Jellyfish Lake Philippine Version – Where Is It?

A Jellyfish Lake, the local version of which is called Jellyfish Kingdom, is one of the emerging natural attractions and tourist spots frequented by island vacations lovers situated in a seaside lagoon with crystal clear water within the vicinity of the Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

Jellyfish Lake Philippine Version – Why Visit The Tourist Spot?

As local and foreign tourists are rolling into Bucas Grande Island, my family-owned and operated Island Vacations Travel and Tours had finally started its business with a group of 11 combined guests from Panabo City, Davao del Norte and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur in Mindanao Island, Philippines as our maiden clients. During our email correspondence, I advised the group leader to spend one full day in order to savor the beauty of the island. And true to my suggestion, they came in time for the past 4-day respite courtesy of the 2-day holiday in addition to the usual 2-day weekend break. After checking in at the Island Vacations Country Inn, we escorted the group for a 2-hour swim at the Puyangi White Sand Beach. At exactly 4:00 in the afternoon, we proceeded to the Kapihan View Park to catch-up the sunset and engage into sightseeing and stargazing activities. Back into the town center, the group went on a sunrise photography session at the feeder port . After breakfast, we proceeded to the Sohoton area doing island hopping and adventure diving at Sohoton Cove, boating at Tiktikan Lagoon and caving at Crystal Cave. We then proceeded to the Jellyfish Lake of Bucas Grande, dubbed locally as Jellyfish Kingdom, before strolling at the majestic Club Tara Resort. As all, except 2, of the mentioned destinations were already featured in my previous blog posts, I will be discussing in detail the Jellyfish Kingdom trip while the caving adventure will be featured in my future post. From the Sohoton Tourist Assistance Center,we were supposed to ride on small paddle boats with a maximum capacity of 2 persons per boat, excluding the paddler, towards the Jellyfish Kingdom. Nevertheless, the sea current was swift by that time due to the onset of high tide, hence, we opted to ride on a pump boat. On board our rented boat, we maneuvered at the narrow passage leading to the Jellyfish Kingdom . . .

The tour guide expertly maneuvering the frontal section of the pum boat as it entered the narrow passage of the Jelly Fish Kingdom

The area may not be comparable to the famous Jellyfish Lake in Palau as it is not exactly a lake but a lagoon with a constricted entrance. . .

The azure waters of the Jellyfish Kingdom with its surrounding verdant hills. . .

Seen from a distance, the minute lagoon seemed to be just an ordinary scenery but as we moved forward, I had proven to myself that millions of golden jellyfish were really lurking beneath the crystal clear water. I then briefed the group that the underwater creatures surrounding us actually belong to a jellyfish specie who do sting but their stings are too mild to feel, hence, they were often referred to as non-stinging jellyfish.

One of our guests enjoyed staying afloat on the water surrounded by golden jellyfish . . .

To satisfy his excitement, the other male guest hurriedly dived into the water . . .

... and swam with the smack of golden jellyfish.

The other guy was still cautious whether the golden jellyfish was really non-stinging . . .

Touch Me or Touch Me Not might be in the mind of the guy with this hand . . .

With this one trying to be romantic with the nice underwater creature . . .

Planting a kiss on a golden jellyfish . . .

But the other male guest proved to be the most enterprising . . .

As he grabbed a jellyfish as if it's a sphere of gold . . .

Proving to themselves that they ought not to be outdone in any challenge, the female guests also showed their prowess . . .

With this lady trying to play with the nice creature . . .

But the other one really wanted a feel if there's a jellyfish sting or not right in her palm . . .

But this girl had another trip . . .

Wanting the jellyfish to pose with her for a smile in front of my Nikon D7000 camera.

I could really feel the fun deep inside them as I took a group picture of my guests . . .

My guests' final pose for posterity at the Jellyfish Kingdom.

Jellyfish Lake Philippine Version – Final Thoughts

The Philippine version of the Jellyfish Lake has become a source of pride among the local inhabitants. For one, it is the only known place so far in the Philippines to host such friendly underwater creatures. On the other hand, it is situated within the vicinity of the Sohoton Cove thereby adding to the variety of natural attractions in the area and contributing to its fame as the Philippines all-in-one tourist destination. No wonder, such Bucas Grande version of Jellyfish Lake has really proven itself to be a sound alternative for those who lack resources to visit Palau to experience for themselves befriending the amazing non stinging creatures called golden jellyfish.

Eco Tourism Village – Where Is It?

An Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro City, aptly named Gardens of Malasag, has steadily become a favorite destination for creationists, island vacations enthusiasts, spiritual retreats goers and natural attractions lovers wanting to go on nature trail trekking and mountain view sightseeing and enjoy its campsite and other facilities. Reached via a 30-minutes drive from Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro City Airport), it sits on a 7.2 hectare property in the slopes of Sitio Malasag connecting to the 800 hectares reforested area of the  Cugman Watershed in Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City in the northern part of Mindanao Island, Philippines.

Eco Tourism Village – Why Visit the Place?

I was not into travel blogging then when I first visited and stayed at the Eco Tourism Village on August 9-13, 2010 as a participant to the 5-day Training on Ecotourism Planning and Development conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in partnership with the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP) purposely to capacitate the various Bucas Grande Island stakeholders in the formulation of the Socorro Eco Tourism Development Plan.

Being a nature lover island vacations buff, I really admired and missed the place.  Hence, one year after my first visit, I decided to pay a return trip to the Malasag Gardens. From the city center of Cagayan de Oro, we traveled for 10 minutes along the National Highway, turned right at a junction and went uphill through an asphalted winding road until we reached this portion . . .

The signage showing the way to the Gardens of Malasag and Eco-Tourism Village with the road towards the Cugman Watershed Reforestation Project on the right.

A few more minutes travel and my eyes were once again attracted by this sight . . .

The welcome rotunda leading to the Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village

After paying the PhP 30.00 per head entrance fee, we entered the eco tourism village premises and this signage with an imposing logo of the Gardens of Malasag had greeted our eyes. . .

The comely Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village logo prominently displayed at the junction road.

We then proceeded to the parking area within the vicinity of the swimming pool and this view had captured our interest . . .

The turquoise waters of the swimming pool enticing guests of the Gardens of Malasag and Eco-Tourism Village for a quick dip or a languorous swim.

I and my wife then started to savor the alluring sights of the eco tourism village, the first being the camp ground. . .

The Eco Tourism Village Camp Ground with the Pergola and Villas at the background.

Afterward, we trekked on the nature trail uphill towards the central portion of the village until we reached this spot on the road side . . .

