Lapakan Beach: The Hidden Gem of Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao

Lapakan is one of the barangays of Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao. For an understandable reason, not a lot of people know about this barangay because of its inaccessibility. A coastal town, Lapakan takes about over 3-hour drive from the national highway. Hence, it is relatively unheard of until today. But I was lucky to be friends with community development angels who introduced me to one of their project communities in DBS. Finally, I got a rare chance to explore the hidden gem of DBS. Here I would like to share what the people of Maguindanao and Cotabato have been missing. 

Let's do this, Lapakan!



On the way to Lapakan, I was surprised to see thriving coastal communities. Although there are few people and households, I could feel the warm connection of the community in the blowing cold breeze. Astounding, it was interesting how the watercolor changed from where we left off, from dark blue to clear aqua blue that reflects the morning sun. In the middle of the boat drive, we witnessed boats of different sizes and colors. Locals were busy arranging their fishnets under the scorching sun.
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Along the way, we stopped by the ruins previously owned by the local leaders. It was such a magnificent sight. We were not able to fully go around the ruins because of an unavailable permit from the authority.



After some 90 minutes, the beautiful sand and untouched beaches of Lapakan welcomed us. I've never been to Surigao but this is how I imagined it to be: green trees, healthy turquoise sea, clear sands, and majestic mountains for a background. It was truly breathtaking.



What's unique about Lapakan is the various rock formations. Perfect for IG photoshoots! Upon arrival, we rested for several minutes and jumped to the cold water right away. There were no spiky stones that wound feet which I loved! We swam up deeper and found healthy corals. It felt great to be surrounded by such protected nature.




The local driver took us to one of the nicest beaches in the area. There were only one or two households and they welcomed us hospitably. They allowed us to camp in their shore with no fees. In the afternoon, we jumped to an equally wonderful location. And there are several more options where visitors can enjoy a good break. Definitely, it is something to look forward to our next visit. 



How to get there:

Cotabato City to SPDA (Canto Broce)- 10 Pesos
SPDA (Canto Broce) to Matuber- 200 Pesos
Matuber to Lapakan- 2700 Pesos (Whole day rental of a boat)

Inside tips:

1. Make sure to ask the permission of the mayor before you visit, especially if you want to see the ruins.
2. The boat fee can be expensive so it would save you a lot of money if you travel in a group.
3. There are no available stores in Lapakan so pack foods and water. 
4. There are no available cottages so it's good to bring a camping mat or even a simple cloth where you can sit. 
5. Bring sunblock. 
6. Optional: If you have a life vest, bring one. If not, just make sure that you know how to swim in case of emergency during the boat ride. 
7. Important: For crying out loud, don't leave your garbage. Please bring your trash back to the city.

Check out this short video about Lapakan!




Comments

  1. Todd22 May 2019 at 18:28

    mindanao latest news has never been this interesting. Please keep us updated.

    ReplyDelete

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