Mati located in the Province of Davao Oriental, is one of the most visited city here in Mindanao, Philippines. Mati has the finest places that you wanted your travel to be worthit.
(Photo credit to the owner)
So here are the reasons why you should visit Mati:
- PLACE
Mati is the capital of Davao Oriental. It is subdivided into 26 barangays. Every barangay has its tourist spot that is worthy of time,effort, and money. But the most popular are ;
Dahican Facing the Pacific Ocean
Dahican is very popular because of skimboarding started by Sonny Boy "Bayugyog" Aporbo who is well known because of winning International skimboard competition in Hong Kong and Malaysia . Anyone can try skimboarding and surfing as Amihan sa Dahican has their boards for rent.
Aside from big waves, Dahican is known of its white sand beach, you can even stay there for a night, rent a tent in a cheapest price and then next early morning, you can witness the sun rising.
There's a lot more, there are other beautiful beach resorts in the city located in Barangay Bobon, the Jambay Beach, Resurrection Beach,Blue Bless Beach Resort (now developing their waterpark) Gregorio Beach Resort and Cinco Masao Beach Resort.
Panoramic View of Dahican
Pujada Island
Yes, Mati has more islands. Pujada is a must-see attractions. This is a 30 minute ride from town using a big boat that can accomodate 60 persons to transport.
You will be welcomed by a 156-hectare pure island that endowed white sand beach and prestine water.
1.3 Mindanao Saga Flying Club for a Thrilling Ride
Mindanao Saga Flying Club is located in Mati Airport, Barangay Dahican. It is an aviation club where you can try Recreational flying or Trial Introductory Flight - Open aircraft and Closed Aircraft where you can experience a chill flight or an extreme one, or you can be a pilot for a day.
I have not yet tried this but here are some of the reviews that you can read in their official page:
1.4 Subangan Museum
(Photo credit to: Jojie Alcantara)
Subangan Museum is a two-storey building, a Provincial Museum in the heart of Mati City. In museum you can see the 7th largest whale exhibit in the world and first in the Philippines. You can meet the sperm whale named Davor.
This 53 feet and 20 ton remains was found in Governor Generoso, one of the municipality in Davao Oriental.Video Documentaries are presented in the museum too.
Other than that, cultural heritage and national heritage are exhibited in the museum.
1.5 Sleeping Dinosaur Island
When you enter the City, Sleeping Dinosaur Island is the first thing and the one that will capture your heart. You stop by the view deck and see its beauty. If you love adventure you can go trekking. It is a 2 hour and 30 minutes trek from view deck to the arms of the dinosaur island.
The best time for trekking is to start from 4:00 in the morning so you can catch up with sunrise. So if you are fond of trail running and trekking this is for you.
1.6 Bahia Resort
- FOOD
After a great trip, there will be no hungry tummy. Mati has a lot of establishments that you can choose from.
2.1 Seaside Resto
Seaside restaurant is one of the most visited in the city because of their famous Lumpia and Empanada.
2.2 Paz Delicacies
Paz is a food business offering "kakanin" (food with main ingredient is rice) squares, this good for taking home for your family.
(Photo by : Sunstar Davao)
2.3 Bador sa Baywalk
An all-chicken barbecue house that you can choose parts of chicken that you want to be grilled.
2.4 Shan and Hazel's Food
Shans is very famous because of their delicious snacks. They offer the famous food in the Philippines, the Halo-Halo.
(Photo by: Hyra Manlisang)
2.5 Kinamot Tuna Grill
A seafood restaurant that serves your cravings for shrimp, crabs,and tuna. 
2.6 Shrimp Farm
Mati has businessmen running a shrimp farm located at Dahican. There is no restaurant in the farm but you can buy freshly catched shrimp from the pond and you can ask someone in the area where you can cook it and just pay for their labor.
- People and Culture
Mati comes from the Mandayan word Maa-ti which refers to the town's creek that easily dries up even after heavy rain. Pioneer settlers were tribes Kagan (yes I belong in this tribe and I am proud), Mandayan, and Maranao which carried strong Arabic and Indo-Malayan influences.
People in this city are very unique in their own ways. People are MATInabangon ( helpful), MATInagdanon (accomodating), MATInahuron ( sincere ), MATInud-anon ( honest/real ), MATInumanon (obedient) and MATInuhuon (believer of God). Matinians are also talented that they are starting to join competitions in streetdancing, boat racing, frisbee, and skimboarding that you'll see them practicing in some areas here in the city.
Different tribes, cultures and beliefs that you'll see here enjoining two annual festivals, the Pujada bay Festival and Sambuokan Festival. Pujada Bay Festival started in 2004 is to promote and protect the Pujada Bay. While Sambuokan Festival started in 2001 is to unite Matinians during the commemoration of the municipality's founding anniversary.
Beauty of nature
Yess..:-)