BEACHES AND CHURCHES: THE SIGHTS AND WONDERS OF DAVAO ORIENTAL

Tuesday, March 06, 2018

THE SIGHTS AND WONDERS OF DAVAO ORIENTAL

The Province of Davao Oriental, created on July 1, 1967, is composed of ten municipalities and one city, and is the easternmost province in the country. Its towns are Baganga, Banaybanay, Boston, Caraga, Cateel, Governor Generoso, Lupon, Manay, San Isidro, and Tarragona, with Mati as its lone city. Ecclesiastically, the province is under the Diocese of Mati.

I had the opportunity to travel around the province after our CLSP Convention in Davao from March 1–4, 2018. I asked a former student from Mati to accompany me in visiting the various churches and notable sites in the area.

Fr. Bernard picked me up in Davao and brought me to Mati. Along the way, we stopped at the parish church of Lupon, where he was assigned, and had lunch. After a short rest, we continued on to Mati. At the clergy house there, we met Fr. Darwey, another former student, who was then serving as Chancellor and Oeconomus of the diocese. He still had to attend a meeting at the Cathedral in preparation for the installation of their new bishop, but he would later join us for the trip to Cateel, the second-to-last town in the northern part of the province, where we planned to begin our tour.

At around five in the afternoon, we set out for Cateel, which is about 189 kilometers from Mati. We arrived a little past eight in the evening and proceeded to Maryknoll Academy of Cateel, administered by a diocesan priest with the assistance of some Passionist Sisters. We were accommodated in a small dormitory facility used for senior high school students. Dinner was served on the open-air second floor—roofed but without walls—where a lechon de leche was already prepared for us.

ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE PARISH
Cateel, Davao Oriental
Founded: 1894

MARYKNOLL ACADEMY OF CATEEL
Cateel, Davao Oriental

After passing by the Church of Cateel we went to Aliwagwag Falls which was twenty kilometers away on the way to Compostela, Davao de Oro. The falls could be seen just by the bridge. Tried crossing the monkey bridge over the falls which was a steel rope but with a harness for safety.

Then we next proceeded to San Victor Island near Brgy. Kinablangan, Baganga. It was a three-hectare island owned by the diocese. It was just about 200 meters from the mainland with soft ivory white sand on the part facing the mainland. Had lunch there with food we brought along. While I was snorkeling I saw some edible sea weeds “lato” which I dove and harvested some which became part of our lunch.

San Victor Island with the foreground already the beach on the mainland.

The lato that I harvested.

From San Victor, we passed by the parish church of Lambajon, Baganga and the Immaculate Conception Parish church of Baganga. We also went to Carolina Spring in Brgy. Salingcomot, Baganga. Took a dip in the pool. Then we passed the church of Caraga which is the oldest church in the province.

SACRED HEART OF JESUS PARISH CHURCH

Lambajon, Baganga, Davao Oriental

Founded: 2010

Municipal and Legislative Halls of Baganga, Davao Oriental

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH

Baganga, Davao Oriental

Founded: 1885

SAN SALVADOR DEL MUNDO PARISH

Caraga, Davao Oriental

Founded: 1884

CAROLINA SPRING

Brgy. Salingcomot, Baganga, Davao Oriental

Back to Mati we stayed overnight at the Blue Bless Resort with the rooms over the seawaters. We did enjoy our stay in that resort. Then we explored other beaches in Mati. We also visited the Subangan Provincial Museum with the skeleton of sperm whale on the main display hall.

BLUE BLESS BEACH RESORT

Sitio Pitugo, Brgy. Bobon, Mati, Davao Oriental

We explored also other white beaches around Mati.

One beach was popular with skimboarding. And got to pose with one winning skimboarder.

SUBANGAN DAVAO ORIENTAL PROVINCIAL MUSEUM

It had a well-curated display of exhibits. There was an interactive presentation of the UNESCO heritage site of Mt. Hamiguitan. The culture of the tribes in Davao Oriental was also well represented. It also had a room in remembrance of the super tyhoon Bopha (Pablo) in 2012 which was the first tropical cyclone to ever hit Davao Oriental and the Davao Region.

Prominently displayed was the skeleton of a 53-foot sperm whale.

Display of costumes of the tribes in Davao Oriental

A room in remembrance of the wrath of Super typhoon Bopha (Pablo) of 2012 which was the first ever cyclone to hit Davao Oriental.

A room featuring Mt. Hamiguitan.

DIVINE MERCY SHRINE PARISH

Madang, Mati, Davao Oriental

Founded: 2006

SAN NICHOLAS DE TOLENTINO CATHEDRAL

Mati, Davao Oriental

Founded: 1937

At the installation of the new bishop of Mati, Most Rev. Abel Apigo (center) with his predecessor, Bp. Patricio Alo (right) and Apostolic administrator, Fr. Edito Baño. April 25, 2018.

Then in the afternoon we went to the Mt. Hamiguitan Heritage Park in San Isidro, Davao Oriental. Afterwards we passed by the parish church of San Isidro. Then we went to Lupon where we stayed overnight for my trip back to Davao and back to Manila the following day.

The view of the Sleeping Dinosaur in Mati

Mt. Hamiguitan has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. It is shared by the towns of San Isidro, Governor Generoso and Mati. It is outstanding for biological diversity including a 225-hectare pygmy forest. As part of its full conservation efforts, only researchers with government permits are allowed entry. However, a beautiful interactive museum, in San Isidro showcasing the wonders of Mt. Hamiguitan has been built to be able to experience what is in the forest of Hamigutan.