Aired (August 4, 2024): Join Biyahero Drew on a nostalgic trip back to one of the most sought-after destinations in the Philippines -- Siargao!
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00:00Have you ever been to a place that you really want to go back to?
00:07This is the place where you're still there.
00:12Find out when you'll continue your adventure here.
00:16What does the Best Island in Asia look like now?
00:24That's possible in Siargao.
00:30Siargao, Philippines
00:37One of the famous landmarks of Siargao is the Cloud 9 View Deck.
00:41It's a good vantage point for tourists who want to see the surfers in action.
00:49This is what the 300-meter wooden boardwalk at View Deck looks like after the storm.
00:56100% of the snapshots are taken from the internet.
01:02But Siargao people didn't give up.
01:05They helped build the Cloud 9 Boardwalk at View Deck.
01:09After 6 months of the storm,
01:13the National Government, non-government organizations,
01:18and people here in Siargao Island and in the Philippines
01:22decided to build the Cloud 9 Boardwalk.
01:26Visitors to the Cloud 9 must pay an entrance fee of P100.
01:30The income from this will be added to the continued repair and maintenance of the place.
01:36For the new deck reform, we will make it stronger and more durable.
01:45One of the famous destinations that is a postcard to beauty is this road.
01:49Where you can see thousands of coconuts and palm trees.
01:53Many have been damaged, but many are still standing strong.
01:56Many are still coming here to take film-worthy photos and videos
02:01of the locals known as the Human Drone.
02:13And one of the first to start this was the former construction worker Giovanni.
02:18Before we start, I have something to look at.
02:24I'm looking for a battery.
02:26If this is a real human drone.
02:29Because your movements are really different.
02:33It's like dancing.
02:35When did this start?
02:37After the audit.
02:39This really started in 2021.
02:42It started in 2021?
02:43How did it start?
02:45In the middle of the pandemic.
02:47You were the only ones who were really...
02:50Droning.
02:52How did it start?
02:54We just started joking around.
02:57We were just joking around with our friends.
03:00We tried using an ugly cell phone.
03:03The one that shakes.
03:05The one that shakes.
03:07Because it shakes.
03:09Until a tourist arrived, we tried.
03:11It's very important that the phone has digital stabilization.
03:23The one we tried with the tourist, they got it from our hands.
03:29Can you help me?
03:31You know, my wife always says,
03:36it's good that I got it from you.
03:38You got it from me, the ugly one.
03:40Let's start the plan.
03:42Happy wife, happy life, Giovanni.
04:10Let's go.
04:22Do I look like a human drone?
04:28You look really good.
04:31You know,
04:33he's good at being a cameraman.
04:35He's good at being a cameraman of B&D.
04:39Sir, I have a question.
04:41Why don't you get married?
04:43You'll see your wife.
04:45You'll replace us.
04:47I don't have a wife.
04:49No, I just thought that you're good at being a cameraman.
04:51Can you do that?
04:53We can try, sir.
04:55That's it?
04:57Can you do that?
04:59Stop messing with me, boys.
05:01Let's start the Human Drone Challenge B&D Crew Edition.
05:05The first throwing contest yesterday.
05:08There were three people.
05:10The pitchers were the worst.
05:13Foreigners were the second worst,
05:16The hostasi were so horrible.
05:20and the winner is
05:23Hejos...
05:24You're the judge today.
05:29I'm not good?
05:31You're the window person.
05:32Let's just stay here.
05:35The iconic decade-old bent coconut tree in the Maasin River
05:38was also not saved from the typhoon Odette.
05:41The foundation of the Odette typhoon was weak
05:44because the soil was drained
05:49because the current of the water was strong during the big typhoon.
05:55In order to save the tree,
05:56the soil was filled before cementing the part of the tree that was planted.
06:00The support was also placed around it
06:02and the local tourists were not allowed to climb it.
06:07Their jump board was also strengthened
06:09so that those who want to take a picture
06:11and try to jump will be safe from this.
06:30We are thankful that at least after the Odette typhoon,
06:35our tourist path is slowly recovering.
06:39We are slowly able to revive our livelihood here in our place.
06:48As well as those who sell around the Maasin River,
06:50the business is back to normal.
06:53This includes Nanay Myrnie.
06:56In 2017, she started selling seashells
06:58called Tuwai by Nanay Myrnie.
