SAMAL ISLAND AND DAVAO CITY: Day Four in Mindanao

SAMAL ISLAND AND DAVAO CITY: Day Four in Mindanao

"It is the journey not the destination that matters."

We went on a road trip to Davao on my fourth day in Mindanao. The Ladaran family from Polomolok fetched me at 4 o'clock in the morning from Tito Boy and Tita Malou's house in Polomolok then we traveled by land to Davao. 

The main purpose of our Davao sojourn is to visit the son of Tito William and Tita Nelly Ladaran who had an accident a few months back. He got hit by a vehicle owned by a certain Melanie Tan of Davao City while aboard his motorcycle. Both of his legs were injured and also one of his arms. 

The driver of the vehicle at that time bought him to the hospital. They were paid a total of P150,000.  Tito William was made to sign a paper stating that it would be the total money that the owner of the vehicle would pay, no more, no less. Unless he signs the waiver his son would not be operated on. In a situation like that na gipit na nga lalo pang ginigipit, what would a poor father do? To ensure the safety of his son, he had to sign the waiver so the operation would be done. "Pikit mata kong pinirmahan ang papel para maoperahan na ang aking anak," said Tito William. 

Anyway, the total bill at the hospital amounted to more than P180,000. He was still crippled up to this writing. He need to undergo physical theraphy but due to budget constraint they had to resort to a quack doctor in Samal Island, a certain Kapitan Bale for their son's therapy.

After visiting their son in a Davao shanty we then went to Davao Port. In order to go to Samal Island, private cars and public utility vehicles has to avail of the roll-on roll-off (Roro) ferries in Sasa Wharf. 

It was my first time to try the roll-on, roll-off (Roro) facilities in the Philippines. ( I first tried it in Malaysia. ) The ride took only 15 minutes. 

These happy bunch became my instant family. They may not have all the riches in the world but I love how they take things lightly despite not having a tons of money.  They were always laughing.  The genuine smile and happiness was contagious.

 

They were all smiling despite the fact that we had walked for almost half an hour on a very muddy road to be able to reach Kapitan Bale's abode.

Muddy ground 

 

Finally! After waiting for Kapitan Bale for almost half an hour at the Cabana ( Bahay Kubo). The quack doctor began treating his patients. 

 

 The healer in action.

He don't ask for money but his patients brought coffee, sugar and bread.

Kapitan Bale's altar.

Posterity pose with the Ladaran family at Kapitan Bale's bahay kubo.

 

All smile again despite the illnesses they suffer.  The old woman has fungus in her lungs, the old man her husband, suffers from hypertension, rheumatism (rayuma) and gout, the little girl has sepsis and the guy had a motor accident and had stainless on his arms

While in Kapitan Bale's place in Samal Island we tried this super cool drink. When in Samal you must try this pure cow's milk!

 

You can buy a bottle of fresh cow's milk for Php35 a bottle. They have different flavors such as:

• melon
• durian
• mango 
• chocolate 

 

Kapitan Bale posed like a bale. Lols 

This time around, I saw and experience the other side of Davao and Samal Island. A far cry from my first visit to Davao and Samal Island wherein I experienced and saw only the rich lifestyle of Davaoenos and its wonderful sites..

 

Walking back to the main road

 

We met a cow along the road on our way back to our service...mooooooooooo

A pose with the cow under the noon time heat

 

The little girl in our group is the one who spotted the cow first mooooooooo...

 

Finally our vehicle by the road side.