December 2014 ~ Backpacked

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Tantangan Potters

9:27 PM

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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.

9:15 PM

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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.

5:06 PM

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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.

4:36 PM

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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.

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.
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!

7:10 AM

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Learning history is fun. But it is more powerful if it is learned on the arts not just in dusted books and this is best seen in the tableau of sculpture showing the history of Cebu which does not only affect the island but the whole archipelago.

Located in the Parian district of Cebu is this "Heritage of Cebu Monument" bearing scenes from the history of Cebu. This massive construction of concrete, brass and steel started in 1997 and was unveiled on 2000 by the local artist and builder of the said monument, Eduardo Castrillo.

The structure depicts some of the striking moments and symbols in the historical timeline of Cebu such as the Magellan's Cross, the Sto. Niño and churches like the Basilica Minor, Metropolitan Cathedral and the demolished St. John the Baptist Church. It also depicts a Roman Catholic Mass, Feast Procession and the Battle of Mactan. Personalities proudly Sugbuhanon has also made their way immortalized in the tableau just like the St. Pedro Calungsod.

How To Get There: The Heritage of Cebu Monument is located in the Parian District of Cebu. It is near the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral Home and a walking distance from Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

6:10 AM

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For me, part of making my travel beautiful is being with strangers. You learn new culture, new personalities and enlarge your world.

I was once stuck with strangers when I was in Cebu. It was embarrassing actually, I defiled rules! In a museum...of the largest Diocese in the Philippines. In a museum where taking photos are not allowed I mis-looked on the details and took photos! Then, these fine ladies noticed me but did not react until we find each other inside Msgr. Virgilio Yap Memorial Chapel for the last tour in the Cathedral Museum. We exchanged thoughts and I learned they were aspiring sisters and also having their tour in Cebu because they were just transferred to their Formation House. When I told them I were from Mindanao and aspiring also for the priesthood they offered me company to other Museums in Cebu and that's how I discovered the Halad Museum.

Halad Museum was established in 2010 by Jose R. Gullas. Halad is a visayan term which means offering or tribute. This is a tribute of the founder to his parents who were also founders of the University of Visayas. Its aim is to preserve and uphold that truly Cebuano Music. Inside the Halad Museum, one would see musical instruments both western and native ones played and owned by some of the renowned Cebuano artists.

Other materials inside the Museum are awards of medals and certificates, original music sheets penned by Cebuano composers and life stories of Cebuano artists who excelled here and abroad.

Walls are donned with paintings depicting that richness of Cebuano musical heritage. Paintings depicting zarzuela performances, fiyestas with singing and the Filipino traditional way of courting "Harana."

Once inside, one cannot but envy and be proud of being Pinoy!

Songs by Cebuano singers are immortalized in digital music stations to present it more powerfully to visitors.

Life size statue of the founder,
Jose R. Gullas

How To Get There: The Halad Museum is located at V. Gullas St. and Jakosalem St., Cebu City. A ticket of Php 10 for every visitors are paid during entrance.

5:31 AM

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I think the best gift from best moms are books, lots of books, tons of books, especially Geography. Have you ever thought of cruising the world someday? In that big cruise ship with nothing else to do but to eat, pray, love? Well, I have not. But, I have thought of crossing the pacific someday and encounter cultures totally strange. That's what I learned from my geography books.

But for those who wish to cruise the world, here's the deal. Why not try it in a river first? Yes, try it at Loboc where they have cruises for you! Truly a Filipino magic!

Loboc River Cruise or Loboc Floating restaurant is a great experience in Bohol. After or before treking its limestone Chocolates do the one thing every Filipino truly love, eat!

For a minimum of Php 400.00 one could enjoy truly Filipino dishes and a truly Filipino invention of experience. The Floating Restaurant is filled with sumptuous food made from fresh Boholano ingredients, it's eat all you can! Fat crabs and large prawns will fill your plates to the brim and everybody forgets the rice.

As you enjoy your trip in the crystal clear waters of Loboc and especially your food, enjoy also Boholano talents of singing.

How To Get There: Floating Restaurants operates in the Loboc River and could be reached by Taxi from Tagbilaran City. It is part of packages for tourists in Bohol.

5:08 AM

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Vibrant in culture and teeming with nature. This Lake town in South Cotabato is home Flora, Fauna and Culture. Home to the indigenous tribes of Ubu and T'boli, Lake Sebu is also home to many Ilonggo, Cebuano, Ilokano and a choice to many Foreigners making Lake Sebu home to diversity. It is also home to the dream-weavers of T'nalak, that grandiose tectile produced from abacca fibers and patterned from the dream of those who weave them.

Lake Sebu is so named to the biggest lake present in the municipality. The lake is teeming with Tilapia which is the primary source of economy of the people living around the lake together with tourism of course.

Lake Sebu is also home to the famous 7 falls where one could enjoy its zipline of 600 feet. Soaring high above the waterfalls, this zipline is said to be the highest in all of Asia.

Lake Sebu is a claimed ancestral domain of the Indigenous tribe, T'boli. Once in the town, one could not but to appreciate the rich and interestingly unique culture of the T'boli. From their intricate beadworks to woven dreams in T'nalak. The T'boli culture makes Lake Sebu a truly wonderful experience.

Lake Sebu is also teeming with Floras and Faunas where one could find freely gliding Philippine monkeys. Endemic species of Philippine deers are also living around the lake. If one is lucky, one could find vendors selling wild birds they name "Kitihi."

T'nalak Cloth

How To Get There: From General Santos City one should ride a bus going to Marbel and transfer for a bus ride going to Surallah. From Surallah on can find a van terminal going to Lake Sebu. Habal-Habal is the primary transport of people in Lake Sebu and one can ride going to the choice accomodation.

4:04 AM

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Fuerza de San Pedro is a military defense structure built under the command of Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. It is located in the Pier Area, Cebu City in what is now Plaza Independencia. Beside it is the Malacañan sa Sugbu which was established to be the Philippine President's official residence in the Visayas.

Fort San Pedro is the oldest and smallest colonial fort ever established in the Philippines. It is also the most well preserved fort in the Philippines. It was established to protect the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines from the Muslim raids.

Today, since 1950, Fort San Pedro is a miniature garden with old cannons still lining up, as it was since the Spanish times, as part of the landscape. It was also converted into a zoo with a butterfly sanctuary still functioning.

Upon entering Fort San Pedro, one will see artworks telling the story the Fort since its glorious birth to protect the first Spanish settlement. Paintings depicting conquest, upon building the fortress, sieges and other glorious happenings in the history of the Fort is presented on its walls.

The Fort also exhibits its history through original collections of manuscripts, flags, coins and other materials originally used by the Spanish government in its occupation of the Fort San Pedro.

Fort San Pedro stands as a reminder of the vibrant past, not just of Cebu but of the whole archipelago. It stands as a sign of Filipino's determinism to uphold and protect its sovereignty.

How To Get There: Fort San Pedro is located at Plaza Independencia, Cebu City. A walking distance from Magellan's Cross, Basilica Minore and Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

1:32 AM

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Cebu is not that hard to enjoy. Cebu City being a historical city is packed with historical sites one could visit and enjoy. Here's the thing, as much as possible check into a hotel near the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for the city is built in a typical Spanish settlement where it is located in the center of the city together with the Government office.