Maitum, Saranggani's culture and white water tubing experience!

A journey to Maitum, Saranggani Province is like journey in the past. It is considered Mindanao's Old World. This is where hundreds of anthropomorphic jars were found in the caves of Maitum which were used as cover for burial jars associated to the Metal Age in the Philippines circa 5 B.C. to A.D. 225. And to experience their water tubing in Pangi river is a must do adventure in Maitum.

I was one of the lucky bloggers invited during the Soccsksargen Experience Tour last weekend  which was spearheaded by Avel Manansala. The Municipal hall is a grand building with mini archaeological and ethnographic exhibit, on the second floor which also houses the replica of the jars that was found in the area. The local government cannot place the real old jars since the National Museum requires that the original jars and other museum pieces should be housed separately in its own museum and not in the city hall. But none the less, the exhibit that they have gave most visitors the history that Maitum has to offer.

Maitum is 127 kms from Gen. Santos City, to get there air-conditioned vans are the most convenient way to go and you have to shell out P140 for the fare going there.

After experincing the culture of Maitum, we are off to an adventure with white water tubing at Pangi river which is around 15-20 minute ride from Poblacion, Maitum.

This time we are off to getting ourselves wet in the wild river of Pangi. We have to change our clothes to get wet and enjoy the water tubing experience of a life time. This is the first time that I will ride the water tube going a river downstream. The excitement and fun is an experience of a lifetime.

If you want to try water tubing, you can ride a motrocycle (habl-habal) at P25/person from the national highway in barangay Pangi or by tricycle at P100 one way trip from Poblacion.

For a school trip or group tour in Maitum with water tubing adventure you can get in touch with the right person at the Maitum Tourism Office.

• Ms. Elizabeth Ramos-Palma Gil (Information Officer) 0921-5944228;


• Arnelito Ramirez (Tourism Operations Assistant) 0918-6133022;


• Arlex Narte (Tourism Operations Assistant) 0919-3738007

What are you waiting for? Plan your next culture and adventure in Maitum, Saranngani Province now!

Bukidnon's Kaamulan Festival 2011 Schedule of activities revealed!

This is the annual gathering of the 7 tribes namely Matiglasug Tribe, Bukidnon Tribe, Manobo Tribe, Talaandig Tribe, Umayamnon Tribe and the Tiguahanon Tribe.

Kaamulan Festival 2011 activities already started its soft opening last February 18, and the schedule I have is at the stat of this month.

Below is the schedule of the 2011 Kaamulan Festival:

March 01

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

HTB Mountain Bike Competition      Kaamulan Grounds

Bukidon Ethnic Song Writing and Workshop

7pm                 Laga ta Bukidnon 2011 (Talent Night)          Kaamulan Open Theater

March 02

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

Opening Motocross     Grand Stand

Tribal Olympics of the Seven Ethnic Groups Capitol Grounds

9am                 4th Bukidnon Chess Cup Kaamula Tournament        BSU

1pm                 10th Kaamulan Basketball Invitational Tournament  BSU Gym

6pm                 A Night of Bukidnon Music   Capitol Stage

March 03

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

Opening Kaamulan Rodeo     Grand Stand

Tribal Olympics of the Seven Ethnic Groups Capitol Grounds

Women’s Day Parade/Program           Kaamulan Open Theater

7pm                 Laga ta Bukidnon 2011 (Coronation Night)  Kaamulan Open Theater

March 04

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

Tribal Olympics of the Seven Ethnic Groups Capitol Grounds

Kaamulan Rodeo (continuation)         Grand Stand

6pm                 Piniliyapan Hu Bukidnon       Kaamulan Open Theater

7pm                 Rodeo Night   Grand Stand

March 05

4am                 Pamuhat          Pine Hills Hotel / Capitol Grounds

7am                 ETHNIC STREET DANCING         Fortich Street to Kaamulan Grounds

8am                 Kaamulan Airsoft Tournament           Valencia City

Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

1pm                 Ethnic Dance Clinic    Back of Capitol Stage

7pm                 Manila Bads/Artists    Capitol Stage

9pm                 FIREWORKS!           Capitol Grounds

March 06

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

March 07

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

9am                 3rd Kaamulan Adventure Race          Kaamulan Grounds

1pm                 10th Kaamulan Basketball Invitational Tournament  Valencia City

7pm                 Sponsor Night Capitol Stage

March 08

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

Kaamulan Airsoft Tournament (cont.)            Valencia City

Ethnic Sports  Capitol Grounds

7pm                 Sponsor Night Capitol Stage

March 09

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

1pm                 10th Kaamulan Basketball Invitational Tournament (Championship)            Valencia City

7pm                 Sponsor Night Capitol Stage

March 10

7am                 94th Foundation Day  Capitol Grounds

Parade/Program

Laga ta Bukidnon Parade       Fortich Street

8am                 Garden Show, Food Fest, Agri-Fair, Kaamulan Bazaar, Livestock Show     Capitol Grounds

7pm                 Sponsor Night Capitol Stage

A visit and product sampling at Cresing's Food Products, Maitum, Sarangani Province!

