Baganga, Davao Oriental is the next town north of Caraga. Nothing much here but the rural scenery is beautiful. It is a typical idyllic, Philippine agricultural town along the rugged coastline facing the Pacific Ocean where life is slow paced, unhurried and bucolic. Rice paddies as well as coconut groves dominate the scenery. In the market, fresh fish abounds.

The fastest route to this town from Davao is via Cateel, a town to the north where there’s a road linking it to Trento in Agusan del Sur. Compared to the coastal road via Mati, the highway is well paved until Trento, and safer.

A young boy washing by the river’s edge. The waters are cool and clean, cascading down from the mountains, carpeted with virgin forests, between Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley to the east. Security is also one of the concerns in the eastern coast as rebels find refuge at the mountain ranges. However, today’s situation is a lot better than before. Day trips are advisable but I have tried driving once at night.

At the market, large fish are sold cheap and fresh. This type of fish is quite fatty and very succulent when grilled. The seas just beyond the coastline are rich fishing grounds.

A woman drying golden grains of rice at the inner barangays of the town. The municipality is an ideal land for rice and other crops as the land is quite fertile and no typhoons ever set foot here.

Another common site that can be seen in other parts of the country especially Central Luzon, rice grains take over a portion of the highway for drying. It is much convenient for the farmers here as they are closer to home and can watch over it from time to time while doing other chores. Compare this to drying at the fields where birds are a menace.

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger, freelance photographer and writer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has contributed to local and international publications including CNN Go, National Geographic Magazine, Geo (Germany), Sunday Times Magazine (London) and other publications.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.