Malasag Eco Tourism Village

Malasag Eco Tourism Village is located in a hilly terrain in Sitio Malasag, Brgy. Cugman in Cagayan de Oro City. It can be reached by riding a jeep from the city to Mapawa (Php13 fare) then riding a motorcycle in the junction (habal-habal fare is Php14). The habal-habal ride is exciting, it is an uphill and sometimes curvy ride with lush forests on the side of the road.

There is an entrance fee of Php30 after which, one would be provided a map making it easier to navigate the vastness of the place. Climate is significantly colder in Malasag. It offers a stunning view of  Macajalar Bay. Their al fresco restaurant is the perfect spot to view the lowlands and the sea while enjoying dining.

It is said that this village was created to increase learning about the lives of ethnic groups in the country. Sadly, I didn't experience that when I got there. Roaming around, what I was able to appreciate is how green everything is. Trees, flowering plants and trimmed grass are everywhere. It is an ideal place for picnic and family bonding. They do have a swimming pool with a Php50 entrance fee and an open grassy field perfect for sports like frisbee (Ultimate).

Aside from that, there is also a zoo that based on my observation, although I might be wrong, isn't maintained  well. The animals seemed very hungry. :( I'm thinking maybe because of low tourist visits, the place isn't raising enough funds to fully take care of them. That was late last year though, I'm hoping things have changed by now. The collection of animals are quite interesting and had variety.

There is also a long hanging bridge built under the shade of towering trees. it is wobbly yet  my companions and I had fun crossing it to the end. Talk about the child inside of us. :D There are also different accommodations for guests who would prefer to stay in this tranquil and relaxing place.

The Gardens of Malasag is just a few minutes away from Mapawa Nature Park, in fact you would have to ride thesame habal-habal from Cugman Highway, you'd just need to take the left side of the fork road when going to Malasag. It is a place to consider as a side trip if coming from Mapawa Nature Park.

Cagayagan de Oro on Foot

Cagayan de Oro is a bustling city in the northern part of Mindanao. I've met some of the friendliest people here while traveling. Arriving in CDOlate the first day, we didn't have enough time to visit the attractions located on the outskirts of the city so we decided to get immersed with what can be found right at the very heart of the city. There are some interesting things to see and can be reached just by walking and so, our walking tour began.

The City Museum

This is  an old water tank converted into a museum in 2008. It is a product of the city's initiative for "adaptive reuse of a heritage structure". The water tank/tower was completed in 1922 and served as a reservoir of the old Municipality of Cagayan with water coming from Malasag Hills. It is located in the oldest section of the city where a settlement was established by Recollect missionaries. It withstood the heavy aerial bombings by American planes in Sept 1944. (source: a manuscript inside the museum)

The small museum has three levels. Picture taking is only allowed in the ground level where photos of famous Cagay-anons who made a big contribution to the city is on display. It also has some information about DXCC, a radio station of the city. The second and third floor hold photos of the lifestyle and events of the old city.

The City Museum of Cagayan is open from Mondays to Fridays, 9:30 - 5:00 PM. It is closed on Holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral

The Cathedral is just a few steps away from the museum, almost beside it. It is a Roman Catholic church and is a sybol of deep faith of Cagay-anons.

Plaza Divisoria

This is probably the busiest area in the city. It is a plaza with several monuments surrounded by shady trees. Our hotel was located in this area and it was very convenient. There are a lot of restaurants built almost beside each other,as well as ukay-ukay stalls. Transportation is always available in this area.

During weekends, including Friday nights, it is the location host for the festive Divisoria Night. There are live on stage performances. A block of the plaza is also converted into an alfresco restaurant serving booze and grilled food. In the other area are tiannges perfect for scoring clothes, shoes and bags at a cheap price.

Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan)

Xavier University was founded in 1933. It is located near the other end of Plaza Divisoria.  Proper attire should be observed when planning to get inside the university for guards won't allow  you when wearing shorts/skirts 3 inches above the knee as well as spaghetti/scowl neck tops. You would have to leave an ID too. There's a chapel inside the university. There's a museum that's undergoing renovation when we were there. The atmosphere inside the university is relaxing.

