A special thanks to Sam Fadlil for sharing this. This is of particular interest to those who are joining the Sail Morotai Rally.

REPORT ON SANGIHE AND TALAUD

SANGIHE

• The Sangihe Islands (also known as Sangir) are a group of islands constitute two regencies in northern Indonesia, the Sangihe Islands Regency & Sitaro Islands Regency. I is located northeast of Sulawesi between the Celebes Sea and the Molucca Sea. Total there are about 105 islands in Sangihe Group.
• The largest island is Sangir Besar and where an active volcano, Mount Awu (1829 meters)  located. Tahuna is the largest town.
• The Sangir language is spoken in the islands; this Austronesian language is also spoken in some islands in the Philippines, and on the extreme northern tip of Sulawesi.

• The islands are the site of numerous volcanoes. Many are still active. The Sangihe tectonic plate is named after the island arc and is very active. Earthquakes  and volcano eruptions are quite common here.

Tahuna

03  13’45”N          125  45’78”E

Approaches: Tahuna harbor is located inside beautiful and  protected bay with sand and mud bottom. Only exposed to westerly.

Fuel: Available (arranged through local Govt.)

Water: Available

Harbor Radio:  Channel 16

CIQP:  Available           

Provision: Traditional market and Minimarket. IT is quite a bustling small town with hotels and restaurants.

Internet: There are numbers of Internet Cafes.    

Cellular/handphone: Telkomsel, Indosat (no X Cell).

ATM/Bank:  Available BRI/Mandiri, BNI.

People/Cultures:  Majority are Talaud and Sangihe origins, each with their distinctive cultural backgrounds. Traditional ceremonies, dances, rituals are well preserved. They are mostly Christian. Beside known for underwater natural beauties, is also well known as  rare bird  paradise. 

TALAUD

• Talaud is the northernmost Indonesian’s Regency which was set up in the year of 2000 with Melonguane as its capital. There are about  three main islands (Karakelang, Salibabu and Kabaruan Island) in this group.
• This area can be reached by sea or air. There are daily flights (Wings Air and Express Air) from Manado, except Saturday and Sunday.
• By sea, There are three ferries (Holly Mary, Karya Indah and Venecian) which connect Talaud to Manado. Ferry stop at Beo, Lirung and Melonguane. It carry passengers and cargoes.
• It produces mainly nutmeg and copra

Melonguane

03  59’76”N   126  46’43”E

Melonguane Harbor

• This quiet small town is the seat of Talaud Regional Government, while town of Lirung which is only 4 miles away in the island of Sariabu is commerce center   for the area.
• The distance from Davao is about 289 miles.
• There is a big concrete wharf where ferry and other bigger boats/ships dock.
• Anchorage with sandy bottom is exposed to Southerly.
• Dinghy can be landed on sandy beach.

Approaches: Red and green buoys at  03  59’76”N   126  46’43”E.  Concrete wharf is only about 300 meters away from it. Light house right next to wharf . Flashing 3.

Anchorage: On either side of main wharf. Keep good distance.

CIQP: Not available. Have to be brought in from Manado.

Fuel: Difficult. Arrangements have to be made in advance.

Water: Available but not recommended.

Internet: There are two Internet Cafe. Slow.

Cellular/handhone:  Only Telkomsel (signal is good).

Provision: Basic stuff (expensive by local standard). Fresh fish are plentiful. Beer are available (avoid local stuff).

Money Changer: Not available.

Transportation:  By air : Daily flights from Manado

                           By sea :  Twice weekly by ferry from Manado.

ATM/Bank: There is only one ATM at BRI.

Radio:  No VHF station (even at Port Captain’s office).

Restaurants: Panorama Restaurant near the harbor provide decent/inexpensive food. Mostly grilled fish. Others are Syekina, Feliciana and Bianca.

Hotels:  Some basic hotels. Some are equipped with A.C. 

People/culture:  This is still not complete yet.   It will be mailed soon it is available. Any changes and corrections  will be made.