07:01She sells it for 10 pesos per piece
07:04and 100 pesos for a handful.
07:07It is very popular.
07:08It is like our delicacy here in the Maasin River
07:13because Tuwai is also caught here.
07:17We can sell 500-500 seashells per day.
07:29I don't know.
07:30It's interesting but quite good.
07:33It's quite chewy.
07:35The people of Siargao also promote
07:37the Sustainability Culture.
07:40This is one of the many reasons
07:42why the former actress, Andy Agyeman,
07:44became more popular on the island.
07:47Since the pandemic, Andy chose to live here
07:51with his whole family
07:53with the professional surfer, Philmar Alipayo.
07:56Here in Siargao,
07:57it was the community that really made me feel so at home.
08:00It's a bit more westernized
08:02because of the influence of the foreigners
08:04because there are a lot of foreigners living here.
08:07The adjustments I need to make are not that big.
08:10In other countries,
08:11they are more forward-thinking
08:13when it comes to things that are not good for the environment.
08:16And I've always been an advocate for the environment.
08:19I've always loved nature
08:21and I always say that it's what saved me.
08:24It was my path to meeting Philmar and having this life.
08:30That's why when opening their own snack bar,
08:32one of Andy's non-negotiables
08:34and his co-owner, Wena,
08:36is using 100% biodegradable and compostable cups
08:40for their take-out coffee.
08:43They also encourage customers
08:45to bring their own tumbler or container
08:47for the to-go orders.
08:49Yay!
08:50So since you have your own tumbler,
08:52you get a 5-peso discount.
08:54Thank you!
08:56They also use banana leaves
08:58as packaging for their sandwiches.
09:00Way to go, guys!
09:02It's my way of giving back,
09:04to really take care of the environment.
09:07And seeing how Siargaonans are already a bit more educated about it,
09:13it became more exciting for me
09:15to help the rest of the Philippines,
09:17to help promote sustainability in our vlogs
09:20and in our social media.
09:22Andy is hands-on in his first business venture
09:25here in Siargao.
09:26That's why he's often the one
09:27to share his stories with their customers.
09:31I really enjoy it
09:32because it's just basically me being able to share
09:35what Philmar and my kids love to eat at home.
09:38So we have smoothie bowls
09:41and fresh fruit slushies.
09:44We also have good coffee,
09:46but our bestseller is called the Kanawai Latte.
09:49It's our take on Spanish latte.
09:53Next to Snackmar is a surf shop
09:55managed by Philmar.
09:58You can find different island souvenirs
10:00and surfboard rental here.
10:01Of course, you can enroll here
10:03in surf lessons for beginners
10:04and surf guiding
10:05from a Level 3 International Surfing Association
10:08or ISA surfing instructor
10:10on Philmar's island as a co-owner.
10:14Philmar has long resisted
10:15joining surfing competitions
10:16because of the pandemic.
10:18I decided to come back to Pagucong
10:20and at the same time,
10:21we have a Happy Islander Surf Club.
10:24We have kids that we take care of
10:26and support.
10:27I bring them here and we support them.
10:30I also coach them.
10:33My dream is to become a surf coach.
10:36I want to share what I've learned
10:38in surfing.
10:40Philmar was in between competitions
10:43in Borongan, Samar.
10:46I attended a wedding
10:47of my best friend in Manila with a kid.
10:49He said,
10:51he's a weatherman.
10:53He has a great understanding of weather.
10:55He said,
10:56it's not safe,
10:57the typhoon is dangerous.
10:58We won't go there.
11:00Even if they don't answer,
11:02we'll go there.
11:03We'll go there.
11:04We'll go there.
11:05We'll go there.
11:06We'll go there.
11:07Even if they didn't cancel the flight,
11:10the next day,
11:11the typhoon hit.
11:12It turned out to be worse than anyone expected
11:15and we could not contact
11:17any of our family members
11:18or loved ones here.
11:19So, Papa joined the first plane
11:22that landed here
11:24to make sure that our family
11:26and loved ones are okay.
11:31They helped build the house
11:33of their family
11:34and friends
11:35that they considered family.
11:37They also became a way
11:38for more people to reach
11:40the affected residents.
11:42I believe many lost hope.
11:45Many thought that
11:47it's done for them.