When you get tire of walking, don't fret. There are several motorellas roaming around that can take you to your next destination. On our case, walking around proved to be a rewarding experience.

How to Go to Three of Iligan City's Waterfalls in One Day

During the last quarter of 2011, I had a chance of visiting three waterfalls found in Iligan City, also known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. I only had a day so I tried to maximize my visit and researched on what are the falls located in the same area that is possible to see in justa day. Here's a guide on how to visit Ma. Christina Falls, Mimbalut Falls and Tinago Falls in one day when you're coming from Cagayan de Oro.

How to go to Ma. Christina Falls:

- dried fish stall in Iligan City Market -

• From your hotel in Cagayan de Oro, ride a jeep going to Bulua Terminal (Westbound Buses). Ride a bus going to Iligan City. Fare for an airconditioned bus is Php145 but the lady conductor said because it's their first trip, we only have to pay Php115 as a discounted rate. Not so sure why it works that way.
• The bus will have a final stop at their terminal in Iligan City. Ride a jeep that would take you to the market. There are queues waiting in the terminal. Fare is Php7.50.
• If you didn't bring lunch with you, you can buy it in the market There are local eateries (carinderia) that based on experience sell delicious, cheap and clean food. Bought kilawing tuna and lechon kawali and rice for a total of Php57. 
• Ride a jeep going to Buruun. These jeeps pass right across the street where the carinderias are located. Tell the driver to drop you off Ma. Christina Falls. fare is Php12.
• The driver will drop you on a highway, right after a bridge with a stunning view. From there, walk towards a street on the left that would lead you to the gate of Ma. Christina Nature Park.

How to go to Mimbalut Falls and Tinago Falls:

- the drop off point to Ma. Christina Falls -

• On that same bridge, ride a jeep with the same route (going to Buruun). Tell the driver that you're going to Mimbalut Falls. You will be dropped in a waiting shed where there are queue of motorcycles (habal-habal) that can take you to Mimbalut Falls. The path to the falls is not advisable for a walk, it's quite far.
• Negotiate with the motorcycle driver. We were charged Php125 each for both Mimbalut Falls, Tinago Falls and back to the highway where we can ride a jeep back to the terminal after the tour. 2 passengers in each motorcycle.

Ma. Cristina Falls and the Hydro Electric Power Plant

Every Filipino must surely know or heard about Ma. Cristina Falls. It is included in one of the earliest subjects being taught to elementary pupils.

The famous Falls is located in Iligan City, a progressive city in Lanao del Norte in Southern Philippines. It is a 320 feet falls with very strong water flow that is perfect as a source of hydroelectric energy. It is part of the  Agus River Power Development and is operated by National Power Corporation.

Arriving at the gate of  Ma. Cristina Falls Nature Park, we paid Php35 each for entrance fee and Php10 each for the shuttle that would take us to the top of the park where the spectacular view of the twin falls is awaiting appreciation. The open shuttle passed hilly terrains with a wonderful view of rich flora. The road is too narrow and there is a certain part that was partly blocked because of minor landslide. The ride was short but kind of breath taking. The shuttle stopped at the end of the street where the building of the power plant is erected. We were guided to climb a set of stairs that sometimes lead inside the building. On the third floor, there is an open area designed for tourists to view the falls. This is the nearest point one can get to the falls.

When we just arrived, only one the falls is open but it was already fascinating. A few minutes later, the second falls opened and is is truly strong, it's like the falls wanted everybody to know she's the mightiest falls and it's jaw dropping. Despite our distance, I felt the mist of the falls reach our area and dampens my skin. I can't wait to text my mom to let her know Ma. Cristina falls is right in front of my sight. She used to be a Grade 1 teacher and this is one of the topics she is familiar about. The guard I asked told me it's not all the time the power plant releases water from the dam constructed on the top of the falls, they usually release it during weekends when there's too much water stored thus they open both the falls.

