Cagayan De Oro Thrills

It’s known as the City of Golden Friendship. So upon landing in the Cagayan De Oro airport, I was expecting a warm welcome fro m the Kagay-anons maybe with some flower g arlands and fresh buko juice involved. Instead my companions and I came face to face with the most unaccommodating Department of Touri sm representative in the face of the earth! I am not exaggerating. Her tightlipped and irritab le answer to all our queries was, “Tingnan niyo na lang sa brochure”.

Slightly fazed by the frigid welcome of a DOT personnel of all people, we hired a cab that drove us to downtown CDO where we hoped to find a decent hotel. During the drive, I asked the cab driver why CDO was considered the City of Golden Friendship. His answer was something about a golden fish that can only be found in CDO and that’s why the city was called “golden friendship.” At first I thought he was playing with our heads, but he looked dead serious when he was explaining this. (I searched about this in the net to see if it was true, but nothing came up.) So anyway, we found a nice hotel near the famous Divisoria area. It’s called Hot el Ramon and I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for the 3C’s when it comes to accommodations--clean, comfortable, and cheap!

Downtown CDO

The best way to tour CDO’s Downtown area is onboard the motor ela. It ’s a motorcycle fitted with a cabin compartment that seats up to 6 to 8 passengers. Thailand has the tuktuk, CDO has the motorela. So our first stop is lunch at the famous Bigby’s restaurant. It has good food, good ambience, a bit pricey. If you are looking for something that’s distinctly Kagay-anon, you won’t find it here. Bigby’s reminds me of Friday’s or Chilli’s. I do have to say that their baby back ribs dish is superb.

Lunch was followed by a v isit to St. A ugustine Cathedral and Gaston Park. St. Augustine’s is a beautiful Church with century-old stained glass windows. A place of worship, medi tation, and hibernation. Really, there were quite a number of people sleeping in the pews.


Mapawa Nature Park
For a go at the zip lines and some rappelling action, we went to Mapawa Nature Park. From the city proper, it’s a 30-minute jeepney ride. Then another 10 to 15 minute ride via habal-habal or motorcycle. The park closes at 5 p.m. or even earlier if there are n o visito rs. We got there at 4:55 p.m. and they wouldn’t let us in anymore. But because of our irresistible charms (hehe) or maybe out of pity for us, they kindly let us in to take some pictures and try the zip lines.

White Water Rafting

The ultimate reason for going to Cagayan De Oro is to try white water rafting. Our tour guide from Kagay Voyages picked us up from the hotel at 7 a.m. We reached our jump-off point by 8:30 and after a short lesson on paddling and rafting safety we were ready for our ride down the mighty Cagayan River.

All in all there were 14 rapids plus a few minor ones. On the left river bank we passed the fields and mountains of CDO, on the right was Bukidnon. Cold water kept splashing on our faces and bodies. The ride was mostly bumpy, and thank God we had helmets on because we kept bumping into each other and paddles kept flying around. After two and a half hours, we reached the end of our first ever white water rafting experience. High five!

Macahambus Adventure Park
We passed by Machambus Park on our way back Downtown. Here we tried the Skybridge, a rickety, wooden bridge suspended from treetops hundreds of feet from the ground. When you reach the end of the bridge you attach yourself to a rope and go for a zip past the forest canopy while screaming “Aaaoooaaa” (just like Tarzan). Other thrilling adventures offered are rapelling (under renovation when we visited) and spelunking.

Mount Gulugod-Baboy Climb

Mountain: Mt. Gulugod-Baboy

Location: Anilao, Mabini, Batangas
Length of Climb: 2 hours

Gulugod-Baboy means “pig’s spine”. If you expect to see pigs and wild boars roaming in this mountain, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one. You will, however, come face to face with plenty of goats and cows all the way to the peak. So why is it called Gulugod-Baboy? PinoyMountaineer says that the mountain is so named “because of the contours of [its] hills”.

With that in mind, nine beginner climbers set off to conquer the spiny path to the top of Pig’s Spine Mountain. The first part of the climb is on cemented road. When you see a sari-sari store, that’s your cue to take a turn on a narrow dirt path to begin the second, more exciting part of the climb. The winding trail is alternately rocky, muddy or loamy. One minute you’re walking on pastoral hills, the next on steep cliffs. The scene keeps changing with every step.

After an hour of climbing, we were exhausted. Good thing there’s a bahay-kubo where trekkers can rest and buy iced candy! As we continued our ascent, the air became perceptibly cooler. Then the narrow path opened up to wide, rolling hills. We were almost at the peak!

When we finally reached the top, the wind came at us full force. Clouds began to envelop us and the cold seeped through our bones. Just as suddenly as the clouds appeared, they went away…revealing a stunning view of Batangas Bay. It was an exhilarating first climb.

Lessons learned:
*Stretch your muscles before climbing.
*Wear thick, cotton socks to avoid foot sores.
*Bring trail food for energy.
*Hydrate!
*Wear loose, lightweight pants to prevent scratches from rocks and plants.
*Bring trekking pole for extra balance and support.

Dayrit’s Roast Beef & Burger

Heavy traffic and chilly holiday weather really worked up my appetite for red meat—Dayrit’s Roast Beef to be exact. I must say, they have the yummiest roast beef I have ever tasted. The sirloin beef is tender, juicy and marinated to perfection. Just pour some of their mushroom gravy and you’re all set for a delicious dining experience.

