Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

I never thought that i can visit the place of my ancestors, the illustrious Villaluz Clan of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. My Lolo always talked about the place. I always imagined it as something mystical and their Kamayo dialect a music to hear, when relatives come visiting, with no 'rrrr's" and replaced with the 'yyyy's'. Like all small towns, everybody is a relative many times over and everybody knows everyone.
We took the 1:30 am Bachelor bus out of Butuan City and rode the dawn away, with the bumps and the invisible dusts making our hair straight stiff. We arrived at 5:30 am and people were already up and about in the streets. There was a pan-de-sal man with his 'put-put' and the 'labasera' with her fresh catch of fish from the bountiful sea of Hinatuan. The place is known for their biggest crabs, as they have fattening farms, fresh shrimps, prawns and fresh fish.
My uncle bebong served us the biggest grilled tuna belly i have ever seen. Pwerteng lami-a! We ate it in the banks of the the Enchanted River, Hinatuan's secret pride. The brackish water was very cool and clear, you can see your feet under water.


the lonely terminal


the slides with many sides


the streets of home


dutch inspired church


the clearest water ever of the Enchanted River


i can see my feet in the water


floating Uncle

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am happy to hear you've linked up with your roots and had a great time. The water looks as enchanting as ever. I am planning to go back there again soon. :-)

Dr. Emer said...

The place looks so pure. Truly, relaxation at its finest. Nice post, Dra. Tes!

I invite you to join TBR-8:Do we practice what we preach? Details are here. Hope to see you there.

ness said...

I love that clear water, Doc Tes!

dr tes said...

thanks to you, jojie, my curiousity was more than awaken.

dr emer, thank you for the invite, will gladly participate.

dr ness, the clearest water ever! you can see your piso underneath the water. nindot pa jud kaayo i-langoy langoy.

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Anonymous said...

wow! really nice doc! i've never had the chance to go around surigao del sur...suya ko sa akong papa kay sige ra to suroy2x diha...wa pajud intawon ko katilaw anang mga crabs ug lobster dirang dapita...hehe! i love the clear waters...makasuya!

Anonymous said...

Wow, would love to be able to visit this place someday!

Were you able to go inside that church? Churches are one of those things I always try to visit when I go around the Philippines.

Reminding you of TBR-9, entries due Monday May 12. Theme is "Mentors, Tormentors". Please check out the details HERE. See you!

Anonymous said...

gawd.

once in my frequent escapes, my feet landed on this town mommy tess. and for a month, i played stranger on the island of Mauwa.

see the shanties on the fishport of Hinataun? master kaau ko mulatay dira :D

*sob*

this post hits me home. 30 feet underwater, the hinatuan was where i realized that water was my element :(