Family Getaway at Secdea Beach Resort in Samal Island

My family was reunited once again and I am so happy we're complete because we rarely see each other! August is the month that I love most, it is the month where my Mom and brother would come and visit us because it is Summer time in their place. I got excited when my sister and her family came and my brother too who is studying in Manila. They all went here to celebrate the birthday of our youngest brother.

They only had a week to stay here so we thought of going out on the beach to relax and have some fun while celebrating my brother's birthday. We were thinking of going to Secdea  Beach Resort or Playa Azalea. We decided to go for Secdea Beach Resort because Playa Azalea is exclusive only for property owners or if you have an invitation from a friend, relative or someone who have a lot there. Since we don't know anyone who have a lot there, we chose Secdea Beach Resort. 

SECDEA (pronounced as "sek-deh-yah") isn't officially opened yet and is halfway through their development but they allow a few guests to come and visit the place. Only guests who book in advance will be accommodated due to their limited capacity. So, we booked for an overnight stay. The Villa Secdea Two is good for 12 pax and costs PHP 15,000. It was perfect for us because we were exactly 12 pax but too bad it is already taken because someone booked for it ahead of us. Our second option would be the Sea Breeze Lodge.

Villa Secdea Two

The Sea Breeze Lodge is good for 4 pax but it can accommodate up to 12 persons, we just needed to add extra beds which costs 500 PHP/pax! The Sea Breeze Lodge has 2 rooms and each room have 1 shower room and 1 comfort room.

Sea Breeze Lodge 1

Sea Breeze Lodge 2

We rode the barge at Sasa Barge Wharf and it was a long bumpy ride going there from Babak Barge Wharf. I think The distance from Babak going to Secdea Beach Resort is around 9 to 10 km. and travel time would be around 30-40 minutes depending on your speed. From the Babak Barge Wharf, we went straight ahead and turn left into the Circumferential road then turn right into the Babak-Samal-Kaputian road. Johncy was the one I have contacted when we booked there and so we talked to him and he was  really patient with us in guiding our way to Secdea.

There were no guards or any person on their  main gate, and so we entered and followed the signs. We were charged 15 PHP each upon entering the 2nd gate. We weren't charged 650 PHP per pax because we've booked for a room, the entrance fee is for the day tour guests only.

We parked our vehicles and we were fetched by their staffs and we rode in their golf cars until we arrived in their clubhouse to check-in...

Everybody's excited to roam around and take photos. Here are some shots of the place...

We really had a great time at Secdea, we played volleyball and went swimming afterwards. The pool's water is warm and inviting, plus the mountains on the background gives you a relaxing sight...

Infinity Pool

We had an early morning walk at the Mangrove Walk and I saw cutie li'l crabs in different colors! It's my first time to see a crab that has a big claw on the other side and on the other one is so small, kind of weird noh? Anyways, my toddler enjoyed our morning walk because she enjoyed the surroundings and the little fishes swimming in the mangroves and in the sea.

A relaxing morning walk around the beach... The view is really beautiful and I really feel at peace....

It was my first time to try kayaking and it was really hard. It looked easy if you're just looking but when you try paddling, it is quite hard. Well, we still enjoyed our first kayaking experience... hehehe...

Secdea Beach Resort rates:

If you want to bring foods or drinks, here are their corkage rates:

• PhP 500/lechon or any size
• PhP 300/bottle of drink of any size
• PhP 300/viand of any size

Amenities Rates:

• Jetskie- Php 4,000 per hour / Php 2,500 per 30 min
• Kayak (Single) – Php 300 per hour / Php 200 per 30 min
• Kayak (Double) – Php 400 per hour / Php 250 per 30 min
• Paddler Boat – Php 200 per hour / Php 150 per 30 min
• Banana Boat Ride (4 pax min) – Php 300 per 30 min
• Life Vest Rental – Php 150 per day
• Bicyle – Php 400 per day / Php 150 per hour
• Van Pick-up from Port vice-versa – Php 1,000 per way (to be arranged in advance) 
• Helicopter Transport (3 pax) – Php 26,000 per way (to be arranged in advance)

For more information:

Contact Numbers: (082) 305-2774/ (082) 305-4028/ 0923-7244-938 and Davao booking office no. (082)295-7912

Email: info@secdea.com / secdeabeachresort@gmail.com

Website: www.secdea.com

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"Live life to the fullest"

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The Lady and the Rock

The Lady and the Rock... Photo taken at The Vanishing Island in Samal Island... 

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My First Ever Climbing Experience

I've been wanting to join the AMA Trekkers Club when I was still in college but unfortunately, my mom don't want me to... It's risky... blah... blah... blah... Not that I didn't know that fact but the thought of going on an adventure like that excites me... But, even if I really really like to join the club and go climb on the mountains, still, I respect my mom's decision (good girl baya ko... hehehe...) Well, My days at school are finally over and I think there would be no reason for them not to say Yes? hehehe...

I think you've already seen my older post 'Missing Canibad', I've been really wanting to go there last summer but too bad I can't, I'm too far away... My best friends and I had been planning to go back to Canibad again but due to some conflicts and unfavorable circumstances, the plan was postponed, again and again. So, when Jane told me that her brother and brother's friends will Climb to Puting Bato and then proceed to Canibad after, I didn't have second thoughts of agreeing to the idea. Since Rhon can't make it because she's in Butuan, Ghen too can't make it as well as Liela because she's still in Panabo and Cacai because she's in Tagum at the moment. Hay... It's up to me and Jane, since it's just the two of us who are more eager to go there, plus the thought of Climbing to Puting Bato makes me more excited. Why? It's just my first time lang naman hehehe...

