Parola wharf and bar (photo by HENRYLITO D. TACIO)

There is absolutely nothing like the Samal group of islands, an archipelago consisting of nine islands which stretch out over a land area of 28,000 hectares. Some people who have been to these islands call the place a little paradise on earth.

Exotic, tranquil, beautiful are some of the accolades used to describe the island with a coastline adorned with white sand beaches, abundant marine life, rock formations, mangroves, and landscapes of coconut palms and fruit-bearing trees.

Often mistaken in the past by outsiders as part of Davao City, the island became a city in 1998 through Republic Act No. 8471.  This organic act paved the way for the dissolution and merger of the three former-municipalities of Samal, Babak, and Kaputian into one local government unit.  Today, it is called Island Garden City of Samal, whose full name locals and tourists shorten to IGaCoS.

Since its rowdy beginnings in the early Spanish regime, the island within the Gulf of Davao was named after the settlers who migrated from Jolo and Basilan, the Islamic Tribal Group or “Isamal.” People used the word “Samal” because of the Visayans who miscalled the word Isamal.

Samal is a second class city.  This simply means it does not have a lot of shops, bars, and restaurants.  But if you are looking for a serene place that is peaceful and quiet, then Samal is it! But the thing is, you won’t get it unless you have actually experienced it for yourself.

Over 20 beach resorts — and still counting — dot the island’s 116 kilometer-stretch of white sandy beach.  The launch pad is in Davao City which is about 45 minutes away by motorboat. You can go to Sta. Ana Wharf and Km 11 Wharf in Davao where there are small boats and even a ferry (if you are bringing your car).  Some resorts also have their own motorboat to bring you to their place.

Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark, for instance, operates its own passenger boat service seven days a week from Davao to the resort. First trip is at 6 a.m. and the last trip back to Davao is 5 p.m. Boat frequency is every 15-30 minutes, depending on the time of day and demand. The boat ride is only five to seven minutes.

Although it only started its operations in the summer of 2008, Bluejaz is now one of Samal’s top resort destinations.  Among its biggest attractions are the two giant slides. When Dyan Castillejo was doing a segment here for “Sports Unlimited,” she was told that the slides were the longest in Southern Mindanao. She begged to disagree. “I think this is the longest in the country,” said the sports television host, who has been to most of the extreme sporting activities in the Philippines.

“The slides are 130 meters long and consist of two serpentine flume rides that drop 30 meters from top to bottom,” informs owners Jazmin and Richard Middleton, adding that it took almost two years to build it.  “The slides were one of the things that we wanted to do to help the tourism industry in the area.”

The slides were designed by the Whitewater Industries of Canada and installed by the Davao-based C.C. Nicolas Pool and Spa Builders. “Whitewater Industries have been designing water parks and waterslides for the last 25 years around the world,” the Middletons pointed out.

The beach line of the resort is only 150 meters but it has an infinity pool that faces Davao City.  It has also two other swimming pools for children and adults.  Instead of using fresh water, the pools are filled with sea water.  So, even during low-tide, guests and visitors can still swim in salty water.

On a given day, the resort can only accommodate about 150-300 people.  “If they are composed of different groups, 100-150 would be our point of reckoning.  If it is exclusive, 300 would be the limit,” says Ramon Crisostomo, the resort’s consultant and the husband of Dr. Evelyn Crisostomo, who manages the resort.

“We want the atmosphere of the resort to be peaceful and quiet,” Ramon says.  The place is only seven minutes away from the launch pad in Lanang.

For world-class accommodations, try Pearl Farm Beach Resort. “Wonderful place” was how “Sports Unlimited” host Marc Nelson described the resort.  “Very peaceful,” he added. “We enjoyed it a lot,” said Brad Eivens, an American from Texas who spent several days at the resort with his family.  “Food and accommodations were great.”

Pearl Farm is famous for its Parola wharf but its exceptional feature are the houses patterned after the stilt houses of the seafaring Samal tribe of Sulu.   All in all, there are 19 houses and six Samal suites. There are also two large hilltop buildings with a conference room and game room in between.

The interiors of the different houses focus on the Yakan, Tausug, Maranao, and Badjao culture and craft.  Placed near the entrance of each houses are a jar of water and a coconut dipper which you may use to wash off the sand after a swim or walk on the beach.  Each of the deluxe accommodations affords the guest a magnificent view of the ocean.

At night, as you hit your pillow, all you will hear are the sounds of waves which can be a soothing aid to slumber.  In the morning, you feel refresh as you wake up from a deep sleep.  Going outside your room, you can take a deep breath, smell the fresh air, and experience the warmth of the vitamin D-laden sunshine.

Samal is rich in coral reefs, ideal for scuba-diving and other aqua sports, such as snorkeling and sailing.  Two sunken World War II Japanese vessels await discovery by divers, just 60 meters away from the Pearl Farm Beach Resort.

However, the two famous diving sites are the Ligid Caves and Pinnacle Point, both in Ligid Island.  In Ligid Caves, you get a glimpse of fine golden sea cucumbers densely littering the reef amid a rainbow of soft corals, hydroids, and basket stars. In Pinnacle Point, you will have the opportunity of viewing schools of pennant butterfly fishes, unicorn surgeon fishes, emperor fishes, and jacks.

Samal is also dubbed as an “Island of Festivals.”  Hugyaw Madayaw Samal falls every 29th and 30th of August; the Kabasan Festival, which is a 7-day celebration is usually held from May 22nd-29th; the Caracoles Festival is held every 28th and 29th of April and is also among the famous festivals in the Philippines where the richness of marine life and the cultural heritage of the people in this island are being highlighted with street dancing, parades, sports competitions, and a beauty pageant.

There’s more to Samal than just beaches and festivals.  About two kilometers away from Peñaplata is a haven for picnickers, swimmers, and nature trippers yearning for the simple, inexpensive pleasures in life.  Welcome to Hagimit Falls, a low-dropping cascade with natural swimming pools, huge rock formations gushing forth water and mammoth boulders that seemed to have existed for years. The area is well-covered from the scorching heat of the sun by a canopy of full-grown trees.

Another must-see is the Monfort Bat Cave, whose bat colony was certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest colony of fruit bats in the world with a population ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 million as of 2006.

How to get to Samal? If you are trying to get there from Manila or Cebu, you can take a plane to Davao. It has daily flights to and from the city via Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Philippine Airlines, and Zest Air. You can also get there by sea via SuperFerry and Sulpicio Lines from Manila or Cebu. Land trip to Davao from Manila is also available via Bicol but it is going to be a very long journey.

A 40-minute motorboat ride from Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City reaches Samal Island.  Getting around the island doesn’t pose any problem as several jeepneys and motorbikes called habal-habal can get you to your preferred destination.