A pose with the replica of a Bukidnon-Pulangihon tribal datu on a war dance.

On the opposite side of the road is the Amphitheater. . .

The Gardens of Malasag Amphitheater . . .

Situated just a few meters from the amphitheater are the cozy villas smartly designed to match with the rolling terrain . . .

The villas ready to accommodate guests willing to stay at the eco tourism village . . .

A further walk led us to the tarpauline displays on the road side showing some of the tribes in Mindanao Island whose members are working in various capacities in the Gardens of Malasag . . .

The Umayamnon Tribe . . .	The Tigwahanon Tribe . . .
The Subanon Tribe . . .	The Bukidnon Tribe . . .
The Talaandig Tribe . . .	A worker belonging to the Talaandig Tribe . . .

My wife was lucky to have selected a few Higa-onon and other tribal souvenir items left as the others were purchased in bulk by a group of employees having a seminar at the Gardens of Malasag . . .

The souvenir hut displaying some tribal souvenir items . . .

As we were about to end our nature trail trek, we sat for quite sometime at this spot to savor the enthralling views . . .

A stunning view of Macajalar Bay and its environs.

Eco Tourism Village – Final Thoughts

The Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village was conceptualized in 1991 by the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), now the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprize Zone Authority (TIEZA), dreamily inspired by the picturesque gardens of Granada in Spain and Butchart Gardens of Canada. While the amenities built of indigenous materials, as in the case of the tribal houses, were already gone and the  the native huts being replaced by concrete villas smartly designed to have an indigenous look, but the ambiance of a cultural domain of natural wonders are still very much evident. What I missed in my return visit were the tribespeople demonstrating their dancing and musical culture that I had seen and participated before as we came to the place in the morning while the tribal street dancing were done every 4:oo o’clock in the afternoon.

If you want to have a wonderful experience of having a colorful glimpse of the ecology and rich ethno-Filipino heritage of Northern Mindanao while savoring the spectacular view of Macajalar Bay and the bustling city of Cagayan de Oro, a visit to the Gardens of Malasag Eco Tourism Village is an undertaking which you would surely not regret having decided to do so.

Backpackers Hostel – An Introduction

A backpackers hostel, which is a small hotel aptly named Island Vacations Country Inn, is established to cater to the billeting needs of backpackers and island getaways aficionados intending to spend on the beach holidays and go sight seeing on the fantastic caverns, seaside lagoon, seaside waterfall, and a view park and visit the giant mangrove forest and Colorum Uprising landmarks as well as observe the rich culture of peope helping people in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte Philippines. Located just 100 meters away from the Socorro Port, the backpacker hostel also aimed to accommodate medium-end tourists.

Backpackers Hostel – What The Island Vacations Country Inn Can Offer

Three months after I had featured in my blog the various natural attractions of Bucas Grande Island, I received numerous emails from my readers expressing interest in visiting the island. First and foremost of their query was the availability of affordable backpackers hostel with internet access. I promptly answered to the email senders that there indeed were available world-class vacation resorts within the vicinity of the Sohoton Cove but they catered to high-end tourists and hence, were pricey beyond the budget of medium-end tourists and backpackers notwithstanding the absence of internet facilities. I thought that the interest would just die down. However, contrary to my expectations, the queries on the same subject had become more frequent as the days passed by.

Meanwhile, it has been my dream to let the world know that there exist a variety of eco-tourism destinations in Bucas Grande Island. Moreover, I dreamed of telling the world the the fact that only in Bucas Grande that the Filipino Bayanihan culture of people helping people is practiced by heart. This is being done by way of an annual month-long Tinabangay activity, wherein, able-bodied men has to leave the privacy of their lives and offer their services for free for 30 straight days, except Sundays, spanning from July to August to work in the house construction and collective farming activities with the house and farm owners only shouldering the food and material cost. Such deeply-rooted tradition did not just occurred by chance but was developed as an aftermath of the Colorum Uprising which culminated on the attack on Bucas Grande Island by the mighty US Marines and Filipino Constables on board the patrol gunship USS Sacramento in 1924. An e-book on the uprising from the point of view of a grandson of one of the local defenders shall be released by this writer soon.

The campaign to visit Sohoton Cove has had slowly gained acceptance as evidenced by the growing influx of tourists in the area. Nevertheless, the absence of an affordable backpackers hostel in the place had forced a number of tourists to just hop to the southern side of the island and return to their destination afterward thereby missing in the process the opportunity to visit the other equally alluring tourist destinations and historical sites situated near the Socorro town center. Moreover, the chances for the tourists to mingle with the local folks and observe their rich bayanihan culture were also lost.

It is for this reason that I and my wife had decided to establish and operate a backpackers hostel on a leased property owned by my elder brother in preparation for the travel and tours that we will be operating in the very near future. After a few months of construction works, I felt satisfied that a small hotel and country inn was inaugurated on July 31, 2011.

Allow me then to bring you to a walk through to the Island Vacations Country Inn. Upon arrival at the Port of Socorro from any port of origin such as Surigao City; Barangay Hayangabon, Claver in mainland Surigao del Norte and Dapa, Siargao Island, you will be greeted with this sight . . .

The modern Socorro Municipal Feeder Port. On the right is the entry point for outbound passengers while the incoming passengers shall pass through the Welcome Arc on the left.

After passing through the Welcome Arc, this signage on the right side of the street at the edge of the Municipal Public Market would surely catch your attention . . .

An imposing Island Vacations Country Inn tarpaulin guiding visitors on the exact location of the small hotel

Just a few minutes walk and you will notice this imposing structure on the first street corner . . .

The Island Vacations Country Inn standing proud at A. Taruc Corner Burgos Streets in Socorro town center.

The facade of the backpackers hostel with the signage bearing good news to internet savvy-travelers . . .

The Free Wifi Wireless Internet Access notice in the signage would surely catch the attention of laptop-bearing visitors.

A few more steps would bring you to the hostel entrance situated at the other side of the building . . .

The entrance door of the Island Vacations Country Inn with the Socorro Port Welcome Arc seen at the background.

After entering the backpackers hostel and climbing through a stairway lined with elegant   hard wood balusters, this alluring sight would greet your eyes. . .

The comely Island Vacations Country Inn front desk . . .

Ask your self if your senses will not be captured by this lovely smile . . .

The amiable receptionist manning the hostel front desk . . .

Conspicuously displayed within the vicinity of the front desk of the backpackers hostel are two important information age gadgets . . .

