Sightseeing from Bicol to Caraga via Pan Philippine Highway and PGMA's RORO Nautical Interconnectivity

The participants to the Department of Tourism’s Bicol-Eastern Visayas-Caraga Inter Regional Caravan on August 9-18 will feast on the beautiful scenery and enjoy the diverse culture and cuisine in the three Regions, as the itinerary shows.The Caravan will leave Legazpi City at 4:30 in the morning of August 9 and will reach the port of Matnog, Sorsogon at 6:30 in the morning. After about one and a half hour Ferry Boat ride, the Caravan will already reach the Allen, Northern Samar Port. Voila! That is Eastern Visayas already.

Stopping for lunch at the oldest city in Samar, Calbayog City, the City of waterfalls, the participants will have a taste of the famous Calbayog tinapa.

Passing through Catbalogan City, the tourists will have the chance to taste local delicacies like delicias de pili, roscas, ube triangle and many more to include the dried fish and the famous sisi.

Aside from the green scenery, the tourists will also be treated to the cheap local crops being sold along the highway, from the local ube (yam) to sweet bananas, to ginger and the big variety of gabi which could only be found in Eastern Visayas.

The participants will arrive at the Region’s premiere city of Tacloban in time for dinner. They still have the time to enjoy Tacloban night life but after the whole day trip, it is suggested that they instead enjoy the medical tourism of the City which could compare if not exceed the quality services in bigger cities of the country.

Early morning, the caravan will leave Tacloban City for Liloan, Southern Leyte where they will take the RORO boat for Lipata, Surigao City. The three and a half hour boat trip along the Philippine Deep will be a wonderful one. The group will arrive at Surigao City at 1:30 in the afternoon but the Night City Tour will be at 7:30 in the evening, perhaps to give the participants, time to rest and to be on their own, as the participants will surely have varied interests. For sure, the ladies will find the time to go shopping.

After a brief City tour on August 11, the group will leave for Siargao via fast craft at 9:00 in the morning. Upon arrival the group will leave for Pilar for lunch and at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, it will be off to the surfing areas in Burgos, Sta. Monica and Del Carmen.

After checking in and dinner, the participants will have a night out at the Baywalk. Early the following morning, it will be island hopping via pump boat in the islands of Guyam, Daku, Naked Island. Breakfast will be at Guyam Island and then via pump boat, the group will leave for Sohoton Cove (this is cove, not cave, lest the readers think this is Sohoton Cave).

After the escapade, the group will leave for Claver where there buses are waiting to take them to Surigao City. Off to Liloan, Southern Leyte, the caravan will go at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

The group will sleep in Maasin City and the following day, August 13, the group will have a city tour and visit Monte Cueva before leaving for Baybay, Leyte where they will visit the National Heritage Museum, Philippine Carabao Center, Nature Park Molave Hill, Butterfly Santuary and Wildlife Observation (Tarsier Sanctuary) at the Leyte State University.

From there, it is back to Tacloban City for the tourists. The caravan will have a brief stopover at the MacArthur Landing Memorial. Dinner will be a special one as it is hosted by no less than Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.

On August 14, the group will have a running city tour en route to Basey. The group will get a glimpse at Price Mansion, Phil-Japan Commemorative Peace Statue and Park, Maria Kannon Garden, Scenic Kankabatok Bay, Leyte Provincial Capitol, Redona Residence, Downtown Tacloban and Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum.

In Basey, the group will visit the ST. Michael the Archangel Church and the Buscada Chapel and from there the group will have lunch in Calbiga.

Back in Northern Samar, the group will be treated to dinner by Governor Raul Daza.

On August 15, the group will leave for the Bicol Region where Bulusan Lake and Rizal Beach will be visited before proceeding to Legazpi City in order to visit Cagsawa Ruins, Daraga Church, Albay Central Pili Nut, satellite market and Lingnon Hill. Dinner will be hosted by the City Government of Legazpi.

On August 16, the group will visit Camarines Sur and observe the Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex and the Eco Village. In Naga City, lunch will be hosted by the City Mayor before the Naga City Cultural Tour.

On August 17, the Regions 8 and 13 participants will go back to Tacloban and on August 18, the Region 13 participants will return to their point of origin, (PIA