Saturday, October 11, 2014

5 BEST THINGS TO DO IN SOCCSKSARGEN

    1. Glide through the air when you ride the zipline at Seven Falls in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Have you ever tried walking along the magnificence and serenity of waterlily and lotus paths?  Well… That’s only a bonus when you visit Lake Sebu! The most exciting thing you can do when you visit Lake Sebu is riding the zipline while seeing the seven falls of the lake.

The falls have T’boli names, the Hikong Ali (Passage Falls), Hikong Bente (Immeasurable, the tallest), Hikong B’lebed (Coil or Zigzag Falls), Hikong Lowig (Booth), Hikong K’ Fo-i (Wild Flower, where wild flowers are seen), Hikong Ukol (Short falls, the shortest fall), and  Hikong Tonok (Soil).

 I’m sure that after the exhilarating zipline ride, you would most definitely crave more!  Gliding along with the birds is an amazing feeling that you will experience nowhere else. The zipline is considered as the highest and longest zipline in the Philippines, the Hikong Bente, known as the tallest fall with a height of 70 feet. So, if you’re brave enough to get as high as this, it is truly a one of a kind experience!


http://journeyingjames.com

http://southcotabatonews.org

http://4shared.com



2. Wondering how the T’nalak is made? Learn how to weave it yourself!

It would be memorable if you learn how to make a T’nalak, one of the most treasured products in South Cotabato, a product that is surely unique in the culture of the T’bolis, and you can even make your own personal touches to the one you take home by adding them yourself.  I’m sure you would not want to miss an experience like this!  You would not be surprised that the T’nalak is not easy to make because of its intricate designs, it takes days, or even weeks, for one person to finish it. The T’boli are also called the “The dream weavers” because they weave what they dream of! Every single T’nalak that is made is distinctive and unique. Most of their designs are relative to the T’boli’s life and culture; and this makes this cloth really revered. Plus, you would have the chance to meet and get to know more about the people behind these T’nalak cloths!


http://tboli.globalmatters.com

http://thetravelkit.com


3.  Relax, walk, snorkel, swim, dive, and more…  The Gumasa beach a.k.a  “Small Boracay of the South” is the one for you!

 The Gumasa beach is flaunted as the “Small Boracay of the South”, located in Sarangani Province. 
But what makes it different? You can relax without the noises; you would just hear the sound of the waves, and breathe the fresh air from the sea.
The Gumasa beach is like Boracay decades ago, before the influx of high class hotels and megabars, clean and pristine. And if I were to choose from the two beaches, I would choose Gumasa beach where I can enjoy activities such as snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking and of course…..
RELAXING, without the noise and pollution that comes with the urbanization of natural places. If you want some quiet time for yourself, well this beach would let you have it. You could do walking along the white sand, sparkling coastline and crystal clear water of the beach. Also, feel free to watch the beautiful sunrise and sunset at the beach; I’m sure you would feel like you’re in a paradise!
There are many resorts in Gumasa to choose from so you wouldn’t have a hard time looking for one!

http://entravel.com

http://rappler.com

http://acrosdayunibers.com


4. One, two, three… SHOT! Bird watching in Baras Bird Sanctuary.

Visit the home of rare and endemic birds, such as the Philippine Eagle, Philippine Hornbill, Brahiminy Kite, and many more! Also, if you are lucky, you may chance upon seeing thousands of migratory birds visiting the sanctuary. You would see 20,000 migratory birds flying along the sanctuary. Their population keeps on multiplying because they never stop hatching eggs. This attraction is a must-see for those who like animals, especially bird-watchers. If you love photography, this place would give you the chance to capture your best shots of lots of species of birds up close!  Unlike other sanctuaries, you could walk along the place to see the birds up-close. The best time to capture photos would be during early mornings and late afternoons! PLUS… the environmental group described the sanctuary as “Compared to nothing like in the Philippines”.

A young black crowned night Heron
http://nomadperspectives.com

http://tacurongcity.net

5.  Something fishy…  Join the generals at their Tuna Festival every September!

Would you join the generals?

The locals and tourists alike celebrate thanksgiving for the bountiful tuna found along GenSan’s coast. The festival is celebrated every September 5th, and it is a week-long festival. Local companies parade floats that people can ride, and there is a street dance competition, and a beauty contest, dubbed, the Search for Mutya ng Mindanao 2014.
Most likely, the tuna in the sashimis you have eaten all this time are from GenSan! You would want to buy your own tuna fish here for only P300-P500 per kilo. WOW! 
So come join the party of the generals! I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss a party like this, party animals! 

