Thursday, October 16, 2014

THE 10 NATURE'S GIFTS IN SOCCSKSARGEN

1. THE  AWE-INSPIRING GUMASA BEACH IN SARANGANI

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As I said on my previous post, the Gumasa beach is dubbed as the “Small Boracay of Mindanao”. As you walk along the shore, you will be greeted by the relaxing view of sparkling white sand, crystal clear water and you will be caressed by the cool breeze coming from the pristine and beautiful ocean. This is a perfect place for a vacation with family or friends because you won’t be surrounded by a very large crowd and a lot of urban developments to ruin the mood. This place is the destination for you if you’re looking for some quiet time and relaxation. Also, up early to gaze upon the beautiful sunrise when you’re at Gumasa beach!

You won’t have a hard time looking a place to stay in because there are lots of inns around the place. The place is also an hour’s drive from General Santos City.

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2. THE IMPRESSIVE MT. APO NATIONAL PARK, KIDAPAWAN, NORTH COTABATO


www.mtapoadventures.com
 Mount Apo is considered as the highest mountain in the Philippines and it is also known as the “Grandfather of all mountains”. The local tribes or the Bagobos in the place worship the mountain because they believe in the gods of Apo, and the Bagobos call it Sandawa or “Mountain of Sulphur”. Mount Apo is an active volcano and mountain climbers love to hike on this mountain because of the beautiful attractions you would see as you climb the mountain, you would experience a lot of adventures and see different creatures in the mountain. The easiest way to reach the summit is through the Kidapawan Trail which is lined with flowers. The path is where you would also discover unique bodies of water, such as Lake Agco, where cold and hot springs collide, then the Marbel River, then Lake Venado which is 2,194 meters above sea level. You would also meet a lot of curopus and playful wild animals such as monkeys, and it is also home to our very own Philippine eagle.

www.explorecotabato.blogspot.com

www.southcotabato.org


3. THE MAJESTIC ASIK-ASIK FALLS IN ALAMADA, COTABATO


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Water falls lover? Well, this falls is a must-visit for you! Be enthralled by this beautiful falls with your family and friends!


You  could take a jeepney or a van for 20-30 minutes from Midsayap to Alamada for only 50 pesos. You may also want to ride a motorcycle or the “habal-habal” going to Sitio Dulao, Brgy. Dado and feel the excitement of 1 hour and 20 minutes from the entry point down to the falls. Be sure not to miss out on this unique experience!

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4.    THE AMAZING PANGI RIVER IN SARANGANI

www.sarangani.gov.ph
 Have you tried the Rio Grande Rapids in Enchanted Kingdom or the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure in Universal Studios? Well… we have our very own natural rapids adventure in New La Union Maitum, Sarangani Province! This would be more exhilarating than the rides because this river is natural! It would be a wild 1.6 kilometers ride over rocks and white water! Pangi River is a great destination for water tubing because it’s the biggest water tubing location and has a clean river system that guarantees you a very thrilling, heart pumping yet fun adventure! Remember, Natural experience is more fun!

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5.   THE TREMENDOUS TUKA MARINE PARK, SARANGANI
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 Want to avoid the pressure of urban life? Want to see something you would never see in the city?  Then visit the Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba, Sarangani! It is a protected area where fishing is banned. There are four coves in this place, and only the Tuka Cove 2 is open to the public. The sparkling white sand and an overwhelming coral garden that is just a few meters away from the coast is a must see, and snorkeling and diving is perfect in this place! You would see big fish and colorful corals as you snorkel or dive. For only a hundred pesos, you would be able to rent snorkeling equipment. Plus, you wouldn’t see or hear cars and public transportation vehicles, so this is place offer a tranquil hideaway from your hectic city life.

