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

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

Saranggani | Gumasa Beach : Little Boracay Of Mindanao

Before heading back to Manila I had a quick visit to the beaches of Glan in Saranggani, an hour van ride from General Santos City. Based on the blogs that I’ve read most of the resort there charges a 200 pesos cottage rent even if you not intended to stay there long. 

I hop a van from General Santos to Glan in Sarangani. It took an hour to finally reach the quiet town of Glan. From the terminal I chartered a tricycle to Gumasa where the strip of white sand beaches is located. I told kuya driver if I can access the beach without passing through the beach resort there. We pass by a vacant lot then I am able to see the white and beach of Gumasa. 

  

 

The sand is white and fine. The water is very clear. Some people compare it to Boracay's sand and water but I honestly think Gumasa is a little notch lower than Boracay. But the absence of so many tourists makes Gumasa better than Boracay if you want a peaceful vacation. 

It’s so hot that I just took some photos then we go back to the town of Glan. I roam around the small town then i head back to General Santos city and waited my flight back to Manila.

This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani

South Cotabato | The Enchanting Lake Sebu

From North Cotabato I’ll be heading to the South Cotabato this time. My next destination is the enchanting Lake Sebu! I’m so grateful to Kuya Neil that he sends me to the bus terminal going to Cotabato City. From Cotabato City I ride a jeepney going to Husky bus terminal then hop a bus bound to Isulan in Sulatan Kudarat. The bus going to Isulan passes by the province of Maguindanao. I’m supposed to have a side trip to Shariff Aguak but I decided to go directly to Isulan. From there I took a van to Surallah then a jeepney ride again to the Lake Sebu. 

Lake Sebu is a natural lake located in the municipality of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and within the Alah Valley region. It is one of the country's most important watersheds, supplying irrigation to the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. The villages around the lake have been turned into an independent municipality called Lake Sebu after being a former village of Surallah.

The T'boli and Ubo tribes have been the traditional dwellers of the lake. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources have recognized, through Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2, Series of 1993, the claim of these tribes that the lake and its surroundings are under their ancestral domain.

I enjoyed eating different kinds of tilapia dishes. One of the tastiest tilapia I’ve tried.  Main draws of Lake Sebu is the 7 waterfalls. I got to visit the 2 accessible falls. Hope to see all 7 waterfalls when i return to Lake Sebu next month. They are celebrating their festival during my visit. Before heading to Sultan Kudarat i watched tribe performances at the plaza.

 This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani 

how to get to lake sebu

From Manila - Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air flies daily to General Santos City. From there ride a van/bus bound to Surallah. From the Surallah transport terminal hop a jeepney to Lake Sebu then habal habal to your resort.

North Cotabato | The Breathtaking Asik-Asik Waterfalls

I left Cotabato City early in the morning to catch the double-tire jeep in Midsayap. The double-tire jeep leaves Midsayap market at around 10am then took 2 hours to reach Dado in Alamada. I am so excited to finally see the curtain like spring fall of Asik-asik.

The people of North Cotabato speak Ilonggo. From barangay Dado I took a heavy duty motorcycle/habal-habal to upper Dado. The road uphill were rough that passes through the countryside of Alamada. It was the worst habal-habal ride experience of my life. There were times where I opt to walk because anytime well get out of balance and got an accident. It was a butt trembling journey.

Approaching the jump off municipal officials and resident of Upper Dado held a meeting on how they manage the Asik-asik falls. Roads were under construction. They told me that the rough habal-habal experience is part of the adventure of going to Asik-asik.

There is also store selling beverages, coffee, snacks and souvenir items and nipa huts for those who want to stay overnight.

I stayed for a while then and a group of Midsayap locals boarded a 4WD arrived with their foreigner friend. We walk down the muddy trail heading to the falls. The makeshift bridge they constructed is destroyed by a recent typhoon and the strong current of river would not allow us to cross the other side.

The breathtaking views of Asik-asik were really worth to visit. It is one of a kind.

After spending some time I went back to the jump off point still undecided to stay overnight or go back to Midsayap. One of the locals asked my family name and it happens that his grandparents were same as mine, we are distant relatives. He invited me to stay at their home in Midsayap. I got also a free ride on his 4WD, accommodation and dinner.

The following day I travel back to Cotabato City and headed to my next destination the Lake Sebu in South Cotabato!

