This is one of my most exciting visit since this is the place where the famous Tinuy-an Falls located. Bislig City is the opposite end of Butuan City that is end to end to each other in Caraga. If you want to look at the map, Bislig City was 158 kilometers away southeast of Butuan City, and is heading at the last part of Caraga in going to the South to Davao Oriental.



Bislig City was located in the province of Surigao del Sur. It is known as – a city by the bay – because most its land mass occupying the scenic bay facing the great Pacific Ocean. Bislig City owns the whole part of the bay. No more, no less. Both Butuan and Bislig have a bay in honor to its name. Bislig City got its name from a forest vine of the rattan family that grew in abundance along the banks of its rivers.

In 1990, the then Bislig town was converted into a city. Other cities that comprise Caraga aside from Bislig are Butuan and Surigao.

A Portal of Virgin Forest

It is just about 5 hours ride from Butuan City. While as we move closer to Bislig City, the rough road has started to bump my seat but there were lots of entry point in order to get through to the city. There you experience big trees along the side of the road as you have never seen before like a trip to a never ending forest. You are heading the road as if you are passing the cradle of giant trees and wild plants but it seems they are just the leftover of boom logging in the 70’s.

If you think of it, Bislig City before the boom of logging industries was part of a cradle of virgin forest, or else a frontal image of a nude forest in the Pacific. This is where the defunct PICOP Resources discovered the best location of it. PICOP was formerly the largest paper mill in Asia.

PICOP, Mangagoy, or Mangagoy, PICOP

It can not be deny that word PICOP and Mangagoy – are famous name compare to the name Bislig. When you say PICOP refer to Mangagoy, and Mangagoy known where PICOP Resources located. It is just simply both name overshadowed the name Bislig. When I was young I always hear the name Mangagoy and PICOP until then in high school, I have a research on it and discovered that they are all came from Bislig town.

Someone is telling me, to that effect that comparing Mangagoy is like a city and Bislig was just a plain rural area. Later I learned that Mangagoy was just a downtown barangay envelope by not famed Bislig town. PICOP became a household name because most of its inhabitants were connected to PICOP as human resources and the source of livelihood. In short, most bisliganon survives due to PICOP existence.

Tourist Attraction

I have already discovered the beauty of Tinuy-an Falls which is known as “Niagara of Caraga.” It is a 3-layered falls with a height of 55 meters and a width of 95 meters, and possibly the widest falls in the Philippines. When I went there, it will cost 45 minutes to jump from the city proper. It is one of the best waterfalls in the entire Philippines because of its majestic and unique natural formation. Its colorful picture was once appeared in the International Travel Magazine.



Another hotspot is Hagonoy Island is a pearl shape island with clear blue water and white sand suitable for tropical getaway. It is 45 minutes pumpboat ride within the Bislig Bay.



The Lawigan Beach which faces and considers a part of the Pacific Ocean is a host of white sand beaches in the coastal area with fresh ocean breeze and sun bathing.



The enchanted underground river of the Hinayagan Cave. Famous for its unique features and has an atrium at the center reflecting sun rays. Experience a thrill while riding a banca or bamboo raft with bats hovering over your head.



The Togonan Cold Spring which is a 30-minute ride a far from the city proper.



Forester Park where amazing rock formation carved by nature through time which includes century old trees amidst mahogany tree plantation.



Bislig also hosts an annual festival called "The Karawasan Festival" during the charter day of the city which features an inter-school ethnic dance competition. Karawasan came from a local dialect which means "movement of the crabs".



Never-ending Nature Parks and Resorts

• Ocean View Park - found at Gangas Drive 300 step up in a forest. You can see the panoramic view of Bislig Bay, Pacific Ocean, and Bislig City Skyline
• Baywalk Boulevard
• Mone River – offers a boat ride tour and witness the tropical getaways
• Florland Resort
• Restiseta Farm Resort
• Villa Salud Resort
• Villa Maximilla Resort
• Sian Resort
• Highland Function Farm

some photos and info from bislig city government website, other pics from bislig tambayan, and friendster from bislig karawasan photo

---

You can reach Bislig City for 5 hours from Butuan City by bus.

I was born in Caraga. I’m proud when I came out in this world as a baby my mom was the best caretaker of all the mothers in this world. In her arms, you will hear the first ‘hello’ and when sharing your first cry you will hear a song of lullaby to calm your soul, and put you to rest for awhile. Even more, sharing your first smile will inspire your mother to sing more and more… and rocking you softly in her arms.

Mother Earth Versus Mother Mercy

My mom real name was Mercedes, so her friends call her Mercy, a magic word that has full of hearts and emotions like what I’ve heard “have mercy on us”.

What’s the difference between her and mother Earth is that when you do something bad to mother Earth, bad things will return to you. But if you do something bad in the family, your mother will return the good things to you, and it will makes you a fine and better person in the process.

Like for example for Mother Earth, when illegal logging activities happened in a mountains of St. Bernard of Leyte. The continuous cutting of trees in the mountains will weaken the soil foundation and erosion takes place. Continuous rainfall will result to landslides that covered villages and thousands people buried alive. That was horrible. Mother Earth is the fiercest thing alive.

While mother Mercy is a kind heart. I remember when I lost one thousand pennies that caused a lot of headache. My father will be angry of the thing I did since it was his money. When I informed my mother about it, all she did was patch-up the mess, and borrowed money from her friend. Everything put in order as I returned the money to my father. She take care the load while I learned something about it. I should be careful in dealing with money because it was a price of blood and sweat from the hands of my parents.

The Best BabySitter of All Times



Of course, being the eldest of all five children, everything was her first touch and first care. And so, time goes by, of all the five children grow up was the product of her selfless devotion. Never forget the stress that you can see in her face of having five children in a row.

And now the next batches of children were coming. All of her children were married, and got the first move to babysit the eldest daughter of my sister. The following year, I have my eldest daughter, and then the following year, my youngest brother had it with a son. And so the same thing that goes to the next, she has no remorse of the back subject but no failing grade at all.

Because of her unfailing performance she was promoted and rewarded a Green Card holder in the US. My youngest sister who was based in Ohio also dreamed of having a child of her own. It is not easy of dreaming a child in American dream since the atmospheric pressure and the time pressure is part of it. So, she petitioned my parents (my father opted to stay here). The timing is right. When the time she got pregnant my mom is already there, and does her duty, anyway, as a babysitter hehehe.





American Dream

If I have here the Canadian visa, I will choose it rather than in American Dream. Since my mom was in Ohio, the Canadian visa is not in my brain this time. Canadian visa is my first choice in going for immigration since it offers distinct services such as Corporate Immigration Services and Individual Fully Assisted Service, and living in Canada is one of the best economies in the region.

By the time the petitioned papers handed to my mother is a sure way to go to a place that most Filipinos love working and living in American Dream. It’s thirty seven years she is with us this moment and beyond she is out of sight. But if you ask me heartily, I prefer living in Caraga Region for the rest of my life with our mother.

Mother Knows Best

Your mother is the best person ever alive. Without her you have no place in this world. From the first day you were born, she knows the things that are best for you, that are right for you, and she can see what lies in the future for you. The best evidence to prove is you that you are still here alive and kicking and fighting. The wisdom you will learned will never fade even when she is not anymore in this world.

Me As Babysitter

My second baby is coming, and since mom is far away, how I wish that she could go back to Philippines to take care my new baby. But since mom was not here, I became an alter ego of her. My wife is in caesarian section, so probably, I will be the next in line to become a babysitter, huh.

When I was a bachelor then, I don’t want to cradle a baby in my arms, not just baby is small but so soft to carry, I have a phobia to do it, or else I will shout and help me to take it away from me.

Since this day you are a certified father, you can’t help but be a father of your daughter in the first place. The first touch and the first care, place it in your arms when she was still a two-day old, the warm embrace and the sweet scent of a baby that move you closer to each other through time. Bathing your baby and changing her diaper is important for proper hygiene. Cradling in your arms for hours is building your muscles as well hehehe. Learning and persistence in babysitting is your daily struggles. In the end, you and your baby will become closer than ever the way I see it. It is not easy to be a babysitter, anyway.

I have been to different places in Caraga, as when you go home into your beloved place you can reminisces such beautiful things that put a magnet in your brain as you fall into a deep sleep from traveling. Too much amazement, sometimes in your dreams the adventure continues…coz the passion still exists in your heart until it will escape for days then you have to say I missed Mabua, or how much more if you experienced Estancia Cabo and missed everything. These exotic places are drowning your memory to the end. The Mother Nature in them is so intoxicating that it will put you in to a newly-renovated or highly-elevated person in the making.





Put Me High Against The Sun Down

The sweetest part is so dominating when the sun began to submerge the earth surface. When you are having the sun of your dream, try the beautiful sunset in Caraga, and became a dreamer. The sight and sound is clear. With lots of wonder and ponder that is striking in your brain. Sunset is my best delicacy of the day. Because in the first place it will make me a cool person, especially when I’m at the sea it will broaden my horizon.

When things went down and became nervy, the sunset has its magic way to calm you down, and put everything in order. Just like someone is telling you that everything is okay, and have a warm embrace. This time it’s Mother Nature that controls everything within you. Just give a shout and say I’m getting young at this moment!

Love Birds and Sunset

Sunset was the best place to express someone’s feeling. The cloud of doubt was gone in the valley. Love birds tend to be sweeter each day. This is the place that you can say anything else but purely love and emotion. The sun has to say goodbye but it will spell a magic touch to everyone who able to see him as it gone to the seas or mountains. Where ever the sun goes down the atmosphere become a hottest place for lovers to share. I will never forget the beautiful place of Mabua and Boracay. These places were unforgettable nest for all love birds out there.

My Lust That Last For Life

Since I was a young boy I already pondered and amazed of the beauty when the sun started to disappear in the horizon. Its stunning sunrays spreads like a virus in the sky as it reflect even the cumulus clouds in the distance. I cannot give myself a chance without seeing it as it bid goodbye in the horizon. I have to do it at the roof top of our house, since then before getting old, and even before I retire.



