Mati, Davao Oriental


the waves are suitable for surf-boarding



Mati is the capital town of the least known Davao, i.e. Davao Oriental (the two others are Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte). It is a town which seem to have developed much slower than many other Davao capital towns, e.g. Tagum and Digos. I have been there quite a few times the first ever was in the early 70s. And I can personally say that progress and development has indeed been slow in Mati. Save for a few new buildings, it remains pretty much what it was about three decades ago. One notable development however is that land travel to Mati from Davao has been reduced by half, i.e. from 6 hours in the 70s to about 3 at present. But road conditions remains to be a challenge. It's economy remains largely rooted in coconut and copra produce. The little rice production that they have is not even enough to give the place a self-sufficiency status.

This is both good and bad. On the one hand, the people's opportunity for economic well-being is not helped by this lack of infrastructure development. But on the otherhand, Mati's natural resources, specifically the beautiful white sandy beaches have remained pristine almost untouched by human civilization. While I hope that tourism industry would allow more economic opportunities for the people of Mati, I'm concerned that it might spoil it's natural beauty and go the woeful path of Boracay and other similar places. Maybe the key is responsible and environmentally friendly planning. But knowing the politicos in that area, I think that is too much of an expectation.

One particular beach destination which I hope will not be spoiled by "development" is that located in an island called Waniban Island. It is a very small island which one can actually circle in about 30-minutes. It is blessed with very fine sand, amazing rock formations, and dense foliage that is an excellent sanctuary for birds. The beach itself is not too wide and there's a sheer 100-feet drop after about 20 meters of shallow waters - excellent for snorkeling. But it is not for the weak-hearted. 100 feet deep is no joke. And the current can sometimes be very tricky specially in the late afternoon when the tide comes in. (See more photos here - http://miriyammqx.multiply.com/photos/album/67/Summer_in_January_2)

The other beach is Dahican Beach. With waves up to five maybe ten feet, it is a surfer's paradise. The shallower portions near the beach however, are excellent areas for skim boarding.

We went to both beaches and had a great time, and enjoyed the food prepared by my nieces, Ayele and her elder sister Bimbim. We missed going to the third beach destination. It's a beach called Mangguihay where the waters are absolutely calm and and you can wade for more than a hundred meters out into the water. But the calmness may be a negative trait since it lacks the verve, energy and excitement of the big waves.

All three destinations, however, are great places for beach lovers. Owing to the rough (but tolerable) roads, these beaches have remained unspoiled to this day.

NOTE: Dahican waves is home to the Mati Skim and Surf Boarding team. For more info, go to http://philippine-travel-blog.blogspot.com/2010/11/skimboarding-in-dahican-mati-davao.html
----------------------------------------------
Related Site: - http://miriyammqx.multiply.com/photos/album/67/Summer_in_January_2

*Cheap plane fares to Mindanao, etc. - http://www.twitlonger.com/show/84052o

Comments

  1. oselle ♥January 13, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    ang ganda!!! sarap magbakasyon.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. oselle ♥January 13, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    akala ko mask.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Tarana! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Footprints talaga yan. Size 13, hehehehe...

    ReplyDelete
  5. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  6. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    How can you go wrong with this?

    ReplyDelete
  7. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    I love this!

    ReplyDelete
  8. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    It looks like a mangrove tree. Sa cebu ang tawag dito ay Pagatpat.

    ReplyDelete
  9. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    Postcard perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  10. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    The wide smiles speak about the experience.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    Tortang talong and sinangag! Yes, how can anyone go wrong with it, Lou. Besides, eat light kami kasi on the way to the beach. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    Letting nature take its course.

    ReplyDelete
  13. louella alixJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    Now you're getting me hungry!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Yup. Part of the island is a mangrove, shelter and fish spawning area.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nona Enriquez-SchanowskiJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    so lovely pic and moment!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nona Enriquez-SchanowskiJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    ang ganda!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nona Enriquez-SchanowskiJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    I can even smell it..

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    Hi Nons. Pag naka bisita ka uli dito sa Pinas, make PF a must see/visit.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tochie **January 13, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    It's not so obvious from the front, but this house has a basement and an attic. And many of the construction materials came from salvaged wood and the tiles were from an old factory which was demolished and my niece husband collected all the old but sturdy clay tiles. They looked very beautiful in their living room.