A flat-screen cable TV and a state-of-the art wireless router supplying 24/7 free wireless internet access to guests.

You can chose from an array of accommodations, the first being the ordinary room provided with an electric fan and a separate comfort and bath room . . .

Sturdy double-deck beds providing comfort to weary travelers . . .

For group travelers, this dormitory-type air-conditioned room would surely fit your taste . . .

A view of the single and double-deck beds suited for guests traveling in group.

The other side of the dormitory-type air-conditioned room. . .

Foremost to be considered in selecting a backpackers hostel or any other public house is the quality of its comfort rooms. Here at Island Vacations Country Inn, you can be assured of a modern toilet and bath facilities with reliable water supply . . .

An elegant toilet bowl with hydraulic-driven cover . . .

Excellent quality sink and telephone-type shower facilities . . .

For couples, the family room of the backpackers hostel with toilet and bath facilities identical with the air conditioned dormitory type room is an excellent choice . . .

A simple yet elegant matrimonial bed . . .

With cabinet cum working table . . .

And now, the rates . . .

Booking Terms and Conditions:

1.) One day (24-hours) rate shall commence on the check-in time. A fraction of 24 hours is considered as 1 day;

2.) Booking can be done by directly contacting the mobile number +639199897331 or +639088842056 or by email at admin@islandvacations.me;

3.) Full payment in cash or through the Western Union is required to finalize the booking. If payment is not received by option date, the reservation will automatically be released without penalty and without prior notice;

4. ) Any change in the booking made after payment is received shall be accepted and be re-booked to another available date. In case of refund, a refund fee equivalent to 15% of the booking amount shall be deducted;

5.) A minimum of 2 guests at a time is required for  the dormitory-type air-conditioned room. A single occupant shall be billed PhP 500.00 per day;

6.) Children 2-6 years old  in excess of 2 guests in the family room is allowed whie  7-11 years shall be charged 50% of the extra bed rate. Children 12 years old and above are considered adults and shall be charged adult rates for extra bed.

7.) Only bath towels shall be provided. Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste etc. shall be provided by the guests themeselves.

Backpackers Hostel – Final Thoughts

Security and comfort are key ingredients that a traveler will consider in selecting a public house for temporary shelter. For tourists coming to Bucas Grande Island for sightseeing into its rich natural and man made attractions and observing the rich culture of its people, you can be assured that  the security features, amenities and services  of the Island Vacations Country Inn are tailored fit for a quality backpackers hostel ready to accommodate modern-day tourists and travelers like you.

Island Vacations – The Nomination

Island Vacations was nominated by Marcia of Inside Journeys to participate in the “My 7 Links Project” (Thanks Very Much, Marcia!)

Initiated by Tripbase, the My 7 Links Project aims “to unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.”

Island Vacations – My 7 Chosen Blog Posts

I’m very honored that Marcia has nominated my Island Vacations blog. It was difficult to select just seven of my blog posts but I hope you’ll like the ones I chose.

My Most Beautiful Post – Majestic Beach Resort- 3 Irresistible Motives To Visit Club Tara in Bucas Grande Island

There are lots of beautiful places that I visited but the Club Tara Resort stood out as the best. Its location inside a small sheltered bay on the idyllic southern coast of Bucas Grande Island, Philippines set in the backdrop of verdant islets and rolling karst hills carpeted with lush tropical vegetation is very enviable. The breath-taking sight of the sparkling light, purplish blue color of the waters fronting the resort resembling that of a clear and unclouded sky surely captivates your senses and rejuvenates your soul.

Club Tara Resort at dusk.

My Most Popular Post – Island Vacations- Why Sohoton Cove In Bucas Grande Island Is Dubbed As All-In-One Tourist Destination

Considered as the Philippines’ emerging all-in-one tourist destination, the Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande Island, Philippines is accessible during low tide only through the 40-meter Sohoton Cave serving as the sole entry and exit point. Once you’re inside the cove, you’ll surely ask yourself if you’re still in this world. You would really enjoy your island vacations by sightseeing and birdwatching on its thickly vegetated identical islets and scenic rock formations, snorkel and dive on its sparkling turquise waters, experience fun and thrill on its magnifecent caverns and swim with the smack of non-stingy jellyfish.

Kayaking on foot the Dagongdong Rock Formation inside Sohoton Cove.

My Most Controversial Post – Saltwater Crocodile Wrestling – My Visit To A Thrill Seeker Destination in Bangkok, Thailand

It was during my travel to Thailand that I had witnessed the most controversial stunt in my whole life- that of a human wrestling with a saltwater crocodile. My heart was pounding heavily from start to end of the Crocodile Wrestling Show at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo located west of Bangkok.

My Most Helpful Post – Battlefield Tours – My Trip To Corregidor Island, Philippines (Part 4)

I had criticized the acts of the tour guides  during my Battlefield Tours in the historic Corregidor Island in the Philippines in cracking jokes branding the Philippine Senators and Congressmen, in general, as a bunch of “leeches.” I might forgive them for uttering those words if only we were all Filipinos in the group. What pissed me off was the fact that the foreigners beside me were laughing their hearts out with that crap joke. My post on my Island Vacations blog had helped in pushing the management to ban the offensive “green joke-cracking” among their pool of tour guides.

Welcome Shed at Corregidor Island

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me – Real Friends – My Key In Wining The Go Pro Hero Contest

Almost all of my blog posts were Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tight. I intentionally made this post as SEO light as possible at it was dedicated to my supporters during the Go-Pro Hero Camera Contest sponsored by Dave and Deb of The Planet D. It turned out to be one of my two highest ranked blog posts by Google.

SOEMCO lady-real friends in lighter moments.

A Post I Feel Didn’t Get The Attention It Deserved – Island Vacations – 3 Overwhelming Basis To Visit Kapihan View Park in Bucas Grande Island

Candidly, I consider the Kapihan View Park to be one of the best sightseeing destinantions in Bucas Grande Island, Philippines. Hence, I poured all my writing prowess into this Island Vacations blog post hopefully to catch the maximum attention as possible. Sadly, it seemed didn’t fit with my readers’ taste.

Video shooting at Kapihan View Park

The Post  That I Am Most Proud Of – Heritage Tours – My Travel To Rizal Shrine In Dapitan City, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine National Hero, in his dying scene of the novel “El Filibusterismo” had quipped: “I die without seeing the dawn shining in my native land. You who could see it, welcome it, and forget not those who had fallen during the night.” In honor of Rizal’s 150^th Birth Anniversary last June 19, 2011, I wrote this post as my own little way of responding to his clarion call and as my maiden entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival. Fortunately, it gained wide acceptance from the members of the Filipino travel blogging community.