The river where the falls drop has a very strong current that would be perfect for white water rafting. The sound it produces sounds like an adrenaline rush, non stoppable and exciting. It flows downwards where it meets with the sea under the bridge, the same bridge where you alight when commuting to this place.

Ma. Cristina Falls is something you won't want to miss when you're in Iligan City.

Burot Beach: A Cheap Get-away to Calatagan Batangas

This visit to Burot Beach is more of a spur of the moment escapade rather than a planned trip. I was browsing the lists of the latest blog posts of Pinoy Travel Boggers in our Facebook page when my attention was captured by a title of a blog entry. It mentioned both the words beach and budget and having been deprived of the beach for a few months already and since I'm now on my thriftiest year saving for an upcoming wedding, I quickly checked where the beach is located. To my delight, it is just in Calatagan Batangas, a town about 3-4 hour drive south of Manila. The following week, I had found myself traveling from Ortigas to Lawton, sleepy from my night shift to meet my companions and ride a bus plying Calatagan.

There are no longer Calatagan bound buses in Park n Ride Terminal in Lawton as stated in the official website of Calatagan. The buses there would take you to Nasugbu instead. We just took the bus and alighted in Lian Batangas where we rode a jeep to Calatagan. The supposed to be three-hour ride took us five. Apparently that day, there was an ongoing demolition of informal settlers' houses near Coastal Road where our bus was passing.

It was already past noon when we arrived Lian and we rented a jeep that would take us to Calatagan, to avoid waiting for a long queue of jeeps waiting to be filled. We paid Php300 for all of us, 8 adults and 2 children. We added Php100, the driver seemed really helpful.

In Lian, we had our lunch at a local diner (carinderia), bought more supplies including 2 big containers of drinking water then arranged for a tricycle ride. We paid the tricycle drivers Php300 each, with an arrangement that the drivers would fetch us the following day.

The road to Burot Beach is kind of bumpy. After a short cemented road, it becomes a narrow dusty road that may be uncomfortable. After about 30 minutes, the tricycle entered a gated property and started driving in an even more dusty unpaved road. In just a few minutes, the view changed from a ragged dirt road into a scenic view of water world and mangrove areas in both sides.

We reached the end where there is a serious looking guard collecting for a Php150 entrance fee per person. He was carrying a shot gun which reminded me of security guards in Banco de Oro.. The blogs I read mentioned of this place  as a property of Henry Sy or his coporation, which when I asked the caretaker and the guard, they said it's true. Btw, there is a separate fee for using the bamboo tables in the beach, it ranges from Php300-500.

We started pitching our tents under an umbrella tree. There is no accommodation in the area. The weather is too dry and hot when we were there and the umbrella trees did great in providing a cool shade. I was planning to take a nap feeling really tired having been awake for 24 hours but the excited voice of my companions already wading in the water changed my mind. I joined them and found out the water is too shallow for swimming even if we walked far, with lots of sea grass and worse, sea urchins. It was really not possible to take a dip. I was dismayed. To be honest, I even thought it was not worth the effort. Nikko even got stung by something in his face and arms and it might be a jellyfish, the jellyfish we previously saw swimming with us though doesn't sting so we're not sure what caused him the rashes and pain. At that time, I can't wait to go home the following morning and lay my weary body to a comfortable bed. It suddenly changed when the sun started to set. It was a glorious sunset changing the colors of the sky from blue, orange, red then indigo. It was the most dramatic sunset I had witnessed.

Night time came and we happily feasted on our food, chicken and pork adobo plus salted egg in tomato. Both are simple dishes but at that time, it seemed to have transformed into food of the royalties. :D Electricity has not yet reached Burot Beach so the area could have been pitch black if not for the bright light illuminating from the caretakers lamp. We also had our own lamp that is reliable all the time.

The following morning, the beach is a picture of serenity. It was still low tide and I haven't seen a single wave. I'm even starting to doubt if this is really a sea. I know it is because the water is salty, it's just that the water is so calm and silent. We roamed around the place and admired how beautiful it is. The sand isn't fine, the water is too shallow but the serenity and peace the place offers is next to none. There is a rocky area on the  left of the camping area that is so picturesque.

