Philippines Travel Guide

As what I have written in my previous post on “A Must See Paradise Philippines“, I was so amazed and happy that I have been to City of Pines and Produce – Paradise Philippines Baguio. Known as the summer capital of the Philippines. The home to many tourists spots and is a weekend getaway of those living in Metro Manila. The coolest place ever just like my hometown in Camp Phillips, Bukidnon during Christmas season.

It was not in my plan to go to Baguio because I was just attending for a wedding. But the group ( mikel, mito and mae ) decided to dropped by before going home since it was just I guess two hours from Pangasinan.The way to Baguio is just the same as going to Davao City via Buda. The long and winding road was along our way overlooking at the panoramic view of the place. Such a wonderful place away from pollution. You can mesmerize the cold breeze and see the foggy sky as if it was just early in the morning.

Long before, I used to dream that someday I could go boating in Burnham Park. It was really fun when you were the one to row your boat and sing,

” Row, row, row your boat dancing down the stream! Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is just a dream! “

Boating in Burnham Park really fascinated me, with its lagoon, trees, flowers, and picnic grounds. Burnham Park is a great place for relaxation and recreation which is ideal for family. Chairs and benches are distributed around the park for those who just want to sit down and relax. You can also go biking and strolling along the park where tennis and basketball courts, a few restaurants, outdoor kiosks, a children’s playground are within the park. Seeing beautiful and happy faces eased our lonely moments. Ideal place to take pictures. We went to Baguio Cathedral, the church where Aga Mulach and Charlene Gonzales happily wed. I was able to see also the overlooking view of the whole city at night.

That was my fascinating experience in Baguio. Someday I can visit again together with my family in God’s perfect plan. For me, it was just a Paradise Philippines, city of Pines Baguio.

See PhotoGallery for the Pictures.

Wherever I may roam

The distant land to see

I long to go back soon

To sweet Bukidnon home.

Her lovely mountains high

Her forest old and grand

Bring memories to me

The home I long to see.

There my heart, yearns to be

In far away, Bukidnon land

Under its blue and starry skies

Where love and joy never die.

When you heard the word “Bukidnon” what usually comes in your mind? Definitely, you would visualize the long terrain of mountains and highlands. The highland Paradise Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao Region.Bukidnon is considered as the food basket of Mindanao. It is an agricultural economy where agricultural firms like Del Monte Philippines, Lapanday Diversified Products Corp., Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Development Corp are involved in the pineapple production. Dole Philippines and Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ventures, Inc is into banana production. Other business includes Bukidnon Sugar Milling Corporation (BUSCO), Crystal Sugar Milling for sugar milling, Phil-Agro Industrial Corporation for starch production, Menzi Agricultural Development for cacao. Agaropyta Phils. Inc., Bukidnon Greens Inc., FP Obrero Farms and ARDEM, Inc for cutflower production. San Miguel Foods Corp. (SMFI_PFC), Monterey Farms Corp., Swift Foods, Inc are food manufacturing giants.

Bukidnon is my home! For me, it is a Paradise Philippines in the mountain. I lived here for almost twenty four years and yet eager to explore more of its wonders in nature. Wherever I may be, my heart yearns to come home to my beloved hometown.

I always remember this song: “Bukidnon My Home” when going to different places. Truly love and joy will never dies.

I will tour you in my place, Camp Phillips, Bukidnon. The home of Pineapple Plantation. The modern community of Camp Phillips is located in Agusan Canyon, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The climate is relatively cool and moist throughout the year. Del Monte Pinapple Plantation has an area of 90 sq km, is one of the largest in the world. Just an hour drive from Cagayan de Oro is Camp Phillips. You will be able to see the big pineapple statue upon entering the community and taste the delicious pineapples. The people are very friendly and accommodating. You can see all houses are the same but only differ in colors. Del Monte Company provides free house and lot for those who are working in the company with free electricity and water. Such a good privilege that one could offer.

There is a clubhouse and a golf course within the plantation. Where golfers and ripening pineapples are found. Established in 1928, the famous Del Monte Golf Course’s first nine holes were designed by Peter Crawford while the second nine by Celestino Tugot.

As the lyrics of the song: Wherever I may be, I long to go back soon and sweet Bukidnon home. There is no place like home. Memories abound and my heart yearns for its wonders. You too can explore and visit! Try it yourself!

View : Gallery

Cagayan de Oro City is the gateway to Northern Mindanao, city of Golden Friendship! And the city in Bloom, in Blossom, and in BOOM!

Quick Facts about CDO

With a land area of 488.86 sq. kms.If you travel by air, it takes an hour and a half of 491 miles (810 air kms) from Manila and by sea for just 24 hours. The climate is coldest in January and hottest in August. The local dialect is Cebuano but majority of the people can speak Tagalog and English. A narrow coastal plain along Macajalar Bay and Highlands that includes plateaus, terraces, hills, mountains, canyons bound the city from east to west. Lowland is relatively flat and elevation is not more than 10 meters above sea level. More of its adventure? Just follow the river!

Have you heard about white-water rafting? Rappelling? Discover it here in Cagayan de Oro! Paradise Philippines of an emerging adventure destination.

Photo Courtesy: raftingcdo.com

You can feel the rush of rappelling the 130 feet descent from Macahambus Cave down the river. And experience the exhilaration of a wild ride afloat a pinoy- style raft with a thrills of varied intensity or heights. If you want the breathtaking, heart pounding and gut-wrenching experience derived from white water rafting, then it is your chance to explore Cagayan de Oro River , classified as ripply stream, straights, extremely difficult and those requiring technically challenging maneuvers with an intervals not less than 10 to 15 minutes of each other.

River Taxis

If you want to cross the river wishing to avoid the jeepney thing traffic on the bridge above, river taxis are an unconventional means of transport in Cagayan de Oro for an alternative route. You can find also a floating restaurant dance gleefully on the river’s surface known as Reyna del Rio. Taste the foods and delicacies and experience having candlelit dinner afloat the river with your love.

Golf Haven
An indication of the growing sophistication of Cagayan lifestyle, Pueblo de Oro Golf Course is an 18- hole, par 72 all weather championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Take a swing in the greeneries of the place with clubhouse, function rooms, driving range, pro shop and a hotel.