Tantangan Potters

With a bit of sweat and coupled with hardwork, the potters of Tantangan make money literally from earth. Using clay they transform it into something wonderful and useful.

These earthenwares are made available along the highway going to Tacurong from Marbel. Earthenware such as pots, jars, bricks and even garden gnomes line up in the roads of Tantangan. This is the prime producer and supplier of almost every potteries in the province of South Cotabato.

The potters still use the traditional technique of pottery making. From the collection of clay to the forming of pots and to the cooking of it inside the furnace the potters of Tantangan are truly a heritage treasure.

The pots and other earthenware sold in Tantangan is a lot more lower in prize compared to those sold in the city stores. You can buy by dozen or half. Depending on the size and design prizes may vary.

How To Get There: One can reach Tantangan via Marbel. There is a Jeepney terminal which fares Php 20-30 each passenger.

Read more »

Sagbayan Peak Water Park

Imagine one day in a place where every character in your childhood years come life sized. Yes, I am talking about Diseneyland! Then imagine you cannot go there because you lack in financial matters. That's a disaster! But, imagine again you get a tour to Cebu and Bohol. You can now reclaim that dream in Sagbayan!

This Chocolate hills viewing deck is not just a viewing deck but also a theme park packed with life size statues of Mickey and Minie Mouse, Donald duck and many other cartoon characters! It has also a T-Rex that will greet you on your way inside.

Sagbayan Peak is also a water park where one could enjoy swimming under the Boholano sun. It is so named a peak because it is in an elevation where one could enjoy Bohol's prime symbol the Chocolate Hills.

Sagbayan Peak has also a small botanical garden filled with shrubs that houses Bohol's another symbol, the endangered Tarsiers.

How To Get There: Sagbayan Peak is 35 km. from Tagbilaran City, Bohol. You can reach it by a rented Taxi from the port of Tagbilaran.

Read more »

Bilar Man-Made Forest

Stretching up to 2 kilometers is this favorite side stop for tourists. Bilar Man-Made forest is a reforestation endeavor in the 1950's to cater the alarming danger to Loboc watershed by "kaingins" or slash and burn farming performed by the locals during the WWII where they cleared the forest to take refuge.

Entering Bilar Man-Made forest is very evident especially during summertime where one could really feel the drop of temperature because of the trees planted in the area. The chilly feeling comes rapidly evidence of what trees could do to drop the intense heat we experience.

Trees planted in the area are purely white and red mahoganies. These trees are over 50-60 years old and new shoots from falling seeds are making their way through filling the gaps of that 19,000+ hectares of reforested area ranging in almost every town in Bohol.

How To Get There: Bilar Man- Made forest is a side trip destination for tourists. It is located in along the roads bordering Loboc and Bilar towns. It is 20 km. from Tagbilaran, Bohol. You may ask your rented Taxi for details.

Read more »

Tops Lookout

I found myself winding the roads of Mt. Busay in Cebu. Going to Tops lookout is an adventure itself. Winding the steep road of the mountain is very exciting. With periodic unpredictable stops making it more and more dangerous for other kind of transport. But, danger is fun!

Tops lookout is a great avenue to appreciate the setting Cebuano sun. This very high elevated landscape atop Mount Busay oversees most parts of Cebu as Mandaue City, Mactan, Cebu City and even the sea coasts of Bohol.

For Php 100 you can enjoy an unlimited time to spend in "Tops." There is a lot things to do to enjoy while in "Tops." You can drink beer and have picnic on their unique lawn. Or, you can just sit near the deck and appreciate the beauty what's laid for you to see.

Tops Lookout is a fortress-like, modernist structure 10 km. from downtown Cebu. The best hour to spend time in "Tops" is in the late afternoon for you to enjoy the sunset. Early afternoon could not be a nice choice because of the high burning sun.

How To Get There: 

If you do not have any relative to lend a car on your tour while in Cebu and you want to visit tops you may want to try this 2 options.

1. Rent a Taxi for 800 to 1000 back n' forth "Tops." This is the easiest way to get to "Tops" for you need not transfer to another transport and will not worry on how to get back to metro downtown.
2. If you prefer a more challenging and adventurous trip going to "Tops," you may want to take a longer way. Take Jeepney to Lahug along Osmena Boulevard and be dropped off at JY Square Mall at Lahug. From there, usually in the parking lot, negotiate a rent-able Motorcycle. Usually they would ask for Php100-150 roundtrip.

The Last thing to do going to "Tops" is Enjoy!

Read more »