11:49But the good thing,
11:50the thought of people like Papa,
11:53the real locals here,
11:56one of our riders,
11:58the day after the typhoon,
11:59went surfing.
12:00It made me so proud
12:01of the decision I made
12:02to stay here
12:03because of the people.
12:04The mindset of the locals here,
12:06they are united.
12:07They help each other.
12:08They still smile.
12:09They still laugh.
12:11There's still a lot of hope
12:12and love in their hearts.
12:15We, the locals here,
12:16even if we lost our house,
12:19our convent,
12:20we're used to it.
12:21So, it's okay for us.
12:23We're happy.
12:25As long as we're together,
12:26we're united.
12:28We're all alive.
12:29We're all strong.
12:32One of the disasters
12:34here in Siargao
12:35was not saved
12:36by the typhoon Odette.
12:38But now,
12:39the Naked Island
12:40hasn't changed a bit.
12:45One of the main
12:46tourist destinations
12:47when you're island hopping
12:48here in Siargao
12:50is the Naked Island.
12:51Where are we now?
12:52But I am not alone.
12:53Because to be honest,
12:54I think legally,
12:55you can't be alone.
12:57That's why you need
12:58a tour guide like
13:00Kuya Noel Quinoy.
13:01When tourists are island hopping,
13:04they need to register
13:05in the Coast Guard.
13:07You need to register
13:09for your names.
13:11After that,
13:12now,
13:13you need a tour guide
13:15like you.
13:16Yes, you really need one.
13:17So, one tour guide,
13:18what's the maximum number
13:19of tourists you can have?
13:2110 people
13:22and one guide.
13:25A reminder
13:26for tourists to come again
13:27is to spread the word
13:29and wash your hands
13:30on the island.
13:31That's why,
13:32do your own part
13:33in maintaining
13:34cleanliness
13:35in the places
13:36you're visiting.
13:37Leave nothing but footprints.
13:39Always be responsible.
13:4310 minutes away
13:44from Naked Island
13:45is Daku Island.
13:47A bare and uninhabited
13:49and planted
13:50plant on Naked Island.
13:51Here in Daku,
13:52there's a community
13:53that lives
13:54and takes care of the island.
14:00And they will share
14:01with us
14:02the volunteerism project
14:03that they are working on.
14:06The hardening
14:07of our change
14:08here in our barangay
14:09in Daku
14:10started on February 1, 2020
14:14when the pandemic started.
14:16Every barangay
14:17is given
14:18by a police officer
14:20who asked us
14:22to build
14:23this hardening
14:24of our change.
14:25That's it, sir.
14:26This is like a forest.
14:28It's full.
14:30The harvest
14:32that we harvest here
14:34is sold to us.
14:35All the members
14:36of the hardening
14:37of our change
14:38are given to us.
14:40We are divided.
14:42And the barangay
14:43also buys them.
14:45That's a big help
14:46to us.
14:48Now, it's been
14:49one and a half years
14:50after the audit.
14:51Yes, sir.
14:52How is the situation now?
14:54After the audit,
14:56we prioritized
14:57our houses
14:58because all of our houses
14:59were destroyed.
15:01Now,
15:02all the members
15:03have agreed
15:04to restore
15:05the hardening
15:06of our change
15:07so that we can harvest
15:08our food.
15:10Our plant food.
15:11Aside from the residents here,
15:14can the visitors
15:16also join
15:19and plant
15:20in the garden?
15:22Yes, sir.
15:23How will that process be?
15:25They also help
15:26in planting.
15:27When we started,
15:28we plowed the land.
15:30That's what they do.
15:32How do you feel
15:33when there are
15:34tourists helping?
15:35We are very proud, sir.
15:36We are happy
15:37that there are
15:38many tourists
15:39coming here
15:40and helping
15:41our garden.
15:43You can't miss
15:44your Siargao 101 tour,
15:45the Island Hopping Activities.
15:46This is usually offered
15:47to tourists
15:48who want
15:49the beautiful beach
15:50of the island
15:51to be worth it.
15:52But since
15:53we've been here
15:54several times,
15:55we looked for
15:56other beaches
15:57that are worth it.
15:58So,
15:59we decided
16:00to go to
16:01Siargao 101.
16:02This is the
16:03most popular
16:04beach
16:05in Siargao.
16:06There are many
16:07beaches
16:08in Siargao
16:09that are worth
16:10visiting.
