A small island off the coast of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur is gifted with a short yet stunning stretch of fine white sand beach visited by Tutubi on the way back to Cantilan town proper from Inijakan on General Island. In fact, Tutubi was so mesmerized by the beauty of the place that he took an unplanned dip for an hour in the water just to enjoy the place rather than be content with merely taking pictures.

the fine white sand beach of Casarica Island with Huyamao Island in the background





The very clear and greenish blue water beckons all to take a dip and no presence of dangerous under current, water depth is still shallow after a few tens of meters and waves are just splashes (you don't expect large waves here even if the island is facing the Pacfic Ocean since the white sand beach part is not facing the deep blue sea but the coastline of Surigao del Sur)

There are "ruins" of an altar/grotto (trying to mimic Willy's Rock of Boracay?) and a toilet. The local government of Cantilan once tried to charge visitors to the island but was discontinued.


How to get there:

mere ten minutes boat ride from Cantilan town by boat. ou can rent boats for PhP1500.00 good for island hopping to several islands including Ayoke Island, general Island, Humayao Island and Casarica Island.

Labels: Caraga, Island-Hopping, Surigao del Sur

The only recommended accommodations in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur is Solar Lodge and Beach Resort located on the seafront of Cantilan town. A small place with several rooms, a restaurant is located near the town center where you need to order your breakfast or meals in advance. The beachfront is not really desireable but good enaough for those who merely wants to swim but not for finicky people always equating swimming with white sand beaches.

Tutubi's backpack rests on the single bed

the rocky beachfront with Casarica Island and Huyamao Islands in view

Small for P900.00 in a small town is quite expensive, breakfast not included in room accommodations. No swimming pool, just the rocky beachfront for swimming.


Room rates for overnight accommodations is PhP900.00/room, quite expensive in such a small town but having no other choices. There's an unwritten rule here where couples are required to present marriage certificate before they can check in (this is a rule to guard against the wholesome image of the place but, hey, a marraige cert is not a document you always bring with you, even for legally-married couples, not a guy bringing a hooker for some short time pleasure at the lodge). Anyway, it's not really Tutubi's problem, just something mentioned by his new friend even if he did not ask for the information.

Tutubi wasn't able to find the resort's contact number, just show up there for there are hardly many people checking in, unless probably during summer or holidays where balikbayan families in tow.

Labels: Surigao del Sur Resorts

If you're going to Lipa City or Batangas City, why not go on a food trip adventure to the land of the Ala Eh Batanguenos and sample their famous Batangas lomi, Batangas bulalo and goto batangas. This short post is about Tutubi's recent trip to Batangas City where he passed by Lipa to again eat at the lomihan in Lipa City: LBN Lomi House, just beside Bee Gees Lomi Hauz (past Tia Celeste's Eatery) and across LBN bar and Grill on J.P Laurel Highway in Lipa City serves a bowl of lomi at only PhP45.00 per order.

LBN Lomi serves generous serving of lomi with meatballs, bola-bola, posk slivers and pork liver and comes with a dip of calamansi, soy sauce and chili. The first time Tutubi saw the lomi years ago, he though his small "bodega" can't accommodate the extra heavy lomi meal but he was able to finish it.

LBN Lomi serves lomi that's filling and cheap at phP45.00/serving. best served with a dip of soy sauce, calamansi and chili

Two of Tutubi's close office friends, one from Tanauan and the other from Lobo, cite LBN Lomi Hauz and the other lomihan inside Lipa City public market as favorites. Another recommended lomihan is MGM lomi in front of Days Hotel just near SM City Batangas.

The best lomi in Batangas, according to Chef Gene Gonzales, featured in his Manila Bulletin article has these places, yet to be tried by Tutubi:

"Megalicious - is on the main highway right past SM Hypermart . This nipa hut structure beside Mega subdivision underneath some tall trees has a very provincial feel. A giant bowl of rich flavored lomi thickened by eggs with home-made quekiam, meatballs, pork slivers, and topped with lots of crushed chicharon and hard-boiled egg is served with a side dish of toasted garlic and fresh shallots. A dip of soy sauce, calamansi, and chili complete this 65-peso bowl that is good for two.

Emjaykas - Also located right past SM Hypermart and Eternal Gardens Memorial Park on the main highway, Emjaykas also serves a delicious Batangas-style goto with a variety of offal cuts and a generous sprinkling of fresh sliced scallions. Their lomi has a strong full flavored broth and also quite liberal on the topping with whole chunks of chicharon and eggs. This lomi, I believe, is best eaten with chili, patis, and calamansi which highlights the powerful caldo base for its soup stock.

