Found in the southern part of the Philippines General Santos is one of the most frequented tourist destination in Mindanao. What draws people visitors to General Santos is the inherent need in every individual to be in touch with nature once in a while and appreciate its beauty. Indeed, many General Santos destinations are unspoiled and for many years have been maintained that way.
Lake Sebu is where the indigenous group T’boli tribe first settled and one can just imagine that this place was found suitable to meet the needs of the community. Lake Sebu is impressive because of how serene it looks and makes one feel. In fact, many visitors go to this General Santos destination once and keep coming back. The water of Lake Sebu makes one feel that no matter what one is going through, everything can be held together. The water is also very clear at this General Santos destination, a sign that the T’boli group has made every effort to make sure that it stays in exactly the same way as when they first settled here. The local tribe also believes that Lake Sebu is a place of miracles because even during the hottest and driest months, this never goes dry. Another good reason to visit Lake Sebu is the chance to interact with the T’boli tribe.
Ranked high on the most visited General Santos destinations is the Kalaja Karst Area found in Barangay Conel. The General Santos destination is a national reserve that is good for anyone who knows how to appreciate nature. One does not have to be a nature lover to be able to enjoy the Kalaja Karst Area because once here, one will realize that nature is something that’s truly wonderful and should be preserved. Aside from picnics and camping, a tour guide awaits at the Kalaja Karst Area to bring one to the Kalaja Cave and the different waterfalls in the area. This General Santos destination is a one stop for those who want to go on a picnic, swim, go trekking or camping. Because of the many options offered by the Kalaja Karst Area, one will definitely not get bored and the rugged environment is something that is very laid back. Even children can enjoy this tourist destination and it’s a good idea to bring them to Kalaja Karst Area so that they learn to appreciate nature at an early age and feel the need to preserve and protect it as they get older.
One of my favorite foods or delicacies I consider is 'Sisig'. The crunchiness, spice tingling taste and its sour based flavor made it a truly uniquely 'Filipino'. I even asked my one of my relatives to teach me how to cook 'Sisig' in her own version. Cooking the dish was a learning experience; the procedure needed a lot of effort and in order to perfect it, one must learn the secret of the 'know-how' of the dish.
I had cooked the dish twice or thrice since it needed a lot of effort, as I had said. Whenever there would be a sort of drinking sessions, 'Sisig' would definitely complete the gathering. During my college days, I was dubbed by one of the refectory servers as 'Mr.Sisig' for obvious reason. I always ordered or asked for the same dish every lunch time. I recalled searching for the origin of ‘Sisig’ for a day instead of researching for my thesis.
My girlfriend was from Pampanga and she knew about my 'obsession' with the dish. She surprised me as she asked me to accompany her at home and spend our short break with her family. Her mom cooked a special 'Kare-kare' (Philippine stew) also one of my favorite. I never appreciated peanut butter but, 'Kare-kare' was an exception. The dish was made from variety of vegetables, oxtail, tripe, beef and peanut sauce. Anyway I looked for 'Sisig' but to my surprise, it was not in the menu. It seemed that one of my girlfriend’s siblings noticed a sort of disappointment in my aura. I then observed my girlfriend and her parents whispered something and had grinned. I sensed they were up to something. The lunch continued then we rested for sometime.
My girlfriend then asked me to prepare because we would be going somewhere else and it would be a surprise. We went to SM (a famous local mall in the Philippines originally stands for 'Shoe Mart') and I observed a lot of locals gathering. As if I was hearing a count down or a loud music, all of a sudden the place was literally filled with 'Sisig'! it was the annual 'Sisig' Festival that we were going to attend to and my girlfriend gave me a sweet kiss on my cheek asked me to open my mouth then she gave me a spoonful of my favorite 'Sisig'! It was a lovely and memorable afternoon for me again with my beloved and her family. Her parents then asked me to celebrate Hearts' Day with them instead of being somewhere else with their daughter. I simply said a definite 'Yes!' to their request.
Months after the 'Sisig' Festival, my girlfriend reminded me of my commitment to her parents. I even gave her an assurance that it would be happening. As far as I could recall, we went back to Pampanga again before Valentine's Day. I was surprised that from Los Baños, Laguna, we had a non-stop travel going to Angeles City, Pampanga. We had not even had a chance to drop by at their home to leave some loads to make ourselves a bit comfortable. As we arrived at the venue, I saw a familiar sports utility vehicle and my girlfriend just opened the trunk and put all our things and headed towards the hot-air balloon field and this was actually the first (1st) time I saw such huge balloons with their pilots in them! Her dad told me that this festival had been celebrated for seven (7) or eight (8) years in Pampanga. I was really a crowd drawer. Since my girlfriend's dad was part of the organizing team, they planned to have it longer than the usual weekend affair. I was really happy that time. Spending Hearts' Day with your beloved and her loved ones as well made us even closer.
