Travel Throwback: Most Unforgettable Travel with Family

                     

 Theme: Most Unforgettable Travel with Family


My sisters and I love to travel. When our schedules met like before I never miss the chance to travel with them. Gladly, those were some of the best days of my life especially when we climbed Mt. Apo, the Philippines highest peak.

Mt Apo, the Towering Beauty

When I look back at my life, I have been traveling quite well unfortunately I have not been documenting things properly. Luckily I found this old photographs. In the most, high time of my life, circa 2007, the eve of high and very low times, we went and towered our way to Mt Apo.

At the mountainous terrains in Digos we arrived at the foot of Mt Apo. We stayed for a while in house full of calla lilies and beautiful sunset settings. I look in awe for the beautiful creation.

Reaching Mt Apo in Digos trail is quite challenging. We stayed one night in a common camping place and had been merrily eating cup noodles with our guides and some solo traveler.

As our pace is not of the professionals we climbed an almost 90 degrees trail instead of passing by the easy trail among the boulders because we won't be able to reach our destination when there is still daylight.

Upon reaching the foot of the peak, we laid another night. I've never been to a snow country but I seem to think it feels like it. Our garments and a hint of alcohol were no match for the cold weather that seeps down to my bones. We were lying close to each other but nothing matches the cold. What more if I am going to a snow storm.

I was an early morning-riser. The world is seems to be underneath as I could grasp everything at the palm of my hands.

 
Time to set up for the peak and its inexplicable to every sense of the word. 

Mt Apo has football field. It was said to be the previous crater of the volcano. I ran freely like a child on this wonderful God-created sight. 

We head home. Going down was much easier and we were able to pass by the boulders, it thick sulfur smell and white ambiance which is very different from the greeneries not far away.

Amongst our family travel, this one is one of the most memorable.

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Travel throwbacks is a travel writing prompt which feature old travels unposted by seasoned and new travel bloggers. It is done on the 1st and 2nd week of every month allowing travel to reminisce old memories of travels. It is a way of sharing.

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Jimenez, Misamis Occidental

I have come to know Jimenez due to a job opportunity. It is 23.9 kilometers from Ozamis City  and 15 kilometers from Oroquieta City. According to the National Statistic Coordination Board (2010 Census), Jimenez has 24 barangays, land area of 8,143 hectares and a population of 25,234. The language mainly spoken are Subanen, Visayan admixed with "Bul-anon" (Bohol's native tongue) and Tagalog from Luzon migrants. Most of the town's folk are farmers and fishermen.

St. John the Baptist School, serving elementary and secondary educations.

Expansion of Jimenez Medicare Community Hospital, Nacional, Jimenez.

Jimenez is a province with little infrastructure, packed with farmlands, quarried with religion and churches and curbed with history. At the height of modernization, Spanish colonial houses still influences the town, completed with Capiz shell windows. Among the greatest historical contribution of Jimenez is the famous St. John the Baptist Church, built more than 150 years by the Spaniards.

 

The different houses of Jimenez that translates from era to era.

The Church was modeled to one of the century old churches in Luzon, primarily because the architect was the same. She is reconciled with heavy mahogany and narra pews, gold and iron accessories, century old statues and others that spark history. On the old choir area stand a magnificent pipe organ completed with a Spanish inscriptions. It is a now a declared as a historical heritage. Sadly, some years ago, some of the spectators who thought to be visitors taking photos, planned a robbery with a possible connivance with some care takers. A sure fortune was taken. This is the reason why the church is not allowed to be photographed inside and opened only during church hours.

St. John the Baptiste Church, Jimenez, Misamis Occidental

Large window give light to the interior of the church.

The aisle towards the holy altar.

The charm of Jimenez is not the fair-crisped sands nor any modernized ploy. Jimenez, pluck the charm of its simplicity. A quiet life and traditions that run from generations to generations. The flowing rivers defined most of the spring of life in Jimenez, its simplicity, its history and its people.

The different faces of the people of Jimenez.

Wild flowers found in the surroundings.

Shanghai Noodle House, Jimenez is one of the oldest restaurant. Serves a variety of Filipino and Chinese dishes.

Usually after a days work, people will gather in common places to chat.

Days end chats.

Good stray dogs are common in the streets of Jimenez.

While touring around, I saw this goat in the middle of town.

While touring Misamis Occidental, don't forget to pass by Jimenez. 

How to get there

• If you are coming from CDO, you can take a bus going to Dipolog and drop by Jimenez, presumably the price is between Php 200-300.
• If you are from Iligan City, for a cutting trip, Iligan-Ozamiz in Php 90 (aircon bus), Php 70 (non-aircon bus) and from Ozamiz to Jimenez is Php 25.
• Barge trip: 25.00 Mukas to Ozamiz
• From Ozamiz City Airport, take a tricycle about Php80-100 higher cost since it is a special trip. Go to the bus station and take the bus to Jimenez.

Hotel and Accomodation

• Jimenez has no hotel accommodations but you can stay in a resort situated in Sinacaban, the town before Jimenez. The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) it is a hotel, restaurant with the best seafoods and an aquamarine sanctuary. It's a 10 minute ride.
• You may also stay in Ozamiz City and  Oroquieta City.

 Pasalubong

• Jimenez has no specialty food but you can get cheap fruits and fish.

