Entrancing island of Siargao
MANILA, Philippines — My 21-year-old daughter Gabbie went on another out-of-town weekend trip recently, this time to Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines. It was an extra special weekend for her not only because it was her first time on the island, but because it was also the 25th birthday celebration of Migui Planas, her brother and my stepson.
Siargao is Migui’s favorite place in the country, so it made sense for him to invite loved ones over to join in on the fun. I asked Gabbie to write about her experience, and so entranced was she by Siargao that she readily agreed.
Here’s what Gabbie had to say about her weekend of many firsts:
“I took a 5 a.m. direct flight to Siargao via Sunlight Air. It was a pleasant, worry-free experience flying with them because everything went smoothly. I definitely recommend Sunlight Air for those looking to fly to Siargao. The plane landed at around 7 in the morning, and I paid a flat rate of P300 for a tourist van to drop me off to meet my brother at his hotel.
“When I met up with Kuya Migui, he had just gotten back from surfing with friends who were waiting for us to join them for breakfast. After leaving my suitcases, I hopped on the motorbike that my brother rented for P350 a day. It was my first time ever to get on a motorbike, and the ride under the heat of the sun was exhilarating.
“We drove along Tourism Road, where most of the restaurants and establishments are located in General Luna. We arrived in Spotted Pig x Las Palmas, a cute and cool restaurant that served me my first great breakfast meal in Siargao. We took our time at breakfast, then relaxed a bit by the beach. My brother and I, together with a few of his friends, then moved into a gorgeous villa for the weekend proper.
“We stayed at Seaclub Siargao, a breathtaking villa with three rooms, a kitchen, and a huge pool.
“Later, we got ready for the sunset party at Shaka Brah, a hip beach club at Santa Fe that’s a 15-minute motorbike drive from General Luna. The drive through Sunset Bridge was particularly gorgeous because we were surrounded by nature from end to end. It was a serene, peaceful, and fun drive all at once.
“We arrived in Shaka Brah in time for day drinks and ended up spending most of the night there. The place was amazing, the staff was accommodating, and the company was heaps of fun! Migui’s 25th birthday was definitely a night to remember. Happy birthday, Kuya Migs!
“On my second day, we had brunch at Siargao. I highly recommend their bacon and eggs, and oat milk lattes! We then opted to spend the rest of our time back at the villa, relaxing by the pool. After tanning sessions and summer swims, we left to have a late lunch at CEV, which is a Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack. It was the restaurant I was most looking forward to on this trip, and it has since become my favorite restaurant. CEV serves such unique, flavorful, and creative ceviches and kinilaw, which are a must for those who love seafood.
“Though everything I tried was delicious, my personal favorite would have to be the Santa Monica ceviche. The dish consists of the catch-of-the-day (swordfish when I was there), fried octopus, calamansi, coconut milk, leche de tigre, pumpkin mash, fried onions, toasted peanuts, basil, and roasted bell pepper puree. My tummy was so happy! They also served the most decadent and delicious dessert, a ‘Twix’ bar that was irresistible!
“We then went on a sunset drive to Secret Beach, which is absolutely beautiful. We rented kayaks and all I could do from the middle of the ocean was feast my eyes on the oil-painted sky, which looked surreal because of all the gorgeous colors on display. We ended up staying at the beach until it got dark. And then, another dazzling show revealed itself in the night sky when thousands of twinkling stars and the bright, full moon appeared. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sky like that before.
“We ended the night by visiting a couple of bars and clubs, namely Havana and Loose Keys.
“On my last full day, I just wanted to soak everything in and relax. I got a drink from Coffee Stroll, and I’m still dreaming about how good it was many days later. The drink was called an Espresso Havana, which was matcha-infused espresso. I had mine with oat milk and was instantly energized by its delicious creaminess.
“We then drove to Haole — a popular restaurant in Santa Fe — for lunch. I recommend their baked scallops, sisig, and fried chicken! I was so full from that meal, but the heaviness I felt was well worth it.
“After lunch, we wanted to ride the motorbikes again so we drove through a beautiful path to get to the cold springs. We stayed there for a while and stopped by Sunset Bridge to take a few photos before the drive back to General Luna.
“Later, I enjoyed my last Siargao sunset. I was completely enthralled by the poetic hues of the sky and did my best to capture the moment with a picture. I won’t soon forget how looking at the sun as it dipped below the horizon put me at such ease and filled me with an abundance of inner peace.
“My last meal in Siargao was Yassi’s barbecue, which was straight-up delicious. Since I had an early flight the next morning, I went to bed early while the rest enjoyed themselves at Happiness Beach Bar.
“My trip to Siargao was unforgettable, and my only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer. I am already looking forward to visiting once again as it has become one of my favorite places in the Philippines already. Three nights are just not enough!”
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