Esperanza, Agusan del Sur

The beautiful Esperanza

A century ago, the natives of Agusan del Sur traveled
via lake and river.  And not only was seafaring a most
effective means of transportation for them—linking
peoples from town to town—but they also considered it
a very enjoyable experience.  So much so, in fact,
that a hundred years later, there are still countless
locals who choose to travel this part of the Caraga
region by water.

The indigenous group of the Higa-onons in Esperanza is
one such example.  They often sail the surrounding
waters to visit mostly undiscovered waterfalls, which
are located at a lengthy distance from the poblacion
(town center).

Esperanza is one of the seven river municipalities of
Agusan del Sur. It rests on one of the town’s
tributary rivers where the Golden Tara is found.  This
21-carat gold figurine of Indian origin corroborates
early Hindu-Philippine relations.

During The Manila Times’ visit, tourism officer,
Imelda “Imie” Pagalan, also showed us Esperanza’s
other treasures via motorcycle.  “The motorcycle,” she
informed us, “is our people’s second most popular
choice of transportation.

With a steady wind blowing, we saw the adorable
expanse of dwarfish mountains, which led us to the
other side of Esperanza, in Barangay Guadalupe.  And
there, we boarded a boat that took us through the
Agusan River.

The gentle boat carried us above clear waters, while
on either side, a calming scene of greens drifted by.
Picturesque nipa huts eventually came to view as we
approached Lake Oro, and there, we took a side trip to
visit the women’s cooperative.  A perfect meal of
giant tilapia and steaming red rice awaited us. 

Over lunch, Imie told us of the municipality’s plans
to turn Lake Oro into a breeding ground for tilapia
(Saint Peter’s Fish), which would provide another
source of livelihood for the residents.  “The move,”
she added, “will also afford us to build cottages for
tourists, and thereby turn our destination into an
ecotourist attraction.”

Teresa Traserez, who heads the cooperative, also told
us that they hoping to breed bangus (milkfish) as
well. And to show us they can do it, she took us
around the fish cages where we saw the tilapia in its
various growth stages.

All in all, such plans, the wonderful sights, and the
tranquility of the region point to a bright future for
the surrounding areas of Lake Oro.  And we are looking
forward to that day, when we will have to visit
Esperanza once again and experience her triumph.

(First published in The Manila Times on November 26, 2004)