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.

Already positioned on top of my longboard, I looked behind me and saw a cluster of incoming swells. With my heart racing, I rapidly paddled my hands to gear up for my impending stoke. The waves aggressively pushed me forward, and as I raised my body against my two arms to confidently stand on my board, I heard a sudden pop in my lower right chest. I lost my balance entirely, and the swirling of the swell—closely resembling the chaotic insides of a washing machine—swallowed me yet again.

"♫♪♫ I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart. I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweet (Ho!) ♫♪♫"

The male fairy sang as he flapped his wings quickly, unseen by the object of his desire—a beautiful woman staring, jaw-dropped in fascination at the blue-colored waters of what was known as the "Enchanted River." The love-struck fairy cast a magical spell, but every time he pointed his wand at the woman, it emitted a lackluster "pfffft" sound. The other fairies laughed in unison at him. The earthly woman stripped down to her swimwear, revealing a two-piece suit that accentuated her vivacious curves. Meanwhile, the Romeo-wannabe fairy accepted that his world would never blend with that of the woman. As he sat idle on a little stone, tears flowed down his eyes, wondering what it felt like to be a human in the earthly world.

The massive force of Tinuy-an's raging waters stunned me at first sight. It is ninety-five meters wide, and the sound of water falling from its 180-foot top mimics a roaring engine, as if you are standing in front of an aircraft on the runway about to run you over. The more you move slowly toward it, cutting the distance in slow and deliberate strides, the more enthralling it becomes. Splashes of water begin to droop over you, as if a dog is shaking its dripping-wet coat. Just when I thought I could not see it any better from where I was, I noticed a rainbow planted near the foot of the waterfalls.

In the not-so-far outskirts of Surigao City, a throng of edgy, colliding rockers lies unusually subdued, well-rested, and only headbangs against each other when stepped upon. These are the pebble rockers of Barangay Mabua, simply known to travelers as "Pebble Beach." The place defies popular belief—much in the same way some reject the logic that thin women are the only vixens on Earth—that a beautiful beach, to be considered as such, should consist only of fine granules of sand. As this shingle beach dramatically demonstrates, these smooth, oval-shaped sedimentary rocks make a powerful case against the prevailing notion that only sandy shores are worth visiting.