The desire of having it as part of your life through days will put in as the most awaited part in your life. Beauty in this world can be your guiding light as you walk with your heart. Amazing Caraga, amazing world, isn’t it?

photo courtesy from freida and alan milan of butuanon.org at http://www.butuanon.org/yabb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.cgi?num=1211686271/195

I have been to different parks of Caraga. But this time I am planning to go to Bonbon Eco-Park at Butuan City. Also dreaming with the Denali Park – the opposite end of the globe, this is found in Alaska. The place was known as world class adventures as the Alaska Travel. But here when you are dreaming with the love of your life in Caraga where mountains and waterfalls mixed in a form of natures as an art. You are lucky, because you live in Caraga.





The last time when I’m having a trek when I was in college was eighteen years ago. We walk with my friends after stopping in the mountain foot from where we drop from the vehicle that went there for half an hour. There, as we started our climbing moment to different mountains, we able to meet ordinary water falls in one of the mountains in the hottest scene in summer. This waterfall has an old name but now it was called Bonbon Eco-Park.

Bonbon Eco-Park was well preserved with respect to natures activities. The lingering freshness of the air coming from the mountains filled the place since it was nestled in the mountain’s lair where water falls streaming flows ends, and develops as hotspot.

We passed different mountains as we walk just for fun, and our target was reaching the foot of Mt. Mayapay, one of the highest mountain peaks in Caraga. We able to pass a troop of mountains that invited a lot of trekkers in which hidden waterfalls unnoticed to anyone because of being an ordinary falls that I have seen. The falls was just simply a work of unseen treasure that awaits development in the future.

Loaded with Globe Fresh Air

Mountain lines and trees are embracing you, and looks what is beyond horizon. The oxygen filled my lungs, a newly-formed individual exist in time. You’ve gotta feel the coming of fresh air that breezes from the mountains from different location as we move forward, and witness the skyline of historic Butuan. Amaze me so much how can you say that Butuan was a floating city, when in the mountains it was just a progressive city in the making soaring high.

When you are in the mountains, different possibilities are coming in. While going upward to the top, it will move your muscles up, and new strengths are coming in. The process of inhaling and exhaling are renewing as your lungs was filled with oxygen. Youthful gain is at peak when you go home from the peak of a mountain. Aside seeing from the window of your soul the beautiful creation of one of God’s masterpieces, you can not say anymore how perfect Mother Nature is, and say to yourself that you are proud at this moment when you are at the top.

The Park Sparks

The water falls that we met have grown into a different place. This falls is now called the Bonbon Eco-Park. Years have passed and it became into one of tourist destinations in Caraga, like the smell of Travel Alaska in my choice. When you are in the mountains and submerge yourself in one of the coolest in Caraga in a hot summer trek, yes, pour yourself in Bonbon Eco-Park. So much for mountains, trees, and fresh air plus lovely waterfalls in the making.

source of pix: freida of butuanon.org at http://www.butuanon.org/yabb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.cgi?num=1211686271/195

In general, Filipinos love to sing in which that character possesses the peoples of Caraga. Even those waking the old days of our 50’s and 60’s dramas and movies, typically reflects our love of singing. Expressing the most intimate feelings you have through the effort of your voice that others will be able to hear you, and soften their tired or aching souls. It is a one way of seeing I’m sorry to you, and then others let them forgave you. The power of the music has drawn from one generation to the next generation.



In Caraga, the singing sensation of caraganon was broadened to the love of videoke. Have it a flat screen while singing, you follow the tone of the music and the stream of the lyrics. At the end it will rate you as a professional singer, or never mind if you have a failing grade as long as you express the feelings in your heart.

The Night Escapade

When you became a person in this world as a baby, you will hear the song of your parents while in their arms, it will amaze you as you hear them, and it will calm you at first then till it sleeps you to the deep. That is the magic of the sound you hear until it grows you into a fine young person.

This is how you rated peoples of Caraga, a song bird from the start. The night gobbles up as the song has started in the air. When you go home, you can hear it even the fine young guys in the store along the streets gave their loudly tone right next to them was a cup of beer. Yes, it added fun to the group.

Colored streets in the night added the entertainment in one of the hottest bar in the place. You can see them in public or else in one of the private room in a hotel with VIP treatment. Sing it loud and cast away your entire predicament in life. Forget everything that makes you an old person in the making. According to some, this is just one way of fighting the old enemy within us – the stress and strain in life.

Life Is Short

Videoke are the most exploited enjoyable thing to do. Even when I go home, I felt sometimes fed up from my office work so I have to enliven myself with my family as the audience, and sing. With the VCD component and digital TV, it is just amazing having it in your living room and hearing your voice like a singer although it is a terrible voice I have in the making hehehe.

One of my friends has his own simple marks in life, and that is life is so short, we have to give the best of it. And when the night comes fun begins in the making. Forget the pressure of the day, and let the night take care of everything. While still young doused your energy before it will take away your youth.

For me I’ve done it in our home. I’m just making my family happy, or else, I make their face acidic to my voice escape hehehe.

source of pix: http://video48.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html