The province of Surigao has been a nature's
sanctuary, an oasis of magnificent destinations ready to be explored. With its
myriad of natural and impressive beauty, and offers splendid experiences, it
has been synonymous to enchantment, wondrous, and magnificent; explore the
Enchanted River of Hinatuan or commune to the wonders of Tinuy-an Falls in
Bislig, take a break at the U-shaped Cagwait Beach or count the Islets of
Britannia in San Agustin from daybreak to sundown, birdwatching at PICOP or try
Cantilan and Lanuza's extreme sports such as the skimboarding and surfing. Somehow,
Surigao is a traveler's paradise.
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| The seashore of Barangay Consuelo offers a landscape of island and islets while facing the great Pacific Ocean. |
Apart from these well-known attractions, there
are also places that are worth the visit in the province simply to be delighted
either with families and friends, sing songs together, or getting lazy
sun-kissing without the bustling crowd especially on a weekend.
It has been our tradition to spend the last
week of Lent at the hometown of my wife in Surigao del Sur. We then normally
celebrate the season of the Eastertide on a sunday at any beach destination
within Surigao. This year, we decided to go and check out the beach of
Consuelo, a barangay located in a 2nd class municipality of Cantilan-
considered as the "Cradle of Towns" in Surigao del Sur.
We traveled an approximate of an hour from our
place in Carmen going to Consuelo while riding a tri-cab with a moderate speed.
Don’t you know that Surigao is well-known for the Skylab transportation? It’s a
form of public transport where passengers are seated to the modified benches
from side to side attached to the motorcycle.
When we arrived at Consuelo, we looked for a
beach resort nearby and was blessed to have one despite the holiday which was prepared
for us by the local residents. We were greeted with a good weather, and the
scent of the ocean breeze is welcoming. “Ah, what a great Sunday!” I whispered
while smelling the wind.
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| On the left side of where we were situated, can be found the docking area of Consuelo. |
With an off white coral sand beaches, the seashore
of Barangay Consuelo offers a landscape of island and islets while facing the
great Pacific Ocean. On the left side of where we were situated, can be found
the docking area for small and medium-sized sea transports for both passengers
and vessels including the Huyamao Island also enclosed with the coral white
sands, fronting the islet of Casarica.
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| The Huyamao Island enclosed with the coral white sand, fronting the islet of Casarica. |
A few moments after unpacking our stuff, my
little one hurriedly invited me to take a stroll at the shoreline which I
happily acknowledged. From this point of our tête-à -tête or the father-daughter
bonding experience with the sun’s sweltering heat, I noticed that the islets
facing the oceanfront can be reached through a walk as the tide is still low,
and I thought for a minute, “How about a walk to remember?” which my lovely
wife responded with doubt, “Can we?”. Good thing my brother in law said with
excitement, “Sure! After taking our lunch” which our parents prepared sumptuous
meals for us to consume- the locally done Kinilaw with malasugue fish, Grilled
pork and fish also known as Sinugbang baboy, and sinugbang isda, complemented
with buko juice, pineapples and watermelons, and one of my favorite kakanin
“biko”.
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| My little one hurriedly invited me to take a stroll at the shoreline which I happily acknowledged. |
Meanwhile, while my little one was busy with
her imaginative thoughts by building her own sandbar castle, I managed to take
a sneak peek of the facing islets, and checked out the vicinity through an
aerial survey at 266 feet above. From what I had observed, I was amazed that
the three fronting islets can certainly be reached by passing the low-tide
seawater. My brother-in-law and my wife’s kin who were similarly enthusiastic, tried
passing the seawater and managed to reach the islet while checking out the
vicinity.
After examining the surrounding, the two of
them went back to where we were staying and affirmed that going to the islet is
somehow safe. This has to be done as my little one wanted to check it herself
as well. A moment or two, we decided to walk by, try it, and found ourselves
passing the seawater. Few meters from the shoreline, we noticed that marine
plants are abundant together with a school of fish. My little one was so
excitedly and cheerful; we managed to reach the islet safely.
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| Few meters from this islet while the tide is low. |
When we arrived at this islet, I have also
noticed that different bird species are thriving such as the White-collared Kingfishers,
Terns, Frigatebirds, Egrets, even a Brahminy Kite who was circling the
shoreline suspecting that my drone was also a feathered species I imagined.
Additionally, I stealthily managed to take a photo documentation of the Eastern
Reef-Egret on dark phase (Egretta alba) while the bird was having its loud
guttural croak. On the other hand, I had also observed that these islets were
shaped by the sea waves crafted through time resulting to the wonderful rock
formations.
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| The Eastern Reef-Egret on dark phase (Egretta alba) |
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| Brahminy Kite circling the shoreline |
I was about to do an aerial survey again but
as the wind is strengthen from moderation, and the sea is about to rise, we
just took few snapshots, and decided to go back to the beachfront. And when we
finally arrived at the shore, the sea was about to escalate its tide.
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| My lovely wife and our precious little one. |
With contentment, I found myself swimming its
current, singing our favorite songs, having fun, and appreciating the simplest
of things with my family. And while enjoying the approaching sunset I said to
myself, “They are what I cherish the most, not letting those special times pass
us by unnoticed”.
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