Surprising Surigao del Norte: A 'Biyahe ni Drew' itinerary

"Biyahe ni Drew" airs every Friday, 8:00 PM, on GMA News TV. For more information, follow the show on Facebook  and Twitter. For updates on your favorite documentaries, follow also the official Facebook page of GMA Public Affairs.

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After exploring Bucas Grande, Drew Arellano and the "Biyahe ni Drew" crew went straight to the heart of Surigao Del Norte's capital to experience more of the province's food and attractions. Here is our itinerary!

 

What to do

 

Meet the locals

 

 

Immerse yourself in Surigao del Norte's culture by meeting the Mamanwa tribe, one of the first settlers in Surigao. The Mamanwas live in Mat-i Tagbasingan, which is only 15 minutes away from the city. 

 

This tribe is known for their Bonok-Bonok dance, which Drew experienced firsthand when the Mamanwas welcomed him in Surigao. The best time to visit is on September so you can participate in the Bonok-Bonok Festival. Street dances, floats, food, and inter-barangay competitions are some of the highlights of the event.

 

Enjoy the waters

 

 

Did you know that the fourth largest lake in the Philippines is in Surigao del Norte? Mainit Lake is more than 17,000 hectares and it spans the areas of the towns of Mainit and Algeria. If you want to catch a glimpse of the lake, you can rent a van for P2,500 to P3,500. Meanwhile, jeepney fares range from P8 to P10. You can also ride the habal-habal for a more localized experience.

 

 

For an affordable and relaxing dip, go to Mapaso Hot Springs, which is located in Mainit, Surigao del Norte. For just P25, you can enjoy the spring's natural warmth from 8 AM to 5 PM. 

 

 

Drew spent his last day in Surigao del Norte at Togonon waterfalls which is seven kilometers away from Mainit Lake. Since the roads are quite rough, you can only get there by riding a 4x4 car or a habal-habal. 

 

 

Think the journey to the falls is tough? Don't worry because it will be worth it! Once you get to Togonon, you only have to spend P25 to enjoy its waters for the whole day. Entrance fee for kids only costs P15.

 

Have a taste of Gigaquit rum

 

 

Gigaquit rum, named after the town Guigaquit, is Surigao del Norte's local alcohol made from nipa. How do you enjoy this drink the way Surigaonons do? Use the soup of nilagang manok as a chaser. After a few shots of pure Guigaquit rhum, Drew concludes, "Mainit! Gumuguhit siya!"

 

Where to eat

 

Ocean Bounties

888 Diez St., 8400 Surigao City

 

Food is easy to come by in Surigao. Just head to a public market and you will instantly find freshly-caught fish and seafood. Carinderias with affordable menus also abound the place.

 

For restaurants, you can go to Ocean Bounties, where fresh seafood is served for less than P500. They offer prawns, crabs, isaw, adobo, and more. The food selection might seem pretty regular at first but tasting them will reveal otherwise.

 

 

"Napapansin ko sa resto na ito mahilig sila maglagay sa ulam nila ng citrus flavor," Drew says after trying the prawns and crab, which are seasoned with butter and orange juice. The dishes also come in generous servings so you don't have to worry about not getting your money's worth.

 

However, the most memorable dishes in this resto are the "hukyo tajom" and the "hukyo pananglitan." The hukyo tajom or sea urchin is cooked with butter, onions, pineapple slices, and scrambled eggs. The ingredients are simple but the combination is unique. "Yung texture niya parang dila," Drew describes. "Meron palang ganun. Akala ko ang ‘dila’ texture sa karne lang. Meron din pala sa seafoods."

 

 

On the other hand, "hukyo pananglitan" or the local eel is cooked with peanut butter, tausi, ginger, and coconut milk. According to Drew, hukyo pananglitan tastes like kare-kare with ginger. "Yung tipong pag tikim mo na alam mo na may peanut butter tapos may lasa ng luya at sa dulo may pineapple… Ang galing! Interesting!"

 

What to eat

 

"Kasili" or eel is one of the dishes that you can try when you are in Surigao del Norte. Drew's comment on the kasili?  "Ang sarap! Tapos ang pagkaluto ay sweet and spicy."

 

Another dish that you can try when you go cruising at Mainit Lake is the pijanga, a type of fish that is caught from the lake itself. It is prepared by frying the fish, drying it under the sun, and frying it again. Drew loves the pijanga's crunchy texture the most. "Masarap siya dahil malutong siya kahit i-dip mo! Kasi thinly sliced… walang tinik at hindi mo na rin mararamdaman kasi nga deep fried na siya."

 

For dessert or merienda, try the "sayongsong," Surigao's local rice cake. Drew likens the taste of this kakanin to the sapin-sapin.

 

Where to stay

 

Kasili Resort

Rizal St., 8407 Mainit, Surigao Del Norte

 

Kasili Resort is built right by the lakeside of Mainit so it is one of the hotels where you can stay if you want to see more of Mainit Lake. If you want a quiet afternoon with nature, you can walk outside the resort and enjoy the view of the lake. You can also make use of the swimming pools at the resort itself. The facilities are simple but adequate. Accommodations start at P700 per night for single rooms. Air conditioned rooms cost P1,000 to P2,200 per night. 

 

Gateway Hotel

National Highway, Surigao City 8400

 

The rooms in Gateway Hotel usually comes with two single-sized beds, perfect for couples or close friends. Drew noted that the hotel’s beds are comfortable and ideal for a good night’s sleep. The carpeted rooms also have extra sofas and a lanai where you can view the swimming pools. For P1,450 to P1,700, you can enjoy fully air conditioned rooms complete with a cable TV, a hot and cold shower, and your own phone.

 

 

With all the food, drinks, and adventures available in Surigao del Norte, you'd expect that having a vacation here would cost much. But surprise-surprise! Each biyahero only spent P5,000 for this vacation. Now that is a surprise we'd gladly share with anyone.—ARP/BMS