Kiamba's Children's Park and Tuka Marine Sanctuary visit!

As part of the Soccsksargen Experience Tour we visited Kiamba, Saranggani Province and it was awesome experience I should say!

The children's park in Kianmba is one of the best in the province. It is well maintained with a mini zoo inside a great experience for the locals and visitors alike. The park is just along the beach great place to unwind, bring your kids along and enjoy the scenery along the beach.

The beach house by the children's park is where the local government of Kiamba, Saranggani Province hosted a sumptuous lunch for the blogger who participated in the Soccsksargen Experience Tour.

The next stop is the Tuka Marine Sanctuary and the the jump off point for the boat rides is just at the back of the children's park.

Tuka Beach and enclave is a pristine marine sanctuary that play host to a rich and biodiverse fauna. It is just a few minutes boat ride and what welcomes the visitors are the white pristine beaches along the coast.  We had the pleasure to snorkel along the Tuka Marine Sanctuary and there are lots of fishes and corals just a few meters away from the coastline. But a sad reality struck us most, is the presence of  crown of thorn star fish.

The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) is a large nocturnalsea star coral polyps. The crown-of-thorns is a corallivore, a carnivorous predator that preys on reef coral polyps. They climb onto reef structures, and then extrude their stomach onto the coral. This releases digestive enzymes that allow the starfish to absorb nutrients from the liquefied coral tissue. The crown-of-thorns also preys on brittle stars in a similar fashion.

They are voracious predators. An individual starfish can consume up to 6 square metres (65 sq ft) of living coral reef per year.

The local government of Kiamba are worried about the presence of the Crown Thorns in the Tuka Marine Sanctuary. If only we could help them to save the corals. All we could do as a blogger is to let the world know that the marine sanctuary in the brink of ecological disaster.

Lot of thanks to Avel Manansala who spearheaded the Soccsksargen Experience Tour Part II and the local government of Kiamba, Sarrangani Province for their hospitality. It was really an experience of a lifetime.

Araw ng Dabaw 2011 Schedule of Activities!

The 74th founding anniversary of Davao City's kick off will start on March 14, 2011!

74th ARAW NG DABAW SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

DATE/TIME ACTIVITY   VENUE

14-Mar-11/7:30am Opening Ceremonies Quezon Park

14-Mar-11 Pakonsiyerto ni Mayor Rizal Park

14-Mar-11 Kaon ta Day, Lingaw ta Bai Bolton St

15-Mar-11/1-6pm Sayawan sa Da'n City Hall Drive-San Pedro-Legazpi-Rizal-Bolton Sts

15-Mar-11/8pm Mutya ng Dabaw (Finals) Davao City Recreation Center

15-Mar-11 Pakonsiyerto ni Mayor Rizal Park

15-Mar-11 Kaon ta Day, Lingaw ta Bai Bolton St

16-Mar-11/6am Thanksgiving Mass San Pedro Church

16-Mar-11/7:30am   Parada Dabawenyo/Banda Hudyaka

16-Mar-11 Pakonsiyerto ni Mayor Rizal Park

16-Mar-11 Kaon ta Day, Lingaw ta Bai Bolton St

 

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.