Angeles City has been transformed and has improved to a booming export processing area or zone in Pampanga. The two festivals are indeed tourist attraction and are definitely an income generating event for the benefit of the municipality. Since Angeles City has been strategically located to the busy lifestyle of Metro Manila, commerce and business would certainly flourish.
Bohol because of its topographical features is usually known for the Chocolate Hills but not everyone knows that the Chocolate Hills is not the only reason visitors flock to this place. In fact there are several Bohol destinations that not many know about because it is not as advertised as Boracay or Palawan.
One’s imagination can go wild at the thought of the Chocolate Hills and these grass-covered mounds look somewhat like flat topped Hershey’s kisses. This Bohol destination can be seen in postcards but nobody can capture all 1000 hills in a single frame. The legend of the Chocolate Hills is known to every resident of Bohol and it is believed that these mounds were formed from the tears of a sad giant. The scientific explanation of the Chocolate Hills though is that these mounds were formed from a very rare geological process. Regardless of how this Bohol destination was formed, these hills which turn completely brown during the summer are a natural wonder.
One can hardly expect to visit any place in the Philippines without expecting to come across a church. The Baclayon Church is also a known tourist destination because of how old it is. This Bohol destination was built in the 16th century by the Jesuits and aside from the architecture which is several centuries old, a tour inside the Baclayon Church would lead one to a storeroom upstairs where the rarest antiques and artifacts can be found, most of which are even older than the church itself. The preservation of these artifacts at Baclayon Church is a constant challenge for its caretakers because of the limited funds and quite a few priceless items have been squandered by thieves.
Moving away from the Baclayon Church which is man made, the Hinagdanan Cave is nature’s work of art. The crystal clear water illuminated by two skylights, stalagmites and stalactites all add to the beauty of this Bohol destination. Diving from the boulders is possible here because the water is deep and it’s safe enough.
The Chocolate Hills, Baclayon Church and the Hinagdanan Cave are just three of Bohol destinations that showcase the beauty of this area. The residents of Bohol exude warmth and hospitality and it’s so easy to feel right at home here. Natural wonders are at one’s doorstep when a visit to Bohol is made and the good news is, going on a vacation in Bohol is probably more affordable than anywhere else in the Philippines.
Cebu became an economic powerhouse because of the influx of tourists who are drawn to the one of a kind attractions of this place. Cebu destinations that can be visited have significant historical value and when in Cebu, one should make it a point to drop by these popular and interesting places.
The Fort San Pedro structure which stands at about thirty feet was built upon orders of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to become a military fortress to help the Spaniards win over the battles with the Muslims. Ironically, Fort San Pedro was later on used by the Americans to defeat the Spaniards and liberate the Filipinos. This Cebu destination however does not just have bloodshed in its history because it also became a school before. During World War II, many Japanese soldiers sought refuge at this Cebu destination but before they could fully recover and go back out to war, the fortress was captured by the Allies.
Fort San Pedro has been restored to its former majesty with some additions. Inside Fort San Pedro there is a museum displaying weapons used during the Spanish, Japanese and American regime. Artworks of aspiring Cebuano artists are on display here as well and one can take a walk through the former prison cells where those that ran counter to the ideals of the sitting government were kept. Fort San Pedro also has a beautiful chapel inside.
First built during the 70s, this was the very first Taoist Temple in the country. Surrounded by greenery, this popular Cebu destination is a favorite among locals and tourists because of how peaceful it is inside. The entrance itself of the Taoist Temple looks like a smaller version of the Great Wall of China. There are many things to see inside the Taoist Temple and one can even purchase souvenirs at the small shop inside. Regardless of what one’s religion might be, this should not make one think twice about visiting this Cebu destination since it is open to all. Inside the Taoist Temple is a library which has a large collection of spiritual books and a chapel. A walk through the premises is very relaxing. One should not forget to take a picture of the amazing dragon statue inside the Taoist Temple.
Cebu has a lot to offer the eager to learn tourists and the good thing about Cebu is that modern conveniences are never too far for comfort despite the fact that there are many Cebu destinations of great historical value that have been preserved for years.