Exploring the banana beach

        Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

               

For us to convince tourists to come and visit our place, we should first spend time exploring our locality.  Surely, we can find a place of beauty to enjoy with our loved ones and friends. Discovering such place will prove that, indeed, it’s more fun in the Philippines.

                In Davao del Norte, the Banana Beach Resort stands out as a must-see place to visit and explore.  It lies within reach along the coastal area of Barangay Madaum in Tagum City which is just more than an hour ride from Davao City.

                The Banana Beach Resort takes its name from its location along the beaches of the 760-hectare banana plantation owned by Hijo Resources Corporation.  It primarily allows people  to enjoy the beach, but   it  also provides an opportunity for visitors to take a side trip  to the banana tissue culture plant of Hijo banana plantation.

                The resort’s coastline stretches 4.5 kilometers, giving guests a wide area either for beach volleyball, kayaking, skimboarding or boat riding.  They may also opt to do  building  sand castles just to enjoyably let time pass by.  River cruising can also be an option to take for seekers of water adventure.  Facing the Davao Gulf, the Banana Beach Resort also borders with Madaum River which is worth exploring  as it  treasures century-old mangrove trees.

                The  sea at the Banana Beach allures visitors to take a swim. They may yield to it or they may take the option to dip into the infinity swimming pool. Its  clear blue water appears to be somewhat flowing out to the sea. If swimming may not be a pleasurable moment for visitors, they can try hook-and-line fishing at “The Spot”  to  catch either Bangus, Kitang or Lapu-lapu for a fine dine at its  cottage built at the place.

            Visitors must not miss to see and explore the nearby 60-hectare  forest which Hijo Resources Corporation (HRC)has preserved in line with the thrust to “nurture nature today to benefit the generations tomorrow” as  what Chief Executive Officer Rosanna Tuason-Fores said.

 To commune with nature, visitors need not wait until they reach the forest.  Along the way, they can marvel at the towering coconut trees planted in orderly line.  While approaching the forest, they will be greeted by sights of monkeys  leisurely walking along the road.  On lucky occasions,  wild boars  are just within sight.

                My work assignment in Davao del Norte opens a number of opportunities for me to visit the Banana Beach several times.  I was there during a coastal clean up  early last year with members of the Philippine Coast Guard  and with media practitioners of Tagum City.  An exposure tour with student journalists in mid last year again brought me to the place. 

Discussion about the resort  in the office led our boss to schedule our  2011 Christmas team-building  at the Banana Beach Resort.  We took our  children with us during that activity which left wonderful memories of fun and enjoyment as we spent time playing at the resort’s playground.  The children went swimming  in the infinity pool and joined  tours to the forest and to The Spot.

I might have gone there for several times but the thought of going back there rouses a feeling of joy and excitement.   Knowing that the place is such a beauty and wonder, I feel proud of seeing it featured in one of the editions of Balitang K. 

There swells within me the urge to tell about the place.  Who  else can we expect to better  tell about the beauty of our place but  us?  But before taking such task, it is wise to put on the gear as local explorers: appreciate and then enjoy what we have in our place.     (Jean Duron Abangan))