When Big China Came to Little Siargao | Ep47 | Five-star resort | Siargao Island | Rafsworldtravel

[@gcomssiargao]

Hi Martin mirasol and raf.. happy blogging and enjoy so much!

[@rafsworldtravel]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting @gcoms siargao :)

[@dannieduplessis2432]

Oh and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

[@rafsworldtravel]

Thanks so much for the greeting, Dan :)

[@steveyi2690]

Thanks again for the raw reality.

[@rafsworldtravel]

You're welcome! That's what we usually post - raw, unedited reality :)

[@TheLiveOutLoudFamily]

Aww Mart, one obstacle after another. I’m sorry! I’m so glad you still have a pretty view. When I was about Raf’s age, we lived on a remote dirt road with one other house in the distance - which is what my parents loved and why they moved there. Today it is paved and my parents small 5 acres are the most spacious, and there are houses all over and shopping and restaurants not too far away. Not what we anticipated but it brought opportunities and friendships, and I hope this on some way will bring you that as well. Happy Birthday, Mart! Loved the drone shots! 💕🎉

[@rafsworldtravel]

Thanks so much for watching! And thanks for sharing a story about your own family and upbringing. We’re definitely hopeful it might bring opportunities and are praying into this. Let’s see what the future brings. Hope you’re still loving life on the road :)

[@socio-economicnewsnetwork4740]

It will only increase the value of your land in future. This is also good because development is also needed

[@rafsworldtravel]

Hope the price of our land increases. Yes, development does have its positive sides, but it’s not all positive and often leads to local people being edged out and prices rising making it unaffordable for the locals. Personally, I believe horror show hotels like this one should remain in Manila or Boracay and not ruin an island I love, but I don’t have any control over what’s happening on Siargao Island. So let them wreck it.

[@davidburke2292]

you need to look on the bright side, you now have your own curbside view of your very own Great Wall of China ... Belated Happy B-Day Martin ... best to you, Miras, and The Rafinator from Josefina, Julius, and myself 🎂

[@rafsworldtravel]

Yes, that's true especially as they've decided to build not just one wall but two. Thanks a lot for the greetings :)

[@dannieduplessis2432]

I can see and hear the dissappointment that you have and I do sympathise...in Australia our beach side surf break suburb is the smallest suburb or one of the smallest in Australia...it was a sleepy little hollow & I bought our property for $36k some 30 years. We were offered an incredible amount of money as we are a group of 30 units on 8 hectares with NE aspect of land holdings in which a hotel offered all of us $76M to split between us all...whilst anybody would say take it..people, corporations and developers alike fail to sometimes understand home is not a PLACE, ITS A FEELING...I put my title into a LIFES ESTATE in my will which means my 2 year old daughter will only be allowed to sell it when she is 30 years old...as sometimes you never know what you are going to get in life if you know what I mean...I like you, crave the quiet unassuming uncomplicated healthy blessings in life...im well read & I know Siargao Island will become a small Bora in time to come....how ever Siargao Island does have a lot more localities to move too than Bora has...its a bigger island...you may get a good price for your property and find an abode somewhere else on the island...but I do know & understand the yearning for a simple life....as long as you have your health & of course familia is more precious than ANYTHING ELSE...I pray you find solace & peace with wisdom to know what direction to take to feel at ease with what the entire world is doing at the moment....it is something you & I will never be able to stop....change.....blessings & sending you love....Dan

[@rafsworldtravel]

Thanks for that incredible life story and your thoughtful suggestions. You're right - we're living in an incredibly uncertain world and perhaps what's going on in front of us is minuscule compared to what's coming soon. We're praying for clarity about our future and we're certain we'll get the right answers just in time :)

[@AmeliasMamabear]

I don't know how to feel about these big businesses coming to your place. It is sad to know that they are building until 2-3AM.

[@rafsworldtravel]

I know how I feel: it’s the beginning of the end of the Siargao I’ve loved for many years.

[@ladyEnchantressGarden]

This should be regulated better by LGU. The brgy captain needs to highly engage in the community. Cebu city and NCR is ok for a visit but I think I won't be able to live that horrible life traffic + pollution with extremely inflated cost of living. I've stayed in this place long enough for me to be a very sad. The big chinese corp is creeping in Siquijor but since we have poor transpo infrastrcture despite very nice roads, they stay off to Bohol, Boracay and Sadly now our beautiful island of Siargao. See you in the few days. Hang in there fam, I would like to know how you keep yourself sane with all of this

[@rafsworldtravel]

I guess we're keeping sane for three reasons. First, current pain might turn into gains at some point in the future. Second, living here isn't unbearable now our house is repaired. Third, if it all goes wrong here, we still have the ability to leave forever and never look back. Most Siargao residents, foreigners included, can't even afford the boat fare to Cebu. We remain blessed in many ways and are hopeful of a positive future one way or another :)

[@ladyEnchantressGarden]

@@rafsworldtravel fares are ridicoulous I can fly Manila BKK for my one way flight. It cost about 4K pesos only for a short flight to Siargao. "on sale"

[@levitate4636]

Its changed in a big way over the years but unfortunately it seems to happen to all nice coastal destinations worldwide.but i am also saddened as rather than living long term i prefer short visits to my wifes home place as its too buzy.

[@rafsworldtravel]

That’s so true! So many coastal places have lost their charm to make way for the serious tourist dollars to flow in.

[@levitate4636]

@@rafsworldtravel been heading this way for awhile now airport ,talks of international seaport etc but still no decent medical facilities on the island.feel for you guys especially with the late night construction.Stay well 👍

[@CapitanTiago]

corruption is the key to all these mess.. and what is more scary as the way i see it is that if they elevate the level of their property when the rain comes the whole community will be flooded.

[@rafsworldtravel]

Sadly, corruption is a root cause of so many problems in the Philippines.

[@vladimerannivhinoguin4817]

😢😢😢

[@rafsworldtravel]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting :)

[@alaindelon611]

This Chinese Corp. they better not dump their sewerage into the ocean like some hotels & other establishments in Boracay. They need to do their sewerage treatment & not dump it to the ocean.

[@rafsworldtravel]

Who knows what they might do? Certainly the local government unit aren’t particularly proactive ensuring environmental are properly policed etc. Siargao might one day become a full-on cesspit. Such a shame! It used to be paradise.

[@jemersoncruzlake]

This is so sad. Chinese corporations ick.

[@rafsworldtravel]

It's just the beginning for Siargao .....

[@luzvimindabernaldez3614]

Hi there to everyone 1995 was beautiful peaceful no electricity. We playing guitar.with local fishing and the community neighborhood . I'm so sad 😥 the way. Chinese building. In front of the beach. The view so sad . I do care about life from young children to growing up love and play spesialy the older it is so sad. Anyway we had to move on the way what Chinese wanted. I miss the beauty. But im looking forward to see family and friend in General luna soon the future Thank you mister and missus And Rafael

[@rafsworldtravel]

@@luzvimindabernaldez3614 you're right - there's nothing we can do to stop "progress". See you here in the Philippines one day :)