The beach front of Lorna's End of the World ( low tide)
Two
months ago I was searching for a cheap accommodation for my future trip to Siquijor
and I stumbled upon with a fellow blogger’s entry Natalie of My Wandering Soles
about this cheap room/accommodation for only Php 400.00 in San Juan, Siquijor Island. I dialed the
number and made a reservation for at least 2 pax directly with the owner itself
Ate Lorna. I did not make a follow up as I was reluctant with the sweet and
cheerful voice of Ate Lorna and relied on with the feedback I received from travelers
who’d been to Siquijor.
In the early 16th century the word "flat bread" is referred to the now common pizza of
the modern world. But back then, flat breads are considered as peasants’ food and
not even regard as a regular recipe in any of chef's kitchen. But just like other things
on earth, nothing is permanent in this world as this bread evolved to a different style of
preparations and SIZES.
I have only known fishing game in other countries and never heard
such event being held in the Philippines. With the abundant marine resources and
being one of the centers of biodiversity, it is no doubt that giant fishes are
found in the Philippines.
Another place to visit in the
main island of Siargao in Mindanao is the Magpupungko situated in the Municipality of Pilar, Siargao Island. Coming from Gen.Luna or commonly known as GL, we hired a habal
habal for Php 1000 good for two passengers plus the driver. Prior to reaching
our destination, we first passed by the local market of Dapa to buy some fresh sea
foods, rice and something to “drink”.
Siargao Island left me breathless
after my first trip in the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. With the
invitation of some friends from Davao and Cagayan de Oro, I packed my bag and
hit the bus heading towards Surigao City one more time.
We met up at the Butuan Bus
Terminal Station at 3:00am and arrived in Surigao City at around 6:00am. We had
our breakfast in one of the foodchains in the city proper. Since we missed the
first trip, we waited until 10:00am for the next ferry bound to Siargao Island.
Upon arrival in Dapa Port, we
hired two habal habal going to Gen.Luna and stayed in Ocean Pacific Inn near the
surfing area, one of the cheapest accommodation in Siargao. At 3:00 pm, local residence and surfing professional Kyong recommended an instructor to us for our surfing lesson.
Not every one who goes to Siargao are
surfers, some are just simply fan of the water sports. If this is the case don’t need to feel bad that you won’t be able to enjoy Siargao because the scenic beauty of
the place is the perfect playground to have your own ways of photo shoot with friends and family. You
just have to wander around to locate a rockin' background combined with a perfect timing.
As an avid traveler and nature
explorer, I always include in my journal notes some of the unusual flora
and fauna I encountered along the way. I have the belief that your travel is of no value if you wouldn’t include appreciating the beauty of your environment. You need to have at least a little knowledge on the flora and fauna as it may
present some interesting story to tell in your journey. Sometimes it is just not
enough to wonder on the unique beauty of the places you visit without a little
investigation on little things you encounter along the way.
In my recent escapade in Mindanao,
I was awed with the rich biodiversity of the remaining forests at the east side
of the island. Once, I accidentally bumped with a carnivorous plant known as Nepenthes merrilliana along the road of
Noventa in Surigao del Norte. The said species is just being removed from its
habitat along with other dwarf tree species to give way to the ongoing road
construction. Another encounter was the multiple sightings of different species
thriving in a single place in a forest in Agusan del Sur.
Fascinated with their existence,
my colleague and I decided to look for a book that shall aid us to pre-identify
this interesting plant. With the help of a friend, Dr, Melanie Medecilo of
DLSU-D, she mentioned that Dr. Victor Amoroso has recently released a book on
the field identification for the said genus. And so I emailed him and he responded quickly on my inquiry.
Magkono
is known as the Philippine Iron Wood and considered as the hardest wood under the
Family Myrtaceae (ex. Guava and eucalyptus). It is listed as rare and currently
endangered based on the record of IUCN.
