SHORT TRIPS | Biking Lake Pinamaloy, Don Carlos Bukidnon

It was supposed to be a good day for a bike ride to Lake Pinamaloy, Don Carlos, Bukidnon.

Before leaving Maramag, the wind was calm, skies cloudy, no signs of rain... It was beginning to be a good day. Until we covered about eight kilometers or so, the sky in Don Carlos felt heavy and teary.

Still, we're here. Rain or shine, our bikes were ready for an all-weather goodness.

Lake Pinamaloy should be a serene place offering 60 hectares of activity space. For active people, it is a good venue for runners and mountain bikers alike. For lovers, it's wide enough to show public display of affection. Meanwhile, for the laid-back people wanting to relax, the lake is heavily surrounded by trees providing a cool breeze of air for anyone wanting to read a book or have a picnic.

Mountain Biking at Lake Pinamaloy

A rough estimate of three kilometers is needed to loop the existing narrow road around the lake. With walls that enclose the area from any trespassers, it is however worth noting that the lake is always open for visitors free of charge.

Lake Pinamaloy is probably the most famous landmark Don Carlos, Bukidnon has to offer. It also brings fresh-drinking water for the people in the area.

The cool breeze makes it an ideal place to spend leisure time with family any day. If in case you intend to host a picnic in the area, bring as much food for the planned day since there are no food stalls in the area.

I would also like to inform everyone that swimming is never allowed in the lake premises.

Narrow roads are an addition to those wanting for a trail run or a bike ride.

How to get here?
Take a bus bound to Kibawe, Kalilangan, Dumulog, or Tacurong then de-board at Don Carlos Bus Terminal. Then take a tricycle, about 8 pesos per passenger.

Tips before going to the lake;
- Bring food for the day.
- Try bringing a hammock if anyone wants to read under the tree branches.
- Bring a bike for some leisure ride.
- Bring Frisbee.

SNAPSHOTS | A ride to Lake Manlamonay, Don Carlos, Bukidnon

Lake Manlamonoy

Lake Manlamonay is an infamous lake located at about seven kilometers away from the Sayre Highway, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. While being surrounded by coconut trees and a sugarcane field, it is actually a lake that provides agri-fishing for the people living nearby.

The moment I had the chance to see this lake upclose and personal. It was soul-inviting as the sun was setting down. It threw away my exhaustion, delivering me towards serenity even for just a moment.

My bike resting beside the lake.

Getting here can be done in the form of habal-habal. But since this is me, I opted to travel short distances on my mountain bike leaving Maramag at around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I was able to reach home by six - contented with the picture I got.

If anyone wishes to visit the small lake, please bear in mind that, like its Lake Pinamaloy brother, this one isn't suitable for swimming. Picnic is also not advisable since farm animals' are common within the premises.

Acknowledgement:
Thanks to blogger Earl Bolivar of Bukidnon Photo Journal. His Lake Manlamonay article actually informed me of its existence. Read his article here.

SNAPSHOTS | Resting My Weary Soul in Mt. Apo

It has been two days of hiking and climbing the highest mountain in the Philippines - Mt. Apo, situated in Kidapawan City and Magpet, North Cotabato. The itch and the excitement was all part of the activity amongst friends in the mountaineering circle. But of course, the exhaustion was a constant battle to climb up here but Lord knows this was worth it.

You never know what's up there until you see it. But only when you're up there that you get to know yourself fully well. I'm resting a weary soul that is... Thanks to Mt. Apo for helping me zip things up.

I am the probably in the highest place in the Philippines, yet in this very moment, I am a nobody.

Stay tuned for my Mt. Apo series!

WAT Iligan Day 2: Visiting the Majestic Maria Cristina Falls

26 0900H September 2012 - It's my second day here in Iligan City, Philippines wherein I participated in the Waterfalling Adventure Tour hosted by the Iligan Bloggers Society. The first waterfall during the tour was the famous Maria Cristina Falls.

The thing is, I grew up with Maria Cristina falls not because I live in Iligan. I actually grew up knowing her because of the books I read back in grade school. Funny, ask anyone in primary school, they know lots of things about Maria and Cristina's story and why it became such a fairy tale of love about a boy. Oh I wish I was that boy...

It is actually my second time to visit her. The first visit wasn't much appreciated since I was very young then. But this date has been quite another personal meeting, I wondered on her beauty and how she supplies the electricity needed by the whole Northern Mindanao. She's never enchanting though, unlike Tinago Falls, but she's just as majestic. Sadly, this waterfall felt shy as I can't see Maria flowing with water.