A comely spot in the Rizal Shrine Dapitan grounds featuring the immortal lines of Rizal's famous poem Canto Del Viajero (The Song of the Traveler) written on serpentine concrete slabs.

Island Vacations – My Nominated Blogs

And now, I’d like to nominate these very fabulous travel bloggers to participate in the My 7 Links Project.

Off Track Backpacking

Backpacking Worldwide

Philippine Travel Notes

Backpacking Philippines and Asia

Lakwatsera De Primera

Aside from being fabulous, the blogs I nominated are really suited to the taste of island vacations enthusiasts and travel junkies.

Seaside Waterfall – An Introduction

A seaside waterfall, aptly named Magkahuyog Falls, which is a favorite island vacations, island getaways and family beach vacations destinations, has unique and stunning features compared to other ponds and waterfalls prominently featured in popular waterfalls pictures of biggest waterfalls in the world as it cascades directly into a seaside beach towards the crystal clear water of the sea. It is located in the western part of Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

Seaside Waterfall – Why Visit The Place

The name Magkahuyog is derived from the Surigaonon term HUYOG, which means FALL DOWN. The seaside waterfall is the favorite picnic area among the residents of the communities in the western part of Bucas Grande Island, notably, Barangays Pamosaingan, Nueva Estrella and Honrado. Being a resident of the Socorro town center on the eastern side of the island, I seldom managed to visit the place. It was only during the time that we had a seminar at Barangay Pamosaingan with guests coming from the Caraga Regional Office in Butuan City that I decided to treat them to a sightseeing trip to the area.

On board a motorized banca, we traveled for 15 minutes from the Pamosaingan wharf amidst the calm and placid waters. As we approached the seaside waterfall, my eyes was greeted with this stunning view of  the water that flows down at a low angle of descent in small steps or stages over rocks . . .

The cascade-type Magkahuyog Falls viewed from a distance.

As the boat we were riding was about to dock at the  beach, the seaside waterfall had become more spectacular in my eyes. . .

Full view of the Magkahuyog Falls from the sea.

Our pump boat operator failed to contain his urge to have a dip in the cool waters of the plunge pool of Magkahuyog Falls . . .

Enjoying the dip on the sparkling azure waters of the plunge pool.

I took shots of another portion of the plunge pool . . .

The other end of the Magkahuyog Falls plunge pool.

Including its spillway that flows towards the beach and into the sea. . .

The spillway of the Magkahuyog Falls plunge pool.

Decapod crustaceans called Hermit Crabs, locally termed OMANG collected by fishermen in the area to be utilized as hook and line bait, abound in Magkahuyog Falls. . .

An array of empty gastropod shells used in concealing the asymetrical abdomen of the hermit crab being carried around by the ceature with the Magkahuyog Falls on the background.

Seaside Waterfall – Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, a waterfall is closely associated with dense rain forests deeply buried inland. Most often than not, you can reach a waterfall by slogging your way into rugged terrains as seldom you can find one which is accessible by any form of transportation. Nevertheless, in Bucas Grande Island, right on the comfort of a banca, you can savor the spectacle of a flowing water rapidly dropping in elevation as it flows over a steep rocky region into the sea. The size and height of Magkahuyog Falls is not that spectacular compared to the other famous waterfalls that I had visited. But, tourists kept coming to the island to feel for themselves the thrill of seeing an amazing seaside waterfall in action.

Filipino Desserts – What Are They?

Filipino desserts, generally considered as delicious desserts, are courses that typically comes at the end of Philippine family meals or during snack time usually consisting of awesome sweet foods considered favorite foods among island vacations and island getaways buffs and other foodies  usually served during special occasions involving family members, real friends and other guests.

Filipino Desserts – What Bucas Grande Island Can Offer?

Visitors, guests and tourists visiting Bucas Grande Island in Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines kept coming back not only due to  their awesome travel experiences on its majestic ecotourism destinations but becaue of their awesome food experiences involving  two Filipino desserts considered as food delicacies of the island, the first being the conical-shaped steamed rice cake named “sayongsong” and the other being a rice stew  cooked with coconut milk locally termed “harug.”

The Sayongsong

To expose such Filipino desserts to my readers who have not yet visited the place, I requested some expert sayongsong makers to do the actual cooking demonstration. After gathering the ingredients, sheets of coconut leaves were formed into cones while grated coconut were pressed for  coconut cream and milk. The 3 cups coconut cream, produced by the first pressing, was mixed with ¼ kilo margarine and ¼ kilo brown sugar and cooked in medium heat with constant stirring for 15 minutes . . .

Sheets of banana leaves were formed into cones while the grated coconut being pressed for coco cream and milk. Coconut caramel was made out of the mixture of coconut cream with margarine and sugar cooked in medium fire. . .

The other ingredients then were made ready . . . 1 kilo ground rice; 1 can Alpine Evaporated Milk (big); 1/4 kilo Brown Sugar; 3 pcs. Eggs; ¼ kilo salted peanuts; ½ tablespoon salt; 10 cups coconut milk – 2^nd Press and the Coconut Caramel. . .

The ingedients for Sayongsong . . .

The conical-shaped banana leaf sheets were then fitted into the flat basket slats of split bamboo sticks positioned at the bottom of a kettle atop tin cans. The ingredients were then mixed in a bowl, poured over the arranged banana leaf sheets and steamed for 30 minutes. . .

Arranging the conical-shaped banana leaf sheets . . . Mixing the ingredients . . .

Pouring the ingredients into the conical banan sheets . . . Steamed in raging fire for 30 minutes . . .

And voila! the sweet and delicious sayongsong are ready for serving . . .

The ready-to-serve sayongsong.

The Harug

The Harug, which is also among the popular Filipino desserts, is a variation of the ginataan and binignit. Its ingredients are composed of:

1 kilo Glutinous Rice – Tapol; 3 cups cubed camote; 3 cups cubed cassave; 3 cups cubes squash; 3 cups cubed squash; 3 cups Mongo; 3 cups diced ripe cardaba banana; 5 cups coconut cream (2^nd press); 20 cups coconut milk (2^nd press); 3 cups young coconut meat strips; 1 kilo brown sugar; 1 tablespoon salt.

