Less than fifty kilometers away from Dapitan City in Dipolog, a quaint coastal town called Sapang Dalaga radiates more than enough charm worthy of a detour visit. Under the outstretched arm of a massive Jesus Christ statue perched high atop a hill, I carefully scrutinized the magnificent view of the twin bays of Casul and Murcielagos shimmering against the sheen of the setting sun.
From the gleaming waters, I trailed my sight up to the rolling mountain slopes circling back 180 degrees, leading my eyes once again to the towering figure of Caluya Shrine—a 45-foot doppelganger of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Jesus Christ the Redeemer.
The Off-the-Grid Quaintness and Charm of Sapang Dalaga
The Maiden of the Creek
The very first thing I noticed was the collective tranquility of the place. Despite the presence of a few fishing boats revving their engines from afar, the silence was almost deafening. The blowing wind sounded just like a whisper from a shy lady, telling you sweet nothings while playfully tickling your ear.
Feeling the cool coastal air while staring at the repetitious polish of the bay and the picturesque scenery of the countryside, you instantly find poetic justice in the town's name: Sapang Dalaga or "Maiden of the Creek." Like a beautiful girl who glides elegantly inside a room and effortlessly sweeps everyone’s attention, the remote place of Sapang Dalaga pulls you into a deep, contemplative spell.
Cruising Casul Bay
Although the Caluya Shrine can easily be reached by land, we actively opted to take the much more scenic route: gliding over the still waters of a narrow river tributary leading directly into Casul Bay. It was mid-afternoon when we boarded a small motorized fishing boat, blessing us with a specific time of day where the afternoon sun glosses over the water more strikingly.
As we slowly voyaged outward, I watched the world around me entirely upside down through the crisp reflections on the water of the dense tropical setting enveloping the bay.
We passed by much smaller fishing boats docked neatly in front of tiny pockets of coastal houses built right by the river. As soon as we fully exited its final tributary and caught sight of the much larger, open bay of Murcielagos, it was then I saw the sun shining magnificent, sharp rays of gold over the nearby mountains, the distant islands, and the almost unmoving waters.
After gently docking at the small port, we were warmly greeted by staff members from the official tourism office of Misamis Occidental. After a brief, friendly exchange of pleasantries, they enthusiastically invited us to go on a short hike directly up to the Caluya Shrine.
JC the Redeemer’s Little Bro
Walking a hundred solid steps over the paved concrete stairs safely took us to the very top of a hill—one blessed with a truly magnificent view of the nearby Naburos and Naputhao islands, as well as Mount Malindang framing the background. Erected only a few short years ago as a direct replica of the iconic Jesus Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Caluya Shrine isn’t without its own remarkable, localized qualities.
Standing prominently on higher ground and overlooking the quiet, dark waters, it stretches its hands out in a welcoming gesture to local fisherfolks toiling hard at sea, and even to visiting tourists enjoying sumptuous meals over the many floating cottages currently docked near Naputhao Island. Because of this sweeping beauty, it has become a highly popular pilgrimage site and destination for tourists traveling in this remote part of Misamis Occidental.
A Feast on the Floating Cottages
As we actively witnessed the sun slowly setting down against the thick clouds on the horizon—and the golden gloss of the sun swiftly giving way to total darkness—we safely made our way back down to the port, only to be fetched immediately by a smaller boat to take us to one of the nearby floating cottages.
We happily capped off a beautiful day by feasting heavily over fresh shrimps, crabs, and a massive platter of a local favorite known as Saang shells, which were mostly caught fresh just that very afternoon. As total darkness came over the bay, only the shining stars in the open sky and the faint, flickering lights of a few rural houses remained illuminated from the far distance.
Licking my busy hands clean from aggressively pulling meat out of a piece of a fresh saang shell, I looked back up at the general direction of the Caluya Shrine. And there it was—the imposing, quiet silhouette of Misamis Occidental’s own Jesus Christ Redeemer, appearing as a steadfast central figure even in the pitch dark.
For a hassle-free, fully guided tour around the stunning province of Misamis Occidental (and Oriental), I highly suggest contacting Earth Explorers Travel and Tours. They are currently the leading travel provider for extreme destinations in Northern Mindanao.