The day before the climb, we meet up (Jane and I), bought some food, drinks and slippers too. I slept early (milagro! nyahaha..) then I woke up at around 2 a.m. when i heard my mobile phone's tune. It was Jane. So, I go online and we talked. She said It's been raining since last night and that maybe it would be dangerous to climb there because it would be slippery and her brother wasn't home yet so she didn't know if the climb will be postponed again or not. The said climb was supposedly on June 28-29 but it was canceled and moved to July 5-6. I do my usual rounds, blogging! Yeah, then after a while her brother arrived and then she told me na tuloy daw ang climb, wweeeee.... After staying in front of the computer for minutes, I went downstairs and start packing up some things that I have forgotten to put on my pack bag. Took a shower, drank hot chocolate and ready the foods, and set off to our meeting place, outside the Magsaysay Park. I was almost late because it took me a while to wait for a ride going there. When i arrived, there are lots of people in their huge bags and cool outfits, i think I'm out of place. *lol* then I saw Jane and her brother and walked towards them. We waited for so long for the registration, it was 350 pesos.

Taking photos while waiting for the bus....

The freebies were : an ordinary sling bag, T-shirt, cellphone pouch, a big transparent I.D. na pwde paglagyan din ng cellphone para dili mabasa, transportation (going there only), snacks and foods during dinner only and certificates. Not bad right? I think it's worth every penny.

At around 9 a.m., we ride a bus and set off from Magsaysay Park, Davao City, ride the ferry barge to Peñaplata, Samal Island. Then from Peñaplata we ride a multicab going to Brgy. Guilon. We started trekking there at around 10 a.m. going to Brgy. Tagbitinao.

Whew! it was just a few meters away since we started trekking from Brgy. Gulion going to Brgy. Tagbitinao, when I feel so thirsty already and my sweat's starting to fall waahhhh...

Whew! Pa-deliver nga ng snow please! It's so damn hot! Still, we've manage to laugh and smile while taking photos.

When we reached Brgy. Tagbinitao we take a rest for a while then we started climbing going to the Marco Polo Campsite. Perti man diay ka-tungasunon padulong didto oi! Whew! Been reaching for air! nyahahaha... We were just beginning to hike when we almost lost our track because we didn't see the red ribbon which indicate as the trekking trail, ah! Dah! Tagam! Good thing there's this guy on our back who saw the ribbon and told us that we were taking the wrong trail, hahahaha, well, he almost lost his track too because he's following behind us.

Ang kalabaw... bow... Hala sige pa ug picture-picture sa mga na-agian hapit nuon masaag hehehe...

Taking Photos again while resting.... Whew! I stopped trekking and here is what my chinky eyes saw... Quite fascinating? It's marvelous! Finally we reached the Marco Polo camp site and we had our lunch there... Whew! Gutom bay!

Nagpahulay ang batang gikapoy... Tired feet and legs... urrgghh...

After having lunch we stayed and rest for a while... Then we started trekking again going to Canibad Beach Resort... I really can't count how many times I've slipped, not that I'm so clumsy but it's really slippery and boy my knees are shaking! hahahaha... then we would rest again for a while... Gosh! I thought my problem with climbing up was finally over and it would be easier later going down but I never thought that trekking downhill was much worst! Men! The other climbers were laughing at me because I can't stop my feet from walking down and... Lisud ihunong! nyhahaha... Anyways, the other climbers were too fast and we we're left behind. We met one of the events' staff on our way down and he informed us that they run out of Red Ribbons! And so he told us where we would go, straight, then right then I dunno I was so tired to remember what he just said. Then we met Rolson, participant #36. He was the one who helped me carry my bag. Well, he volunteered to do so and I let him because I keep on slipping! He said it's okay because it's still my first time... Ganahan pud ko kay naa na ko'y tig-dala.. hehehe joke lang... And just when we thought that we were so near to Canibad, we realized that we weren't. I remember there used to be a big coral there but what we saw was not the one which is in Canibad. Men! We're Lost! We don't know where we would be heading to plus there are lots of mosquito in the area biting us. So, Rolson left us for a while and checked the area... after a while he came back and told us that we took the wrong trail. Good thing Rolson was there coz I don't know what would happen to us if he wasn't ,to think that it was just me and Jane adventuring on our own. God is still good, he sent an angel in the human form, which is Rolson, participant #36 hehehe... Unfortunately, I haven't got the chance to take a photo of him... Well, that's all that there is, he's that guy wearing a blue shirt.

Photos before reaching Canibad... Sagana kaayo sila sa tubig, Overflowing...

If Jane's brother was only there maybe we wouldn't got lost... Perti pud iyahang kuya, gibiyaan mi sa ere... waahhh... Muapas ra daw kay naa pay work...

Whew! After hours of trekking, we finally reached Canibad and the first thing we do, we sit on the sand and rest! hahahaha... Kapoy kaya kaayo noh! I think I've slept for an hour after we arrive there, who wouldn't? hahahaha... Grabe! So tiring but I still had fun... Later in the evening we had dinner together with the others. There were programs like games and raffles and later after that mag reggae-reggae tah bay! You want to know where was Jane and I at that time? In our tents sleeping! hahaha... I could hear their laughters but my body just can't move up, so I prefer to sleep and rest.

July 6, 2008: Swimming sa Canibad beach! Weee.... Lami kaayo ang tubig... Ligo na tah!

...and after that we started packing our things and went back here in Davao... The experience was really really tiring but great, I really had fun... Yeah! I could say that I still want to climb again... hahaha.. Where? I still don't know... Let's just wait and see... and so my very long post about my First ever Climbing experience will come to an end... Till then... Hope you did had fun reading hehehe...

Kaila ka'g sunburn? Mao tawon na akoang souvenir... Tagam!

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