The Harug is prepared by putting the mongo into a kettle with boiling water and allow it to continously boil for one hour or until it’s grains can already be mashed. Pour the cubed camote, casava and squash as well as the glutinous rice and let it boil for another hour. Mix the coconut milk and let it boil for 10 minutes. Do not stir from the start as it could affect the taste. Mix the cubed banana, brown sugar, salt, young coconut meat strips and coconut cream. Afterwards, stir constantly  for 15 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

The Harug Festival is the most awaited event, the climax at that, during one of the special occasions in the island town of Socorro which is the annual Tinabangay Festival  held every 22nd of February, wherein, the elementary pupils, high school and college students, barangays, government agencies and people’s organizations simultaneously prepare the stew and serve it to the festival revelers for free.

Secondary students making final touches of their harug being prepared along the street. . .

Harug containers being lined along the major town throughfare for the much-awaited Harug Festival

With the sound of the siren signalling the official start of the Harug Festival, the kettles and harug containers are opened with its stew contents served to the public for free . . .

The cooked harug ready for serving to the revelers . . . The beauteous Accounting Office staff serving harug with a smile . . .

I and my family members always make sure not to miss the festivity . . . The lady town Mayor and Vice-Mayor acknowledging . . .

... the Socorro constituents including the tourists enjoying the Harug Festival . . .

Filipino Desserts – Final Thoughts

The Filipino desserts  popularized in the island town of Socorro are undoubtedly among the awesome foods in Bucas Grande Island. As you test the Sayongsong and Harug, you could really feel the taste of a perfect blend of rice with the other ingredients and the sweetness here and there would truly tease your tongue and encourage you to come back to Bucas Grande Island for purposes, among others, to savor the Filipino desserts prepared by the hands of the islanders not only for their satisfaction but for the tourists and visitors as well.

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This Filipino Desserts blog post is my 2nd entry to the  Blog Carnival of the Pinoy Travel Bloggers with the theme Awesome Food Experience While Traveling in the Philippines hosted by Anton Diaz  of Our Awesome Planet.

On The Beach Holidays – An Introduction

On the beach holidays, especially during the feast of Saint John The Baptist, are pretty much spent by beach goers, island vacations buffs and natural attractions seekers wading in the crystal clear water of the best beaches in the world either on a white sand beach, black sand beach or pebble beach considered as favorite island getaways. In the case of the residents of Bucas Grande Island in Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines spending the Saint John the Baptist Day in Puyangi White Sand Beach, located just a walking distance from the town center, has become an annual tradition.

On The Beach Holidays – Spending Saint John Day in Puyangi White Sand Beach

As a backgrounder especially for the non-Christian readers, Saint John the Baptist was the prophet mentioned  in the Holy Bible who prepared the faithful for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. John’s main character in the gospels is attributed to his baptism to Jesus Christ at the Jordan River which is now one of the Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church.  Since, he was 6 months older than Jesus, the Catholic Calendar placed the feast of John the Baptist on June 24, six months before Christmas.

June 24 is being celebrated in various ways according to the customs and traditions of the place. Other Christian communities in the Philippines celebrated it with fanfare more so for places who chose Saint John the Baptist as their patron saint, hence, the annual fiesta celebration. But other areas just considered June 24 as another ordinary day of the year.

But in Socorro, the lone town in Bucas Grande Island in Surigao del Norte, Philippines, the feast of Saint John the Baptist, though not their annual fiesta, is one of the important days marked in the calendar of the inhabitants. While it is not declared as a public non-working holiday, but the Socorronhons considered it as such as the entire family has to take time spending on the beach holidays  and take a dip to commemorate the Jordan River baptism of Jesus Christ. And, though there are several patches of white sand beaches surrounding the island, the inhabitants chose to converge  in the most popular beach in town- the Puyangi White Sand Beach.

On the eve of the June 24, 2011 Saint John the Baptist Day, I went to Puyangi White Sand Beach to scout for a place where I and my family could settle  for the next day’s  picnic and join the customary on the beach holidays of the Socorro  inhabitants. I rode on my motorcycle, went through a foot trail beneath the coconut trees  parallel to the 1.2 kilometer stretch white sand beach and reached the place in 5 minutes. As I stepped on the sand, I was enthralled on this tantalizing views . . .

The 1.2 kilometer-Puyangi White Sand Beach stretching towards the Socorro town center.

The Puyangi White Sand Beach stretching towards the Puyangi Spring.

I slogged over the pearly-white sand beach and loved the feel of a mixture of silica and pale quartz grains touching my sole as it actually squeaks a bit when stepped on until I reached the Puyangi Spring . . .

The impounded portion of the series of streamflows of the Puyangi Spring.

The Puyangi Spring spillway flowing to the Puyangi White Beach into the sea.

Candidly, I felt nostalgic as I waded through the knee deep crystal clear water while taking photographs of this scenic view of Puyangi White Sand Beach. . .

The Puyangi White Sand Beach showing the convergence point between the cool waters of the Puyangi Spring and the warm sea water.

I couldn’t help but imagine the days during my childhood when I was so fascinated with the bright sand at Puyangi White Sand Beach which makes the sea waters especially beautiful with emerald, light blue and sparkling azure colors. There were times that, while enjoying the swim, I would be told by my elder brother  that the proximity of a barrier reef makes the crystal clear water at Puyangi White Sand Beach naturally calm and warm. But the waters cascading from the Puyangi Spring enables the convergence point uniquely cool thereby offering  me and the other swimmers the option for an alternate warm and cold bath. I cannot forget the days when, after taking a languorous swim in the warm waters, I occasionally took a  quick dip at the refreshingly cool waters of the Puyangi Spring.

After quite sometime, I went home eagerly dreaming for the coming of the on the beach holidays a day after. Then, June 24, 2011 came. I went to the vicinity of the Puyangi Spring again and found some beach revellers already dotting the white sand beach . . .

On the beach holidays revellers at Puyangi White Sand Beach.

Including this pair on the way to their rendezvous . . .

A fiance with his fiancee having an idle and leisurely walk at Puyangi White Sand Beach . . .

As I slogged further, I was delighted by the sight of these children . . .

Two boys dashing neck-and-neck to beat the 100-meter dash . . .

A child wallowing at the sand enjoying the sand mask . . .

But nothing beats the sight of this innocent smile . . .

A child enjoying his labor . . .

While the sports enthusiasts really found time to blend beach going with sports . . .

A group of beach goers enjoying their Beach Volleyball game . . .

I walked further towards the direction of the town center and found a lot of on the beach holidays revellers positioning atop the limestone serving as natural breakwater . . .

Beach goers taking time to enjoy the Saint John The Baptist Day . . .

Until I reached the cottage where my family and friends were awaiting for  me to . . .