The following is the preliminary itinerary of the Davao-Morotai Yacht Rally:

• September 6 - Flag off from Davao
• September 8 – 10 - ETA in Talaud (Melanguane city) - Welcome ceremony and CIQP clearance.
• September 11 – Departure from Talaud
• September 12 - ETA Morotai - Festivities from September 13 – 16.
• September 17 – Departure from Morotai to Bitung
• September 19 - ETA Bitung - Festivities & tour from September 20 – 24. Tour includes Manado.
• September 25 – Departure from Bitung and CIQP clear out. Yachts may continue their trip after the Bitung festivities on their own.

Entry forms will be emailed to you upon request. This should be filled up by the Captain, scanned together with the following documents below (1 to 5) and email to wiskun AT sailsamal.com.

1. A scanned image of EVERY crewmember’s passport details page(s) only, with next of kin details.
2. A scanned image of a passport style photograph of the Captain only, a photograph taken with a digital camera with a plain light background will be OK.
3. A scanned image of your yacht's registration certificate.
4. A scanned image of the Bank Receipt for the Entry Fee – Not applicable for Sail Morotai 2012.
5. A scanned image or photograph of your yacht with the yacht name clearly visible.

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA is the first and only marina in the Gulf of Davao, located in the northernmost tip of Samal Island (7°11.94N, 125°42.74E).

A)    BERTHING

The facility offers 2 docks (A and B) with a combined total of 56 berths, Each berth can fit yachts up to 50 feet LOA. The end of Docks A and B can fit longer yachts up to 100 ft LOA.

B)    BOATYARD

There is one slipway for hauling and launching vessels. Vessels are hauled out using a trailer system.

A)    UTILITIES

RATES:

Visiting boats are very welcome. We ask you to book a berth in advance. Call us on VHF channel 68 or by email at holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com or by mobile phone no. 0929- 510-5160

A)     WET-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

• All berths have access to fresh water and individual power points
• No charge to water; power is at price posted
• Fuel can be arranged, at prices posted
• Laundry, shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located in the clubhouse building. Open 24 hours throughout the year to berth holders, accessible with key
• The marina is protected by security 24/7
• OFF-SEASON DISCOUNT (MAY TO OCTOBER)

- 35% OFF ABOVE RATES

B) BOATYARD/DRY-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

• Slipway for haul-out and launching (may have to coincide with high tide)
• Individual heavy duty cradle with adjustable arms (for monohulls)
• Water is available 
• Power at price posted
• Fuel at prices posted
• Miscellaneous marine services available
• Tradesmen and labor from Php100 to 400 / hr.
• To make a boatyard booking, email holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com with boat details – LOA, draft, beam, weight and type of keel.

ARRIVAL DETAILS:

A) 

The Holiday Oceanview Marina's goal is to achieve a standard that is accepted worldwidA)    SEA APPROACH

Entering the Gulf of Davao, vessels can approach on either east or west side of Samal Island.

The channel between Davao mainland and the westside of Samal island is busy with boat and ferry traffic. The narrowest  area (just over half a nautical mile wide) has a strong tidal current, mostly south-setting.  Sailing closer to the Samal side, the westside is lined with resorts and white sanded beaches.

Latitude:                7°11.94 N Longitude:         125°42.74 E

Radio Channel: Channel 68 Email or contact Marina prior to arrival is preferred.

Davao Tide Table link: http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/1502.html

B)    MARINA APPROACH

The marina is surrounded by a stone wall (breakwater).  Stay well clear of the breakwater until ready to approach. The 20 meter-wide entrance is on the NW corner, marked with red and green flags. Approach from the north and turn port into the marina. Caution: Breakwater walls are lined with rocks on the seabed.  Allow clearance. The entrance has a metal gate to prevent swells and debris from entering the marina. It is left opened when there is a vessel expected  to arrive or depart. Otherwise, it remains closed. It can easily be opened when a vessel is sighted approaching.

C)    CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) CLEARANCE

Check in or out service is provided by the Marina. A vehicle and staff will drive/assist you to the different offices for checking in or out. This is to expedite dealing with the CIQ officials. Alternate route for self check-in is to anchor on entry, at the quarantine area near Sta. Ana wharf, for CIQ boarding.

LOCAL INFORMATION:

A)    DAVAO

DAVAO CITY, being near the equatorial belt, is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a weather that remains balmy all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and there are no wide fluctuations of the barometric air pressure. There are two seasons – the NE monsoons (October to March)  and the SW monsoon (April to September). The beginning and end of the seasons are normally transition periods. Northeasterly winds are predominant during the NE monsoon season and this will the best time for cruisers when the weather is pleasant and the chances of being caught in the path of typhoons are minimal. The SW monsoon is the rainy season. Winds are predominantly southerly, humid and warmer.

