Discovering Beautiful Bukidnon

Being in Mindanao has its perks. It’s a beautiful island with beautiful places! This month, I’ve been lucky enough to take a trip to Bukidnon!

Chilling at Lake Apo.

Admit it. There are times when you just want to pack your bags and get away.

Me and several friends did exactly that. We’ve had a stressful school year (I mean what school year isn’t? Amirite, teachers? Haha.) and we were more than happy to get away! Here are some awesome places to go to!

On the way to Bukidnon, you move from the hustle and bustle of the city to the lush green scenery.

En route to Bukidnon! You pass by their winding roads. Don’t get dizzy!

You also pass by a lot of pines and pineapple plantations!

Hmmmm... Pineapples. Fruits that digest you while you eat. Haha.

First stop is the big I <3 Kisolon Marker! Dropping by for a quick snap!

Say mountains!

Next stop is the Bukidnon Panika marker, in Impasugong. Said marker is located in near the tourism center. The marker is a big ‘Panika’- a traditional ethnic headdress worn by some of the tribes of Bukidnon. Bukidnon is home to seven tribes, namely the Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Umayamnon and Tigwanahon. Aside from the giant Panika overarching the marker, it also has statues of dancing tribeswomen and dancing cowboys, all a sight to behold! You can just drop by this roadside attraction, and take a snack break because they sell sweet corn and other tasty snacks! (We had sweet corn. I wasn’t able to take a picture because we were.. uh.. busy? Hehe.)

Showcasing the local culture through the Panika Marker, Impasugong, Bukidnon.

Next is the Kaamulan grounds. At the peak of the Kaamulan festival, the Kaamulan grounds are filled to the brim with people celebrating. However, we went there almost a week after Kaamulan, so we missed the festivities. That’s alright, though, because the grounds are a sight to behold by themselves! Surrounded by tall pine trees and calming greeneries, you can stroll around the grounds, or ride a horse together with the locals for a small fee. Getting in the grounds itself is free. :)

You can feel the cool Bukidnon air brush against your skin. I felt it, alright. Obviously because I don’t have a jacket.

The grounds also hold hundreds of beautiful flowers (certainly not the big one in the middle of the picture, that one is endemic to Cagayan de Oro haha), and is surrounded by small huts. A fountain dots the heart of the grounds.

I keep looking away from the camera, a metaphor for me turning away from my responsibilities. Haha.

We then spent the night at a friend’s ancestral home. We played scrabble as the cool Bukidnon air once again said hello. Don’t worry, I had a jacket on this time. :) The morning after, after a quick cup of ‘sikwate’ or pure cocoa, we were up early to head off to a famous resort, the RR Resort in Don Carlos. It’s best to go early since the resort will be teeming within the day. You gotta be early to get a good spot. The entrance is 50 pesos per person (above 3 years old) and the cottages prices range from 300-1,500.

What a sight to behold early in the morning.

The resort itself is very wide, and is still under construction. One of my favorite sights is the one near the edge, overseeing the lake. The placid lake makes me want to stay there for hours. I can’t, though, it gets a bit too hot. :) you could see the fishermen casting their nets to catch fish.

More pine trees! With my matching green hair.

The resort also has a mini-forest, once again surrounded and lined by pine trees. There are picnic tables also for rent, for 300 pesos.

And of course the resort’s main attraction- the swimming pools. It boasts several swimming pools with different depths, covering several areas from top to bottom. There are slides, small pocket-pools, and even a semi-Olympic swimming pool.

Photo courtesy of Project Lupad.

You can also check out their site here!
http://www.rrfamilyspringresort.com

Hello! It’s cold!

Lechon, yo.

After the dip, we went on with our journey! We took a quick tour to Lake Apo, in Guinoyoran, Valencia. The lake is the perfect place to chill and relax. The entrance fee is 50 pesos only. Reminder, there are several ways to enter Lake Apo, the one we went to was nearest from Valencia.

Not to be confused with Mount Apo, which is a few hours away, Lake Apo is truly magnificent.

You can actually bring food, board a huge raft, and eat while cruising across the river! The raft can be rented at 150 per person.

This is just the edge of the raft, there are benches and a huge table there, too!

After the soirée with Lake Apo, we decided to rest our weary souls and spend moments of silence at the Monastery of Transfiguration. It’s a pyramid-shaped chapel located at Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

To cap the whole trip, we visited another church in Barangay 3, Malaybalay.

Inside the Church.

We said prayers of thanks, for the blessings of friends and adventure, for the blessings of nature and silence.

Yellow flowering trees outside of the church.

A bursting yellow palette to end the trip, spreading positivity all around!

Of course, 2 days are not enough to enjoy the vastness, beauty and grandeur of Bukidnon. But if you know where to go, you can get some of the best it has to offer! See beautiful Bukidnon for yourself, when you get the chance! It truly is an escape, a trip worth having.