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/

What to see and do

In Cotabato City, tourists can visit Kutang Bato Cave. It is the only cave in the country that is right in the heart of a city. It served as a sanctuary to the Filipino guerillas during the World War II.  

In Sarangani, divers and snorkeling enthusiasts will be captivated with the colorful marine life. Nature trippers can enjoy the white sand beach of Gumasa while adventurous travelers can test and survive the 1.6 km  rapids in the Pangi river in New La Union.  Tourists should also check out the tribal artwork of B'laan, Tagakaolo, T'boli, Manobo, Ubo, Kalagan and Moro, who proudly practice cultural traditions even to this day. Their works have captured both the local and foreign markets.

In South Cotabato, hikers can go to Mount Matutum. It has 3 established trails: Glandang Trail, which is the shortest, the Lemblesong Trail, which is the oldest and offers waterfalls and gorges, and the Ulolandan trail, which offers a 3-day traverse from Landan, Polomolok to Kablon, Tupi.  Travelers can also go to Lake Sebu, home to the T'bolis, a highland tribe who has its roots in South Cotabato. Tourists can see T'bolis fishing on their wooden canoe or see them wearing indigenous clothing during market day. For adventurers, a good travel activity is the hike going to the Traangkini River, one of the seven waterfalls of Lake Sebu.

In Sultan Kudarat, travelers should experience the Pitot Cave, Bamban Falls and the Lagandang Hot/Sulphur Spring.

In General Santos City, tourists should see the Sansapan Cave Falls, a unique natural wonder with waters entering a vertical hole and dropping 12 meters to a 20-meter cave. The source of the waters is a river gorge, which is in itself an ideal site for canyoneering adventures. Visitors can also go to the Kalaja Karst Area and climb the Malakong Wall,  good for both beginners and novice climbers.

Relevant Contacts and Online Resources

PH Department of Tourism
XII
2/F Hua Hing Bldg., #17 Sinsuat Avenue
Cotabato City

Tel. No.: (+6364) 421-7868 / 421-1110

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Saranggani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center
3/F National Agency Building , Capitol Grounds
Alabel, Sarangani Province
Telefax : (+6383) 508-5230
Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
URL: http://www.sarangani.gov.ph
 
Office of the Cotabato Governor
Public Affairs Assistance Tourism and Sports Development Division
Amas, Kidapawan City

Telefax: (+6364) 278-7053
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download this brochure.

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