Davao City boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country, and proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo.   Metro Davao can also be dubbed as The City of Royalties or The Royal City, because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. The Queen of Philippine Orchids which is Waling-waling, the King of Exotic Fruits, which is Durian, The King and Grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mt. Apo, the largest eagle in the world and the King of Philippine skies which is the Philippine Eagle.

B)    SAMAL

Nearby and only 10 minutes Samal-Davao ferry ride over, in the Gulf of Davao, is the ISLAND GARDEN CITY of SAMAL. True to its name, the island is a paradise surrounded by a natural garden of corals. The island has become a tourism hub for southern Philippines, boasting its pristine, white sandy beaches, natural wonders and attractions, yet it still remains unspoiled. This beautiful virgin island has been protected from commercialization to preserve ecotourism. The 116 kilometer stretch of coastline and crystal blue water is rich with underwater wildlife and the colors contrasts harmoniously from the green lush vegetation of coconut trees, to the white sandy beaches, to the dark blue color of the sea. From the hairy squat lobster to the Hawksbill Turtles to the Duggongs and a vast array of tropical fishes and corals, this island has become a diver’s haven. For the landlubbers, you have the mountains and lush forests for serious mountain-biking, camping and extreme sports. You can test your endurance as you trek and negotiate your way through caves of varying sizes.

Davao and Samal both boasts of very friendly people. Festivals or fiestas would be a good way to observe how happy and sharing the Dabaweños are. Fiestas are their way of showing their love of their homeland,  culture and traditions. Amidst the chaos, hostage taking, war and conflict happening in some parts of Mindanao, Davao is still at peace and order. This is evident during the KADAYAWAN festival, the ARAW NG DAVAO festivities and Samal’s HUGYAW Samal. One must not miss seeing and participating in these festivals. It is definitely a must-see event.

The Gulf of Davao is situated on the south coast of Mindanao Island and is approximately between latitude 6° 15' and 7° 20' East and longitude 125° 25' and 126° 10' East. It has a water area of 10,500 sq. km. and approximately 520 km. of coastline from Calian Point in Davao del Sur to Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental. Within the Gulf are the islands of Samal and Talikud in Davao del Norte, Kopiat in Davao Oriental and Lunod in Compostela Valley. Samal Island is the largest of these islands, with 118 km. of coastline.

C) GULF OF DAVAO

The Gulf has a unique pattern of water movement. During flood tide, water mass south of Samal Island flows southwest. In the northern portion of the island, between Bassa Point and Gill Point, water mass flows northeast, then southward and swiftly veers east-northeast during the peak tide current. In addition, the more saline oceanic waters flow into the gulf through the deeper section of the Gulf pushing the existing water mass northward. Tide waves occurring ahead at the eastern section cause older water to wave towards the area of low elevation at the western side. Eddies and standing oscillations are present. There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

Wiskun was hauled out in late 2008 and sat in the Samal boatyard next to the Samal Ferry terminal (Davao Gulf, Southern Philippines). For almost 3 years, there were a lot of work done on her. Not that she needed repairs, but more because Kjartan needed projects to do to keep busy. Some projects of course were real repairs when we found the damage - such as dry rots in the wood and rusting problems.

Dry rots:

• The masts were taken off as soon as we hauled Wiskun out. We found some dry rotting and the spreaders needed to be replaced. This project is ongoing.
• Deck boxes were rotting away. New and better desiged boxes were built.
• Deck housing, especially the area where it connects to the deck had some dry rot. This probably caused some of our leaking problems below deck.

Rusts:

• Our biggest problem since leaving Vancouver was the rust oozing off our gunwales. They became a nightmare when we reached the tropics due to the high salinity in this area. We tried so many ways to stop it and listened to so many advice. All to no avail. The rust kept on coming back. We knew that we had to somehow seal the metal embedded in the gunwale real well. But just imagining all the work covering about 100 feet all around was so daunting. Finally, Kjartan started this big project in Samal. He placed several biaxial fiberglass cloth on, sanded and sanded, painted and painted. When you look at the gunwales now, you will never know that there are several layers of fiberglassing over them. Now I dare the oxygen to penetrate and find a way into the metal part.
• Rudder post rust started to destroy part of the rudder. This too got repaired with several layers of cloth and epoxy. Probably overdone again by Kjartan, but better be safe than sorry. It is much cumbersome to repair areas under water so it is better to make sure the repair is longlasting.

