How to go to Samal Island, Davao

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines has regular flights going to Davao. Fares ranges from P1500 to P3000 (One-way, non-promo flights).

Check out our Travel Promos category for the latest promo fare from Cebu Pacific and  Philippine Airlines.

From Davao, there are buses that goes to Samal Island through RORO(ferry). Pickup point is at Agdao, Davao.

Detail of Bus companies going to Samal
Pick up point : Magsaysay Park or at the Gasoline Station under the Agdao Flyover in Davao City.
Fares:
from Agdao(Davao)-Babak(Samal) = 30.00
from Agdao(Davao) – Penaplata(Samal) = 40.00
source: http://samalcity.gov.ph/

How to go to the White House

Coming to Samal Island, we hired two habal-habal drivers to take us on a tour of the area. Cost of each driver is approx. P300. One of the destinations that our drivers had offered us is the White House. (Sounds sosi!)

What to See – Tourist spots in Samal Island, Davao

When we hear the word ‘white’ and then ‘house’ something creepy always comes to mind. And Samal Island’s White House is no different. The house is said to be a century old, and is owned by one of the rich families in Davao: the Mongcado’s.

The trek going to the house is really rough, and it would take about 20 minutes to get there coming from the main road. From afar, is an open field where you can already see the house. It’s the only huge structure on its location, and its white color really makes it noticeable.

On the path going there, you’ll be passing a mini church, it is said that this used to be a ‘kwadra’ or horse stable for the horses the Mongcado’s used to own. It is now abandoned due to it’s unsecured foundation.

The white house sits on top of a hill in Samal Island, where it faces Samal sea and Davao. Entering the house, there was a blackboard and lots of pictures of different people, including Jose Rizal and Jesus. The Mongcado’s are head of a religious cult in Samal where one of their Gods is Jose Rizal(Philippine’s national hero). They are called ‘Mongcadistas’ taken from the family name of the Mongcado family.

The group now helds their bible study at the white house during Sunday, that’s why there was a blackboard inside the house.

These folks also eat everything raw. Do not panic though, they only eat raw vegetables and noodles, not meat.

An old Mongcadista woman is the caretaker of the house, though we weren’t able to see her. Also visitors are not allowed to roam other areas of the house cause it might break into pieces. Plus the house is infested with large bees, like the one’s seen in movies.

Fees and Fares to the White House

There are no entrance fee to the place, but there is a donation box inside.

Tips and Traps

Like I said, there are lots of pictures in the house, look at each one of them and you’ll find different creepy pictures. For example, a dead guy in a casket.

More pictures of White House here:

(Click on the picture to view the album)