Calbayog City: A place where i grew up

Trivia

• Calbayog in Samar has been dubbed by the Department of Tourism as “The City of Waterfalls” with seven-layered falls near in the city. It is also the third largest city in the entire country, comprising 157 barangays.

Transportation

• Philippine Airlines (daily flights)
• Cebu Pacific (MWF flights)
• Zest Air (TTHS flights)
• By land – PHILTRANCO, CUL, SILVER STAR
• By sea – FJP shipping lines (Cebu-Calbayog-Cebu)
  

By day

• A 5 minutes drive from Calbayog City is the St. Vincent de Paul Seminary. Enjoy a view of the city and the sea. Fronting the seminary is a replica of the image of Our Lady of Fatima
  

By night

• Take a relaxing stroll around the Sacred Heart Plaza across the Calbayog City Hall and Cathedral. It will give you a glimpse of simpler times.

Sleep

• F & A Suites in the City proper in Magsaysay Blvd.
• I’s Plant Hotel in Brgy. Obrero
• Marjo Krisel Apartelle in Brgy. San Policarpo
• Sigma Lodge

Best breakfast

• Try local foods like labtinaw, tinapa, queseo (quesong puti), shrimps, fried rice & tsokolate.

Best night out

• Sugba-sugba at the beach with lots of cold drinks and stories to share with friends
• Manuel’s Restobar with live band
• Kamalig Music Lounge
• Estudio with music

Best dinner

• Kaunan sa Carayman’s chili crabs, grilled hito, sautéed patola and calderetang sawa.

Best buys

• Fresh scallops, shrimps, tinapa, crabs, and kakanin from Mato-bato

Best souvenirs

Banig made in Tinambacan

Must-do experience

• An hour long trek in Tinaplacan to see the Larik, Bangon ang Tarangban waterfalls
• An hour trek in Mawacat slide to feel the warm waterfalls with the shape of spoon

Must learn

• “Maupay ng adlaw” (good day)
• “Karasa” (delicious)

The BEAUTY that hides in BIRI ISLAND

Biri Island is one island in a cluster of about 18 off the northern end of Samar. The island cluster is known as the Balicuartro Islands. You will find Biri Island the most northerly, in the straits which divide the main Island of Luzon and the Island of Samar. This strait is responsible for moving nearly 70% of the water that flows in and out of the Visayas, the strait is known as the San Bernardino Strait. So you can imagine that the tidal current can be ferocious.

Biri Island has been blessed with natural beauty. To the north of Biri is an enormous rock formation called Magasang.

Magasang has been carved by the tools used by nature herself. Winds blasting, monstrous waves have pounded and storms have lashed these rocks to create so incredible formations which need to be seen to be believed. Just down from Magasang is the best natural saltwater pool in the Philippines, Bel-ot. This has also been the location of a number of Filipino movies, it is clear to see why they have chosen this back drop.

Biri Island has also some healthy coral reefs so make sure you bring a face mask, snorkel and fins. You are not able to hire any equipment, there are no dive shops, which is a bit of a pity as I have heard the scuba diving here is awesome.

If you enjoy quiet beaches then Biri Island will definitely not disappoint you, they are gorgeous and you will find yourself on your own, that’s right no hassles from vendors trying to sell you something, which has to be worth the trip.