I was one of the lucky participants who got invited to the SOCCSKSARGEN Experience Tour (SEX Tour) Part Deux! I would say that it was one of the best experience I had and I would like to thank the organizers, especially Avel Manasala and the rest of the SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers!

Last February 25, 2001 I woke up very early to travel to Maitum, Sarangani Province, I stayed in Driggs Pension House and was fetched up by Avel himself together with the bloggers from Manila in the name of Cai Abass, Marky Ramone Go, Fitz Gerard Villafuerte and Don Triviño. We waited for the other bloggers from Davao and Soccsksargen area before we proceed to Maitum.

We visited Cresings Food Products, who let us have a taste of their organic products like the Lemon grass-Turmeric hot drink, and the cold drink counterpart with a punch of lemonsito. It was really refreshing. Their products ranges from organically grown black rice, red rice and white rice. They also have a new caffeine free coffee made from rice and corn, wild turmeric powder, moringa, fresh dalaldan, herbal salted egg, lemon grass powder, coco sugar and bagoong.

You can order from them directly by calling or text with mobile number 0919-3045279 or email them at ferminc.rivas@hotmail.com

Free tasting of their products comes with a heavy breakfast, where we got to taste the organic black rice, brown rice and white rice that they are also selling. The owner of Cresing was very happy to meet bloggers from the region and also from Manila. The food was really filling, the food on the table are some of their products like the herbal salted egg which they did not dip into any food coloring to preserve the taste, some are grown in their garden like the fresh vegetable salad like carrots, singkamas, cucumber, their blanced vegetable like okra and camote tops, dried salted fish and the ginataang suso which was a hit with my palate.

We ended up buying some of their products which Ria Jose from Davao recommended us to take home with us since it will be much cheaper on site. If you are interested in ordering they ship it anywhere in the Philippines you just have to shoulder the freight fee in addition to your orders.

Driggs Pension House a place to stay in GenSan!

When visiting General Santos City and you need a cool, peaceful, safe and big parking area for your car, the only place to go to is Driggs Pension House!

You would keep on coming back at Driggs Pension House, with amenities and room like a hotel. You won't feel that you are in a pension house at all. With nice big bathrooms with big mirrors and with cool and hot water on the shower which is pressurized (feels like you are being massaged while taking a shower). Fully airconditioned rooms, Wifi Hotspot, with CCTV security system installed and security guard on duty for 24 hours, so that your safety is really at its best.

I really enjoyed my stay there t Driggs Pension House with the ever polite and nice receptionist on duty.

Driggs Pension House
Eve St., Paradise Subd., City Heights, General Santos City

ROOM RATES:

Std Room (Twin Bed/Queen Bed) P 750.00
De Luxe Room (Twin Bed/Queen) P 950.00
Family Room 1,750.00
*Inclusive of 1 free breakfast except Family Room-good for 2 breakfast

Check In- 1:00PM; Check Out- 12:00NOON
Rates are subject to change w/out prior notice

Contact Nos:

• (083) 553-0088;


• 09173089731

More pictures of Driggs below:

[gallery columns="4"]

CEB hiring 75 pilots, 200 cabin crew for expansion plans in Asia!

The Philippines’ number one airline, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) announced that it will offer high-paying jobs to key positions, as it moves forward with its expansion plans in Asia.

In the airline’s biggest recruitment campaign to date, CEB aims to hire 75 Airbus and ATR pilots, 200 cabin crew, 10 mechanics and engineers, and 20 ground support crew in the various fields of cargo, airport services, accoun-ting, information systems and human resources.

“It is an exciting and fun time for the airline, as it proceeds with its expansion plans and takes delivery of 20 more brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft from 2011-2014. We look forward to welcoming more people into the Cebu Pacific family,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

The airline has already received four brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft from October 2010 to January 2011.

