Round Trip at Bukidnon's Southern Municipalities

When going to a particular place, I don't go on fiestas or araw ng barangays because of people flooding the area, but I decided to try and capture places while having their fiestas. The first place I went to is Barangay Salawagan, Quezon, Bukidnon.

Last October 6, 2012, my friend invited me to come to their place and have pakals (my favorite hehehe) because its their fiesta on the 7th. I accepted the invitation and hurriedly packed my things. In my mind, i know I can rarely reach southern Bukidnon, so I thought of going to the secret falls of Maramag - the falls I have knowledge of thanks to TREKERO (author is my co-blogger and idol Kuya Christopher Diaz).

Since we came from a party the morning of October 6, we were drained and tired but still we have to go. We waited for a bus at 6pm bound for Davao City, but we rode a bus heading to Kadingilan. The remedy to that is to stop at Maramag and wait for a bus to Davao at the terminal. Upon reaching Maramag Terminal, we waited nearly an hour until a bus bound for Davao shows up! We reached Brgy. Salawagan about 9pm.

When we reached their house,food were everywhere! We're very hungry so we get and get every food we can to satisfy our angry stomachs! Lechon Manok and Baboy, humba, meat dishes were plenty, but hey, this is once a year event. After dinner, we settled on the living room where we will sleep that night.

Morning came and the cool breeze flood through me! Its cold in Quezon too! We had breakfast and different dishes were on the table! "Busog napod ko ani" I said to myself.

By 10am, I left Salawagan and head to Camp 1, Maramag in search of the illusive falls, but before that, I stopped over at Quezon's Poblacion.

Freedom Park, Barangay Poblacion, Quezon, Bukidnon

Skyline of Poblacion, Quezon, Bukidnon.

I boarded a multicab heading Maramag and stopped at Camp 1. The Maramag Falls journey is on this blog.

It was already noon, still too early to go home. Since it was Poblacion, Damulog's fiesta, I decided to go there and visit my batchmates. I boarded a multicab bound for Kibawe. While on the way, I saw great improvements on the province's southern municipalities. From Don Carlos up to Kibawe, it was superb!

Reaching Kibawe, I contacted my batchmate who informed me about the fiesta and we went further south to Damulog on his motorcycle. Either side of the highway has spectacular views of mountains and fields and further away I could see the Cotabato plain (Damulog is the southernmost municipality of Bukidnon, has border with Cotabato province.)

We finally reached Damulog. It was my first time to set foot there. As expected, swarm of people flood the streets. Upon reaching our friend's house, food is everywhere! Desserts, Lechon Baboy, Meat dishes! The things I love to eat.

The Damulog Municipal Hall during Barangay Poblacion's fiesta. 

Its 3pm and I need to go home because I have an appointment at 5pm. My friend and I then head back to Kibawe where the buses are. I bid goodbye to my good friend and rode on a bus going to Valencia City because I'm in a rush. I reached Valencia by 5:50pm. I still need to ride a bus leading me to Malaybalay City. I reached Malaybalay by 6:40pm, 1 hour and 40 minutes late but its ok.

It has been 10 years since I last saw the south. I am very glad that they improved and wishing that it will not stop there.

FIESTA MODE

Bukidnon's 3rd District

Salawagan, Quezon

Poblacion, Quezon

poblacion, Damulog

October 6-7, 2012

DAVAO CITY for the First Time and ALONE!

I always love to travel alone especially while riding a bus to the destination I planned to go. But last September 17 - 19, 2012, it was a very different story.

My sister who works in Davao City got sick and someone have to go there to check up on her. I was the only person available so I was chosen to go. At first I was excited because finally I could go to Davao City!! but later on I felt goosebumps. I realized I'm travelling alone.

Travelling alone is not a problem with me because I'm used to it, but Davao City is a place I've never been! Even the areas starting from Brgy. San Jose, Quezon, Bukidnon was still an unknown land to me but I humbly accepted it as a CHALLENGE on my travelling peg.

I went to the terminal by 3pm, rode a bus heading to Davao City. The only landmark given to me was "Mercury Drug in Ulas". As a first timer, I don't know where that is and I haven't checked Google Maps for directions. The bus left the terminal and I bid goodbye and said "See you again soon! I'll be back!".

The Malaybalay - Maramag part of the trip was okey but when the bus turns to the Bukidnon-Davao Highway at Brgy. Camp 1, Maramag, I felt nervous, it was all strange land! That's when I feel uncomfortable. Now the only thing that could ease my goosebumps is the "konduktor" of the bus.

I lucky to seat next to the window. The views of Quezon was stunning!! Great fields, tall mountains (the Pantaron Range) and the great "Overview" was the greatest sight of all! That time, it was already pitch dark.

More than 5 hours passed and I could see a sight similar to Valencia City in Bukidnon. I stared at the window and started to look for signs indicating the name of the place. Finally, I saw the name "Calinan" which rang a bell on me. I remembered Calinan because a map of mine has a "Calinan, Davao City" on it. "Meaning nanako Davao!" I thought to myself. The "konduktor" then said "Kinsay mo naog sa Mintal? Sa Ulas?" Without second thoughts I shouted "ULAS KO!!". The bus stopped at Mintal and I'm excited to set foot on Davao City. Finally the konduktor said "Ulas na! Ulas! Kinsay mo naog?" and I picked up by bag and hurriedly went down the bus and now has set foot on Davao City! I arrived a quarter past 8pm.