Magkono or Xanthostemon verdugonianus
is a Philippine endemic tree found in the “Magkono Triangle” that includes
Palawan, Samar, Dinagat Island and now seen in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.
To
cut the tree, it requires at least four days using a diamond-point saws because
of its hardness and high density. It is a durable material used by our
ancestors in making the casket of the departed members of the community. The display
in the National Museum in Butuan City proves that this wood can outlast everyone
and even a civilization for about thousands of years and yet has shown no decay.
Our ancestors also utilized it as primary foundation for building houses and poles
for the balangay and evenused as materials for some novelty items as decoration inside the house.
Butuan
City in Agusan del Norte is known as one of the gateways to Northern Mindanao and now a progressive city
where more and more investments are starting to flow in and cater the needs of
the increasing population of local and foreign visitors and migrants.
As a
visitor, wandering around Butuan City is quite tiring after historical and
adventurous tours. In my usual routine as a traveler and explorer, I always
look for a spa or a massage center in every place I visit to rejuvenate my tired
leg muscles after hours of walking. With
an unexpected finding fronting Boy’s Café and Restaurant, I discovered Grand Royal
Spa. Fresh and new to my senses, I wondered if the name fits the services they offered
at a very affordable price based on their advertisement. My curiosity led my
feet to try and test this establishment.
"The glow of happiness in their faces is the most authentic expression I have seen in my entire life..."
It
was exactly a year ago in 2011 that I made a debut reaching out to the
primary Manobo students of Inadan, located seven kilometers by foot from the barangay proper of Magroyong.
Seeing these children in their most deprived
condition particularly on the education aspect, is the most heartbreaking scene
I have witnessed in years.
I have the belief that all Filipino children, regardless
of their origin and ethnicity, should have an equal access to the government
provided services and distributed resources. But it is a sad truth that these
services and resources seldom reach the remote areas particularly the
tribal communities.
Lanao del Norte is a majestic province
blessed with wonders of nature. Located in the Northern Mindanao, the province
is surrounded by the mountains of
Bukidnon on the east, water by
the Iligan Bay on the north, and Illana Bay and Celebes Sea on the south and
southwest. The province is greatly provided with rich soil and marine resources
making the primary livelihood based on agriculture.
One of the prime features of Lanao del Norte is Iligan City also coined as the City of Falls because
of the presence of 23 majestic falls within the city boundary fed mostly by
the water coming from the great Lanao Lake, the second largest lake in the
Philippines.
Iligan city hosts one of the major sources of electricity in
Mindanao, the Ma. Cristina Hydro Electric Power Plant or known also as Agus Hydo
Electric Power Plant (IV, V,VI, VII) in which Ma. Cristina Waterfalls in Ditucalan fuels
the production of electrical energy for Agus VI.
NPC as a critical project in the area, mitigated the total environmental degradation by putting up a Nature Park. The
location in which the power production was located is truly diverse and once
densely forested.
If you are coming from Luzon and
Visayas, major airlines operate daily bound to Cagayan de Oro. From the airport
take a cab going to Bulua Bus Terminal Station. Take a bus bound to Iligan
City. We suggest that you take the non-stop bus to fasten your travel. From
Iligan North Bus Terminal Station, take a jeepney bound to the city proper, and
then take a jeepney again with a sign board NPC or Buru-un. Tell the driver
that you will alight just right after the bridge of NPC. From the bridge, the
entrance to NPC is about less than 100 meters.
During
my visit to Iligan’s National Power Corporation particularly in Maria Cristina
Power Plant ( Agus 6 & 7), I noticed that the Nature’s Park has just
resumed their tree top tour and zipline adventure as posted last March 14, 2012 .
The
added feature of the park actually existed since its grand opening last July
2010 but put on rest for some days for improvements. The additional activity
was the thrilling 20-25 meters canopy walk adventure from station 1 to station
2 that is similar to the canopy walk of Zoobic Safari in Subic.