Jhorjanes - There are two outlets, one at the very end of the Batangas exit of the Star Tollway, and the other in front of the Batangas Sports Complex. The dark shiny lomi has quail eggs and homemade meatballs with slivers of pork and also a generous topping of chicharon. The flavors are balanced and subtle in style rather than their more up front competitors."

In Ibaan, Batangas, there's reportedly a lomihan serving lomi with pigeon meat adding unique twist to lomi caldo (stock)

Tutubi will be back in Batangas for sure and will definitely try to sample these best batangas lomi in the future in addition to the quest for the best batangas goto and best batangas bulalo. :P


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list of recommended lomi house, lomihan and eateries/restaurants (mostly frugal) in Batangas (to be updated when Tutubi finds time to access his GPS where he stored the coordinates)

LBN Lomi House
J.P. Laurel Highway, Lipa City (between Startoll Malvar Exit and Lipa City proper)
Coordinates: 13°58'14"N 121°10'0"E

Labels: Batangas, Batangas Restaurants, Calabarzon, Filipino Food, Food Trip, Frugal Food Find, Southern Tagalog

Wherever Tutubi goes, he looks for something new, something different that a place can offer to visitors, tourists and explorers. He laments though that most of the time, most locals don't know the answer but he plods on searching for new "discoveries." In Surigao, he asked around for surigao delicacies, kakanin or unique food and got one good answer: the sayongsong.

The sayongsong, as it turned out, is a kakanin wrapped in banana leaves with looks and consistency similar to puto (rice cakes), it's made in Surigao (and some parts of Caraga region) from glutinous rice, calamansi juice, brown sugar, roasted peanut, as well as coconut milk.

sayongsong: it's like puto with cononut milk wrapped in banana leaves.

Tutubi was able to sample sayongsong when his friend bought a bunch for him to sample, reportedly costing P20 (such cheap price for a filling bunch). You can't find this pasalubong in Surigao Airport, just look for it at roadside stalls and public markets.

Labels: Caraga, Pasalubong, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur

Tutubi's sister used to live in Bagumbong, North Caloocan and he swears, whenever he went there, it's better to come home to Paete, Laguna due to long travel time. He usually went there via Blumentritt-Novaliches jeepneys, with their ear-piercing new wave music, and counter-flow style that earned them the tag: hataw!

Map of Novaliches, Quezon City from OpenStreetMap available here. You can also browse other places and update the map (e.g. your hometown) if needed.

This is guide for commuters on how to get to Novaliches by commuting where you can reach Holy Cross memorial Park, San Bartolome Church, SM Novaliches, Novaliches Mall, ABC5 TV station, Baesa, Gulod, Uniwide, Talipapa et al:

An online map of Novaliches, from OpenStreetMap, can be found here for your reference. (you can even update the map if you're familiar with the area)

How to commute to Novaliches:

1. Via LRT Blumentritt station, you can walk to the jeepney station to board the hataw jeepneys plying the Blumentritt - Nova (Bayan) route and get off at Novaliches bayan or your destination (to get to Bagumbong or Deparo Road, you need to transfer to another jeepney on Susano Road near General Luis).

2. Via MRT, there are vans-for-hire (v-hire) or fx shuttle service to Novaliches below the MRT North Avenue station (southbound), at Trinoma Transport terminal, SM City North EDSA transport terminal and even in front of WalterMart North EDSA mall (near Munoz and LRT Roosevelt Station)

3. EDSA buses with signboard Nova (bayan) go straight to Novaliches. The route is always EDSA (from Makati), right to Congressional Avenue, left to Mindanao Avenue, right to Quirino Highway onwards to your detination.

4. From SM City Fairview, you can ride jeepneys going to Novaliches via Commonwealth Avenue (minimum fare only)

*SM Novaliches is just 8 kilometers from EDSA, Munoz for travel time of 10-20 minutes.

Driving directions to Novaliches:

From Makati, head towards EDSA Balintawak but turn right to Congressional Avenue, left to Mindanao Avenue, right to Quirino Highway to your destination. There are alternate roads via Commonwelath Avenue, Zabarte Road and Jordan Plains Subdivision but Tutubi is not so familiar with the route.

Right after visiting Doot Poktoy Surfing beach and Marine Park Sanctuary, he was taken by his friends to Lanuza's recommended halo-halo joint: Friz Halo-halo.

