Samal Island : Historical Places

Samal Island offers some of the best natural sceneries there is: Monfort Cave Bat Colony, Malipano Island, Talikud Island, Kaputian Beach, best view of Mt. Apo, and Sinapaan Island to name a few. 

But aside from natural sceneries, Samal Island also has some interesting, "unconventional", historical spots : the headquarters of Filipino Crusaders World Army, Inc. , and the Japanese Cave House. Both are not usually visited by tourists like the other spots but are actually equally interesting, especially if you will be able to hear the stories behind their historicity. I was fortunate to be able to visit them, thanks to Wilmar's (my wonderful Samalenyo companion) suggestion after I asked him if Samal Island has some historical spots I could go visit.

THE WHITE HOUSE

White House

Photo Blogged : Malipano Island View Deck

No, I wasn't able to set foot at the famous Malipano Island of Davao Pearl Farm fame. I just looked at it from a distance and were able to appreciate its beauty, thanks to a strategically located view deck at the elevated eastern edge of Kaputian.

After visiting former Kaputian Town Hall, Kaputian Church, Kaputian Beach Park and Samal Art Legacy, we proceeded to our next destination : the Malipano Island View Deck.

Malipano Island

Kaputian Beach and the Samal Art Legacy

Samal Island's Kaputian Beach is one of those I consider a favorite, and the time and effort it takes to reach it is nothing compared to what one would feel upon seeing it. Said beach is one of the first spots I visited on the first day of my tour around Samal Island. 

Kaputian Beach. Samal Island.

Samal Island : Halls and Churches

Yes, I am a certified history buff. It's kind of a habit for me to look back to the past through reading history books, visiting places with historical significance, and discovering things and structures tied to the local history of a certain place. This is why, every time I visit a place, the very first thing I am looking for is its government hall, town plaza and churches because these are the places where all the powers and authority in a certain city or town reside, and where significant events pertaining to the town could have happened.

Samal Island is a curious case for me. Even before I became a blogger, I already know that once upon a time, there were three towns comprising the whole Island Garden City of Samal. When it was made into a city, those three municipalities were merged and became one once again. What made me curious is the fact that while some local politicians wants to divide their cities and municipalities (and even provinces) to create more cities or municipalities, Samal Island experienced just the opposite. 

Because of me being inclined to historical stuff, the first thing I want to do upon arriving at Samal is to see and discover any traces of the three once municipalities of Babak, Penaplata and Kaputian. As accommodating as he can be, Wilmar, a friend and a local of the city, agreed to bring me to the halls and churches of the island. I was very fortunate because it turned out that all of former towns' structures are still existing and being utilized.

Kaputian Town Hall. Island Garden City of Samal.