16:11But there are
16:12other beaches
16:13that we haven't been to.
16:16From Dapa,
16:17in a 15-minute
16:18boat ride,
16:19you can reach
16:20Corridor Island.
16:23Corridor Island
16:24is not usually
16:25included in
16:26the Island Hopping
16:27Packages.
16:28If you go here,
16:29you have to walk
16:30for half a day
16:31to see the island.
16:32First,
16:33when we
16:34went to
16:35your beach,
16:36your island,
16:37I noticed
16:38how beautiful
16:39the sand is.
16:40It's like
16:41a pulbos.
16:42It's white.
16:43It's white.
16:44I also noticed
16:45that you were
16:46given
16:47a job
16:48by the government
16:49so that
16:50you can
16:51take care
16:52of each other.
16:53Is that right?
16:54We are
16:55the ones
16:56who will
16:57take care
16:58of our island.
16:59Anyway,
17:00this will
17:01become
17:02your source
17:03of income.
17:04We earn
17:05by
17:06snorkeling,
17:07surfing.
17:08Why is it
17:09important
17:10that you
17:11take care
17:12of the island
17:13and keep it
17:14clean?
17:15So that
17:16our children
17:17can have
17:18a better future
17:19in the next
17:20generation.
17:21Yes.
17:22As members
17:23of the
17:24Corridor Fisher
17:25Folks Association,
17:26their job
17:27is to take
17:28care of
17:29not only
17:30the island
17:31but also
17:32some parts
17:33of the sea
17:34that surround
17:35them.
17:37They do
17:3824-7
17:39monitoring
17:40of the
17:41sanctuary
17:42to avoid
17:43overfishing.
17:44And because
17:45they want
17:46the sea to be
17:47clean,
17:48they organized
17:49a tourist
17:50activity
17:51snorkeling
17:52in their
17:53marine
17:54sanctuary.
17:55Aside from
17:56that, there
17:57are other
17:58activities
17:59that can
18:00be done
18:01by the fishermen.
18:02Another thing
18:03that the
18:04fishermen
18:05can do
18:06is encourage
18:07the
18:08organization
18:09to plant
18:10trees.
18:11When
18:12tourists see
18:13seedlings,
18:14they plant
18:15them in the
18:16mountains.
18:17They also
18:18pay attention
18:19to the
18:20cleanliness
18:21of the
18:22whole area
18:23even though
18:24we have
18:25many visitors
18:26to the
18:27island.
18:28So the
18:29good thing
18:30about the
18:31foreigners
18:32is that
18:33they bring
18:34their own
18:35garbage
18:36home.
18:37And then
18:38aside from
18:39that, when
18:40they see
18:41garbage
18:42on the
18:43side,
18:44they bring
18:45it to
18:46General Luna.
18:47Now,
18:48tourists are
18:49more responsible
18:50when they
18:51visit the
18:52island.
18:53They know
18:54the do's
18:55and don'ts
18:56and where
18:57they can help
18:58the community
18:59to keep
19:00the place
19:01clean.
19:02Aside from
19:03snorkeling
19:04and tree
19:05planting,
19:06you can also
19:07climb the
19:08mountains.
19:09Yup,
19:10you're right.
19:11There's a
19:12mountain here,
19:13Bierros.
19:14Yeah,
19:15the 13-minute
19:16hike will
19:17take you
19:18up here.
19:19It's a
19:20great experience
19:21here in
19:22Maui,
19:23Hawaii.
19:24This is
19:25actually
19:26down in
19:27Maui
19:28for some
19:29world championship
19:30event now.
19:31Triathlon.
19:32It looks
19:33really good
19:34actually.
19:35But,
19:36if you're not
19:37used to
19:38Hawaii,
19:39you can
19:40compare this
19:41to Batanes.
19:42Yeah,
19:43small taste
19:44of Batanes
19:45which is
19:4630 minutes
19:47away from
19:48your beloved
19:49Siargao.
19:50Now,
19:51in Siargao
19:52Island,
19:53you know
19:54you can
19:55go to
19:56a lot of
19:57activities.
19:58Corridor
19:59Beach,
20:00here in
20:01Kasulian
20:02Island,
20:03there's a
20:04mountain.
20:05It's not too high,
20:06but it's just
20:07high enough
20:08and beautiful
20:09enough
20:10that you'll
20:11go there.