Miscellaneous:

• Engine - taken out and got overhauled. Engine room got new insulation.
• Bilge area - super cleaned and painted with 2 part epoxy paint. It now looks so clean you can live in there.
• Deck - the whole deck area was smoothened, epoxied and primed. We will paint it all in white. There is a big difference in keeping it cool this way.
• Keel - lots of blistering problem areas repaired. With over 2 years of drying out time, we hope this time the repairs will last.
• Bowsprit - taken off for the time being and is already nicely painted.
• Deck boxes - newly built ones and better designed to prevent water from entering.
• Masts and spreaders - taken off and dry rot still to be repaired. New spreaders were made ready for installation.
• Body work - all scratches, nicks and imperfections were fixed and Wiskun got a new paint job.
• Waterline - Wiskun always looked port and aft heavy. Finally, we got the waterline corrected.

The decision to launch Wiskun back to the water was made because Kjartan is now busy building the 50 ft. catamaran with our friend Bill from Vancouver. Being away, Wiskun was gathering too much dust where she sat, from the ferry traffic next door and the boatyard operations all around. Also, the metal of the shed was shedding too much rust onto her deck. The moment of truth came on August 15th when she was launched. The engine purred and the gears worked! We motored slowly to Oceanview marina. While I steered the boat, Kjartan went below to check everything. Everything seemed fine, and the insulation worked so well, I couldn't hear the engine as loud as before. The only thing weird about it all was that Wiskun had no masts, no bowsprit, no sails and no anchors.

Now Wiskun sits in her new home - in Holiday Oceanview Marina. There are still lots of projects to do below deck and some things in my wish list have yet to materialize. Oh well, in due time. For now, cleaning away all the dust some of which are 3 years old plus more and throwing away many many things. By the way, I found out that batteries melted in the heat. Luckily I thought of emptying all the electronic gadgets of batteries when we hauled out.

We just received an email from our friends, Walter and Ae. Their sailboat was hauled out here for maintenance and painting not too long ago. They are now on their way north of the Philippines. It will be interesting to follow their route and hear of their experiences.  I am sure a lot of cruisers who are planning to come here would be interested too. Below is their email to us, and a few pictures which they are so kind to share with all of us.

 "Hello Ellen & Kjartan Just a quick hello. Hope you are well. How is progress on the cat? We are still in the Gulf of Davao. A couple of days ago we stopped in a bay in front of a small village & had the most amazing welcome. The town Capitan, the Governors secretary, school teachers & most of the locals couldn’t welcome us enough. Out came the local coconut wine, Tuba, delicious! Even the neighbouring village send someone over to drag us away to their huts. Obviously a bit of local rivalry. Later the Governor sent his secretary back to invite us to the town hall for a formal welcome, with a request to sleep there. I declined & told him I would let him know the next day if we would attend a formal welcome at the Town Hall. Then he wanted to arrange for a police escort! So I asked if we were in danger, he said there won’t be any problems here, we are very welcome. So I told him we can’t see any reason for the police to watch over us. The next morning we sent him a text to advise we had to leave. This was just too much!

Our pos. was 06 deg 41.42 N, 126 05.33E (close to Gov. Generoso/Sigaboy).The next day I had to recover from a coconut wine headache, that’s a change! Thank you very much again for your help, Kjartan & Ellen. Still looking for the motor problem, must be sucking air intermittently. All is well here, just waiting for some favourable wind. Have fun, don’t work too hard, hello to Bill & Boboy, Ae & Walter "

Fair winds to you both, Walter and Ae.

Wiskun needed a good paint job. The last time we painted her was in New Zealand in 2006/2007. At that time, we did the roll and tip method, and not spray painted. This time, we decided to hire experienced auto painters to do the job.

We bought our paint from Vancouver, but these painters were not familiar with it. Kjartan gave in and followed their recommendations - a German made type of paint that was fairly expensive, but available locally in Davao.

There were at least 3 coats of primer paint. Filling and sanding in between. Then 5 coats of white and 5 coats of blue, plus 3 more coats of clear over the blue. For the finishing, they used rubbing compound and then wax. Polishing and buffing until it shined. Watch the slide show and tell me what you think.

title="Painting Yacht Wiskun in Samal">Painting Wiskun

Of course, Kjartan babysat the painting crew the whole time. Each morning, he walked around the boat with a marking pencil and made sure all imperfections were fixed before they proceeded to the next coat. Kjartan also had to correct some of their "bad habits and shortcuts". I think they are now ready to do more yachts. Kjartan is quite meticulous and I hope they have learned from him. All in all, we are happy with the work and have decided to get them to do the topside as well.

Japan has always intrigued me since my trip there in the 70s - the people, the culture, the history, the country. It has risen from being the biggest debtor (post world war) to the being the biggest creditor internationally in a few decades. I have studied its business culture as a separate and unique class on its own and I have concluded that their culture and tradition played a big role on how the country became very successful. Japan has very few natural resources, but that didn't stop them. Working together, in harmony, starting from young, the people/the country managed to rise, basically from ashes, to what it is today. Curiously, I wanted so much to go back to see Japan again. Opportunity came when I felt it was time for both of us to take a few days off for ourselves. I think we needed this and we also miss our sailing days when it was just the two of us all the time.

I planned this holiday well because it is only 10 days and there is so much to see in Japan. I booked the tickets way in advance and I even managed to learn the basic Japanese language (up to lesson 30). This came in handy specially in the outskirts of the main cities. From the cosmopolitan highspeed cities of Tokyo and Osaka, we traveled to neighbouring cities - from the mountains all the way to the easternmost coastline. This we did by purchasing (in Canada) the 7-day Shinkansen rail pass. You can only purchase this railpass from outside of Japan and as tourists, it is much cheaper.

Japan, being a major exporter, has been affected by the global crisis. As tourists, it was not apparent to us, but there are subtle hints, here and there. For example, there are now lots of bicycles weaving in and out amongst the hoard of pedestrians on the sidewalk. It is quite amazing actually how they can do that. It is so crowded specially in train terminals and not once do we get bumped or nudged. Another clue we saw are homeless people. More of them compared to the seventies. We also saw Japan helping out by employing more than necessary - we saw 8 people directing pedestrians and traffic while a construction vehicle was backing out. There are some employed just to stand in a crowded place holding a billboard sign - they just stand there all day!! We saw one doing sudoku while holding the sign, just to pass the time quickly. Another sign, which I haven't noticed in the seventies also, are employees standing outside their stores handing leaflets out and shouting invitations to come in. I thought this happens only in the Philippines where the more noise you make, the better.

Aging baby boomers are apparent in Japan. You can see some of them still working, when it is obvious that they should have already retired. But you know what? They are the ones who can speak English. If we go into an information center, it is our natural tendency to speak with the younger staff. Once they hear we speak English, they almost always direct us to the oldest member (who we naturally assume is the boss). One time, we were looking at a map on the street because we were lost. Who came near us to offer us direction (in English)? A tiny, very old, lady! She was quite charming too. My take on this is that these older generation people are those who worked with Americans postwar, in the late forties/fifties.

Culture and tradition - Japanese help each other, work in harmony together, trust and respect each other. They are quite disciplined, and teachings start very very young, at home and in schools. This is one reason why crime incidence is almost non-existent. When you ask for directions, it is common to see them leave everything to walk you to the direction you want to go. They will even leave their stores unattended to go with you. In restaurants, I also see people leave their bags/purses on the chairs first before going to the counter to get their food. Then we also see some rebellions going on. For example - the young ones now go wild in fashion - like a public outcry to be free from restrictions. Google Harajuku - and you will see this famous district where the most outlandish fashionistas are. Fashion is big in Japan. In fact, we feel like we are dressed up like bums amongst them. Men wear suits and their women - wow - they look like they are going to a formal party everyday. Fully made-up faces complete with heavy eyeliners, mascara and false eyelashes, high heels, fancy clothes and accessories.  In their high heels (and almost all are wearing high heels), the women can walk very fast and can stand in the highspeed bullet trains without holding on to rails. Being so advanced in electronics, all carry cell phones. Even their cell phones have fancy accessories.