If
you wish to experience the adrenalin rush in your blood stream, try the zip
line of the park for only Php 200. It may be shorter in distance but with the
fact that you are strapped upside down while traversing the raging Agus River
is another story worth telling and documenting.
For the safety of the adventurers, proper equipment is
available and expert personnel are there to facilitate the extreme activity.
With
these, NPC’s visitors have another way of spending their day inside Nature’s Park other than gazing on the marvelous Ma. Cristina Waterfalls.
After
our tiring escapade at Tinago Waterfalls in Iligan, we hit the city proper to get
some rest. Since it was already nearing dusk, we weren’t able to find the
cheapest accommodation in the city. We just took one of the rooms of Ma.
Cristina Hotel for Php 975.00 a night with twin beds where 4 guests can actually fit inside the room for a little extra charge.
After an hour of rest, we went out for our
dinner. We noticed that just right outside of the hotel ,there was a congregation of people
in the city plaza. It was a like a fiesta on a weekend.
We
look around and we noticed that the roasted pig or LITSON was a little common
in the area, sold in a very cheap price. There were tables along the road and in the middle of the plaza. It was like the Metro Walk version of Iligan . Beers are served everywhere.
I ordered
half a kilo of litson accompanied by vinegar plus PUSO or cooked rice wrapped
in coconut leaves.
It was a tasteful dinner while listening to some band
performing on the city’s plaza stage. At the end side of the stage, there was a
foot massage hub for those who wish to relax their feet after the panic shopping for bargained items sold around the place.
I
ended the night spending Php 200.00 for litson , puso (rice), and a couple bottles of
beer plus free live music and entertainment.
The tour
inside the National Power Corporation or NPC’s Nature Park in Iligan gives you a break from the daily routine from the
big city. Though the park’s Botanical and Zoological Garden isn’t as big as the other parks, the place serves as an ex- situ conservation ground for a few flora and fauna.
Inside the park, they also have a butterfly garden , serving as sanctuary for butterflies which play a vital role as one of the key pollinators of some plant species. I even saw a crowded field of endemic Philippine aroid species known as Alocasia boyceana thriving naturally in a very healthy condition.
Unlike other parks, the place is well maintained, clean and
not over crowded place which is a "stress-free" environment for the captive breed. NPC's effort is an example of making both industry and environment work hand and hand . With this project, it also provide direct protection of other riparian and forest species of plants
and animals that dwell naturally inside the compound of the National Power Corporation .
Crocodile Alocasia boyceana
HITTING THE CLIMAX
In my travel I am always looking forward for something new , unique and interesting discoveries in places i am visiting . During my tour inside NPC's Nature's Park, I was so fortunate to witness the actual mating ritual of a pair
of ostritches. I finished my degree in Biology but never had seen an actual
copulation ritual of ostritch. It was a trophy for any person in the field of
science to witness the wonder of reproduction among animals or any other living
organisms. I just hoped that the ritual ended with good pair of fertilized eggs and shall turn into healthy baby ostritches.
To
see the much wondered Ma. Cristina Waterfalls is a pinch of a dream that came
true. I can still remember that I used the image of the waterfalls as an entry
in one of the drawing contests I joined back in elementary days, but I have no
idea as to what the falls really looked like.
In
my wandering around Iligan, I was given a chance to have a closer encounter with
the textbook favorite landmark for the subject Sibika at Kultura.
Ma.
Cristina Falls dwells in the City of Iligan, Lanao del Norte. The falls cascade
in the boundary of Barangays Ditucalan and Buru-un and guarded inside the
compound of the National Power Corporation or the Agus compound that fuels the
production of Agus VI Power Plant also known as the Ma. Cristina Power Plant.
The twin falls has a towering height of 320 feet with massive water feeding the
Agus VI plant at the foot of the falls with 130 cubic meters per second,
producing more than 200 MW of electricity , shared by Mindanao end users.
