As a Cebuano who lives in the north, beaches are not new to me, but it doesn’t mean I’ve had enough of them. There are still many I haven’t seen or visited yet, and as long as more remain on my list, the north of the island will never feel complete to me. Whenever I am invited to gatherings at beaches or overnight stays at colleagues’ houses along the coast, I grab the opportunity to discover another beach spot and new views. It is a chance, so why not accept it.
Beaches share the same basic aesthetic—a horizon, a fine blue sea, a sky, and a pleasing shore—but they differ in experience and unique features. Some beaches here only have plain ground and a shore with the sea; some look like a village from the Moana movie; some are built with resorts; some have big rock formations; and others feel like they were shaped naturally since the days of creation. From that fact, we can never judge a place based on just a single beach. I have to see it completely through all the lenses it has.
For context, Daanglungsod is a small but sustainable barangay in the town of Medellin, given its location near the coast and its rich natural produce that helps the community operate in harmony with nature. It has a modest population size, approximately 4.34% of the whole town—around 2,947 people. It is quite small, but the people operate with effort and independence, with the coast supporting them. Low elevation best describes the area’s situation in the town, just a bit or a finger above sea level.
Inside this barangay is an area called Sanggutan, a small community near the coastline facing the Tañon Strait. Sanggutan itself is not a beachfront area; it is an inland point we use to navigate toward the nearby coast and beaches that attract visitors. Once you reach the coast, the Sanggutan beaches greet you with vibrant daylight and a wide sea view that relaxes and soothes the mind. I don't know what it is called but amidst the scorching daylight the warmth is gentle still and not burning. Maybe because of the breeze the waves or the landscape emits.
The nearest shores are recognized for their clear turquoise waters, rocky coastal formations, and free sea views, suitable for coastal strolls or quick seaside visits for family gatherings or celebrations with friends or colleagues. Gibitngil Island and Pasil Sandbar are a few of the popular destinations near this area, so you won’t want to miss Sanggutan when heading to those spots.
A perfect open sea, gentle waves, fine shorelines, and rock formations are some of the gems you can expect during a visit. The rock formations vary in size and some of them has aquamarine trees attached to them. There are few to no cottages along the coast, and they’re not popularly occupied. Most corners are raw, bare, and not commercialized. It is purely a beach—no tourism character—but with the quality to be one. Expect to bring your own essentials like tables and mats because amenities are seldom found. And this is what I liked most about the Sanggutan beaches: they are not commercialized, just raw and undisturbed.
Some corners carry coconut trees stretching from the first sandline to the border before the water. These trees hit you perfectly with sunset light if you are fortunate enough to witness it. Orange hues and shadows cast behind the trees, cold wind brushing your knees, and little crabs crawling under you are some of what I witnessed.
Sunsets are perfect here just like one I saw in Lapyahan coast of San Remigio. It creates this perfect orange to yellow hues with negative spaces sorrounding these lights and the blue waters who have been waved earlier starts to calm and stop in motion, as is it honors the presence of the sky dressed in elegance and neon.
You can watch fishermen from the shore going home with their catch, jetski can be drove here, some spots are good for dating with your partners or friends, and more importantly you can bring your soul here and fix it's sanity away from a busy life. Feel the rural life with good company here and a good company means good experiences.
Medellin, San Remigio, and the Daanbantayan beaches really are gems of the north. Daanbantayan, with long lovely coast's with luxurious and affordable resorts nestled near modern facilities and parks. San Remigio carrying the longest shoreline of the Cebu Island with tourism recognition and quality. It is also rich in aquamarine biodiversity and fishing is a living here just like the two. And Sanggutan in Medellin, with little to no popularity, beaches undisturbed, unique rock formations, and uncommercialized beaches. It offers you a pure seaside experience with only your own things as the amenities.
The north will always have bigger names and more famous shores, but corners like this hold a different kind of feeling, like one that feels personal and unbothered. Sanggutan reminds that not all beaches need to be crowded or built up to be beautiful. It may not be popular, but its quiet, pure charm is exactly what makes it worth visiting. Just bring your things, your soul, and relax away from the busy life.
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This is such a beautiful write-up! I love how you describe the north of Cebu like it's a collection of secret gems. Sanggutan especially sounds so peaceful, with its raw, untouched beaches and those gorgeous rock formations. It’s rare to find places that stay uncommercialized these days, and you captured that quiet charm so well.
I could give up a lot of things to be here right now. If I camped here for a week, I'd get my head together 😅
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