After being able to rekindle an old past, the group went for a short zip course. I think it's the best zip course I've been to'. I initiated inverted positions without fear and I thought the day was just about to start.

Before we moved to another waterfall, a quick lunch from Jacko's Kan-anan was packed along with the trip. Delicious!

Fish Kinilaw

Pork Barbecue

Grilled Kitong with Soy Sauce

The next waterfall I will be featuring is the Tinago Falls. Stay tuned!

Jacko's Kan-anan: Delightfully Tasty Krispy Squid

The mouth watering Krispy Squid.

One great dinner along with Iligan Bloggers Society happened at Jacko's Kan-anan to welcome the participants of the Waterfalling Adventure Tour held here at Iligan City.

Started in 2009, this great dining place actually started as a car wash shop with mini snackbar. Sadly, the place was washed away when tropical storm Sendong came. After some renovations, the owners had decided to put up a place to find good food starting with their own home-made recipe - the Krispy Squid.

150? 130? Nope, it's actually just under that - 120 pesos. Good for two. It can melt the heart of food lovers as the flavor of the squid settles in the tongue. Like any other recipe I have found in other places, this is one of the best recipe's I can vouch for.

Krispy Tuna Belly

Jacko's are also known for their Krispy Tuna Belly and Krispy Tuna Buntot. Two of these dishes fetch at 120 and 250 pesos respectively. The place offer small-run functions and catering services.

Jacko's Kan-anan is located at Hinaplanon - National Highway (Near Phoenix Gas Station), Iligan City.

@iam3739

Day 1: Waterfalling Adventure Tour in Iligan

I am at Iligan City, finally!

I had to travel five hours by bus from my hometown to Cagayan de Oro then had dinner with a good friend who was now based in Surigao. After a few chit-chats, I was set to leave for another two hours ride to Iligan.

Woman Conductor at West Bound Terminal, Cagayan de Oro

This is my first time traveling alone west. Much has changed I can say, I was surprised to see bus companies such as the Rural Transit Bus Lines got away with gender-specific mentality as to jobs concerned, it was nice to see girls having to hold and provide tickets to their customers.

Two hours of glancing through the watch, I can finally see Iligan the way I saw it before, as an industrial town.

I never once imagined that the city is rich with quite a number of waterfalls. It was claimed that numbers went as high as 39, but only 23 was yet recognized as naturally-made. Hence, Iligan is also known as the "City of Majestic Waterfalls".

When I got to the busy part of the city, I began asking for questions from the people boarding the same bus. I asked for directions as to where the bus stop is, but to my dismay, the local-pretending lady failed to grasp my question, thus, leaving me hopeless in the city bus terminal.

Thankfully, after some few inquiries with the tourism police force, a cute police girl with a short hair pointed me to the right direction. I wished I had asked her name so that I won't call her maybe...

But now I am in Iligan, having some great food and fellowship with other bloggers at Jacko's Kan-anan to try out three great dishes!

@iam3739

I'm going to The Waterfalling Adventure Tour in Iligan City!

Okay. So I am finally done with my weekend at Davao for a blogging seminar when a friend at Bukidnon Bloggers asked me if I could present as a guest blogger in Iligan City for the first Waterfalling Adventure Tour hosted by the Iligan Bloggers Society in celebration as well with the Diyandi Festival 2012.

My thoughts were nothing but excited. Okay, a bit vague there, but I have to say that I am excited because I want to relive my experience with a city I am lost to explain. I have been in Iligan twice my life; the first visit was when I was around 10 years old and the second time was when I visited Maria Cristina Falls on a field trip. During those two visits, my travel itch wasn't mature enough to make an archive of been there - done that. Thankfully, in a few days, I am happy to be part of an event which I am surely secured to know Iligan far better.

It is said in the newsletter that fifteen bloggers will be joining an adrenaline-pumping event filled with mouth watering food and heart thumping celebration of the Diyandi Festival. Additionally, IBS noted that there will be a good worth of two-day physical-related activites for the adventurous spirit - this actually sold me to come.

The whole event is a 5 day invitational tour hosted by the Iligan Bloggers Society and made possible with the full support of the event sponsors: Tita Fannies, Red Planet / Calda Pizza, El Canto / Macki's, Iligan City Government, UNILAB, NPC Natures Park, Third Team Media, TravelJams, PurpleSlipperz, and Pinay Travelista.

Oh... can't wait!

@iam3739