Less than 50 kilometers
away from Dapitan City in Dipolog, a quaint place called Sapang Dalaga radiates
more than enough charm worthy of a visit.
Under the outstretched arm
of a Jesus Christ statue perched atop a hill, I scrutinized the magnificent
view of the twin bays of Casul and Murcielagos against the sheen of the setting
sun. From the gleaming waters, I trailed my sight to the rolling mountain
slopes circling back 180 degrees and leading my eyes again to the towering
figure of Caluya Shrine – a 45-feet doppelganger of Rio de Janeiro’s Jesus
Christ the Redeemer.
The first thing I noticed
was the collective tranquility of the place. Despite the presence of a few
fishing boats revving its engine from afar, the silence was deafening. The
blowing wind sounded like a whisper from a shy lady, telling you sweet nothings
while tickling your ear.
Feeling the cool air while
staring at the repetitious polish of the bay and the picturesque scenery of the
countryside, you instantly find justice to the name of the place: Sapang Dalaga or Maiden of the Creek. Like a beautiful girl who glides inside a room
and sweep everyone’s attention, the place of Sapang Dalaga pulls you in a
contemplative spell.
Cruising
Casul Bay
Although Caluya Shrine can
be reached by land, we opted to take the more scenic route: over the still
waters of a narrow river leading to Casul Bay. It was mid-afternoon when we
boarded a small fishing boat, blessing us a time of the day where the sun
glosses more strikingly. As we slowly voyaged, I watched at the world around me
upside down through the reflections on the water of the dense tropical setting
enveloping the bay.
We passed by smaller
fishing boats docked neatly in front of pockets of small houses built by the river.
As soon as we exited its tributary and caught sight of the much bigger bay of Murcielagos,
It was then I saw the sun shining magnificent rays of gold over the nearby
mountains, the distant island and the almost unmoving waters.
After gently docking at
the small port, we were greeted by staff members from the tourism office of
Misamis Occidental. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they invited us to
go on a short hike to Caluya Shrine.
JC the Redeemer’s Little Bro
Walking a hundred steps
over the paved stairs took us to the top of a hill blessed with a magnificent
view of the nearby Naburos and Naputhao islands and Mount Malindang. Erected
only a few years ago as a replica of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer statue in Rio
De Janeiro, Brazil, the Caluya Shrine isn’t without its own remarkable
qualities.
Standing on a higher ground and overlooking the quiet waters, it
stretches its hands in a welcoming gesture to fisher folks toiling hard at sea,
and even to visitors enjoying a sumptuous meals over the many floating cottages
docked near Naputhao Island. It has become a popular pilgrimage site and
destination for tourists in this part of Misamis Occidental.
As we witness the sun
slowly setting down against the clouds in the horizon and the golden gloss of
the sun swiftly gives way to darkness, we make our way down and back to the
port – only to be fetched by a smaller boat to take us to one of the floating
cottages.
We capped a beautiful day
by feasting over fresh shrimps, crabs and a local favorite known as Saang shells, which were mostly caught
just that afternoon. As total darkness came, only the shining stars at the
skies and the flickering lights of a few houses remains illuminated from the
distance.
Licking my hands busy from pulling meat on a piece of a fresh saang shell, I looked up at the direction of
Caluya Shine and there it was – the silhouette of Misamis Occidental’s own
Jesus Christ Redeemer, appearing a central figure even in the dark.
Travel
tip:
For a hassle-free tour around the province of Misamis Oriental and Occidenal,
contact Earth
Explorers Travel and Tours. They are the leading travel provider for
destinations in Northern Mindanao.
