Samal, Global Crises, atbp

Hi, I am back from a week’s time out on Samal Island. Sure, I stayed in my favourite resort, the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort. First time I came here was  in 1982… . I don’t wanna give any promotions for this place, but I still get the service here I love to enjoy during those holidays…:and,  great food, affordable prices, very clean surroundings and a wonderful beach… .

While staying there I was informed about a comment of Tourism Council President Araceli Ayuste, of the Island Garden of Samal, the official name of this island-city: “We don’t want this island to become the next Boracay because we know it can become much better than Boracay,” Ayuste said. I can only strongly agree. I also don’t want to see Samal Island becoming too crowded and ‘over-commercialized’. I love, what Ayuste added: “We don’t like to see our island’s natural resources over-exploited by many investors!”

Many foreigners who visited Samal as tourists in the past fell in love with the island  and ended up as foreign expats and permanent residents. One of them is my friend Ulrich Kronberg, editor and publisher of two German sail boat magazines based in Hamburg/Germany. Uli runs his company by internet from the island. This time he is back in Germany to attend another tourism fair.

This and that… - as my friend Bob Martin entitled one of his last columns here in LiP
Crises!!! Even hanging out and relaxing on Samal Island during the last week, one can’t avoid to receive all these “dramatic financial news from all around the globe”.

Before heading to China President Gloria Arroyo asked the congress to pass a law quadrupling bank deposit insurance to boost confidence in the banking system amid a global credit crises. The maximum insured deposit guaranteed by the state-run Philippine Deposit insurance Corp. never satisfied me and many other expats and Filipinos. 250,000 Pesos shall be increased to one million Pesos (about 20,800 US$).

The Philippines’ banking system seems to be stable. The increase was felt necessary to help underline confidence. As Arroyo spokesman Jesus Dureza stressed: “There are no bank runs now!” Now… .

This is that… .

When relaxing on Samal Island, Boracay came again along my way. Headline : “GREEN VEHICLES CURB POLLUTION IN BORACAY”... .

The use of electric-powered vehicles has received the green lights on the resort island as part of efforts to curb air and noise pollution in this (world-famous) Philippine tourism spot. Two “e-cars” and six “e-bikes” imported by the Malay Municipal Government from China arrived over the last weekend and were taken on a test drive on the island to encourage resort and hotel operators to have their own fleet of e-vehicles.

Of course, e-vehicles are cheaper to operate compared to gasoline-powered models. The price of a brand new e-car ranges from 300,000 Pesos to 700,000 Pesos. These vehicles will also reduce toxic emissions and noise pollution, which have been largely blamed on regular motorcycles - not only in Boracay, as we all know, living in the Philippines for good or coming here as tourist.

Boracay’s charms indeed had been made fragile by a host of environmental threats over the past years. And, I am pretty sure, not only there… .

This and that… .

While writing this post it rains cats and dogs. Another ITCZ or rain system with low pressure hits Mindanao/Davao… . I love it… I am looking forward the cooler season… .

The beauty of Samal

One of the places very near to  me here in Davao that I just do not get to visit enough is the Island of Samal, and its only a few minutes boat ride from me too and not having a car at the other end does restrict me in seeing  the places like the Bat cave and the numerous Resorts.

Lucky for me a few weeks ago I was with Bob Martin who ran me around some of the Islands beautiful places and  in a few hours we travelled a good distance, and as readers may know I have a great Video camera that allows me 5 minutes of battery life per charge and despite looking for a new battery here and in Manila its something we have to live with for a few more weeks.

Here is a video that shows just some of the beauty and the character of not only the Philippines but Samal in particular!!!

With land prices rising at an amazing rate on the Island I suggest those with a healthy bank account rush now to buy, sorry to say I am not included..YET!!

Samal Island promotion?

Let me start as follows: for all those, who don’t know anything about Samal Island - here are some briefly explanations:

Samal Island covers a total area of more than 30,000 hectares. The main island stretches about 34 kilometers between the southern tip of Panabo City, Davao del Norte and the mouth of Davao Gulf. It’s meanwhile called the Island Garden City of Samal or IGACoS. There is no dry season. It’s only ten minutes by launch from Davao City via Babak (the nearest) though there are some routes in Samal and Kaputian. I always enjoy taking a bus from Lanang or Boulevard in Davao City via ferryboat to the Central Ware House terminal in Peneplata on Samal Island.

I haven’t been on Samal Island since almost three months. The launching of “Precious Garden” in Miranda (five minutes away from Babak harbour, if one takes a tricycle) has been a very good reason to go there again. “Precious Garden” is owned by my good friend Ulrich Kronberg (German publisher, book author and journalist, based in Hamburg - maybe you remember my column in his SAMALNEWS) and his wife Preciosa “Kikay”. You can hang out in “Precious Garden” for some drinks at the bar, or enjoy a coffee in the coffee shop, or, you can have your lunch or dinner, or, as a Samal resident, you are able to buy European goods there, if you don’t have the time to rush to Davao City. -  In December a pizzeria is be planning be launched - also plans for a hotel with swimming pool have been mentioned scheduled for 2009.

Being again on Samal Island because of that occasion, I could feel again my desire to live here - or, to visit this beautiful island more often in future.

You can really enjoy wonderful beaches all around the island. The water is excellent for scuba and snorkeling. I love nature as well as adventures - so, visiting Samal can never be complete without going to natural springs which the island presents.

Are you a diver? Try the Coral Garden and Marine Park in Linosutan or Isla Reta or Malipano Island. Visit the Hagimit Falls in Cawag or the Mago-gawon Falls in Tagbaobo.

There are many little caves in this island. The Baga Cave is the biggest.

You can climb and conquer Puting Bato, the highest mountain peak, around 1350 feet above sea level. One of the highlights is the Annual IGaCoS Festival as they’re founding anniversary at every 7th day of March.

Does Samal Island still need more promotion? Actually not. I just wanted to voice out, that it is really one of my hidden paradises. And - it’s big enough still to find hidden places… .

Great! Unbelievable!