http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

http://southcotabato.org





Sources:
http://lakwatsero.com
http://journeyingjames.com

ALL ABOUT SOCCSKSARGEN

What comes to mind when you hear the word Soccsksargen?
Most people would say nothing, because this region is not familiar to them. What they don't know is that they are missing out on one of the most diverse and culturally rich regions in the country. Soccsksargen region consists of the provinces South Cotabato(SOC), Cotabato(C), Sultan Kudarat(SK), Sarangani(SAR) and General Santos(GEN). Soccsksargen is the home of the T'boli tribe, one of the most colorful and musically inclined tribes in the country, and boasts a booming economy based on agriculture and fishing, and a lot more unexpected attractions waiting to be discovered.
The provinces of the region are located in Central Mindanao of the Philippines.
source: onlineservices.da.org.ph
source: onlineservices.da.org.ph
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COTABATO(North)
source: en.wikipedia.org
We wonder where the word "Cotabato" came from...
Cotabato derived its name from the word "kuta wato" meaning "stone fort" which served as the seat of the great Sultan Kudarat.  Cotabato before was the largest province in Mindanao, but South Cotabato was separated from the province in year 1966. And now, North Cotabato is called Cotabato.  This province is known for being the food basket of Mindanao because it is a major producer of cereals, sugarcane, coconut and coffee. It also produces sand, gravel, and white clay, which is a good raw material used in the production of porcelain.
source: cotabatoprov.gov.ph
Languages spoken are Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Maguindanao, Cebuano and Chavacano. Dominant religion are Roman Catholic and  Islam. Cotabato has a total land area of 656,590 hectares. It is the largest in terms of land area among the provinces of Region 12. It is composed of 17 municipalities and one city, Kidapawan City, which is the capital.
And most importantly, it is really easy to get here!
Just by air, there are direct flights from Manila to Cotabato City.
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SOUTH COTABATO
source: en.wikipedia.org
South Cotabato has 10 municipalities and 2 cities, with Koronadal City as the capital. Most of the province's land area has been devoted to agricultural purposes; mainly for the production of crops such as rice, corn, pineapple, asparagus, coconut, banana, cotton, and mango, and the Dole Philippines pineapple plantation is one of the major tourist attractions of the province. People from the region speak HIligaynon, Cebuano, Tagalog and English. South Cotabato is known for being the home province of the T'boli tribe or what we call the dream weavers. The product that they weave is called the "T'nalak" which is one of the popular products of South Cotabato. The tribe also makes bead-works, woven baskets and traditional bass ornaments.
source: www.malasimbofestival.com
source: malasimbofestival.com
How to get here?
There are daily flights from Manila to General Santos City and from there, you could rent a cab going to Koronadal City.
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SULTAN KUDARAT
source: en.wikipedia.org
Sultan kudarat is located in the southwestern part of mindanao, and was named after Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, one of the greatest leaders who ruled this area under the Sultanate of Maguindanao. It is composed of 11 municipalities and 1 city, with the municipality of Isulan as its capital. It has a total land area of 4783.1898 square kilometers, composed of flat plains lined with mountain ranges. People from sultan kudarat speak 84 dialects, with Hiligaynon and Ilonggo being the main languages. Sultan kudarat relies on agriculture and the sea to sustain its economy. It produces most types of crops grown in the country, and is one of the few places that produce irish potatoes in the philippines. Fish caught in the province include various marine, brackish water or fresh water fish, and the high quality tuna caught along the coasts are exported to japan and europe.
sultankudarat
source: dantedalabajan.wordpress.com
How to get here?
There are daily flights from Manila to General Santos or Cotabato City and from there, Sultan Kudarat is accessible via major highways.
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SARANGANI
source: en.wikipedia.org
Sarangani is located at the Southernmost tip of Mindanao, and it has a total land area of 4,100.42 square kilometers. Sarangani has seven municipalities, with Alabel as the provincial capital. Sarangani was once part of South Cotabato, but it became an independent province in the year 1992. Major agricultural products of the province include coconut, banana, sugarcane, corn and durian. It is also rich in precious metals, such as gold, copper, iron, and it also produces silica, coal, marble and white pebbles. Early inhabitants of the province were called the "MunaTo" which means "first people". People from this region have many dialects such as  Cebuano, Ilocano and Ilonggo depending on the area.
Also, our very own boxing champion is the congressman of this province! He has his own farm in Sarangani called "Pacman Farm".
pacman farm
source: sarangani.gov.ph
You would also be surprised to know that this province is a typhoon-free province! 
How to get here?
There are daily flights from Manila to General Santos City and from there, go to KCC mall and take the shuttles bound for Sarangani
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GENERAL SANTOS
source: en.wikipedia.org
General Santos or GenSan is part of the province South Cotabato and is the first congressional district in the province. It is known as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines", and the fishing industry has greatly contributed to their economy.
29tuna31
source: mindanews.com
The people of GenSan are called the Generals or the Henerals. Its total land area is 536.01 square kilometers, and it has varying terrain, ranging from flat plains to scattered hills. GenSan is composed of 26 barangays and it is occupied by 538,086 Generals, making it the 15th most populated city in the country. Cebuano is the most widely spoken language in the city. But Generals also speak English and Tagalog as their medium in schools and business communication. This province is really famous because it is the hometown of our very own boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao.
Getting here is really easy because there are daily flights from Manila to General Santos City
Sources: