Lesser known good side of Britania Islands

In our recent trip to Britania Group of Islets, La Entrada was the original jump-off point because Madam Mercy Alameda, the owner of the resort, wanted to meet Gly’s American friend Rick. But something cropped up, leaving Madam Mercy with no choice but to head for Butuan City posthaste. Good thing she informed us of this, otherwise we wouldn't have discovered something that I just felt need to be shared here.

When we stopped at the toll gate in Barangay Salvacion, a man in tattered yellow clothing peered into the Fortuner’s window.

“You wanna get a boat, SirMa’am?” he said, showing gaps between his nicotine-stained teeth.

“How much?” I said.

“1500,” he smiled, “but you can still haggle.”

“I know the rate; it’s 1200.”

“Okay, Sir. 1200 it is.”

“Then why did you say 1500? You know what? It's bad tourism.” Irritation was thick and palpable in my voice I could write an FB status on it.

He knew better than to answer.

The power window of Nick’s Fortuner began to roll up. “It’s for 1200, Sir,” he now sounded desperate.

I thought: Finding another boatman and negotiating for the same fixed price could be time-consuming. So I signaled to the man my approval. And like a gunman in his getaway motorcycle, he sped away ahead of us.

We followed him as he led us to the site where LGU-San Agustin had first built a boardwalk. About five boats were docking next to thinning mangroves.

We only had snack food because we thought of ordering lunch at La Entrada to be brought to Buslon Island. While the boat was being readied, I asked Reil to drive me back to La Entrada. But then I thought of asking the man with nicotine stained-teeth if there were restaurants in the area.

The man said something that sounded like payday.

There’s a house there that sells abundant freshly caught fish of the premium species and other seafood [think crabs, prawns, lobsters, and shells] at a price that won’t make you feel like you’re being held-up. Lapu-lapu the size of my thigh goes for P200 a kilo; my favourite katambak sells at 150 a kilo. And the good thing is: the husband and wife team will prepare the fish for you in any way you want it done----kinilaw, sinugba, or tinuwa. You just pay P60 per kilo for the effort. And hear this: the P60 per kilo thing goes with utensils that they will bring to Buslon Island along with fish and other gastronomic delights, including a vinegar and soy sauce mix mixed [no, it's not a typo] with spices and sili.

The man with nicotine-stained teeth offered to drive to San Agustin to buy us pork liempo that the same husband and wife tandem grilled for us in a manner that had us all raving. So yummy!

And so while our lunch was being cooked in the mainland by the husband and wife team, we sailed off to Buslon Island and swam to our heart’s content. Just when we started to grow gills, the boat carrying our utensils and food arrived.

Now, isn’t that wonderful?

Next time you visit Britania Islands, go by this route and look for Precy Josol. I have her cellphone number but I don’t have her permission to share it here. So: my apologies. But if you want, just send me a message and I will be glad to negotiate on your behalf.

Don't just take my word for it. Come visit Villa Azarcon and see for yourself.

cagpangi falls in villa azarcon

I first gushed about a cascade’s visual impact when I was a kid vacationing in Sagbayan, San Miguel about 15,375 days ago. That summer our cousins invited us to a picnic in Panghasaan, a falls located in the navel of a primeval forest that’s part of the vast agricultural land owned by Lolo Endong.

Panghasaan Falls, as I remember it, is a multi-tiered cascading wonder with pools that come in different shapes and sizes. Young as I was then, it made me feel connected to a certain force of nature that was both primal and electrifying. Since then I had gone to many waterfalls, so many in fact that I had lost count. But I’m no junkie, which means I don’t embark on waterfall-chasing trips. However I do my own check-outs, especially the accessible ones.

And Cagpangi Falls in Villa Azarcon is very much accessible.

Just about 16 kilometers [or 20 minutes on average speed] from Tago, Cagpangi Falls is small and quiet. As it flows, it mesmerizes with its delicate beauty and watery grace. Comparing it to another of Surigao del Sur's iconic falls using a musical metaphor, one may say that Tinuy-an Falls is hard rock while Cagpangi Falls is rhythm and blues.

Like all other falls, Cagpangi is seasonal: at times it gushes like a broken dam, other times it trickles like sweat. And its height is not impressive; but this becomes an advantage as Cagpangi Falls is not obscured by mists even when flowing at full volume. The better for the inner camwhores in tourists.

Canopied by a thick foliage that blows a cold mountain air, Cagpangi Falls is a natural cocoon for homo sapiens with weary heart and soul. But above all, it’s a place to celebrate nature and life because of its awe-inspiring power no matter how subdued.

Cagpangi Falls is part of Villa Azarcon, an inland resort in Barangay Cabangahan, Tago, Surigao del Sur. Because of its proximity, it’s now fast becoming the favourite weekend getaway of tourists who have no problem going there in private vehicles or PUJs because the road is already concreted.




Villa Azarcon fuses natural and man-made attractions. It has two kiddie and one adult pools built in ways that stoke the water babies in men and women.

With its rustic ambience, Villa Azarcon evokes an old world charm. And with its well-manicured grounds, it’s ideal for early morning yoga or Zumba and late afternoon picnics.

Owned, developed, and managed by Atty. Tonyboy Azarcon, Villa Azarcon offers air-conditioned cottages [P1,500 a night] and dorm-type accommodations [P250 per head]. It also charges each visitor with a 25-peso entrance fee .

Visit Villa Azarcon soon and prepare to get wet.