Seven men were chanting while carrying a homemade rocket up to the makeshift launch pad at a remote village in Vientiane province last Saturday. Amid the drizzle, they managed to climb the big wooden ladder, which was as high as
KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat (MindaNews / 2 May) – One of the best-kept secrets in Mindanao beach lovers ought to explore this summer or anytime of the year can be found in this rustic remote fishing town – at an unspoiled
GUMASA, Sarangani (April 22, 2013) – The growing crowd each year flocking into the white sand beaches here in Glan never fails to hype Sarangani Bay Festival as Mindanao’s biggest beach party. From the 33,499 in 2011, the crowd went
BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/06 April) – Members of the Father Saturnino Urios University dragon boat team are upbeat on their chances in the 2nd Cobra-Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) International Club Crew Challenge to be held three weeks from now in
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/07 March) — A consortium of Chinese-Filipino businessman is eyeing to open a P250 million six-story, 111-room high-end hotel in this city within the year. Domingo Teng, a local tuna businessman, said that Greenleaf Hotel GenSan is
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/01 March)- -Senatorial candidates of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) are set to hold a campaign sortie here during the Kaamulan 2013 festival fireworks display tomorrow (March 2), tourism officer Joe-An Bayona Henderin said. Henderin told MindaNews that
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/22 February)- The provincial government of Bukidnon opened Friday its annual Kaamulan festival dedicated to the province’s seven hill tribes with a five-contingent drum and lyre competition drawing a big crowd. The grand opening, coming three days
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/03 February) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for the entry of more investments on tourism infrastructure and related development ventures in Sarangani province to enhance the area’s tourism potentials. Maria Victoria Jasmin, DOT Undersecretary
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/24 January)—The Bukidnon provincial government clarified that the Kaamulan Festival 2013 will proceed as scheduled from February to March amidst speculations it was postponed to September. Fredelyn Ragandang, of the provincial governor’s Public Affairs Information and Assistance Office,
LANUZA, Surigao del Sur (MindaNews/14 November) — A few years ago, I interviewed the first Filipino surfing champion in Siargao and he said he hopes that someday young Filipino surfers will win in the annual surfing competition there. Two years
CANTILAN (MindaNews/11 Nov) – For the first time in five years, the local government unit here will spearhead the 5th Cantilan National Surfing Competition on November 19 to 23 to help promote the town as an eco-tourism destination. Cantilan Mayor
BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews / 7 Nov) – All is set for the Lanuza Surfing Festival and Agri-Aqua Tourism Trade Fair in the town of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, on November 12 to 17. The annual surfing open competition will have
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/28 Oct.) — The Jeepney Projects Worldwide and the Birding Adventure Philippines (BAP) are raising funds to build new eco lodges in the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park buffer zone to help promote the area as a bird
MALAYBALAY CITY – The Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has earmarked P15 million for the establishment of the Bukidnon eco-cultural tourism park in 2013, Laila D. Marte, officer in charge of the Provincial Tourism Office told the Bukidnon Sangguniang
PIGCAWAYAN, North Cotabato (MindaNews/24 October) – During our elementary years, going to the beach was one of the most precious escapades that we enjoyed. It’s because the nearest beach is about 35 kilometers away from our barrio. Back then, we
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/ 19 October)– The Department of Tourism (DOT) has allocated an initial P12. 5 million for the development of Lake Lahit in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato as an alternative ecotourism destination. South Cotabato (Second District)
MATI CITY (MindaNews/7 Oct) – It was five o’clock in the morning on a fine weather Sunday when players of Team Amihan, a Filipino term for northeast monsoon, gathered at Dahican Beach. Carrying their skimboards of different sizes and designs,
SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/04 September) —Dubbed the “City of Island Adventures” Surigao aims to become the choice destination city by year 2020 in the entire Caraga Region, City Tourism Council president Richard Nick A. Amores said. The official voiced the plan
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/23 July) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with the local government has introduced vinta sailing as an additional attraction at the scenic Paseo del Mar in this city. The Paseo del Mar is a 2.5-hectare
GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island (MindaNews/11 June) – It’s really tantalizing when you come close to this island. This tiny place located in front of the town of General Luna (GL) is such a perfect place if you want to put
TUBIGON, Initao, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews/10 June) — Sixteen years have passed since the last time I set foot on this place together with six friends, maybe seven. Back then, we came for a sad occasion – to throw some ashes
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/30 April) – Cooking is fun. And yes, it can be more fun if you try something that’s quite new to your palate. Maybe most of the ingredients are the usual stuff you see on the recipe book,
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/22 April) — DISCLAIMER: I was in Vietnam only for a few days. But here are some impressions of things I observed during those few days that left me wondering why they’re doing very well there. Instant millionaire
Tired of the maddening crowd of Boracay? The crass commercialism of Panglao? Or the prohibitive and princely price tag of El Nido? Save your bed and dine budget and get more adventurous. Pack those bags and fly farther south for
SAN AGUSTIN, Surigao del Sur (MindaNews/19 March) – To protect one of the best island destinations in the Caraga Region from abuse and liter, this small town is now fast-tracking ordinances and guidelines to prepare for the influx of local
HINATUAN, Surigao del Sur – What was once an ordinary log pond at the height of the logging operations in Surigao del Sur in the 1950s is now one of the top tourist destinations in the province.
SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/16 Nov) — Around 100 surfers will ride the right-hand barrel waves as they will vie for the Lanuza Surfing Competition Nov. 16- 21 in Doot Poctoy, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. This quaint town situated in the coastal
In an almost two hectares of land lying by a river bank, the crack of dawn offers an orchestra belted by an opera house of birds at their majestic humming and chirping glory. Thousands of them also dot the sky during sunsets, a pleasure for bird watchers.
Welcome to the Baras Bird Sanctuary, a piece of land previously planted with black pepper owned by Rey Oliver Malana.
The provincial government of South Cotabato is investing an additional P5 million for the development of the emerging eco-tourism and adventure sites in the lakeside resort town of Lake Sebu.
4 A.M. alarms went off in the usual way but it was only Nicky who seemed to have stirred. Much later, it was Felix then Adri and Trinket and Carmela. I did not want to get up and laid perfectly still hoping not to be noticed. “I’m afraid I shall have to forgo the trek today” I heard Ixi say. “I am still very tired and have not recovered from yesterday’s trek.”
Birders were stirring before the wake-up time of 4 a.m. Head lights were donned and switched on as people began their morning ablutions and dressing up. I found out to my dismay that I had not brought a headlight and
This day started early. 3:00 A.M. There was a flurry of silent but vigorous activity of repacking luggage that had been unpacked for the night, putting them in plastic bags and into jute sacks for loading onto the pack horses. The birders were not as neat in repacking as the horsemen but that would have to do.
I still cannot write my report on this trip. I cannot seem to be able to allow myself to filter into words the magic we experienced on Mount Kitanglad. Pictures should be a better presentation of our experiences there, but I have no camera. The only pictures I have are those very vivid in my mind. The Kitanglad mountains in Bukidnon is a long ridge constituting the 2nd Highest peak in Mindanao at about 2,900 meters. Mt. Apo being the highest stands at 3,300 meters.
SURIGAO CITY – Complaints that operators of public transport and other services are charging unjust rates local and foreign tourists visiting Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands in Surigao del Norte, have prompted the provincial government to come up with fixed
SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/23 August) — Now on its 16th year, Siargao International Surfing Competition will start on September 24 at Cloud Nine, the famous surfing capital of the Philippines in General Luna, the island of Siargao, Surigao del Norte. Zeny
DAVAO CITY – Gutierrez “Teng” Mangansakan II’s film, “Limbunan,” the first Moro full-length narrative film has been invited as the closing film in the International Critics’ Week of the Venice International Film Festival next month. No Filipino film has ever been featured in the line-up of Venice Critics’ Week, but the film done by the 33-year old Mangansakan, a Moro from Maguindanao.
KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/14 July) — Thousands of residents and tourists crowded major streets here early Wednesday morning to celebrate the opening salvo of the five-day 44th foundation anniversary celebration of South Cotabato province and the 11th edition of its famed
Here in Mindanao, native delicacies have often become “landmarks” of a place especially when you are travelling by bus. In almost every town’s terminal or bus stop, a unique delicacy is being sold that distinguishes it from the rest.
Tourist arrivals in this resurging lakeside resort town has continued to register record figures since last year, thanks to its emerging eco-tourism attractions. Engr. Rodolfo Tuya, project manager of the Seven Falls Project Management Unit (SFPMU), said Thursday the area’s recorded visits by various domestic and foreign tourists is now nearing the
17 May 2010 May 19, 2010 is WORLD HEPATITIS DAY and the World Hepatitis Alliance and Hepatology Society of the Philippines in cooperation with Davao Doctors Hospital and Southern Philippines Medical Center (formerly Davao Medical Center) are urging everyone to
