Sure, the more than 9–hour journey from Zamboanga City to Zamboanga del Norte was tiring, but it was not yet the time to rest. If only for the sake of taking a rest, then might as well take it a level higher, right? If that is so, then there could be no better place to do that than somewhere built exactly for relaxation. Hence, from our inn, we took a 30-minute drive to go to Dakak Park and Beach Resort.

Touchdown: Dakak.

For someone who grew-up in the Philippines in the 90s onwards, the name Dakak would ring a bell. Despite being located in Mindanao which is considered far-flung by those in the capital, the popular noontime show Eat Bulaga would always queue the beach resort among their advertisements. It was only lately that I was able to connect the dots. TAPE Inc. which used to produce the noontime show is owned by the Jalosjos family, and they too own the private beach resort.

The Jalosjos family is popular in Zamboanga del Norte, especially in their stronghold Dapitan City. They have secured their hold to power and have established a political dynasty until 2025 when they suffered massive losses during the midterm elections. We will, however, spare everyone from the politics and controversies surrounding the Jalosjos family. We’re here to focus on our experience anyway, right?

The day tour when we visited Dakak cost us PHP 750.00 per head, which included consumables for attractions, food and drinks. We stayed at the al fresco area of the Bamboo Brewhaus, Dakak’s in-house coffee shop and restaurant. It features Asian cuisine in its menu, together with different fusion dishes. We ordered our food and drinks which were included in our consumable payment, then decided to explore the resort while waiting for our meals to be brought over.

Bamboo Brewhaus.

Dakak is located at the northern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, and its location allows it to dodge the typhoon belt. As such, it is considered not only as a summer spot but an all-time relaxation destination. On top of its amenities, the resort features white sand beach and clear water, surrounded by forested hills and cliffs.

After indulging with so much vanity shots—and yes, we’re sorry about that—our food orders have finally arrived. It was time to dig-in! I had a burger and mango shake, while Ran settled for a footlong sandwich and the same drink. As for the others in the group, some settled for rice meals while others ordered finger food.

Trying a piece of everything.

When we were done with our meal, Ran went in for a dip while I chose to stay on the beach, just dwelling in my thoughts while surrounded by the natural beauty of the place. Sounds familiar, right? Yes, very much like Sangay Siapuh.

It was a long day, after all. More than the physical toll of having to travel the entire day, my mind needs some recharging from time to time, lest some unpleasant memories come back to life, such as our nasty Bessang Pass experience, or the irreversible regret of how my head screwed over Sabtang Island in Batanes: from the first destination of Nakabuang Arch to the last point in Chavayan. Hence, while Ran was enjoying the clear waters and the white sand, I was there, seated, sight locked into the horizon, grateful for what the days have been and looking forward to the days that are yet to come.

First time that both my body and my mind rested in luxury.

It was already our fifth day in Mindanao. We still got four more days. Actually, I should say, we only got four more days. At that point, our Mindanao journey was already among the experiences that I wished would not end. We have already gone to a lot of places, but I knew it is not yet enough. It would never be enough. The beauty of Mindanao—of the Philippines at large—whether natural or augmented by human development, is always worth exploring, even over and over again.