South Central Mindanao: Weaving Heaven and Earth’s wisdom

Details

Category: Destination

Published on Monday, 23 January 2012 12:17

Cotabato • Sarangani • South Cotabato • Sultan Kudarat

About the region

South Central Mindanao is more popularly known as SOCCSKSARGEN, which stands for the region's four provinces and one of its cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

How to get there and go around

To get to the region, tourists can travel by air via the international airports in Davao City and General Santos City, or via the domestic airport in Cotabato City. Tourists can also take ships going to General Santos City or travel by land and sea from Manila to Davao City, crisscrossing the Bicol region and the provinces of Samar and Leyte. There are also land trips from Davao City, General Santos City and Cagayan De Oro City.

To go around the region, travelers can take a mini-buses or full-sized buses like Yellow Bus Lines and Holiday Bus that ply the Davao City - General Santos City - Koronadal City route as well as the Rural Transit Bus that goes through the Cagayan De Oro City - Tacurong City route. Private vans or cars may be rented.
 

Where to stay

First class hotels and budget accommodations are available in the region.

To learn more, see http://www.mindanao-hotels.com
 

What to eat

The region is known for its seafood as it is has rich fishing grounds such as Iligan Bay, the Moro Gulf and the Celebes Sea. General Santos City is known as the Philippines' Tuna Capital due to vast amounts of large tuna being shipped from General Santos City Seaport. Tuna dishes are popular and tourists should try delicacies such as crispy tuna buntot (fried tuna fin), tuna chicharon (fried tuna skin), kinilaw (small and thinly sliced raw tuna in vinegar). In Cotabato City, travelers should not fail to try the Pikit Brewed Coffee, which has a sweet smelling aroma. In Punta Lake Resort in Lake Sebu Cotabato, serves tilapia dishes. The regions also has planatations of citrus, pineapple and lanzones.

To learn more, see:
http://www.foodblogph.com/beverages/soccsksargen-summer-safari-meetups-day-1/
http://southcotabato.gov.ph/main/?page_id=640
http://www.gensantos.gov.ph/blogs/

What to buy

Aside from food products, tourists can buy unique and intricately designed handicrafts. The artistry of the different ethnic tribes lends richness to local colors. The malong, a versatile wearable tubular cloth, is a popular indigenous weaved item. Visitors will also find unique souvenir items such as brasswares, beadworks, tinalak cloth and hand-woven products.

To learn more, see:
http://www.byahilo.com/2011/06/16/weaving-the-philippine-artistry/#axzz1jrYyWszW
http://wisiwib.wordpress.com/2011/10/

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