Terminal Market of the Marcos “ Kadiwa” Projects to the relocation sites along Paliparan in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

After a month, the settlers are back in Taguig to where their livelihood of selling Tapang Bangus or Banana cue thrives. The relocated informal settlers of Paliparan in Cavite has sold their lands to the big time developers where now rows of affluent Mansion Houses owned by Customs Officials stands.
The other side of the road is an SM Mall and soon a SLEX road operated by San Miguel Corporation will connect the adjoining Paliparan to Daanghari as a Cavite, diversion road to Laguna and into Southern Luzon.

If our memory serves us good, we know that express ways makes land prices quadruple. Remember the C-5 Road which embroiled the popular Sen. Manny Villar and caused his presidential ambition to falter?
Many local governments administering urban cities are challenged with 3 fronts. It is of common knowledge that these problems are recurring even in our city and the solutions falls on actions rather than rhetoric politics.

1. Housing backlogs. We are running out of lands to relocate informal settlers who must be taken out from the side streets and those living top of esteros and stream tributaries.
2. Poorly managed urban cities drains and put to waste government budgets. Officials become Lame ducks when unable to act or prioritize social and infrastructures services like Barangay roads, school buildings and health centers. Taking initiatives leads to poverty alleviations’.
3. Environmental protection policies for sustainability such as protecting forests reserves and water sheds as sources of drinking water or for power generations and food production.
These are the basic issue that needs to be addressed should someone aspire to become a local executive in our city. Conquer this triangle and they will have a fluid offense to win the people’s confidence.

Ped T. Quiamjot is one of the brilliant columnists of a local newspaper in Cagayan de Oro City and currently the General Manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel Cagayan de Oro. His column talks on various issues and concerns affecting the business sector and tourism industry.

Glamorous Muslim Weddings

MUSLIM WEDDINGS are colorful celebrations graced by royalties and high government officials and rich in culture. Flowing fabrics adorned grand halls and venues for this occasion. From simple to regal stately design, decors and tapestries transformed a place to sophistication and glamorous looks. More than the important ceremony, the meaning of Muslim weddings are weaving together of families, of two souls and two destinies and considered a very auspicious occasion.
Local weddings in various Muslim provinces and cities comprising the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are coming to Cagayan de Oro City. Following their respective cultural traditions, the celebration of life is a sight to behold. Brides are decorated and beautified in various ways for wedding.
It is normal and quiet common that gold of the perfect karats are made as bracelets, ear rings and jewelry for the head worn over the wedding shawl are to be provided by the groom. Dowries of the most useful and elegant for the couple to start their lives are discussed by the families. Cash or gifts change hands among relatives. Hundreds if not thousands of guests goes to the wedding registry.
Sometimes it could become a very expensive affair as large spaces or hotels are rented to accommodate such large gatherings of guests.
In any Islamic receptions, the food must be permissible. There are no wines or champagnes to talk about since alcohol is not allowed in their gatherings. Modest with their meat preparations thru rituals, fish and fowls smells of spices and herbs the scents sometimes dominating the air. Food preparations undergo the Halal ways. Halal which is the opposite of haram is food acceptable for Muslim consumptions according to the Holy Qur’an.
Weddings can also take place in the Bride’s or Groom’s houses. There are more conservative Muslims who avoid lavish weddings and consider the pompous ceremony as unnecessary expense. Parents prefer instead to pay the amount to the Bride or the Groom to help in the foundation of their family. Many newly grown up Muslims believe that for marriage to last is not the way how it is celebrated but it is the way to be right and continuously share their faith.
A hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, Pryce Plaza in the upper Carmen District, specializes in Muslim Wedding ceremonies and receptions. The secured perimeter parking and lush greeneries of its surrounding of verdant trees and palms is perfect back draft to the wedding guests. A huge pillar less Grand Ballroom compliments a huge reception. The staff and the wedding planners can create the ultimate form of collaboration with top wedding decorators and fashion designers. Pryce Plaza was issued a Halal certification capable by the Mashala Halal Certification Board, Inc. in October 25, 2010.
Wedding planners and coordinators can look for Jemimah Coreos of the Sales and Marketing Department of the hotel who have handled successful arrangements of the brides and grooms for these events.
There are also other places in the city that outdoors wedding ceremonies can be held like the Eco-village Garden of Malasag. The setting is perfect for a celebration complete with the gongs and brass ensemble providing the beat common in many Muslim communities. The garden village has restaurants, crafts display and individual casitas for hotel rooms.
It is administered by the Department of Tourism of Region 10 with offices at Gregorio Pelaez Sports Ground along Velez Street in Cagayan de Oro City.
During this summer season, Muslim Weddings are always welcome. It’s more fun hosting these rich colorful events.


Ped T. Quiamjot is one of the brilliant columnists of a local newspaper in Cagayan de Oro City and currently the General Manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel Cagayan de Oro. His column talks on various issues and concerns affecting the business sector and tourism industry.