Because of the province's geographical position facing the mighty Pacific Ocean, surf-worthy waves pound the shorelines of Surigao Del Sur all year round. For many, this becomes a compelling reason to get stoked in the province. Conversely, the gifts Mother Nature brings to this sea don’t end at the surface. Beneath the mammoth swells hides an underwater gem teeming with some of the healthiest coral reefs in the country.

The first time I cruised aboard an inter-island ferry boat was many years ago. Our destination was Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Wide-eyed with wonder, I found myself swimming in crystal-clear waters and frolicking over white sandy beaches for the first time in my adolescent life. Sandwiched in our ocean fun spree was a hiking trip to Mount Malasimbo. A year after that, I returned with my mates from the UST Mountaineering Club for our induction climb to Mount Halcon.

Off the coast of Cauayan in Negros Occidental lies a forty-five-hectare islet teeming with a rich set of biodiversity. Danjugan Island is home to a diverse range of wildlife species—most notably the rare Philippine scrubfowl. One might say, “We’ve heard this story before”—of an island in our country swarming with natural gems, only to see it destroyed by misguided development. The case with Danjugan is entirely different. Thanks to a dedicated conservation program, this one-and-a-half-kilometer-long island that was once threatened by illegal fishing is now a protected marine sanctuary and a gold-standard model for nature conservation.

Situated right smack at the center of the Ortigas Business District, Jinjiang Inn is a modest six-story property stripped of the imposing grandeur of a larger hotel, but it maintains a comfortable and laid-back sense that appeals to both business and leisure travelers. In the world of always-on-the-move travelers, accommodation providing a great bang for the buck is always a source of deep gratification.