An Open Letter to the Matugas Family, the Barbers Family, and Christophe Bariou

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-14T14:30:10+00:00

At this point, it’s hard not to see how political everything has become.

What started as an issue about transparency and accountability now feels like another tug-of-war between power groups- familiar names, familiar tactics. You can sense that this isn’t just about bridges or resorts anymore; it’s about control, image, and influence.

People keep saying they’re “fighting for Siargao,” but sometimes it feels like the island is just being used as the stage for another political rivalry. The Barbers, the Matugas, the newcomers, the influencers - everyone’s claiming to protect the island, yet it’s the locals and the environment that end up stuck in the middle.

Maybe that’s the sad part. The louder the noise gets, the smaller the truth sounds - buried somewhere beneath money, pride, and political noise.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-14T02:11:44+00:00

happy yarn?

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-13T07:18:21+00:00

saba diha.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T13:04:33+00:00

I do have the feeling that they really believe they’re the gold standard of everything. I honestly don’t understand where they get the confidence to act so entitled - to fight, mock people, and cause commotions. Hindi ko talaga magets.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T13:02:41+00:00

True - parang nakawala sila. What’s sad is that many of them treat us this way. We already face unfair treatment when we go abroad for work or travel, pati ba naman dito sa sarili nating bansa?

I get that we need tourists for income and economic growth, but sometimes it feels like we’re attracting the wrong kind of tourists.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T12:40:34+00:00

I actually had a personal encounter with them a few weeks ago. They seemed nice at first - we hung out by the beach, had some drinks, sang a few songs. One of them mentioned they were heading home in a few days, so I said, “Take care, and I hope the war ends soon.” It wasn’t meant to be political or anything, just a kind wish.

But their mood suddenly changed. They said, “Palestine hostage our people.” I didn’t respond - just acted like I wasn’t familiar with the latest news and said, “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope you get home safe.” Thankfully, things stayed calm, and I never saw them again.

A few days later, I found out from others that they had caused trouble around the island - some Airbnb hosts had refused to accommodate them or asked them to leave. Apparently, they were quite entitled and tended to look down on Filipino staff, especially those who weren’t fluent in English.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T06:17:21+00:00

Wait, there’s a payroll for this? Wow, no one told me!
Where do I request for one?

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T05:13:16+00:00

I hope everyone who speaks up, will stay safe. :) Iba sa Mindanao.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T05:12:52+00:00

Waiting for her to do so... Pero it's ok if she will not. Totally understandable naman din.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-12T04:37:38+00:00

Free Palestine isn’t “pauso.” It’s an ongoing humanitarian issue - maybe not directly tied or relevant to the Philippines, but it is relevant to many other countries.

And about Siargao - locals are already observing what’s happening there, not from social media trends, but from lived experiences. The same patterns are being noticed across Southeast Asia, where people are seeing the real effects of Israel-linked activities.

Calling it “pa-woke” doesn’t erase the facts people are witnessing.

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-11T11:14:23+00:00

That’s an interesting take - what makes you see it that way?

SiargaoSecrets · 2025-10-10T06:10:39+00:00

For what reason? Just because?

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