Monday, March 31, 2008
CUBAO TO DAVAO part 3
CUBAO TO DAVAO part 3
Saturday- May 27,2006
I am now on the return trip to Manila.
Waking up early, I did a quick tour of Cagayan de Oro city and proceeded the Agora Bus terminal for my trip to Butuan City. Disappointedly, this bus terminal is one of the dirtiest I have been to considering that Cagayan de Oro is supposed to be the trading center of Northern Mindanao.
The Butuan bound Bachelor Bus, the largest bus company in Northern Mindanao, departed at 10am for the 4 hour trip along nicely paved roads. We had a lunch break at Balingoan at exactly noon. Several quick stops at the integrated bus terminals along the way gave the passengers a chance to relieve their aching kidneys during the long drive. The scenery of Northern Mindanao along the coastal highway somehow made the trip a bit relaxing despite the afternoon heat.
After quick stops at Ginoog City and Nasipit, we arrived at Butuan City at 2:30 pm. I had a chance to see the big new bus depot of Bachelor Express in Butuan…quite impressive scene with new buses lined up. At least travelers in this area are assured of new buses for safe and convenient travel.
Butuan City is rich in cultural and archeological history. It is said that the earliest Filipino settlements have been found here. The first graveyard discovered was estimated to have dated back to 320 AD and is now on exhibit just 5 kilometers from the City proper. There are 9 other Balangay settlements unearthed and more are said to be waiting to be discovered.
The MAZAUA landing site lays a controversial claim that this was the correct site where Ferdinand Magellan celebrated the first mass in the Philippines on March 31, 1521 instead of what is popularly known as Limasawa Island. The BANZA CHURCH RUINS located at the oldest poblacion of the city is the oldest ruin of a stone church in the entire island of Mindanao.
I initially planned to stay overnight at Butuan but I was told there was a bus leaving in 30 minutes for Surigao which would be my ferry connection to Leyte.
I decided to board the bus and try to catch the evening ferry in Lipata. I should have stayed overnight in Butuan and toured the city more.
The bus trip from Butuan to Surigao was a 2 hour drive. I arrived at Surigao Integrated Bus terminal at 5 pm, with plenty of time to catch the evening ferry at Lipata. The Surigao Integrated Bus Terminal is so far the best terminal I’ve been to so far. It probably because it is located outside the city proper the building stands prominently alone among rice field. But I am impressed by its cleanliness and the easy connections to other destinations.
I arrived at the Lipata ferry terminal at 7 pm and found out I had plenty of time since the ferry leaves at 10pm. By this time, I had become familiar with the usual routine of lining to get ferry tickets, signing up for insurance and passenger list. I have learned that one need not join the mad rush to the queue and be hassled by the process since there is always plenty of time to do this.
The ferry left port at 10:30 pm. All throughout the trip through calm waters, I was asleep, resting from the arduous day journey.
Sunday- MAY 28,2006
We arrived at Liloan at 2:30 pm and after being reenergized after a 4 hour sleep, I look forward with anxiety on the next leg of my trip.
I arrived at Liloan, Leyte in the middle of the night without any bus ticket to any destination. All the buses I saw on the ferry was full and I didn’t want to suffer the same experience I had when I rode a full-packed Philtranco bus from Tacloban to Davao. I was hoping I could get a local bus to Tacloban but it seems at 3 am, there was no bus trip yet. Asking around, the tricycle drivers told me there were aircon vans that goes to Tacloban.
I boarded a packed L300 van that left at 3 am and slept most of the way to Tacloban. It was a 4 hour trip with a 15 minute stopover in Bato, Leyte.
I arrived at Tacloban City at 7 am and took a quick breakfast. I now decided to proceed to Calbayog City, Samar and visit a friend.
I again boarded an aircon van to Calabayog instead of the regular bus since I know this will be a hard and rugged drive. We left Tacloban at 9 am as the van waited to be filled with passengers before it can leave. It was indeed a rough two hour ride to Calbayog as the roads in Western Samar is so full of potholes. At 12 noon I reached my destination. The rest of that Sunday afternoon was spent with leisurely walk along the city plaza and market. I also took pictures of and attended mass at the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral. I saw the newly opened Jolibee restaurant which has became the new center of attraction in this city but also a big threat to local restaurants.
In the evening, I had dinner at one of the local seaside resort which offered cool breeze while dining.
In general, I find Calbayog City a very peaceful place.
Monday- MAY 30,2006
I left Calbayog at 9 am and boarded a jeepney bound for Allen. It was a one and half hour drive on a less rugged road (as compared to the previous day).
Arriving in Allen at 11:30 am where I will board a ferry for Sorsogon, I had plenty of time as the ferry was scheduled to depart at 1 pm.
The ferry crossing from Samar to Luzon was uneventful as the San Bernardino Strait was calm. I arrived at Matnog at 2:30 pm and immediately searched for a bus to Legaspi City. But I was informed that no bus would take me for that short distance since they prefer Manila-bound passengers. It was suggested to me though that I take a jeepney ride to Sorsogon City and form there I can board buses or AC vans to Legaspi. I left the organized chaos Matnog port at 3:30 pm and arrived at Sorsogon at 4:20 pm.
Sorsogon City is a bustling city , the center of trade in Sorsogon province. From here, you can board buses bound for Manila but I decided to ride the AC van contemplating on staying overnight either in Legaspi or Naga. The van I took reached up to Daraga only.
The hour long but comfortable drive from Sorsogon to Daraga offered me a magnificent view of Mt. Mayon volcano. As we near Daraga, I caught glimpse of a closer view of majestic Mayon. The sun setting down and the image of Mayon on the horizon was something I will never forget. Too bad I wasn’t able to take a picture of such a beautiful scenery but photo images sometimes does not do justice to such breathtaking sceneries.
Upon arriving at Daraga at 6 pm, I decided to board a van for Naga instead of Legaspi. Along the way, I viewed Mayon volcano as it eventually fade when darkness set in. This reminded me that my journey is also about to end.
Upon arriving at Naga at 8:30 pm at the Integrated Bus terminal, I saw the rushing crowd of people trying to get a ride to Manila. It seems that this is the time when all Manila bound buses departs. Passengers and their relatives, bus employees and hawkers gather around numerous colorful buses.
Instead of staying overnight in Naga, I decided it was time to go home and board a bus. So at 9 pm , I was already on my way back to Manila. I slept throughout the night trip, despite the bumpy and zigzagging road.
Tuesday - May 31, 2006
As the sun rises, I end my journey, exactly one week after I boarded a bus in Cubao. At 6 am, after a 9 hour bus trip I arrived at the same bus terminal where I boarded a Leyte-bound bus a week ago.
Quite tiring but the whole experience leaves lots of memories. Traveling to the Visayas and Mindanao islands as I have found out is now a more comfortable with the arrival of new and more comfortable air-con buses. The Samar roads is still in a sorry state and no improvement is seen in the near future despite recent announcements. The Leyte and Davao-Buda-Cagayan de Oro roads are best examples of a well maintained highway.
People are most hospitable in areas you least expected. I also experienced being victimized by scrupulous tricycle drivers at ports.
But all in all, the trip was worth it.
My next plan is to travel to Davao via the Strong Nautical Highway passing through Mindoro, Panay, Negros islands and returning to Manila via the Maharlika Highway (Leyte, Samar, Bicol, Quezon). And I have discovered that you can now ride a bus form Cubao to Zamboanga City.