The weather is good. We departed in Surigao Boulevard around 6:00 am, one (1) hour ahead of 7:00 am scheduled trip, going to Port of San Jose of Dinagat Province.
We arrived in Port of San Jose at exactly 7:30 am. Just dropped my backpack at our staff house in San Jose and hunt for the cheapest habal-habal ride. That day my schedule/itinerary is to visit newly-established Unit in Municipality of Basilisa. Basilisa is 30 to 45 minutes away from the town of San Jose. Habal-Habal is the common ( or should I say "only") mode of land transportation in the province.There is also one jeep traveling from San Jose to Basilisa(vice-versa) but only in the morning (“papunta lang sa umaga”) and back in the afternoon "minsan wala pa". Plus the fact that the road is still under construction habal- habal is the only mode of transportation that can tolerate the muddy and rocky road of the province.
While on the road going to Basilisa- at the top side of the mountain, I saw the majestic view of the gulf (?) and the beautiful Islets surrounding the province. Eye-catching and picturesque! Rock formations (due to quarrying?) and red mountains (because of the minerals in the soil) also creates an amazing view.
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"Living Dinagat"
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Dinagat Islands had been part of the First District of Surigao del Norte Province until it was declared as the country’s newest province on December 02, 2006 with the approval of Republic Act 9355, the Charter of the Province of Dinagat Islands, in a plebiscite. After 4 years, on February 11, 2010 the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the creation of Dinagat Province as null and void on the grounds of failure to meet the required population and land area. However, on March 30, 2011 the Supreme Court reversed its ruling from 2010, and upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 9355 pertaining to the creation of Dinagat Islands as a province.
What to see and what to do
- Visit the famous Holy Land or Shrine of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA)
- Ecleo's White Castle
- See the Amazing Rock Formations at highway going to Basilisa and Cadianao (while in the passenger boat going to San Jose Port)
- Island Hopping
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30 minutes after leaving Surigao Port: One of the
Islets surrounding Dinagat Province |
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| "Abundant" |
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| "Island Living" |
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| "45 minutes after leaving Surigao Port and 45 minutes before arriving at Port of San Jose" |
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35 minutes after leaving Surigao Port: Blue water and White Sand Beach
in one of the Islets surrounding Dinagat Province |
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| "Protected Nature" |
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| 5 minutes before Arrival at Port of San Jose: "Countryside living" |
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| The Quarrying Site |
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| "Untitled" |
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| " Gold Stone and the newly-constructed highway" |
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| "Rock Formations @ Cagdianao" |
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| "Nature's Haven" |
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| View from San Jose Port: The Famous White Castle |
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| "Closer Shot of the White Castle" |
How to get there:Cebu Pacific and Airphil express flies directly from Manila to Surigao City.
From Surigao City Airport, ride in a tricycle or Multicab bound to Boulevard- Port of passenger boats going to Dinagat Province.
There are 7 entry points/sea ports in Dinagat Province| 1.Dinagat wharf : 1 passenger boat leaves Surigao Boulevard @ 6:00 am; 2.Basilisa wharf: with only one scheduled trip-leaves Surigao Boulevard going to Basilisa wharf at 6:00 am, going to Surigao is @ 6:00 am ; 4. Libjo/Albor wharf :scheduled trip going to Libjo- 6:00 am and 11:00 am and schedule trip going back to Surigao- 4:30 am and 11:00 am; 5. Tubajon wharf; 6. Loreto wharf (no information gathered); and 7. San Jose Port: 2passenger boats leaves Surigao Boulevard @ 7:00 am, another 2 @ 10:00 am and the last scheduled trip is @ 4:00 pm while the scheduled trip going back to Surigao are @ 7:00 am, 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm.
NOTE:If your point of destination is San Jose just ask for the port of passenger boats going to San Jose. Don’t ever say that you’re going to Dinagat, porters may lead you to the boats going to Municipality of Dinagat .
Boat Fare from Surigao Boulevard costs 100-150 pesos and the only mode of transportation going to the majestic Island Province is via Passenger Boat.
Don’t forget to be at the Port at least 1 hour ahead of the scheduled time of departure “umaalis ang Bangka kahit wala pa sa oras, pag napuno na.”
Prepare your Bandana, Malong or sweatshirt/jacket as Habal-habal is the most common mode of transportation in the whole province. The roads are under construction, be prepared to rocky and dusty ride!