Late morning, we noticed there was a change in the depth of the water then we realized the tide is getting high. We tried our luck swimming in the water and found out it was deeper than the day before.I could actually swim! Yey! We spent long hours snorkeling and discovering more of the underwater. We saw several star fish, more jelly fish, and a school of small black fish. On the far right end of the beach where there are rocks that looked like a remains of a building, the water is even deeper and there are actually corals, sea slugs and more and bigger sea urchins.  I saw a post underwater that may had served as a foundation for the razed structure. 

With the view, the deeper water on the second day and with the company of adventurers like me, I was really having a good time and almost forgot my dismay the day before. :)

Burot beach is, after all, worth my sleepless hours, the long travel caused by traffic jam and the bumpy ride, not to mention the Php150 entrance fee. Provided it's high tide and you've brought an aqua shoes or sandals to protect your feet from the large population of sea urchins, it is an enjoyable place, rustic yet charming. They have clean water source that can be used for cooking but I just hope that the bathrooms/restrooms in the beach be improved soon because it's far from being decent. It is next to disgusting. The allure of the place weighs more to me though that the restrooms so if asked if I'm willing to go back there, I'd say yes, I'll just try to minimize my use of the restroom. :)

At 3 PM, our tricycles arrived and we had our final picture as a group with our sun-kissed skin. We arrived back in Manila in just a 3-hour van ride paying Php180. It was the cheapest overnight (and out of town) trip I had for the past years. :)

***Thanks to Marx of www.Marxtermind.com for sharing this place and for answering my questions. Thanks to everybody who joined in this  overnight trip. Let's do it again soon. :)

The Blogger would like to share: Tips on Creating Your Do-it-Yourself Trips

Sampaloc Inn: an Accessible accommodation in Tanay Rizal

Front facade of Sampaloc Inn

For the night, we stayed in Sampaloc Inn during our quick get-away in Tanay. There are quite a few considerations on how I chose where to stay. We came from Daranak Falls that afternoon and would go to Sierra Madre Resort the following day so I was thinking of settling somewhere between the two. With the help of Google maps, I decided Sampaloc Inn was the perfect place. Located roadside, it is very accessible and felt safer to go to plus the rates are affordable.

Rates

Arriving there at early evening, we we're shown the rates available (which I had already researched prior to my trip). We were given the room key and upon entering the room located on the far end of the hallway, we decided the roadside rooms would do better so there will be a view. I requested for it and was promptly accommodated. Their housekeeping entered one of the rooms and quickly made some final touches to make sure the room is clean.

   

       Deluxe rooms

We stayed in a deluxe room. It is a room with basic amenities like non-cabled TV, a DVD Player (DVDs are free to borrow from the front desk), hot and cold shower, closet with hangers, and a dining table with 2 chairs. The bed is a double bed with two pillows that I wish is thicker and fluffier. The room is airy, spacious and clean not to mention it smelled fragrant. I specially like the wide sliding glass windows that can be opened to let the cool breeze of Tanay to enter the room. The aircon is cold and quiet in our room but I guess climate in Tanay is that cool so we ended up turning off the AC came 3 AM. I had a comfortable stay in Sampaloc Inn.

one of the Filipino breakfast served

The Inn have their own restaurant and the only food we got to try is their breakfast. I loved their sinangag (cooked rice sauted and added with seasonings). It is available for room service.

   friendly frond desk

The front desk is helpful enough giving us directions and tips on traveling to our next destination the following day. Although Sampaloc Inn is a simple accommodation with basic amenities, I wouldn't think twice staying here again. 

Commuting to Sampaloc Inn

1. From Star Mall Van Terminal, ride a van going to Tanay. Stop would be the terminal in Plaza Aldea.

    Fare is P70 and would take 1 and 1/2 hours.

2. From Plaza Aldea, ride a jeep going to Sampaloc. It is a 35 minute uphill drive/travel. Fare is P26.

3. Drop off at Sampaloc Crossing then a ride a tricycle to Sampaloc Inn. It wouldn't take you 5 minutes and        

    the ride is P10.