The Roast Beef Plate comes with baked potato in creamy sauce, a small portion of veggies and rice or rolls all for P290.

Another favorite at Dayrit’s is their Big “D” Cheeseburger (P175). It is meaty-licious and juicylicious! Though I wouldn't label their burger as "big", I'd say it's just the right size to satiate a mildly hungry person's appetite. (And I do wish they have better buns.) Nevertheless, it’s a helluva a good burger.

Dayrit’s is located at 31st-2nd St., Bonifacio Stop Over, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Lola Abon's Delicious Durian Candies

If you find yourself in Davao, be sure to taste one of the city’s sweetest delights—durian candy. Not many people appreciate the stinky durian fruit, and I was one of them...until I tasted the delicious confections from Lola Abon’s. Now I'm a fan of the King of Fruits. They have everything from durian-flavored yema and tart to polvoron and macaroon. Nevertheless, their bestseller continues to be the specialty that put Lola Abon's in the map some 60 years ago—durian-flavored pastillas de leche. Their new durian ice cream is heavenly as well!

What Happened to Gumbo?

I was craving for Gumbo’s Seafood Spaghetti but when I finally got to taste it, I was a little disappointed. For some reason, it was not like how I remembered it to be. There was too much pasta but too little seafood. And their complimentary appetizer of bread and roasted garlic keeps getting smaller and smaller with every visit. The only thing consistent is their Classic Caesar Salad and it’s not even that extraordinary.

Classic Caesar Salad (Petite) good for 2 to 3 P225
For a petite serving Gumbo’s Caesar Salad is hefty.

Seafood Spaghetti (Petite) P275

Gumbo is located at 2/F Stall 229, The Block SM North EDSA, Quezon City.

A Visit to Manila Ocean Park

The Philippines is blessed with wonderful beaches and some of the best diving sites in the world. So when I heard that our very own Manila Ocean Park is now open, I was excited. For a non-diver like me, I’d also like to get a glimpse of the underwater world of the Philippines. And I felt that it’s about time we had our own ocean park that would rival the ones in Hong Kong and Singapore.



Off we go, my uncle, cousin and I, to visit Manila Ocean Park. Entrance fee is P400 per person. True, there was a lot of interesting sea creatures on display but it pales in comparison to the Ocean Park in Hong Kong. I was expecting to see dolphins, more sharks, and maybe a whale. But there were none. It was not yet fully complete during the time we went there. Hopefully, when it’s 100% done, Manila Ocean Park will leave its visitors breathless.

Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, Manila, Philippines.

Paradise fit for a Princess: Puerto Princesa, Palawan

World-renowned underground river, pristine white beaches, exciting cuisine and great adventures—these are just a few of the things Palawan has to offer. This is one destination that every travel-enthusiast must visit. So pack your travel bag, book a flight to Puerto Princesa (Cebu Pacific and other local airlines offer promo fares), and head on to this majestic archipelago located on the western side of the Philippines. Here are some of the things we did on our visit to Puerto Princesa, Palawan:

Day 1
Hired a tricycle to tour us around Puerto Princesa City. This is a cheaper and more thrilling way to visit attractions that are just minutes away from the city proper. My friend and I paid our tricycle driver-slash-tourist guide P500 plus P100 tip for a half-day tour. We went to…

Crocodile Farm
Formally known as “Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center”. From baby hatchlings to mature crocodiles, this place is perfect for reptile lovers. Best to go there during feeding time to see the crocs in action. The conservation center also has a mini-zoo featuring some of Palawan's endemic animals.

Palawan Butterfly Garden
Butterflies fluttering around. Butterflies resting on flowers. Butterflies everwhere.

Mitra's Ranch
Ranch with a view. Hilltop residence of former speaker Ramon V. Mitra with a bird’s eye view of Honda Bay Islands. A nice place for a picnic.

Day 2
After touring the city proper, it’s time to explore the world-renowned Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Since the underground river is an hour and a half drive, plus a 15 minute boat ride from the city proper, we booked a tour with a travel agency. Tour package cost us P1,200 per person, which includes van transportation, boat ride, lunch and a guided tour.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
You must not miss this world heritage site! Palawan’s underground river is said to be the longest in the world—an 8.2 kilometer-long lagoon within limestone and marble cliffs. Riding a paddleboat, a trained boatman who also serves as your river guide, navigates through the placid waters of the river while pointing out the unique rock formations inside the cavern.

Vietnamese Village
Our tour group was able to convince our guide to stop at the Viet Ville for a quick merienda of their famous noodles.

Wood Worm Dare
A whole day of exploration worked up our appetite for fresh local fare. For those who are brave enough, you have to try their local delicacy: “tamilok”. A dish of wood worms steeped in vinegar and various spices. Some say it tastes like oyster. You be the judge.

Day 3
Palawan is known for its pristine white beaches and great diving sites. It’s only fitting that we end our Palawan experience by swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing in the gorgeous Honda Bay islets. Tour package was P800 per person including van transportation, boat ride and lunch.

Honda Bay is comprised of several islets, some of which are privately owned. Our tour guide brought us to three islets: Pandan Island, so named because of the pandan plants that thrive in its shore; Starfish Island, known for its crystalline waters studded with multi-colored starfishes; and Snake Island, named for its long, powdery white sandbar that’s shaped like a snake.

Day 4
Flight back to Manila.

Another wonderful adventure. Till next time…