After Pagatpatan, we headed to Magallanes where you get to see where the river meets Butuan Bay. By this time, I was already amazed by everything I had seen so far. I did not even realize until then that this river had so much to offer, and this was just us traveling downstream! I also felt pretty lucky to have gotten the rare chance to see the Magsaysay bridge right from the river!
As if this experience was not enough, we then headed for the Sapyaw, a traditional fishing vessel of the Butuanon, a vessel and fishing tradition hardly ever seen even by the locals these days. We were greeted with fresh local drinks and friendly smiles from the locals who manage this project.
Basically, the Sapyaw is a raft which has a booming crane made out of bamboo that lifts a huge net every three minutes in order to catch fish. It also has an open hut where our lunch then was already prepared.
Lunch was composed of shrimps, crabs, fish and fresh fruits, nothing out of the ordinary but to have a meal on board the Sapyaw and to be right in the middle of Agusan river, with the view of the mountain ranges surrounding Butuan city, the experience was quite extraordinary.
If you’re lucky, you will also get to see nearby fisher folk out on their own Sapyaw. A fisherman went close to our sapyaw and sold us his freshly caught seashells. To see these age-old traditions still being practiced today really left quite an impression on me. In today’s fast-paced world, it is such a welcome retreat to sit back and enjoy seeing how living such a slow lifestyle can still be possible today.
All in all, the river cruise is unlike any other that I have experienced in the country. Agusan River is certainly something Butuanons should be proud of. Perhaps, someday soon, when asked “what is there to do in Butuan?” the answer would proudly be “Visit the mighty Agusan River.” That way others will also get to see for themselves how this river is so rich in biodiversity and also witness how some of our local traditions still live on.
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Don’t know what to do in Butuan? Check out this link for our Top Five Things to Keep You Busy in Butuan City.