To get here, rent a boat for 1,500 which accommodates 15 people
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www.southcotabato.org

6. THE REMARKABLE KUTAWATO CAVES

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 Kutawato caves is really one of a kind because it can only be found in the “Heart of Mindanao- Cotabato City”. These caves were also the reason behind the present name of the city, “kuta” means fort and “wato” means stone, as said on my previous post.
The caves have several entrances but only four are open to tourists. The gaping mouth entrance offers a distinctive experience! This cave is historical because the Filipino guerillas have used this as a garrison to fight against the Japanese invaders during World War II. As you enter the Bagua cave entrance, you would see mud, ponds and a large group of bats. It would really be astonishing when you experience being inside a historical cave!
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7. THE OVERWHELMING SEVEN FALLS IN LAKE SEBU, SOUTH COTABATO

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You will be overwhelmed when you visit a place where you will enjoy nature in it’s full splendor, full of surprises and awesomeness; a place where you could forget about the stresses in life, and a place where nature-lovers unite.
South Cotabato is a prime eco-tourism destination; and not surprisingly, Lake Sebu is one of the destinations that nature-loving tourists visit. 
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 Lake Sebu is described as the “Little Baguio” of Mindanao because of the cold air that will embrace your body. Lake Sebu is home to the seven falls namely Hikong ali (paasage falls), hikong bente (immeasurable, the tallest), hikong b’lebed (zigzag falls), hikong lowig (booth), hikong k’fo-I (wild flower), hikong ukol (short falls), and hikong tonok (soil).
You could ride the zipline as said in my previous post, where you can view the falls from the top! Also, get the chance to meet the T’bolis! I’m sure you would love to have new friends that have a different culture from yours!

8.  THE AWESOME WORLD-CLASS LAGBASAN CAVE IN SULTAN KUDARAT

www.southcotabato.org
You would be surprised that one of the Philippines’ caves is considered as a world class cave by the specialist Glen Malliet from the United States Speleological Society. The Lagbasan cave is located at the municipality of Sen. Ninoy Aquino in the province of Sultan Kudarat. It is located 20 km from the barangay hall, then another 1km of trekking through the Lagpasan Pass. The opening hole is a 3 feet wide and 6 feet length and getting into the chamber requires a 10 meter descent.

The cave got its name from a mountain pass that was used by the natives in Barangay Kuden in Sen. Ninoy Aquino, to go to the town proper and back to their mountain community. 
The cave has two huge cathedral-like chambers, filled with cave formations like dripstones and cave crystals. According to some tourists, it is the most preserved cave that they have been to.

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For me, it’s a mystery why and how the cave has formed such thing like these stone formations.  The cave was first discovered by Mr. Charito Santiago when a farmer reported that there were birds coming out from a hole on the side of the mountain. The formation inside the cave is very rare, and you wouldn’t see something like this in any other cave! This is really one of a kind! Also, you are not allowed to touch anything white inside the cave or else, you might kill the cave!

If you plan to visit this cave, you must first coordinate with the provincial tourism office. Also, be ready for some trekking! Visiting a place like this wouldn’t be fun if there’s no adventure!

www.portaltotheplateau.com

9. THE AMUSING BAT SANCTUARY IN SARANGANI

ph.geoview.info
 You would be amused if you knew that the “largest bat in the world” could be seen flying every night in brgy. Pinol, Maitum Town in Sarangani! They are called Pteropus vampyrus, or “Giant flying foxes”. These bats look like a dog or a fox when you look at them up-close. But wait… they are not harmful, they are not the kind of bat who suck your blood, but they are the ones who feed on nectars and fruits. They are crowned as “The giant golden crowned flying fox bats” by the wildlife experts!

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10. THE EXQUISITE NOPOL HILLS IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY

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This highest camping ground gives you a good view of Sarangani Bay and the neighboring towns. Because of this stunning view, you would enjoy hiking and trekking with your family and friends during the afternoon to capture the beautiful sunset in Nopol Hills!




Sources:
www.ecoearth.info
www.hikersitch.com
www.langyaw.com
www.wayph.com
www.choosephilippines.com
www.philippinesmyphilippines.com
www.visitmyphilippines.com
www.cotabatoprov.gov.ph
www.traverseph.blogspot.com
www.m.roughguides.com


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