    ReplyDelete
  20. CatH \(^_^)/January 14, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    san na pasalubong ko galing Aldevinco?

    seriously...maganda rin mag ikot don sa Aldevinco, though most of the stuff I bought before, e di galing don..hehe

    ReplyDelete
  21. CatH \(^_^)/January 14, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    mmmm....I can smell it na!

    ReplyDelete
  22. CatH \(^_^)/January 14, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    sana nga di ma exploit if ever madiscover to ng maraming tao

    ReplyDelete
  23. CatH \(^_^)/January 14, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    ganda! and to think di pa to polluted! haha!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Tochie **January 14, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Our first day in Davao City (after Pearl Farm) was spent in Aldevinco shopping mall. But we had a very limited time to shop since the trip to Mati was a three-hour road trip and we did not want to travel at night. So we decided to come back to shop on our way back (before going to the airport) that Sunday. But nobody told us that the place was closed on a Sunday. Kaya yun, wala masyado nabili. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  25. Tochie **January 14, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    The thing that deters most tourists to the area is the rough road condition going to the jump-off place (Masao). Rough roads are bad, but in this case, it seems to have helped in preserving the pristine condition of the beach.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Tochie **January 14, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    Hopefully, pollution (if ever) will be minimal. Ang ganda talaga pag malinaw at malinis ang tubig. Di ka matatakot maka-inom (unintentionally, of course) ng tubig, hehehe....

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tochie **January 14, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    Yes, lalo na pag-umaga when the atmosphere is still a little thick from the previous night's cold mist.

    ReplyDelete
  28. CatH \(^_^)/January 14, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    sana walang umihi na isda sa gilid :-)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Tochie **January 14, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    I think the non-city fishes are more conscientious of the sanitation, hehehehe...

    ReplyDelete
  30. mags pasadillaJanuary 14, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Great photos again! Thanks! Definitely putting Davao on my wishlist.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Tochie **January 14, 2011 at 11:49 PM

    That's Mati, Davao Oriental.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Tochie **January 19, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    I was hoping I would see this. But what I saw is "good enough" to give you an idea of the things they do with their motorbikes in that part of Mindanao.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Faith & Gari kaintulogbyaheJune 2, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    I like your trips, Chito!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Tochie **June 2, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    Glad you like them, Faith. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The day I left for college

Image
I've been going to Manila ever since I was a boy in the 60s. I don't remember exactly how many times. In all of these trips, I've always been going with either my mother or father or both. Most of these trips were for the purpose of visiting my elder sister who was then already going to the university, and a few trips were actually for some sight-seeing, e.g. Manila Zoo, Quiapo, etc. I remember we always had to pack as early three or four days before and all of our luggage will be neatly lined along the hallway all zipped-up and ready to go (and not to be touched by anyone, except by my mom, of course). But there is one departure that will forever remain in my memory - the day I left for college. On the day of my departure for college, Conching went through the same meticulous preparation except that this time a few more items were added to the things we're bringing on the trip - a basket full of half-ripe bananas, half a sack of ...
Read more

Personal Sa Akin Ang Bagyo (I Take Typhoons Personally)

Image
This is an image of typhoon tracks from 1980 to 2005 or a period of 25 years (photo from wikimedia). NOTE: Please click on the image to view large format (available only for 30 days and counting...) . If you are familiar with the southeast asian geography, you probably know that right in the densest part of the storm tracks is where the Philippine archipelago is (indistinguishable and literally obliterated from view due to the blue lines that mark the tracts of possibly hundreds of typhoons during the two and a half decade time-frame). And if you're familiar as well with Philippine geography, you'll probably know that right smack in the middle of that storm corridor is the Bicol Region and as such, it is probably the most typhoon-battered/ravaged region in the entire Philippine archipelago. So to me, a Bicolano, personal sa akin ang bagyo. But I don't mean it in a negative way. It's just that typhoons have been a part of many of the events and moments in my life, both...
Read more

Letters to Juliet

Image
Rating: ★★★★ Category: Movies Genre: Romantic Comedy Director: Gary Winick Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael Garcia Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave, and Franco Nero Synopsis: When a young American travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated 1951, she inspires its author to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love and sets off a chain of events that will bring a love into both their lives unlike anything they ever imagined My Take: This would have been 5 stars for me save for the fact that it was a poor comedy, i.e. there were really a few laughs and the dialogue wasn't that witty either. But it's 4 stars because of the romance. And there was an abundance of it. For how can one not feel romantic with the postcard perfect setting of Verona, Italy, the city where Shakespe...
Read more