20:12But,
20:13it's rare
20:14that you'll
20:15go to
20:16a place
20:17that has
20:18a beach
20:19and a
20:20little mountain.
20:21It's the
20:22best of
20:23both worlds.
20:24So,
20:25Kasulian
20:26Island
20:27is a
20:28really good
20:29option
20:30if you
20:31want
20:32to
20:33go to
20:34a place
20:35that has
20:36a beach
20:37and a
20:38little
20:39mountain.
20:40So,
20:41if you
20:42want to
20:43go to
20:44a place
20:45that has
20:46a beach
20:47and a
20:48little
20:49mountain,
20:50Kasulian
20:51Island
20:52is a
20:53really
20:54good
20:55option
20:56if you
20:57want to
20:58go to
20:59a place
21:00that has
21:01a beach
21:02and a
21:03little
21:04mountain.
21:05It's
21:06a really
21:07good
21:08option
21:09if you
21:10want to
21:11go to
21:12a place
21:13that has
21:14a beach
21:15and a
21:16little
21:17mountain.
21:18It's
21:19a really
21:20good
21:21option
21:22if you
21:23want to
21:24go to
21:25a place
21:26that has
21:27a beach
21:28and a
21:29little
21:30mountain.
21:31It's
21:32a really
21:33good
21:34option
21:35if you
21:36want to
21:37go to
21:38a place
21:39that has
21:40a beach
21:41and a
21:42little
21:43mountain.
21:44It's
21:45a really
21:46good
21:47option
21:48if you
21:49want to
21:50go to
21:51a place
21:52that has
21:53a beach
21:54and a
21:55little
21:56mountain.
21:57It's
21:58a really
21:59good
22:00option
22:01if you
22:02want to
22:03go to
22:04a place
22:05that has
22:06a beach
22:07and a
22:08little
22:09mountain.
22:10It's
22:11a really
22:12good
22:13option
22:14if you
22:15want to
22:16go to
22:17a place
22:18that has
22:19a beach
22:20and a
22:21little
22:22mountain.
22:23It's
22:24a really
22:25good
22:26option
22:27if you
22:28want to
22:29go to
22:30a place
22:31that has
22:32a beach
22:33and a
22:34little
22:35mountain.
22:36It's
22:37a really
22:38good
22:39option
22:40if you
22:41want to
22:42go to
22:43a place
22:44that has
22:45a beach
22:46and a
22:47little
22:48mountain.
22:49It's
22:50a really
22:51good
22:52option
22:53if you
22:54want to
22:55go to
22:56a place
22:57that has
22:58a beach
22:59and a
23:00little
23:01mountain.
23:02It's
23:03a really
23:04good
23:05option
23:06if you
23:07want to
23:08go to
23:09a place
23:10that has
23:11a beach
23:12and a
23:13little
23:14mountain.
23:15It's
23:16a really
23:17good
23:18option
23:19if you
23:20want to
23:21go to
23:22a place
23:23that has
23:24a beach
23:25and a
23:26little
23:27mountain.
23:28It's
23:29a really
23:30good
23:31option
23:32if you
23:33want to
23:34go to
23:35a place
23:36that has
23:37a beach
23:38and a
23:39little
23:40mountain.
23:41It's
23:42a really
23:43good
23:44option
23:45if you
23:46want to
23:47go to
23:48a place
23:49that has
23:50a beach
23:51and a
23:52little
23:53mountain.
23:54It's
23:55a really
23:56good
23:57option
23:58if you
23:59want to
24:00go to
24:01a place
24:02that has
24:03a beach
24:04and a
24:05little
24:06mountain.
24:07It's
24:08a really
24:09good
24:10option
24:11if you
24:12want to
24:13go to
24:14a place
24:15that has
24:16a beach
24:17and a
24:18little
24:19mountain.
24:20It's
24:21a really
24:22good
24:23option
24:24if you
24:25want to
24:26go to
24:27a place
24:28that has
24:29a beach
24:30and a
24:31little
24:32mountain.
24:33It's
24:34a really
24:35good
24:36option
24:37if you
24:38want to
24:39go to
24:40a place
24:41that has
24:42a beach
24:43and a
24:44little
24:45mountain.
24:46It's
24:47a really
24:48good
24:49option
24:50if you
24:51want to