"Surigao Province - Gateway to Mindano and Dinagat" Province of Surigao del Norte by realmercy

On my visit to Surigao City gettting there was a small feat in itself. But there are about four ways to arrive. 1) from Butuan City you can take the three+ hours bus ride. 2) arrive from Manila, now since they have jet service 3) arrive by over night boat travel from Cebu City or 4)boat service from Southen Leyte Province. I decided to travel by over night boat. I was almost late to arrive in Cebu bus ternimal from the Negros province, another story though, but if you can avoid traveling by bus on Saturdays do so......unless you dont mind major traffic jams, and seeing car & bus accidents and a bus ride that takes twice as long. I quickly hailed a taxi and paid him extra to hurry and get me to the Boat pier.After all the rushing I made it with like 10 minutes to spare, as my boat was leaving at 7pm. But soon learned the boat was late leaving about an hour, the locals just called it "Filipino Time" Not to be confused with CPT for my brothers and sisters who may read this :) .....Hmmm they only had two semi private rooms, on the whole boat and they were both taken.. so I just stay in the dorm like room with and upper bunk. One way passage for the 10 hour ride was about 700pesos or abour $15. This is the way to travel if you want to meet locals. I meet one guy who was President of Rotary Club, three college students from Mexico and London on the way to a surfing trip and they were bringing their good friend Jack Daniels for the trip also. An a few Americans that were going back to visit their relatives 'back home' in Dinagat Province. The boat ride was.......tiring, but they did have a small restaurant, good air con and several bathrooms or CR's (comfort rooms) as they are called in the Philippines. Finally around 6am, the boat pulls into the dock at Surigao City. Was that a rooster I heard about 5am, yes! I guess some people just brought their roosters with them. Now to find my way around in this new province.

Well after getting off the boat I walk a short block, got get a tricycle (kind of a motorcycle with a spot to carry a few passengers) and said please take me to McDonalds, driver says "no have" okay take me to Jollibees, he said okay and before I had learned the fee was either 6 or 7 pesos to go any where downtown area, so when we arrive at Jollibees, I paid him 10pesos or about 40cents .....and as I was taught by other to just pay, then step and walk, so as not be charged a much higher price if I asked how much. In Jollibee's I order something like a big breakfast and smile at everyone that look in my directions. I pull out a huge map and started asking for help. I found out how to take a boat to Dinagat Province formerly known as Dinagat Islands, where to eat, sites to see and where to stay at reasonable rates. Surigao City is a crowded city with friendly people. Many have come here for jobs, also young people that are attending the colleges, with a hope of a future job. Some brave students ask me where I am from, Africa? No I tell them I am a Black American (its easier than explaining African American) and say that I am from North Carolina, United States of America. Then everyone asks if I know Michael Jordan, sorry but I dont know him but loved the basketball team. Jordan is a sports hero here because almost everyone watches the NBA games. Its now Sunday mid afternoon and there is a traffic jam I think Catholic Mass has just ended. I have notice many atm's around the area so I ask the manager if he would watch my two bags as I go to a atm get some money and rent a place for the night. He says yes and I am off to find a place for the night, Many hotels and Pension homes, so I am going to find an air con place with security guard and not pay over 1000pesos for the night.