 You may also read

• http://www.byahilo.com/2010/09/28/jimenez-misamis-occidental-church/#axzz2LDXYjgHH
• http://baktincorporation.blogspot.com/2011/10/rediscovering-jimenez-misamis.html

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Lake Sebu

General Description

Lake Sebu is natural lake located in the Lake Sebu Municipality in South Cotabato, about one and a half hour travel from General Santos and 4 hours ride from Davao. It is mainly inhabited by the T'boli (tee-boh-lee) tribe and some other settlers from the low lands. Lake Sebu is the largest of the three lakes located in the municipality, more than 300 hectares. Within the lake are various resorts and the best, that is most pride in the area is the Punta Isla Lake Resort. It is owned and managed by the Mayor of the Municipality of Surallah, the town prior to Lake Sebu.

We came in late about eight in the evening because we got lost. We got the wrong turn and it was dripping all over South Cotabato. When we came in, the staff greeted us with a warm welcome despite the cold night. They run off to us and offered us umbrella so that we won’t get wet. My sisters and I were greeted by the front desk clerk who was very well-trained to speak English, tagalong, bisaya, ilonggo and t’boli and enunciate the different accents of most their guests. She gave us the room key and informed us that there is going to be a cultural night which we delightfully watched prior to going to our room.

Accommodations, Facilities and Services

Apart from the lake, the land area of the resort is not very big but it simply has breath taking views and good accommodation. There are other services are available also.

 

Food

The resort has a floating restaurant which accommodates about 20-40people including the waiters. You can reach it by riding an improvised Bangka. It is situated near the fish pens of the resort were you can see the workers fish the tilapia using their canoes. You can also see most of the lake in the floating restaurant.

The main ingredient of the dishes in Lake Sebu is Tilapia (as most other lakes have). Punta Isla and the other resorts have their own fish pens were they get their tilapias fresh. The dishes usually range from Php 150-300 and have very huge servings. The food we ordered were very delicious particularly the spicy tilapia and kilawing tilapia. Don’t forget to try it. (5 spoons for both dishes). Note: The waiters as well as the other workers of Punta Isla are the best. The waiter that was serving us was Jess, a t’boli was very polite with five spoons for service. 

The Lake

The lake is as rich as the other lakes. The difference is that the lake has not been exploited and is well preserved. The people have respected well what the lake has to offer. The clear waters became greenish due to the presence of algae and the reflection of the trees surrounding it. Water lilies and water hyacinth were  found floating around the lake. Birds were sited resting on it while men were found fishing around.

On the banks of Punta Isla, the depth of the water is 15 ft while the deepest is about 2,000 ft. Luckily, Lake Sebu is not crocodile infested thus you can tour around the area safely.

           

There are islets were found inside Lake Sebu. Among the largest is the Crocodile Island so named because it’s shaped like a crocodile’s back. A few lived in the island and most of them T’bolis. Another Island we saw was privately owned by the Valenzuela family which is now for sale (Php 2.2 million, about four hectares land area). Near the island of the Valenzuela’s is another privately-owned island (Chua Family). According to our T’boli tour guide Jasmine, it was previously the T’boli’s burial ground.

The 45 minute-tour around the lake cost Php 500. It has about 20-person capacity complete with life jackets. A T’boli tour guide, fluently speaking English, Tagalog, T’boli, Visayan and Ilonggo will accompany you. Jasmine, the tour guide, answers our questions promptly and has a very pleasant voice with superb jokes.

The People and their Culture

The people of the lake are called T’boli (the tribe is also found elsewhere in the area of South Cotabato). Although there are other settlers in the municipality, the rich culture of the T’boli is still very visible. As any other tribe in Mindanao, the T’boli, especially the women, have very colorful tribal dresses. Red is the primary color, in adjunct to colors yellow, black, white and others.

On the cultural night, we saw their different instruments and dances. Before and after each dance, they step on one of the drum ornaments. This is a sign of respect to the spirits of the instruments. We saw their courtship, flirtation and monkey dance. The monkey dance is made because they believe that the monkey is their ancestors.

The men of T’boli are fishermen, farmers and those with artistic talents play musical instruments and do brass casting. Women help men in farming, they also do all the house chores, weaving, dancing and brass casting.

In the previous times, marriages were arranged. The marriage can be set when they are still very young or when they are of right age. Marriage can also occur when a man pursue the woman he wants and He is able to pay the dowry to the women’s family. The Datu or the royalties of their tribe can marry as many as he wants. One of the Datu living near the lake had married at one time 12 wives. The wives of the datu will live under one roof along with their children. They will do all the housework including the tending of the farm or fishing owned by the datu. When he wants to have marital intercourse with any of his wives, the datu will place his hat on the window of one of them.

The T’boli tribe has divorce in their culture like the Maranao, Maguindanaon’s and other tribes. If the woman wants to divorce his husband because she loved another man, she must pay the dowry her husband gave to her family however it must be two times the amount. If the husband wanted the divorce, no amount is paid.

The T’boli also has a sacred burial ground. Before modernization came to their place, the Island owned by the Chua family was their burial ground. They don’t bury their dead because according them some of those who were dead became alive again. Thus they leave their dead hanged or laid on the ground.


Verdict

The overall experience in Punta Isla is great. I can't forget the kindness of the people apart from the picturesque view. I will definitely go back soon.

Side trips

Another attraction in the municipality of Lake Sebu is the Seven Falls and Zipline. Superb, exciting and I cannot put it all in words.  I am rating it 5 stars.

Fare from the highway to the zipline area is Php 25. Entrance fee for adults is Php 20, student with ID Php 10 and the fees for children have their own rates. There are different packages for the zipline rides. We took the Php 300 package with two zipline rides. Photos were Php 100/ 2 photos.

On the highway of Marbel, there are several food stalls that serve buko halu-halu. It costs about Php 60.00. It’s a yummy side trip along the way. I am rating it 4 spoons.  

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