The site where I stayed after the bus ride was wet because it had rained that night. I know I'm in Ulas but I could not find the Mercury Drugstore! but I saw road signs saying "This way to Toril" and "<--Davao, V Bukidnon". Later on I found out that the Mercury Drug was just a walk away and Ulas is the end point of the Bukidnon-Davao Highway. My sister fetched me and we went to Bago Aplaya where she stays.

The next day, we went to the doctor in a renowned hospital in Davao City - Alexian Brothers Hospital somewhere in Matina. After that, she tour guided me around the city. We first went to the famous "People's Park".

Davao City's People's Park.

It was a huge and beautiful park. I wish Malaybalay could have one too but Davao City is a highly urbanized city thats why they have developed a neat and great park. Below are shots of the People's Park:

Life sized statues.

These birds flood the park when I came.

A large statue of the Philippine Eagle, known native in Davao City.

After that, we went to a Gaisano Mall and met with my sister's officemates and we head to a famous spot in the city - Jack's Ridge.

Jack's Ridge Resort Marker.

 Jack's Ridge Resort is a spot located on a high hill overlooking Davao City. Here there are many restaurants, a swimming pool, and inuman spots! - perfect for fun and party goers!

A popular spot for tourist, also in Jack's Ridge.

What struck me most is the Skyline of Davao City! My sister said that the view is not the whole Davao City yet! That's how huge Davao City is!

Davao City viewed from Jack's Ridge.

I had a fun time at Davao City. By September 19, I went home because my sister is now okey and I badly miss home. By 8am I waited for a bus heading Cagayan de Oro City. I bid goodbye to my sister because she has to go to work. I waited, and waited, and waited... I realized that Cagayan bound buses were rarer here!!

After 30 minutes, a bus finally arrived! I was relieved. I can finally see the sights of upper Davao in full sunlight! The Pantaron Range was spectacular! The Marilog District amazed me with mindblowing sights. Maybe I could explore these parts soon. After 6 hours, I finally reached Malaybalay City.

The Davao Trip really made a huge mark on me, realizing the importance of maps and studying them. CHALLENGE ACCOMPLISHED!!!!! The next time I'll go to Davao City, I will be prepared and ready to go!

I fell in love with Davao City -  an icon of progress and success! See you soon Davao!

Davao City unplanned trip

September 17-19, 2012

Davao City

Being Blue at Blue Water Cave

As an avid blogger of Malaybalay City, I have been discovering its secrets that I haven't seen before. I have encountered many people and have witnessed different events happening in Malaybalay City. In fact I have been blogging about my Malaybalay adventures starting May 2012.

Link: EXPLORE MALAYBALAY CITY

But as a person who loves to travel so much, I have been travelling outside my home city and discover other place in the Province of Bukidnon.

I have heard of a wonderful place in South Bukidnon wherein they say it is dangerous and no one ever returned to such place. I came to wonder if those stories are true so I decided to go and see it for myself. The place I'm talking about is the famous "Blue Water Cave" in Barangay San Jose, Municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon.

A cave in the famous Blue Water. This cave is above the blue pool which gave the place its popular name.

On the day of June 16, 2012, I had my Maramag Escapade because of an official trip at FIBECO, Barangay Anahawon, Municipality of Maramag. Since I want to discover the "Blue Water Caves", I contacted a friend living in Barangay Camp 1, Maramag - the barangay before Barangay San Jose, Quezon. My appointment in Anahawon ended at 5pm so my companions left me and I went on southward towards Camp 1. My friend was still riding a bus going to Camp 1, so I have to go to the Maramag Integrated Bus  Terminal to meet him and rode the bus together until we went to his home.

Finally morning of June 17th came and I am now excited to go to the Blue Water but unfortunately, my friend had to check his tooth to a dentist, so I have to wait until afternoon. I was getting upset and frustrated and saying to myself that I can't go on to it anymore.

By 2:45pm, he finally arrived and together with his relatives who knows the way, we went to Blue Water. We walked through the Camp 1 Elementary School and hit a multicab ride until we passed the Pulangi Bridge linking Bukidnon to Davao City.

Barangay San Jose, Quezon Welcome marker, a landmark for Blue Water adventurers.

 We stopped at the welcome marker of Barangay San Jose, Quezon and followed a trail beside the mighty Pulangi River. It is an easy trail until a steep way downwards came upon us.

The Pulangi Bridge in the Maramag-Quezon border.

After a treacherous downtrail, finally we reached the rocky riverbank of Pulangi River until we saw a wonderful cave. What I really wonder is the fact that why is this place called "Blue Water". So I searched for anything blue in the area. The Pulangi is brownish in color due to the many tributaries it has from Lantapan, Malaybalay City, Impasug-ong, Maramag and Quezon. I searched and searched until I saw a cave with blue water flowing from it! What a spectacle!

The "Blue Water"

 The underground blue water really is pure blue in color! It is also cold and semi-deep. When it meets with the Pulangi, it leaves a bluish area before mixing with the brown waters.

My close encounter with the blue waters of San Jose, Quezon, Bukidnon.

 I was greatly astonished with what I saw! Truly there are still many sights and pots in Bukidnon not yet discovered or rarely known.

After 2 hours, we head to Barangay North Poblacion, Maramag and had photoshoot and toured around the center of Maramag. Its like a city south of Valencia, populated and full of lively people collaborating the municipality in every single way they do.

Maramag Municipal Plaza

Maramag Municipal Gymnasium.

After a tiring trip, its time to head back to Malaybalay City. I find it fun traveling alone, sitting on he bus quietly and merely seeing the lovely views at the side of the Sayre Highway.

Traveling alone is fun. You just need courage. determination and a lot of knowledge on the routes and places you are going to.

Blue Water Adventures
June 16 - 17, 2012
Barangay San Jose, Quezon