What makes this different (in its own right) from other halo-halo concoctions is the actual number of ingredients used to make it: Nata de coco, cornflakes, papaya, pineapple, corn, gelatin, macapuno, kaong, mango, beans and probably others that Tutubi wasn't able to spot. And it's located at an unassuming corner in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Price: PhP65.00 (yeah, pricey due to lots of ingredients but creamy and great snack).

It's a nice refreshment in summer or after watching the Doot Poktoy Surfing Festival.

Labels: Filipino Food

Located along the national highway between the boundaries of duck-town of Victoria and the monay-town of Bay, within the jurisdiction of Calauan, Laguna is the newest branch of hugely popular restaurant reportedly owned by the Barrio fiesta group and reportedly by the actress Heart Evagelista.

Tutubi has been keeping an eye for the opening of the floating restaurant, not for his personal craving, but to treat his parents in the "exotic" restaurant featuring a mish-mash of Buddhist and Hindu figures, sprinkled with life-size statues of famous people occupying a few hectares of fish ponds.

A Sunday lunchtime on a long weekend trip about 30 kilometers from Paete, Laguna, was met with his expected too many people. Result: too many parked cars, too many people waiting for a table to be seated.

lots of people in waiting for tables during Sunday lunchtime at Isdaan Laguna

Tutubi asked for a table at the receptionists but got number 37, lots of waiting. He merely looked at the menu (prices seem similar with Isdaan Tarlac) took two photos with his iPhone, bought a few things at Aling Nene's Pasalubong then sped away to a nearby restaurant.



Lesson: Be there earlier than usual lunchtime. First come, first serve policy. Tutubi's no aware of of Isdaan telephone number for reservations not even contact persons. Isdaan sample menu prices enables a budget of PhP250.00+/person/meal

Isdaan Laguna has a huge open parking space but their seats, tables and cottages may not be enough for all their customers on peak days

tip: Isdaan Laguna may be a nice place but try to eat at nearby Iskargu, cheaper, faster less people but tastier meals at friendly prices ;P

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How to Get to Isdaan Laguna:

Commuting to Isdaan Laguna by bus from Manila: HM Transport, Green Star and DLTB, either from Cubao, Quezon City or Taft, Buendia in Pasay have buses to Sta. Cruz, Laguna that passes by Bay and Calauan town along and directly pass by Isdaan Calauan, Laguna.

Driving Directions to Isdaan Laguna

From Makati, it's just SLEX, exit at Calamba, turn right Calamba Crossing (before or after SM City Calamba) then follow the road to Los banos, Victoria, Bay then Calauan to see Isdaan Calauan Laguna to your right.

Isdaan Floating Resto- Fun Park
Barangay Hanggan, Calauan, Laguna
Coordinates: 14°10'36"N 121°18'5"E

For a map of Isdaan Laguna, please click here

Other nearby restaurants:
Bamboo Grill, Samaral Restaurant, Iskargu (Isda, Karne, Gulay)
Kamayan sa Palaisdaan sa Bay

Labels: Laguna Restaurants

Inijakan Island or simply Inijakan, part of General Island in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur is a private resort and refuge of the true hero of EDSA-- Gen. Charles Hotchkiss (who was then a major when he defied then President Ferdinand Marcos' orders to attack the rebels holed up in the military camps during EDSA People Power revolution).

Tutubi was able to gain entrance to the private property built out of a cove on Inijakan Island (or General Island) through an employee of Cantilan Bank. He was able to spend several hours, ate a full meal mostly of kilawin and grilled fish, before hurrying back to Cantilan town proper before dark.

the wharf of Inijakan closely guarded by a dog


A breakwater or seawall was built to close the cove to prevent fishes inside from going out of the sea. Fishes reportedly seen were barracudas (supposed to be deep water predators), small flying fishes, lobsters and even the expensive and endangered mameng (napoleon wrasse). Lush forest lines the shore with wild plants, monkeys (philippine macaques), trees and birds can be seen flying around.

a racing boat parked at the green lagoon of Inijakan.


a seaweed farm that surprisingly grows lato, perfect for super-fresh seaweed salad or kilawin lato

many corals can be seen without getting wet but signs of dying and coral bleaching are visible. The man-made seawall that prevents water and waves from reaching them may have contributed to the death of corals.

the view from the highest part of Inijakan, where a chapel stands. There supposed to be a beautiful Ayoke Island nearby but was not able to visit by Tutubi. He wanted to see and taste a kolo fruit there

Also located on General Island is the reportedly enchanted Lake Danao where the tide is opposite that of the sea i.e. high tide when the sea is low tide and vice versa. A few minutes trek is needed to reach the lake but again, due to lack of time and clothes, was not even attempted by Tutubi.

