We ran to the beach, our eyes bleary and our brains still reconnecting with our limbs. There were embers in the sky, burning and flaring above the mountain gradients on the horizon. But with each of our fumbling steps, that glow was fading fast . We stopped right by the soft creamy shore of Sellona Beach, the warm waters of the sea gently lapping our feet and gawked. We overslept and were caught totally unprepared.

BROD LOUIE’S RESORT GROUNDS AT GLAN, SARANGANI

OUR PERSONAL BALCONY FACING SELLONA BEACH

BROD LOUIE’S SIMPLE BUT CLEAN ACCOMMODATIONS

Four hours of non-stop travel would do that. From the majestic lakes of Lake Sebu, we boarded a van back to General Santos City to catch another dilapidated van with a non-working air-con to the town of Glan in Sarangani. On the way, we scoured the interweb for a place to stay. Picking from all the expensive resorts along the famous Gumasa Beach, we set out for Brod Louie White Sand Resort, the cheapest amongst those we found online [ROOM RATE: PHP600.00 | CONTACT NUMBER: (0942) 393-3516 | (0921) 988-0846| GPS MAP: 5.796904, 125.175886].

► SEE: KAMARI RESORT IN GLAN

SUNSET AT SELLONA BEACH

It turned out, however, that we picked the wrong resort. It was actually not in Gumasa Beach, but in Sellona; a beach sharing the same coastline as the former but divided from it by craggy rock formations along the shore. And we only realized it after checking in, oversleeping, and seeing the sunset.

LOCAL KIDS PLAYING SEE SAW USING A BOAT

CHILD PLAYING WITH HIS MODEL BOAT MADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS ALONG SELLONA BEACH

We thought then, how come the shoreline isn’t as long as those we see in pictures? Asking two kids who were playing on a boat, using its outriggers as a jumping board, confirmed our suspicions. We were at the wrong beach, indeed.

EARLY MORNING AT SELLONA BEACH

At first, we were stricken, having travelled long hours just to reach this place, but eventually, we came to like Sellona Beach. In fact, preferring it over its more famous brethren, Gumasa, which we visited the next day.

SELLONA BEACH ON A CLOUDY DAY

Sellona also has a host of resorts along its shore but not as many and as grand as those in Gumasa Beach. It is definitely much cheaper to stay here (and much more inexpensive to commute in from the bus terminal). The only downside is if you want to go to Gumasa Beach, you have to ride a single motorcycle (habal-habal) or walk for about 15 minutes.

THE SOUTHERN END OF SELLONA BEACH

The beach itself is not that bad. The sand isn’t as fine, but it is creamy enough. The shoreline isn’t as long, stretching for about a kilometer, but who needs long shorelines anyways. What I really like about this place is its lack of tourists. During our stay, we were the only people on the beach besides local kids playing along the sand—their personal playground.

SELLONA BEACH AT GLAN

Sellona Beach’s waters are warm, calm, and very inviting—although we wished it has better clarity. Indeed we picked the wrong beach, a mistake we would gladly make again the next time we visit Glan.

Sellona Beach
Address: Brgy. Glan Padidu, Glan, Sarangani
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 5.797026, 125.175530

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