Surfin' Dahican

IF YOU happen to be in the City of Mati and want to surf, look no further. Just go directly to barangay Dahican. The place has a seven-kilometer stretch of white sand beach that faces the Pacific Ocean; its waves and currents can be scary and treacherous during the monsoon months.

"You don't have to go to Boracay to experience white sand," said Michael N. Rabat, the brother of the city mayor who toured us around the place the first time when visited Mati. "The area is secluded, peaceful, and far from the madding crowd."

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Dahican is about 15 minutes from the heart of the city. You have to pass through rough roads before reaching the beach. The good thing is that there is no entrance fee and it is open to anyone - whether locals or foreigners.

"I believe that with the right and responsible development, the coastline (of Dahican) can be converted into a world class tourist destination," a recent visitor wrote in his blog. We definitely agree on that.

"All you need to do is promote this city as a haven for tourists," I told city tourism officer Dashiel Inedible, Jr. during our recent visit. "Yes, we are," he replied. "We are developing Mati as an alternative destination for those who come to Davao City."

Mati is the capital of Davao Oriental. Some 165 kilometers away from Davao City, it is accessible by car (about three hours) or bus (about five hours).

The roads going there are mostly cemented or paved in asphalt so it's a pretty smooth ride all the way.

Despite its bucolic atmosphere, Mati has the modern comforts that one might look for: fine hotels, good restaurants, banks, hospitals, internet access, reliable phone lines, and 24-hour convenience stores, among others.

The only drawback is that the city doesn't have taxis, yet. However, tricycles (more popularly known as pedicabs), habal-habal (actually a motorcycle that can accommodate two or more passengers), and trisikads abound; all these can be hired anytime.

If you want to go further from the city, be sure to negotiate first with the driver.

Mati is the coconut capital of the Philippines. It is dotted with majestic islands ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving.

However, the city is more known for its world class beaches that remain unspoiled and pristine.

About 10 kilometers away from the city, Dahican beach is not only good for swimming but also perfect for surfing.

The waves are big, which can reach as high as 10 feet or even more in some instances.

No wonder, surfers and skimboarders are now common sights at the Dahican beach. "The beach is an ideal area when you want to practice surfing," says Patrick Taclob, a surfer from Davao City.

If during your visit you see boys surfing and skimboarding, don't be surprised. They are part of the Amihan Surf and Skim Team.

The word "Amihan" comes from the northeasterly winds that blow through the country from November to March.

"These winds create powerful waves which are perfect for skimboarding and surfing," claimed the 38-year-old George "Jun" Plaza, who is the team leader and also acts as the guardian of the surfers.

How surfing and skimboarding came to Dahican is an interesting story in itself. In 2002, some Davao City skimboarders came to Dahican and toyed with the waves near the seashore.

Amazed with the tricks that they had done with a simple wooden board, Jun copied the design of the skimboard using plywood that was supposed to be made into a table.

Jun's interest was further kindled when surfers from Davao City arrived the following year and glided over the huge waves. Along with other local children, he was mesmerized by what the surfers were doing.

Like the skimboarders before them, the surfers also left one of their boards to the local boys. "Whenever surfers come here and play, they usually left one of their boards," Jun said. "Maybe in exchange for the hospitality we are showing to them. Or maybe because they saw that the children here also have potential skills."

For further details about Dahican and other places of interest in Mati, visit the City Tourism Office. You can call the office at this number: (087) 3883-234. The email address is matitourismoffice@yahoo.com.

Also try to visit its website: http://www.mati.gov.ph.

(Author's Note: I want to thank my friend, Jose Rey L. Subaldo, who provided me some of the pictures in this feature.)