. . . signal the official start of the Eat-All-You-Can Challenge . . .

We then ventured into a lively chat while occasionally glancing the spot where my 8-year old child Edrian was enjoying the swim.

As the horizon started to dim, we called it our turn for a romantic and  languorous couples’ swim which we did until the later part of the night . . .

On The Beach Holidays – Final Thoughts

June 24 is an important event in the life of the Christians. It is celebrated in one way or another in various communities. Others made a mockery of the celebration by throwing murky canal waters at the sight of the passers-by. But in Bucas Grande Island, we chose to celebrate the day  of the Feast of Saint John The Baptist in a memorable and enjoyable manner with each and every able-bodied Socorronhon joining the much awaited annual  on the beach holidays celebration.

Heritage Tours – What Is It?

Heritage Tours, as opposed to a study tour, sightseeing or battlefield tours that this island vacations enthusiast have had already undergone,  are travels to experience the  historical places like the Rizal Shrine declared as a national shrine and  national historical landmark in the Philippines, cultural and natural landmarks and other heritage sites as well as the activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.

Heritage Tours – Why I Visited The  Rizal Shrine in Dapitan?

My life has been greatly influenced by the life, works and writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. I started reading with  great enthusiasm the comics version of his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in my elementary days and read the full version of such novels and other Rizal writings in high school. Modesty aside, I got an excellent mark in the college-day Rizal subject for fully digesting that the 64-chapters Noli is a romantic novel, a work of the heart, a book of feeling as it has freshness, color, humor, lightness, and wit while the 38-chapters Fili is a political novel, a work of the head and a book of the thought which contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, and sorrow. Nowadays, I hold the record  of holding a number of volumes of Rizaliana books in our island town of Socorro in Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

When I was still a child, I dreamed of joining in heritage tours and visit the places prominently mentioned in the diaries of Rizal. It was only in 1998 that I was able to accomplish the first leg of my heritage tours by visiting the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila where he was incarcerated by the Spaniards before being shot to death on December 30, 1896 at the Bagumbayan Field, now the Luneta Park in Manila. In the year 1999, I made the second leg of my heritage tours by travelling to the Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna where the Philippine national hero was born. The next heritage tours destination was supposed to be the Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City where he was banished for a period of four years due to his subversive views against the abusive Spanish government officials and hypocritical friars and for being critical to the more than 300 years of Spanish rule of the Philippines.

Due to my hectic schedules, my heritage tours to the Rizal Shrine in Dapitan was relegated to the background. It  was only when I learned from Ivan Henares that Rizal and Travel was chosen as theme for the June 2011 Blog Carnival to honor Dr. Jose Rizal on his 150th Birth Anniversary come June 19 that my interest to pursue with my unfinished heritage tours was resurrected. Ecstatic to submit my maiden entry to the blog carnival as I became a member of the Pinoy Travel Bloggers only recently, I decided to visit Dapitan.

From Surigao City, Philippines, I chose to travel by land all the way to Mukas Port in Kolambogan, Lanao del Norte, took the barge for Ozamiz City, travelled again by land to Barangay Lorenzo Tan, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and chose to stay overnight at the head office of Lorenzo Tan Multi-Pupose Cooperative (LTMPC), one of the largest cooperatives operating  in Mindano Island, Philippines under the abbotship of my good friend Ben Canama. From Tangub City, I travelled by private car for more than three hours making short stops at various tourist destinations of the province until I reached Dapitan, a small but progressive city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, northwestern part of Mindanao Island, Philippines.

The sprawling, recently-inaugurated, Dapitan City Hall strategically located at the city's entry point.

While traversing the national highway adjacent to the shorelines of Dapitan City, I signalled the driver to stop as my eyes were glued at this attraction . . .

Punto del Desembarco de Rizal (Rizal’s Landing Point). This is the site where Rizal landed in Dapitan on board a row boat from the steamer Cebu at around 7:00 o’clock in the evening of July 17, 1892. Rizal was holding his hat and to his right was the Captain of the steamship Cebu while the other three are artillery men.

While standing still in front of the bronze statues, a pretty lady named Jenylen Hontiveros approached me and introduced herself as the tour guide assigned by the city government to entertain heritage tours  visitors making a stop in such  a national historical landmark. Jen had provided me substantial bits of information which reinforced my knowledge about Rizal’s travel in Dapitan.

After exchanging pleasantries with the tour giuide, I travelled on foot tracing the route of Rizal and company until I reached this place . . .

The Casa Real Marker situated at Fr. Sanchez St., Dapitan Plaza. The building was inadvertently demolished to give way for the construction of the old Dapitan Hospital. The old Municipal Hall situated on the opposite side of Dapitan Plaza which looked exactly the same as Casa Real except that the latter had front and side balconies.

The Casa Real was the official residence and administration building of Don Ricardo Carnicero, the Politico-Military Governor of the District whereJose Rizal lived as an exile from July 17, 1892 to March, 1893.

I felt excited upon seeing the entry point leading to the Map of Mindanao built by Rizal with its corresponding marker. . .

The entry point in the Dapitan Plaza leading to the Relief Map of Mindanao Island built by Rizal The Marker of the Relief Map of Mindanao at the Dapitan Plaza

Truly, I felt nostalgic when I saw the marker inside the St. James Parish Church where Rizal used to stand while attending church mass to evade from the watchful eyes of the priest who always delivered invective sermons against him for his thoughts on religious freedom. Moreover, I found interest in taking a close-up photo of the  Rizal monument at the heart of the Dapitan Plaza as it resembles that of the monument of the national hero in my island town of Socorro . . .

The interior of the St. James Church with the black marker on lower left side showing the spot where Rizal used to stand while hearing mass. A close-up photo of Dr. Jose P. Rizal monument located at the heart of the Dapitan Plaza.

I then told the driver to proceed to our next heritage tours destination- the Rizal Shrine in Barangay Talisay. After an approximately two kilometres ride, we reached the 16 hectares estate of Dr. Jose P. Rizal which he purchased out  of a portion of his winnings of the Manila Lottery. The gate signage and the Rizal Museum were the first sights captured by my keen eyes in the shrine. . .

The comely signage welcoming visitors to the Rizal Shrine The Rizaliana Museum housing rich collections of Rizal memorabilla

Being an avid collector of Rizaliana items, savoring the  exhibits inside the Rizaliana Museum is for me, more than hitting a gold mine. Candidly, there was an unexplainable feeling deep inside me while looking at Rizal’s original clothing carefully preserved in glass caskets, the blackboard and desk he used in his boys’ school, reproduction of his sculptures  (Triumph of Science Over Death, A Dapitan Girl and Prometeus Bound), paintings, and select manuscripts (Himno A Talisay, Mi Retiro – A Mi Madre and A Josefina).

