THEY say summer is an excellent period to travel. It brings exhilaration, fun, and more excitingly, a sense of adventure. It must be the heat, and naturally, kids are on school break and wanting some form of escapade.
Talking about adventure, parents can bring their kids to the Subangan Museum in Mati, Davao Oriental. I know itâs a long journey if youâre based in Western and Central Visayas but hey, isnât that what adventure is all about? There is a direct flight from Iloilo City to Davao City. That should reduce travel time and the stress accompanying every trip. From Davao City, it will take you three (3) hours and fifty-three (53) minutes to reach Mati, Davao Oriental, or a total of 186.9 kilometers cruising through the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26 and Surigao-Davao Coastal Road.
Considering the length of the trip, it is best to keep a positive mental attitude: Enjoy the trip; enjoy the scenery. Make it leisurely for everyone. In my case, I learned on the long drive that Banaybanay is a town in Davao Oriental. Of course we know that Banaybanay is a rice variety. According to the official website of the province of Davao Oriental, âBanaybanay is known as the gateway to the province of Davao Oriental; it sits at the northernmost tip of the province. This highly agricultural area covering 41,900 hectares is considered as the rice granary of the province because of its main agriculture product – riceâ.
As we entered Mati, I was advised to view the âsleeping dinosaurâ. Indeed it looked like one and sleeping at that! I learned later on as I toured the modern and elegant Subangan Museum that it is officially called the Dinosaur Peninsula. Howâs that for effect!
For surfing, I was educated that Dahican in Mati is a place to surf. Come to think of that! I saw the waves for myself. They are huge but quite intimidating for a non-surfer like me. The tourist can also proceed to the City promenade. We were there at night. There were so many people of various ages, sizes, and genders enjoying the place. We ate at the food strip. What is an adventure without food, huh! Food forms part of the expedition. Itâs so good to feel like a local.
Of course, saving the best for last, the focal point of our excursion – Subangan! I must say I was amazed as I entered the museum. It is magnificent! Clean, well-maintained, secured, and well-managed. It made me wonder when the museum in General Santos City will finally rise. Will it ever? Subangan is a modern structure that occupies a total floor area of 1,000 square meters. It has both a ground floor and a second floor. The ground floor highlights âDavOrâ, the whale skeleton that weighs 20 metric tons and measures 53 feet long. It is the 7th largest in the world exhibits, according to museum literature. DavOr was found in Davao Orientalâs shores and attests to the provinceâs clean waters, the literature further said. The museumâs concept evolved from DavOr. DavOr as you may have gleaned by now, is the acronym for Davao Oriental.
Another significant feature is the âTyphoon Pablo Memorialâ. This one I had a hard time figuring out, haha. I thought I entered a room that was unfinished and crude until somebody pointed out to me that it resembles the remnants of the havoc caused by Pablo. My, my, I was lost there. I would really like to write more about the museum but if I do, I will do you my dear readers, a disservice. You need to actually see the place for yourself. Travel to Mati and experience the peculiar sights and distinct escapade that the place has to offer. Like they say, âHuwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayanâ.
Subangan originates from subang, a Bisayan word, which means âeastâ. It could also mean âsunriseâ, since the first rays of the sun hit the country in this province.
The museum is located at the Tourism Complex, Mati, Davao Oriental.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure. – Irving Wallace
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