“CEB has created over 4,000 jobs with an annual payroll of over PHP 2 billion. It has created 500 jobs in the last year alone. We are proud to provide high-paying jobs to Filipinos, and keep them close to their families,” she added.

She encouraged all interested and qualified applicants to attend the airline’s recruitment event at Hotel Intercontinental Manila on February 11-12, 2011, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m..

Interested applicants may also email their credentials to recruit ment@cebupacificair. com. The detailed job descriptions and qualifica-tions can also be found on www.cebupacificair.com or CEB’s page on job street.com.ph .

One-day processing recruitment campaigns will also be held at PATTS College of Aeronautics on February 9 and the Philippine State College of Aeronautics on March 2, with others to follow.

Those applying for Flight Crew must embody CEB’s culture of fun, should have a college degree and basic computer literacy, ICAO recognized ATPL (acceptable to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) and a minimum of 500 hours on civil registered transport aircraft certificated on multi- crew operations .

Meanwhile, qualifi-cations for being a CEB flight attendant include a dynamic personality, at least 5’3” in height, weight that is proportional to height, clear complexion, and good eyesight, among others.

“Cebu Pacific offers unlimited travel benefits, competitive compensation packages, annual perfor-mance bonuses and a fun working environment. And since the airline is growing, our employees also enjoy career opportunities not easily available in other airlines. We hope every Juan can join us in providing high-quality service across Asia,” Iyog said.

The first low-cost carrier in Asia, CEB currently operates over 260 flights daily to 16 international cities and 33 domestic destinations. It flew almost 10.5 million passengers in 2010, exceeding targets with a 19% increase over 2009. Its international passengers also grew by 38% in 2010.

Cebu Pacific hiring flight attendants from Davao on Jan. 21, 2011!

Cebu Pacific Airlines is hiring 150 female flight attendants to augment the airline's workforce, in time for the arrival of five brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft this year.

The CEB team has scheduled a recruitment campaign in Davao on January 21, 2011 from 9 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Jade Ballroom of Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

Qualifications includes dynamic personality that embodies CEB's culture of fun, at least 5'3" in height, weight that is proportionate to height, clear complexion, good eyesight and good set of teeth.

The applicants must also be a college level, proficient in Filipino and English, and are willing to be assigned outside Davao. They are advisedto bring along their up-dated resume' and recent 2x2 photo.

The screening is on first come first-serve  basis.

"Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City" proposed by Vice-Mayor Rody Duterte!

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte formally filed his pet bill that would, according to him, "change the entire paradigm of the community" if passed into an ordinance.

The "Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City" is aimed at protecting the "minorities" from discrimination. Duterte said his bill's predicate is based on giving equal opportunity based on gender, race, color, descent or national ethnic and origin and religion.

Among the discriminatory acts specifically mentioned in the proposed ordinance are the following:

1. Refusing employment to a job applicant or imposing onerous terms or conditions which are not imposed on another similarly situated or circumstanced; by denying or limiting access to an employee, opportunities for promotion, transfer, training, schooling or to any other benefit which are otherwise granted to other employees.


2. Refusing or failing to accept any person for admission as student in any public or private educational and/or vocational institution, or by subjecting said person to terms and conditions for his acceptance in the said institution which are not imposed on other applicants similarly situated.


3. Refusing to provide goods or services and/or imposing onerous terms or conditions as requisite for providing goods or services to a person which are not refused or subjected to others.


4. Refusing or failing to allow any person to avail of quarters or accommodations in a house, apartment, condominium, townhouse, flat, hotel, inn, dormitory or any other places of dwelling being rented out or offered to the public for a fee, rental or other forms of compensation.


5. Subjecting, either by verbal or written word or publication, to ridicule or insult or attributing despicable behavior and/or bad habits or associating with violence and criminal activities, any person or group of persons by reason of the above mentioned predicates.


6. Refusing entry into restaurants, bars, stores, movie houses, malls and other places of entertainment and businesses which are open to general public or refusing or failing to attend to or serve the orders for food, drinks, beverages and other goods, consumable and non-consumable, to any person by reason of the above predicates.


7. Doing any other analogous act which demeans the dignity and self-respect of a person or impairs, mars, reduces or nullifies the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of his human and legal rights and basic freedoms in the political, labor, economic, social, cultural and spheres on the basis of the same predicates.

The proposed ordinance penalizes any violators with imprisonment of not more than 15 days for first-time offenders and not more than six months of imprisonment for those who committed violation more than once. Fines, to be determined by the City Council, will also be exacted.

Wuold you support such ordinance here in Davao City?Leave your comments and suggestions please.