Afterwards, I proceeded to the next heritage tours destination- the Casa Residencia,  replica of the house of Rizal…

The Casa Residencia. Reconstructed in 1960, this rectangular house sheltered Jose Rizal from March 1893 until he left Dapitan on July 31, 1896. It has a bedroom and features a veranda on three of its four walls and a comfort room accessible through a bridge at the rear. On various occasions, the house also sheltered Rizal's mother Teodora, his sisters Trinidad, Maria and Narcisa, some nephews, his niece Angelica and his loved one Josephine Bracken (NHI Marker).

Pushed by curiosity, I strolled around the shrine and took pictures of the Water System and the Casa Cuadrada. . .

Talisay Water System (Rizal's Dam and Aqueduct). Constructed by Rizal in 1895 with the help of the pupils, the water system provided adequate water supply for Rizal's farm and household needs (NHI Marker). Casa Cuadrada (Replica of the Pupils' Dormitory and Workshop). Rizal effected the construction of the house to accomodate the growing number of pupils in his Talisay School. The area underneath the hut served as workshop of his pupils (NHI Marker).

And also the Rizal Kitchen and Casa Redonda . . .

Replica of Rizal's Kitchen. Reconstructed at te same time and with similar materials as the main house, the kitchen has a dimension of approximately 14 feet by 10 feet and is open on all sides from waist up to facilitate airflow and prevent smoke from being trapped inside (NHI Marker). Casa Redonda (Replica of the Octagonal Clinic of Rizal). The octagonal hut served as Rizal's clinic and as dormitory of some of his pupils. Reconstructed with similar materials as the main house, it now stands as a reminder of the numerous medications performed by Dr. Jose P. Rizal during his exile in Dapitan (NHI Marker).

As I strolled further in other parts of the Rizal Shrine, I was attracted by a a rock which occupied a prominent space in the shrine only to know that it was the Mi Retiro Rock prominently mentioned in Rizal’s memoirs . . .

Mi Retiro Rock (Retreat Rock of Rizal). The rock got its name from the poem of Dr. Jose P. Rizal titled Mi retiro as it was while sitting on it that he wrote the first few stanzas of the poem (NHI Marker). It is also known as Lovers' Rock since Dr. Jose P. Rizal and Josephine Bracken has spent many romantic moments on it while savoring the scenic beauty of the Daptan Bay.

Heritage Tours – Final Thoughts

My heritage tours to the historic Dapitan to savor and experience  Rizal Shrine, which is a national shrine and national historical landmark,  and observe the diligent lifestyle led by the Philippine National Hero through the rebuilt structures of his nipa hut residence, dam and waterworks, hospital and dormitory was worth the money, time and efforts. Keeping an eye on, and having first hand information  of,  the fruits of Rizal’s four productive years  in the field of medicine, agriculture, entrepreneurship, education, science, engineering, architecture, poetry and arts in that frontier town done to ease his solitude and improve the Dapitanon’s lives while in exile are priceless pursuits that a history buff and heritage tours aficionado like you  should not miss doing yourself in the near future.

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This Heritage Tours blog post is my maiden entry to the Blog Carnival of the Pinoy Travel Bloggers in honor of Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s 150th Birthday with the theme Rizal and Travel hosted by Ivan Henares  of Ivan About Town.

Kawasan Falls – An Introduction

Kawasan Falls is considered as the most famous waterfalls in Cebu Island with images prominently displayed among the best waterfalls pictures of the Philippines and frequently visited by island vacations enthusiasts, creationists and other tourists wanting to visit natural attractions and tourist spots for the purpose of sightseeing and taking pictures of nature. It is situated in Barangay Matutinao in the town of Badian, 105 kilometers away from Cebu City.

Kawasan Falls – Why I went There?

Upon invitation of my good friend Reynero “Tata” Escultor, Vice-Chairman of Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KNPMPC), I decided to include Kawasan Falls in the itinerary of the study tour of the staff of the Socorro Empowered Peoples Cooperative (SOEMCO) based in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.  On board 4 hired vans, we left  the Hidden Valley Resort in Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu at exactly 7:00 o’clock in the morning of April 22, 2011. We passed by the towns of Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjog, Ronda, Alcantara and finally Badian. We travelled  a few more kilometres until we reached Barangay Matutinao at 10:00 o’clock. From the junction we walked towards the direction of Kawasan Falls with Annabella Esbillas, KNPMPC Treasurer serving as our guide . . .

The SOEMCO staff walking their way towards Kawasan Falls

Along the way, we stopped on a stall to pay the Php 10.00 per head entrance fee. The SOEMCO staff  also took turns buying souvenirs such as breaded necklace, bracelets and  t-shirts prominently printed with “Kawasan Falls.”

We walked on gravelled road along tributaries crossing in the process three small bridges. As we went deeper into a rainforest, some of the female employees were already starting to feel exhausted. But the roaring in the distance announcing our approach to the phenomenal natural attraction had mobilized our strength to proceed. The roaring increased and became more and more thundering as we went on. Finally, after 30-minutes of walking on a 750-meter road, we reached the First Level of Kawasan Falls. Candidly,  it seemed I was hypnotized by the close encounter with this natural spectacle . . .

The firsl level 20-meter high plunge type Kawasan Falls

Since it was a Good Friday, the spot was on a festive mood full of local and foreign tourists enjoying a swim on the turquoise plunge pool . . .

Close-up view of the plunge-type Kawasan Falls with Korean tourists on the foreground . . .

I was preparing to settle and take more pictures but our tour guide signaled that we have to proceed to the second level 250 meters away as our billeting area was situated therein. Hence, we proceeded and maneuvered on sometimes steep and narrow  but oftentimes comfortable trails. On our way, my sight was glued at the enthralling view of a fan-type mini falls . . .

A female tourist, whom I befriended later, preparing for a jump at the fan-type mini falls. . .

Our tour guide signaled that we were already about to reach our destination. I stopped for a while as I was fascinated to see this spillway . . .

The Kawasan Falls Level 2 Spillway . . .

We were warmly welcomed by Ms. Myrna Divinagracia, Ms. Milagros Batongmalaki and Mr. Iasuro Belarmino, Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KNPMPC) Chairman and members of the board, respectively. After taking a sumptuous dinner prepared by the cooperative, the hospitable officers oriented the group on the cooperative’s history, governance and management. Afterwards, the staff engaged in a free-for-all swim into the plunge pool. . .

