All Things Bright and Beautiful

This hidden lagoon became famous after it was featured in Kapamilya Mo, Jessica Soho. It is nestled in Cortes, Surigao del Sur. It is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Surigao City.

February 12, 2016 – 12:30 AM, we departed from Davao City with the team. My friend Cathy, the owner of Weekend Tour, managed to group two vans for that day. It was a long trip, and the weather wasn’t good since a low-pressure area was forecasted by NASA earlier that week. When we arrived in Surigao, the weather had worsened. It was a foggy morning, rain was falling hard, and strong winds struck the place.

We arrived at 7:00 AM at the site. The vans were lined up at the entrance. It was a rainy morning, so we decided to walk to the entrance instead. It was more or less a hundred meters to the mouth of the lagoon. The entrance fee was very affordable. I am not sure if it was ₱10–20 because Cathy paid for us (the entrance fee was already included in the amount we paid for that trip).

Entering the site, you could see and hear the raging waves—it was the perfect day to watch the waves “laswit.” We walked another hundred steps to reach the lagoon. “Wow!” I said repeatedly when I saw it. It was so unusual. The lagoon has a 20-foot rock barrier against the ocean waves. No wonder it is called Laswitan Lagoon. Every time the waves strike the barrier, they form a tidal splash that enters the lagoon.

The catch basin inside the lagoon is safe for swimming. You just need to hold tightly onto the rope. But for the crowd standing on the flat yet edgy rocks, there was danger—and we didn’t escape it. We were not ready when two waves suddenly splashed and washed over us. I was scared at that time. I couldn’t see anything since my eyes were closed. That moment made me reflect that it was Sunday—God’s time, not for personal getaways.

But I thank the Lord because we did not suffer any serious wounds. My knees were trembling when we stood up. My sunglasses and one slipper were washed away, along with my companions’ slippers (Rochie, Liza, and Dimple). I realized we were not the only ones injured at that moment. Other members of the group also suffered minor wounds. Almost ten of us were hurt from the strong laswit.

We did not stay at the front, so we decided to change clothes. On the other side of the lagoon was the wavy sea, and we could see the waves crashing hard against the rocks.

This adventures is totally wonderful. Nature's beauty is worth a wound. Lol! Seriously, a must visit spot in Surigao. Plan your getaway. Just be careful of the laswits. :)

Below are some pictures. Check it out.

Ripped cover up o_o

After the waves washed us ^_^ hello achy bloody wounds ..

The clear green water with the green mountains in the background.

My best friend is taking a pose before getting wet. :-*

Playing in the sand.

The rocky formations. These are smaller than the other stones at the back.

the beautiful waves

My best friends with Flor's cousins (two girls from the right)

My dear cousins

Row row, our boat.

Rocky ♥

The jumping area!

HOW TO GET THERE:

From Babak Wharf
- Ride a motorcycle going to Canibad. It is about an hour trip, so you should brace yourself. The fare is ₱125 per head. If you need someone to fetch you, I can refer you to a friend of my mom. Just PM me for his contact details. I wasn’t able to include it here since I didn’t get his information from my mother, but I will surely help you—just comment or PM me.

27 Bible Verses for my 27 age.. I found it very helpful and hope these verses will lift you up if ever you are down, will give you strength when you are tired, will give you hope when you are hopeless, will encourage you when you feel dismay and most of all you will feel LOVE from our Father Almighty ♥

1.“God is within her, she will not fall.”

— Psalm 46:5

2.“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

— Proverbs 31:25

3.“The Lord is my strength and my shield.”

— Psalm 28:76

4.“I loved you at your darkest.”

— Romans 5:8

5.“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

6.“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

— Proverbs 31:26

7.“Under His wings you will find refuge.”

— Psalm 9:1

8.“Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

— Philippians 4:6-8

9.“By the grace of God, I am what I am.”

— 1 Corinthians 15:10

10.“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”

— Proverbs 3:5-6

11.“Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.”

— Luke 1:45

12.“You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

— Pslam 139:14

13.“Let all that you do be done in love.”

— 1 Corinthians 16:14

14.“It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from inside you –the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear and it is worth very much to God.”

— 1 Peter 3:3-4

15.“Be strong. Be Brave. Be fearless. You are never alone.”

— Joshua 1:9

16.“Mightier than the waves of the sea is His love for you.”

— Psalm 93:4

17.“Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.”

— Esther 4:14

18.“I am complete in Him.”

— Colossians 2:10

19.“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

— Proverbs 31:30

20.“Declare over yourself: ‘God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.'”

— 2 Tim 1:7

21.“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.”

— Psalm 143:8

22.“You are loved more than you will ever know by someone who died to know you.”

— Romans 5:6

23.“For I know the plans I have for you.”

— Jeremiah 29:11

24.“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”

— Exodus 14:14

25.“I will never leave you or forsake you.”

— Joshua 1:5

26.“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.”

— Song of Songs 4:7

27.“Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.”

— Ephesians 2:19-22

(c) Marisa Donnelly

How do you define love? Have you ever felt love from someone? Is it visible at all times, or do you feel it every day? LOVE is one of the most popular and interesting words in this world. Do you agree? For me, it is a big YES! People can talk endlessly when it becomes the topic.

It is just one word, yet even a whole day is not enough to discuss it with a friend—especially for teenagers these days. They are the most eager and expressive when love is mentioned: early crushes, early love, and early heartbreaks. You know what kind of love I am referring to, right? Love between the opposite sexes. Yes, people can easily define love in terms of romantic relationships.

Seriously, when someone is asked, “What is love?” what usually comes to mind is their feelings toward another person. It may be a simple admiration or a deep attraction. Has the world forgotten the true and deeper meaning of this question?

One word is enough to describe it—JESUS. He is the one who has shown so much love for all of us, even as sinners. Every time I reflect on how Jesus loves us, my heart aches. I feel guilt because I cannot fully comprehend why He chose to die for me. His love is truly immeasurable. No one else can do what He has done for us—to give us life with freedom and abundance.

Thank you to the Father who gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). We are here today, living with a purpose: to love God with all our heart and soul, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:38–39).

So, what is love again?
My answer will always be: He is love.
Jesus is Love.

 God bless you reader!