As mentioned earlier, this is a private resort/hideaway of the Hotchkiss family of Cantilan but it's open to daytrippers, particularly wedding pictorials (prenups) for engaged couples. Tutubi has no information on contact numbers and rates though but you can try asking from people of Cantilan.

Location: General Island, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur (Northwestern Mindanao)
Coordinates: N9 24 50.3 E126 00 43.4

Labels: Caraga, Islands, Surigao del Sur

The last remaining hours of Tutubi's trip to Surigao del Sur was spend island-hopping to nearby islands of Huyamao, Casarica, Ayoke, Inijakan and General Island.

A quiet beach of fine brown sand in Carrascal town, adjacent to Cantilan became launch site of Tutubi's boat he got for PhP1500.00 from a nearby beach resort.

the fine brown sand Bonot Beach of Carrascal has shallow and serene water with several islets nearby with caves and probably bird sanctuaries.

not too many people on the beach resort except few children and dogs. this is said to be a popular picnic place for locals due to accessibility. Candido White Beach may be better for swimming but farther

the launch of Tutubi's boat

There's a supposedly beautiful Candido white beach part of Carrascal and marketed by Carrascal local government but Tutubi wasn't able to visit and verify the claim. Probably next time...

For the meantime, onwards to Inijakan Island :P

Labels: Beaches, Caraga, Surigao del Sur

A short "pitstop" for Tutubi in Lanuza after another brief stop at the empty Doot Poktoy Surfing Ground.

Marine Park Sanctuary is a fish sanctuary in Lanuza Bay with an outpost by the local Bantay Dagat, a promontory/watchtower plus a sanctuary cafe said to be serving local delicacies but Tutubi merely found snacks, junk food and softdrinks and none of the advertised Lanuza, Surigao del Sur delicacies that would have attracted tourists.

It is however a simple place to gather your thoughts or a "senti" moment

Marine Park Sanctuary, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur

Sanctuary Cafe as seen from the main highway

concrete steps leading to the outpost and get a better view. There's a minimal entrance fee but Tutubi were not made to pay due to the very, very short visit with just a handful of pictures

a short strip of visibly fine sand beach

the "coast guard" outpost

just a view of the sea, Paficic Ocean facing with waves smashing the rocky beachfront

Final comment: marine parks like this should be set up in many areas as possible. A place for fish sanctuary where they can spawn, regenerate and live undisturbed is higly beneficial in the long term for fishermen. No more illegal fishing methods like poison and dynamites.

Labels: Caraga, Surigao del Sur

Surigao Airport, located in Surigao City, was the landing point of Tutubi in his recent trip to the Surigao del Sur town of Cantilan, part of CarCanMadCarLan (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza)

this the newbie guide to Surigao Airport, the gateway to Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Island in Caraga region of Northeastern Mindanao

Surigao Airport Terminal Fee: PhP20.00

Flights to Surigao:

Manila to Surigao flight time is around 90 minutes

Philippine Airlines Flights: Manila to Surigao daily, Cebu to Surigao
Cebu Pacific Flights: Manila to Surigao daily, Cebu to Surigao

Cebu pacific uses a turbo-prop aircraft for this route to serve around 80 passengers per trip, the same airplane they use for the Manila-Caticlan flight.

Restaurants and pasalubong, souvenir shops:

there's only one small stall selling snacks, no real restaurant inside the departure area. there are several small eateries within the airport periphery in case your tummy complains.

How to get out of Surigao Airport to your destination:

Surigao Airport is just along the national highway. Just walk to the highway and board a multicab/jeepney/tricycle going to Surigao City proper
or to the Port of Surigao to catch the ferry to Siargao Island (for surfing fanatics) or to the bus terminal of Ceres Liner/Ceres Tours/Bachelor Express to get you to Butuan (which has an airport, so why bother?) or bus to Tandag, Surigao del Sur (fare is PhP240.00, travel time is 5 hours (with 1 hour of very rough road)) passing by the NPA-friendly mining town of Claver, Surigao del Norte then the so called towns of CarCanMadCarLan (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza).

Labels: Airports, Caraga, Surigao del Norte