Some SOEMCO staff on board a bamboo raft enjoying the plunge of level 2 Kawasan Falls . . .

With raised hands...shouting victoriously... WE Conquered Kawasan Falls!

Scared with the thundering sound of the  falls and the plunge pool’s depth, some female staff were just contented with taking pictures of nature and posing with the majestic waterfalls scenery as background . . .

Ms. Racquel Kristina T. Ocon, CPA, SOEMCO Accounting Manager on her best pose with the Kawasan Falls plunge pool at the background . . .

To satisfy my curiosity, I decided to proceed to the Kawasan Falls water source. As I climbed on a steep and sometimes slippery trail, I passed by and took shots of this  enthralling  view . . .

Kawasan Falls' plunge into the pool viewed from atop . . .

I slogged further into slippery stones for 30 minutes until I reached the 3rd level cascading Kawasan Falls . . .

Turquoise, crystal clear stream pool of the cascade-type level 3 Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls – Final Thoughts

The sight of a flowing water rapidly dropping in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff is truly a wonderful experience among the SOEMCO staff. The lessons learned on how to operate a cooperative-run nature park are really worth the time, money and efforts.

Finally, the view of a multi-step waterfalls, or a series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool, which characterized Kawasan Falls will surely go down as one of the most exciting trips I have had undertaken in my life.

Hidden Valley Resort – An Introduction

Hidden Valley Resort, one of the best family vacation destinations and ideal couples retreat location and sight seeing spots and among the best family resorts and couples resorts suited for fun family vacations, kid friendly vacations as well as spiritual retreats and meditation retreats for island vacations enthusiasts, urbanites,  religious groups  and other people from all walks of life situated in the hinterland village or barangay of Lamac, Pinamungajan in the island province of Cebu, Philippines. It is owned and managed by one of the best performing cooperatives in the country, the 47,394-member strong Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMC).  It can be reached from Cebu City in 2 fronts, the first being the circuitous route by travelling 65 kilometers  via a paved road towards the town center of Pinamungajan, Cebu and traverse a 14-kilometer cemented road to Barangay Lamac. The second option is via the short cut route by travelling a 40-kilometer paved road from the main city towards Barangay Bunga, Toledo City and maneuver on a bumpy 7-kilometer intermittent paved and rough gravel road towards the site.

Hidden Valley Resort – Why I Visited The Place?

Being the Chief Executive Officer of the Socorro Empowered People’s Cooperative (SOEMCO), the strongest and biggest cooperative in the province based in Socorro, the lone town of Bucas Grande Island in Surigao del Norte, Philippines, I lead the 43 regular employees of the cooperative who were very enthusiastic to have a study tour in the renowned Cebu-based cooperative. On board four (4) hired vans, we left Cebu City at exactly 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon of April 21, 2011. Opting to travel via the short cut route, we traversed through the 40-kilometer winding road until we reached Barangay Bunga, Toledo City at 3:30 PM. The vehicle then turned left and our travel calvary begun as we went on a bumpy ride via a sometimes paved, but most of the time, rough gravel road passing by farmlands and occasional narrow passageways like this. . .

A pinched gravel road on a cut limestone boulder en route to Barangay Lamac

As we went on, one of my lady staff blurted:  “Sir! Are we really sure with our destination? I promptly calmed her down with an assurance that we were on the right track. Twenty minutes later,  we reached the mountain top and this exhilarating sight of a hidden valley on our left, which our driver pointed out as our final destination, had caught my attention . . .

Bird's-eye view of a hidden valley where Barangay Lamac nestles tranquilly. . .

We then maneuvered through an all-downward route until we reached the Lamac community at the foot of the valley situated 7 kilometers away from the junction. Our van then traversed through a barangay street, climbed on an upward route and stopped in front of this signage. . .

The imposing Hidden Valley Resort signage . . .

As we stepped out of the van and looked in all directions. . . and after seeing the sceneries,  my staff shouted in unison : “WOW! This is great . . .

The exhilirating view of the Hidden Valley Resort cottages built on a hillside with white mountain rock formations on the background. . .

After the usual check-in procedures, we were ushered to our respective cottage assignments. On our way, my eyes were glowed on this sight . . .

A concrete stairway leading to the Hidden Valley Resort Chapel . . .

From the chapel, I savored this alluring view . . .

The mesmerizing sight of the Hidden Valley Resort and its environs . . .

As the western sky turned crimson to orange, I took this photograph . . .

Sunset at Hidden Valley Resort . . .

We then gathered in the Narcisa Hall for the much awaited orientation on the history, products and services of the LamaC Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC). Truly, the stirring speech of the cooperative’s General Manager Ellen Canda-Limocon was among the best speeches I have had heard in my lifetime. Her soft voice detailing the woos and glees of the cooperative could easily capture a cooperative leader-listener’s attention even on a standing position from dusk to dawn.

After the sumptuous welcome dinner, we retired to our respective beds. I was the first from among the group to rise in the morning purposely to take morning shots of the resort sceneries like these . . .

The Lourdes Retreat House . . .

The Hidden Valley Resort Reception Center with the imposing LMPC logo on the foreground . . .

The resort's Kiosk where the Karaoke Challenge among guests are held . . .

The Sinungkulan Hall and Veranda Cafe . . .

The Hidden Valley Resort's Main Swimming Pool . . .

The Hidden Valley Resort Amphitheater . . .

The Kiddie Swimming Pool . . .

... and the Pond cottages

I went back to the main Swimming Pool and saw the SOEMCO lady staff headed by the Accounting Manager Racquel Kristina T. Ocon gearing for a languorous swim into the turquoise waters . . .

The SOEMCO lady employees on their best swim attire . . .

The SOEMCO calendar girls posing for posterity at pool side . . . with some smiling boys at the back

Struggling not to not to be left behind by their counterparts, the SOEMCO male staff had also shown their capability to be posted on the men’s magazine cover . . .

The SOEMCO male staff on their best pool pose . . .

HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT VITAL INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE. . .

Hidden Valley Resort – Final Thoughts

The  study tour was the best trip the SOEMCO staff had gone so far in their entire life as it left a tremendous impact on each and every employees’ lives. As we left the place, each one of us made a vow to continue spreading with renewed vigor and vitality the virus of cooperativism back home and conquer Caraga Region the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooepartive (LMPC) way! Truly, the spot had been lost from our sights as our van had sped away, but the LMPC and the Hidden Valley Resort would always remain in our minds and hearts forever.