Toilets - you can't go to Japan without noticing their toilets. The Japanese toilets are on the floor, hence you must squat down. Even the toilet tissue roller is at squat level. The other extreme are the Westernized toilets - they are so fancy, complete with warmed seats, automatic lid openers, and warm water shower bidets. Some have automated seat plastic covers. When you are finished, the plastic rolls out to be replaced with the unused new and clean portion. We absolutely adore this - no sanitation worries and no need to bring around toilet paper with you at all times. Also, no need to pay just to go into a public washroom!!

There are some inconveniences, just like any other country you visit. First, it is expensive in Japan and of course, we chose to go when the Yen is in its highest value. Secondly, there is a language barrier but Japan did well this time because there are now signs in English everywhere. This is the beauty of traveling - learning and observing other cultures. We both liked it so much - and Kjartan was awestruck by it all. He said there are a lot of things here that others can learn from. I made a summary video of our trip which doesn't cover all and you are welcome to watch.

title="Japan 2010">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCgBeqJWG9E 

Another video - the Tsukiji Market - I've always wanted to visit this place since we were in the Salmon Farming industry in Canada. Very interesting, and I am glad we went there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW3jEppUsoA

Philippine faith healers are well known around the world. Why some people choose to believe such healers, even to the extent of denying real medical help and wholeheartedly entrusting their lives on such healers is really mind-boggling to me. But there are numerous books and articles written about them, documentaries on TV and word-of-mouth advertising. The media hype will certainly keep the faith healers going, encourage them to continue to fatten their wallets and/or gain a lot of fame, attention and worship. Just google the words "Philippine Faith Healers" and there is even a directory listing of "Philippine Spiritual Healers". Just amazing. 

Last week, my mother told me there is a faith healer in Samal. In talking about him, I was surprised to find out that almost everyone knows or has heard of him. Huh? I felt like I was the only one in Davao/Samal who didn't know. This faith healer is well known because a prominent businessman here in Davao had gone to see him to have his broken leg bone healed. This "healer" does not ask for payment. Most people who go and see him do however give groceries as gifts which he apparently distributes around to his neighbors. Unsurprisingly, this healer is now the elected "Kapitan" of his "Barangay" (district/county).

Out of curiousity, I went to see this healer. I have a sore shoulder, so why not? Watch the youtube and meet Kapitan Pedring, the healer from Barangay San Isidro, Samal.

title="Faith Healer in Samal">Youtube

If you are curious about my shoulder - Yes, it is still hurting. Maybe it is because I had no faith in the "Faith Healer".

Are you interested in what's happening up in our galaxy - the world beyond that exists only in our imagination? Well, when we are sailing, there is nothing else to excite me at nights but what is happening up in the skies. I would read up on astronomy, positions of well-known stars and planets that are visible to the naked eyes. I would spend hours looking for them at nights. What helped in my imagination is the greek mythology surrounding the stars. It is really quite interesting.

Although it is easier to study the skies from the ocean without the urban obstructions, it is still possible from where you live. Just the other day, I was able to watch the partial lunar eclipse. I knew it was supposed to be a full moon night, but when I looked up, the moon was not full. And how did I know that a partial lunar eclipse was going on? It is because I occasionally read the Astronomical Diary. You can do likewise here - link.

PagAsa is the weather station in the Philippines. This is where I check our weather satellite picture (updated hourly from 6 am until 9 pm). Not only does it report weather, but it also features articles of other weather phenomena affecting the country.  This coming August, the astronomical diary states this will be the month to observe meteor showers. If you have not seen one yet, try looking out for them. I have seen quite a few during our sailing years and it is very exciting.  

The Holiday Oceanview Village is a subdivision about 30 meters above sea level. Here, the view of the northern part of Davao Gulf is breathtaking. As mentioned in previous articles, the Holiday Oceanview project is a resort complete with a marina, hotel, spa, townhouses, condominium and the subdivision. Click on the picture below and enjoy the 360-degree-tour of the model home in the village. Listen to music, explore, pan and zoom for a closer look - get the feel of being there.

Flash Player version 9.0.28 or later is needed to view the tour properly.