(Last Part for Two Parts. To be edited…)

My trip to General Santos City for the Mindanao New Media Bloggers Summer Safari and Food Trip hosted by SoCCSKSargen Bloggers’ last Sunday was a one great perfect summer escape- with all the ingredients of a successful destination. It was fun, free and full of possibilities – to a nature wonderland.

Breakfast at Dolores Tropicana Resort. Luscious green grasses and leaves greeted us as we arrived at Dolores Tropicana Resort for a breakfast and sight seeing. They served us with tasty bangus and crispy tilapia. Dolores Tropicana Resort is a refreshing sight to behold. This resort located at Polomolok is an example of a well- planned, properly maintained resort you could find just few minutes from General Santos City. Planted to Durian, Dolores is a landscape of orderliness and convenience. It is a haven to a wonderful varieties of durian you can’t just ignore. Swimming pools yields fascinating insight. Going through the resort, it will give you the impression that you’re not just in a resort, you’ll see different animals like wild boar and birds. The area is not just refreshing to the eyes, it also manifest the keen adherence to functionality, comfort and elegance. Hotel with air-conditioned guest suites and function rooms is available. The resort has been a venue for bikini open, a haven for dignitaries and celebrities. They also have a magic show every weekend.

Trek and Zip at Seven Falls, Lake Sebu. Our second destination was the famous Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Travel time of 3 hours, we felt the mists and saw the dews clinging on the tips of green blades along the highway, a coned- shape mountain and a wide pineapple plantation of DOLE. A trip to Lake Sebu is not just a pleasure trip. It will always be an educational experience. According to GensSan Gazer, Lake Sebu, the nearly four-square-kilometer freshwater lake that helps feed the equally famed Seven Falls in the municipality named after the lake itself, is a placid inland sea located in Alah Valley near the municipality of Surallah South Cotabato. T’boli and Ubu Tribes have been the traditional inhabitants and caretakers of the lake.

In an entrance fee of 20 bucks, we proceeded to the two highlights of our visit to Lake Sebu- the zip-line ride and the trek to the Seven Falls. Zip-line ride is an exciting, breath taking challenge designed to propel a person by gravity from the top to the bottom of an inclined cable over a canopy of forests that will make you wish you could do it yourself. Not all of us able to zip due to untoward circumstances which makes for a very good reason to come back. However, our friends from Cagayan de Oro was given a chance to experience one of the longest zip-line in the country. Busy taking photographs, my fellow bloggers stepped on closer to falls.

Lunch at Punta Isla Lake Resort. For lunch, we had a feast at Punta Isla Lake Resort. But before that, a T’boli music performance entertained us.. It was a presentation of their identity as a proud people with history and culture through dance and music. It gains fuller appreciation of the many facets of our native culture that together shape the Filipino identity and character.

Punta Isla Lake Resort is a perfect example of entrepreneurship with a social conscience. They gave us a sumptuous lunch. The place is perfect for couples, families and friends looking for time together.

Snacks at Merl Garden Spring Resort. While some of CDO friends enjoying the adrenaline rush of zip-line ride in Seven Falls, we headed to Merl Garden Spring Resort for our free snacks at Barangay Lahit, Lake Sebu. Merl Garden is perfect for a family day. There is a monkey bar, hanging bridge, banca ride, horse backriding, 40 feet monkey ladder, 2-way zip line, slide for life and bagging challenge.

Afternoon break at Sa Balai Bistro. After an exhausting but memorable adventure and travel from Lake Sebu, we went back to Gensan and dashed to Sa Balai Bistro to loosen up and chat while sipping Sa Balai’s drinks which included Pandan Shakes, Mulberry Tea, and Home-Brewed Coffee. It was a perfect time to have a short rest. Sa Balai has a nice ambiance with artistic pieces from different ethic cultures in a mix of European architecture and Asian art.

Dinner at Red Tent Steakhouse. Our tour ended with a dinner at Red Tent Steakhouse. The food was great. They served us with crabs, beef steak, pork, garlic tuna, among others.

South Cotabato is much deserving to be one of the country’s best tourist destinations. It was a memorable experience that I’ll be treasured forever.

Of course, every endeavor has its places, things and other stuff to be thankful for.

A bunch of thanks to the following sponsors:

• Mr. Rey Billena of The Ice Castle Experience
• Piyesta KTV and Restobar
• Pacman Sports Bar
• Le Jardin Arnevel
• Dolores Farm Resort
• Francis Sablon of Zion Travel
• Seven Falls Zipline
• Punta Isla Lake Resort
• Merl Garden Resort
• Sa Balai Bistro
• The Red Tent Steakhouse
• Rolee’s Bakeshop
• Coffee Club 101
• Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki
• SOCCKSarGen Bloggers
• Avel and Orman Manansala

Til next time!

Brazil Butt Lift

Turbo Fire Workout

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Photos above courtesy of Lyle Santos of www.LyleSantos.com and Meiyah of www.meiyah.info

Originally posted from www.RichardDiongson.com

The strategic location of Kidapawan City being at the foot of Mt. Apo – the country’s highest peak- offers vast tourism potentials and attractions for both local and foreign tourists who wish to embrace nature at its best.

Scenic scenes of Mt. Apo’s twin peaks, breathtaking and thundering waterfalls, lakes and lagoons, endemic but exotic flora and fauna growing and thriving in its environment are just a few attractions that drive visitors to explore and visit it whole year round. It is considered a sacred place among native inhabitants as it continues to bless and provide them food, water and medicine necessary for their survival.

Of the four major lakes comprising Mt. Apo, most popular are Lakes Agco and Venado. Thrill seekers hiking towards Mt. Apo’s summit will first take Lake Agco.

Adjacent to the lake is the Lake Agco Mahomanoy Mountain Resort in Ilomavis, Kidapawan City. It features a 25 meter outdoor swimming pool as well as children’s pools, hot mineral tubs, natural spa, mini forest, camping grounds, native cottages, hiking trails, and boiling mud pools.

The Mountain Resort in located in a dense forest surrounded by Mt. Apo’s lush greeneries. Its water source comes from Lake Agco where hot and cold water converge at an elevation of 1,250 meters above sea level. Just how hot the water is, is that it bubbles up the lake’s shore and hot enough to boil and cook an egg!

It is heated by an underground volcanic vent near boiling point and enriched with minerals such as Sulphur – known for its medicinal value. As the rain waters penetrate the Earth’s soil fissure, the magma heats it up. Then the water rises to the surface carrying with it minerals coming from the rock’s stratus.

Both the Lake and the Mountain Resort remain secluded and have retained their paradise like ambiance which attracts travelers to embrace the Earth’s beauty. Visitors will surely enjoy its atmosphere of serenity once they visit the place.

A hike away from the Lake Agco Mahomanoy Mountain Resort is the 104 megawatt Mindanao Geothermal Field operated by the ENERGY Development Corporation. It draws its power from the natural heat underneath Mt. Apo. The said facility is itself also a landmark tourism attraction.

Lake Agco Mahomanoy Mountain Resort as noted by those who experience its uniqueness, is where Fire, Air, Water and Earth converged as one.

Management

It is being operated by the Community of Local Agribusiness Partners Multi-Purpose Cooperative which runs its day to day operations. The group is composed of farmers and tribal associations organized by the EDC as part of its Social Corporate Responsibility Program with the aim of protecting the environment and preserve its watershed areas. The group directly benefits from the geothermal project’s livelihood, education and health initiatives.

How to get there?

The resort is accessible from Kidapawan City through a well maintained 24 kilometer road passing through Barangay Ilomavis. Public transports such as jeeps and vans are available and usually take 45 minutes travel time. “Habal-habal” or single motorcycles used for public transport can be hired for P70 per person.

CREDIT: Photo and Texts courtesy of Kidapawan City Givernment Homepage, www.kidapawancity.gov.ph

It’s hard to find the right person to cut your hair and a quality hair style for men, right? I used to cut my hair in a cheap barber shop in the metro and in half of the cases I was not happy with the result. But as what they say, if it doesn’t come out right, so what? Just do it again and again. Next time you will surely get it! Until I found Chanelle Hair Studio and Spa.

They believe that well being is the cornerstone of personal and professional growth. Without it their mission cannot be achieved.

CHANELLE HAIR STUDIO in its infant stage as a premiere unisex salon where guest can find a wide range of admiring hair care services.They can proud to say that Chanelle is the hair rebond specialist in the city. Their highly trained trained staffs are devoted to their customers contentment and satisfaction.

Chanelle Hair Studio and Spa is conveniently located at 357 Daang Maharlika near Iglesia ni Cristo, along national highway, Quezon Boulevard, Kidapawan City. For appointments and inquiries call or text 09197802222.

Kidapawan City- The Kidapawan – Magpet – Makilala Eco Tourism Triangle recently lifted the closure of the KMM Trails leading to Mt. Apo .

In a resolution passed by the KMM, the Mt. Apo trails in their areas of responsibility will be opened for climbing effective May 1, 2010 after the more than 72,000 hectare Natural Park was closed for the public in the onset of the El Niño Phenomenon.

City Mayor Rodolfo Gantunagco was one of the signatories of the said Resolution. Also affixing their signatures were Magpet Mayor Efren Piñol Sr, and Makilala Mayor Onofre Respicio.

The Mt. Apo KMM trails were closed temporarily starting on March 23, 2010 after the KMM unanimously decided to protect the Park form possible forest fires that may be brought about by the dry spell. It was noted that forest fires can crate more damage as compared to conventional fires since these can burn more areas of the said park.

Under the Resolution, the KMM decided to open the said park for climbers now that the rains start to come earlier and has substantially lessened the dryness of the park grounds. With the opening of the trails, the KMM believes in the responsible promotion of eco-tourism that respects local culture and appreciation of natural landscapes without compromising the need to preserve and protect the environment.

Promotion of such responsible eco-tourism activity in Mt. Apo strengthening deeper public awareness of the importance  of the environment to the lives of the people which is ultimately redound to increased public support and accountability towards sustainable preservation, protection and development Mt. Apo Natural park, as stated in the said resolution.

However, the KMM also agreed upon the following conditions in opening the said park. These are: (a) selective and controlled climbing activity shall be observed pending the final evaluation of the over-all conditions of the KMM trails and converging areas of Mt. Apo, (b) organized climbing activity using the KMM trails is temporarily suspended until further notice, and (c) pre-climb orientation on forest fire protection, proper garbage disposal, climbers safety precautions and other environmental protection measures should be maintained, strengthened and strictly enforced to all incoming KMM trail-users.

The KMM likewise will hold talks with LGU’s of Digos and Bansalan in the neighboring Province of Davao del Sur for the strict implementation of the provisions of the said Resoultion since these LGU’s have climbing trails leading to Mt. Apo . The KMM needs the cooperation of the said LGU’s for the coordinated efforts in protecting the said Natural Park .

In relation to the said opening of KMM trails, the City Government of Kidapawan is planning to assemble a team to conduct an evaluation and clean up drive at Mt. Apo to assessed its conditions.

CREDIT: Kidapawan City HomePage, www.kidapawancity.gov.ph

I just brought home a memorable time of my two-day ultimate experience and “been-there-done-that-feeling” to be talked about again and again. I always dream of something “big” and by “big”, I mean, something on THE list. I am referring to last weekend’s 1st Mindanao Bloggers SoCCSKSarGEN Summer Safari and Food Trip spearheaded by SoCCSKSarGen Bloggers having Avel and Orman Manansala as the official brains of the said event. Attended by Cagayan de Oro, Davao and SoCCSKSargen Bloggers, it was a big bang! Indeed, one perfect way to end the year.

Jump-off Time. Roads from North, Central and South Mindanao led to the Tuna Capital of the Philippines after sun down on Saturday. From Yellow Bus Line Terminal, CDO and Davao Bloggers (including me, a sole blogger from Kidapawan) gathered and headed to the group’s official hotel at Ice Castle. We fell into the lap of class for free. I stayed on the Executive Suite with Davao’s Migs, Jun and Faust.

We were lucky enough to own the room for two nights and two days- a sampling of the city’s new growing hotel. The newly constructed hotel is a proof of the owner’s success from ice cream business where the hotel is now situated. Guests who would rather have a quiet- but not necessarily lonesome- might opt to get him wired to the World Wide Web with his own laptop as the hotel offered internet access for free via wifi.

GenSan after Sunset. After a short break and freshening up, the group dashed to the nearest JMP2 Building in Aparente Street. We visited Pacman’s Sports Bar where one can play indoor games such as billiard and dart. We had sumptuous foods coupled with drinks while enjoying the place. We also visited Jmix Resto Bar to get City’s spirited groove, a popular bar owned by the worlds pound for pound boxer, Manny Pacman Pacquaio, frequented mostly by the younger set. If you are kind of person who needs some foodie to munch on just night before bed time, worry not — Pacman Convenience Store is open 24 hours. Jinkees Fashion World is also situated inside the building catering young girls and women of all ages fashion wants. Then we went to Le Jarden Arnevel for a dinner — one of the famous catering services. For fine dining and formal occasions, Arnevel’s is a sure place to hit.

Bloggers’ Eyeball followed afterward at Piyesta KTV and Resto Bar at Robinsons Place. Piyesta Bar is a popular entertainment enclave where nocturnal watering holes can be found. The restaurant owner- Donna Mae Congson served us with Crispy Tuna Buntot and Kura Sticks. KTV is also available where talented Generals sing their hearts out. An additional feature of the Resto Bar are the drinks contained in syringe and tube. One gets the feeling of ‘octoberfest’ everyday as beers and cocktails come in overflowing forms. Sure enough, GenSan also considered one of the well springs of musical talents in the country.

GenSan night life is not only a merry mix of fun and never ending excitement. It is also diverse as the peace-loving Generals themselves. It has proven enough to a non-native General like me that there is more to GenSan aside from the usual image our local media create. The people, the spots, the foods, the fun… surely, GenSan will always be a part of my summer destinations.

And oh, before I forgot. I would like to say thank you to Mayor Pedro “Jun” Acharon of General Santos City who sponsored the Crispylicious and Juicy Lechon.

to be continued..

Brazil Butt Lift

Turbo Fire Workout

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Photos above courtesy of Lyle Santos of www.LyleSantos.com

Originally posted from www.RichardDiongson.com