Jekoy Express: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Davao Del Sur | Philippines Eagle Center In Davao City

After spending the whole day basking on the shores of Malita I headed to Davao City the next day. One day is not enough to explore the largest city in the country and one of the safest in the world.

Upon checking the Google map and some online research the PEC caught my attention. Seeing the endangered monkey eating Eagle is on top of my list.

From Malita I boarded a bus bound to Davao City then get off at the junction of Crossing Ulas leading to the PEC. From there I took a jeepney to Calinan then habal habal to the eagle center.

After paying the 100 pesos fee I started exploring the vast nature reserve. There is a lot of endangered flora and fauna to see. It's nostalgic to see the monkey eating eagle. The PEC is responsible in protecting caring of the endangered species.

After spending an hour I headed to the downtown. I walked the streets of Davao city. I spend the night at Morvie's Suite along San Pedro street.

This is part of the 3rd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Maguindanao | Sultan Kudarat | Davao Occidental | Davao del Sur

Davao Occidental | The Coastal Town Of Malita

On the third day of my solo backing in Mindanao I went to Malita in Davao Occidental. From Kidapawan City I took a van to Digos City then another van to Malita.

It took 2 hours to reach Malita from Digos. We passes by banana plantations. The view going to Malita is scenic. I just spend the whole day in the beach of Malita.

Davao Occidental is the youngest province in the Philippines. By virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, the province is carved out from the southern part of Davao del Sur. RA 10360 was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate on November 28, 2012, and December 5, 2012, respectively, and signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14, 2013. A plebiscite was held on October 28, 2013 along with the barangay elections and the majority of votes cast were "Yes", ratifying the province.

The motive to create the province was to boost the economic condition and social progress of the municipalities. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who sponsored the creation of Davao Occidental, said that the distances of Digos City, Davao del Sur's provincial capital, to other municipalities in the second Congressional District are far-off that impairs the effective delivery of basic services, as well as the access to government offices. However, Davao del Sur Representative Marc Douglas Cagas considered the creation of the province as nothing more than gerrymandering and political convenience.

This is part of the 3rd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Maguindanao | Sultan Kudarat | Davao Occidental | Davao del Sur

Sultan Kudarat | A Quick Visit To The Provincial Capitol

Straight from Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao I headed to the town of Isulan in Sultan Kudarat. I have a chicken inasal for lunch at the BJ's Lechon Manok in rotunda area. After that i stroll going to the provincial capitol.

Isulan is the capital of Sultan Kudarat. The Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol building design is impressive that houses the different provincial government offices for the province of Sultan Kudarat including the office of the Provincial Governor and Vice Governor and the session hall for the provincial board. But unlike other provincial capitol in other provinces in the country and aside from its fascinating architectural design, everything inside the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol were obviously expensive and luxurious!

After that I continue travel further to Kidapawan City. Past 2 pm when I arrived there. I stroll around the booming city. I spend the second night at AJD Pension House along Tamesis Street.

The following day I'll be heading to Malita in Davao Occidental.

This is part of the 3rd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Maguindanao | Sultan Kudarat | Davao Occidental | Davao del Sur

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Maguindanao | The Blue Lagoon and Pink Mosque

For the third time I solo backpacked Mindanao. This time I visited the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Davao Occidental. Past noon when I arrived at Cotabato airport located in Awang Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao. I decided to just walk from the airport terminal to the highway and hail a jeepney headed to the downtown Cotabato then have my late lunch in one of the eatery there.

After that I scout for budget accommodation then I found Padama Pension house few blocks from the Cotabato City Mega Market. I left my backpack then boarded a jeepney to the Bangsamoro People’s Complex. I wasn’t able to enter the premises because I’m wearing short and slipper which they implement strict dress code. I instead boarded a jeepney back to the city and stroll in the old Cotabato City Hall and look some goodies in the Mega Market. I bought pastil, pineapple and Pikit coffee.

I head back to my guesthouse took a rest and prepare myself for my trip in Maguindanao the following day.

On my second day I leave Cotabato City early and boarded a jeepney to Margues in Datu Odin Sinsuat. I’m so excited to see the Blue Lagoon. Together with locals it took less than an hour to reach barangay Margues. I get off near the elementary school then walk towards the lagoon. This now a big drawn to the locals and people of Cotabato were they spend their weekends swimming and enjoying that natural wonders. I was so amazed to see it for myself. Locals swam and some washes their clothes there. I took some photos then leave that place. There’s another lagoon nearby but I opted to skip it and take a jeepney bound to Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

The Masjid Dimaukom (Pink Mosque) construction was financed by Mayor Samsodin Dimaukom. The mosque was painted pink to symbolize peace and love and was built by Christian workmen to symbolize unity and inter-faith brotherhood.

In that town most structures were painted with pink. From there I took a jeepney to the nearby province of Sultan Kudarat.

This is part of the 3rd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Maguindanao | Sultan Kudarat | Davao Occidental | Davao del Sur

Friday, June 26, 2015

Backpacking Mindanao 3 Expenses (Cotabato City to GenSan) June 19-23, 2015

Day 1 - Cotabato City

jeep from Awang airport to Cotabato City- 15.00

lunch- 92.00

Padama Pension House- 350.00

mcdo float- 27.00

jeep to Bangsamoro complex- 16.00

pineapple- 20.00

pastil & egg- 30.00

Pikit coffee- 50.00

water & gatorade- 50.00

total -------------------------------------------> 650.00

Day 2 - Maguindanao to Kidapawan City

jeep to Margues- 20.00

jeep to Datu Saudi Ampatuan- 50.00

jeep to Isulan- 50.00

lunch- 85.00

bus to Tacurong- 17.00

van to Kidapawan- 120.00

ADJ pension house- 150.00

snack- 56.00

moive- 30.00

dinner- 139.00

total --------------------------------------------->717.00

Day 3 - Malita , Davao Occidental

breakfast- 40.00

trike to terminal- 10.00

van to Digos- 150.00

trike to terminal- 25.00

van to Malita- 120.00

cr fee- 3.00

Sulata Beach Resort- 500.00

lunch-70.00

total--------------------------------------------->948.00

Day 4 - Davao City

trike to bus terminal- 20.00
bus to Davao- 180.00
lunch- 48.00
jeep to Calinan- 50.00
habal-habal to PEC- 30.00
PEC entrance fee- 105.00
habal-habal to Calinan- 50.00
jeep to Bangkerohan- 40.00
snack- 48.00
D' Morvie Suites- 250.00
jeep to Abreeza/SM Lanang- 26.00
dinner- 103.25
total--------------------------------------------->950.25

Day 5 - General Santos City

taxi to Ecoland- 70.00
durian candy- 100.00
van to GenSan- 180.00
breakfast- 121.00
lunch- 62.00
trike to bulaong terminal- 30.00
trike to airport- 150.00
terminal fee- 150.00
coffee- 25.00
total-------------------------------------------->888.00

airfare Manila-Cotabato / Gensan-Manila- 804.12

grand total- P 4,957.37

This is part of the 3rd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Maguindanao | Sultan Kudarat | Davao Occidental | Davao del Sur

Monday, June 1, 2015

Calendar of Festivals in the Philippines

January