This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani

Cotabato City | The Grand Mosque Of Cotabato

monument of sultan kudarat

After spending hours roaming around Marawi City I headed to the transport terminal and waited for the van bound to Cotabato City. While waiting for some passengers I took some photos within the vicinity. I can’t understand their language so I just spend time editing my pictures while observing some locals. Contrary to what my friends says nothing to fear in Marawi but you needs enough courage to be on that place. It’s just like ordinary places in the Philippines. 

old cotabato city hall

We left Marawi at around noon. The highway that connects Marawi to Cotabato passes by the remote towns that belong to Maguindanao province. It just likes a ghost town where we seldom see vehicles passes that route.

We arrived at Cotabato City at around 2 pm. I ate a late lunch in a nearby eatery then afterwards I walk towards the plaza scouting for a cheaper accommodation. After I settle my accommodation at Hotel Filipino I took a quick shower then headed to the grand mosque. From the plaza I hop a jeepney bound to Awang then get off at the husky bus terminal. At the junctions I take habal habal to the grand mosque.

The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid or the grand mosque of Cotabato is the largest mosque in the Philippines. The construction of the mosque in Barangay Kalanganan was funded by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam as a gift to the emerging Muslim population in the southern Philippines.

cotabato city hall

From the grand mosque i drop by the People’s Palace or the Cotabato city hall. Kids were playing soccer on the fields. I took some photos then one of the kids with disability approaches me and gamely smiles at me.  

I head back to the hotel and roamed around the plaza. There is a dance competition in the park. Food stalls were also on the street that sells grilled chicken, sea foods and pastel I bought some and ate it on my room. After eating my dinner I stayed at the hotel’s veranda and observing the night life of Cotabato City. I took a rest and prepare myself for my next destination the Asik-Asik falls in Alamada North Cotabato the following day.

This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani

Lanao Del Sur | The Islamic City Of Marawi

From Mukas I boarded a bus bound to Iligan City. I spend a night at famous pension house located at the back of Adventist Medical Center along Andres Bonifacio Avenue. I leave Iligan at around 5 am. From the highway I hail a habal habal to the south-bound terminal where jeepneys that fly to Marawi City embark.

Marawi City is predominantly a Muslim City which accounts for 95% of the population. Sharia criminal law exists but without stoning, amputations or other harsh Islamic punishments as they are against the law of the Philippines. The distribution of alcoholic products and gambling is forbidden and women must cover their heads. Non-Muslims though are exempted to this rule. Other than Sharia law in personal matters, these laws are not applicable elsewhere in Lanao Del Sur.

An hour of land travel finally I reach the main campus of Mindanao State University. The Lanao Lake is overlooking from the campus of the university also inside where Aga Khan Museum and King Faisal mosque. 

From MSU i took a tricycle to the Lanao Del Norte provincial capitol. I enter the capitol ground. The government building and offices were huge. There is also a mosque inside. From there I walk the nearby Marawi integrated terminal and boarded a van bound to Cotabato City.

It was a short visit to Marawi City. Some of my friends warned me that it is too dangerous there but it’s worth to take the risk to visit unfamiliar places.

This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani

Misamis Occidental | Cotta Fort In Ozamis City

Straight from Ozamis bus terminal I hop a tricycle to the port area to catch a ferry/barge that crosses to Mukas in Lanao Del Norte. Due to my limited time I opted to skip Ozamis City and nearby areas. When I was approaching the Ozamis barge terminal I saw this huge wall just like in Intramuros. Its past 12 noon and I check what’s inside the Cotta Fort. I paid 5 pesos entrance fee then I start exploring the place.

Fuerte de la Concepcion y Del Triunfo is also known as Cotta Fort and Shrine. The fort is made of broken pieces of dead corals and built in 1756 by Father Jose Ducos. This served as a Spanish outpost in the area. A special chapel was built inside the walls of the fort and an image of the virgin of the Immaculate Conception, in the pink and blue attire, was enshrined in the chapel and outside the fort on the wall facing the bay, was a carved image of the Virgin Mary. The image on the Cotta's wall is believed to be miraculously growing and has been the object of pilgrimage. The fort was renovated and restored to its original design in 2006.

There is more interesting places in the area if only i have enough time. Just outside the Cotta Fort is the Ozamis barge terminal and it’s a 20 minutes boat ride to Mukas that passes by the Panguil bay. 

This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani