FaceCebu | Cebu Blog, Vlog and Content Creation: Mindanao

The Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient Seas, has a lot to offer to Locals, Foreigners, and Travellers in general. You can come to the Visayas for amazing white sand beaches, or appreciate the tall skyscrapers in Manila of Luzon but how about some adrenaline-pumping activities in Mindanao? Let's talk about Soccsksargen, Philippines. Come and read with me as I tell you about our one-day SOX tour via this humble blog.

Soccsksargen stands for the region's four provinces and one of its cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City. But in this particular Travel post, let's talk about the Region's first highly urbanized City, General Santos, and South Cotabato Tourist attractions and Destinations!

Grand Summit Hotel General Santos

But before we proceed, let me share with you some snaps during the first anniversary of Grand Summit Hotel General Santos. Together with Davao and other Cebu Bloggers and Media, we were able to experience GenSan hospitality thru the first Grand Summit Hotel of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts. The event was grand, rich in culture, and intimate - I personally love and appreciate how the Hotel Executives, Managers, and personnel celebrated together at the end of the program. It was precious!

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Here's our Day Tour Itinerary for General Santos and South Cotabato Tour!

SG FARM

We started our SOX Tour with a healthy breaky at Strawberry Guyabano Farm or SG Farm! What to expect on the Farm? Themed parks/locations such as Asian destinations and some iconic Western Structures. They have a restaurant that can offer breakfast, lunch, and Dinner. You can also come there if you just want to sip some coffee and simply live life with a view. And oh, if the weather is good (no heavy clouds), SG Farm is an exciting location for an amazing view of Mt. Matutum!

📍 Strawberry Guyabao Farm (SG Farm)

Location: Barangay Kablon, Tupi, South Cotabato

Mobile: 0977-098-9387

Mail: sgfarmph@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SGFarmPh/

Details:

📌 Entrance fee for both day and night tours is 100.

📌 Open from 6 am to 8 pm from Mondays to Sundays.

📌 For the Day tour you may visit the farm directly.

📌 Reservation is advised for overnight stay.

LAKE SEBU - 7 FALLS AND ZIPLINE

Did you know that Lake Sebu's zipline is the highest in Southeast Asia with its 600 feet height? It's my 2nd time and I still feel the "kulba" from head to feet! 🤣🤣🤣

📍 Lake Sebu Zipline

Location: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Mobile: +63 923 695 0971

my POV vs your POV

Conquered my fear sa highest #zipline in southeast asia. Yey!!!

📍 Lake Sebu Zipline
Location: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Mobile: +63 923 695 0971#SouthCotabato #SGFarm #SOX #LetsFlyJuansMore #GrandSummitHotels #VisitSOX pic.twitter.com/WezwLi4tQU
— Mark M. Monta (@TheMarkMonta) October 18, 2022

LAKE SEBU - LAKE CRUISE WITH LUNCH

We had a sumptuous and healthy lunch from Punta Isla Lake Resort while cruising the beautiful Lake Sebu! Did you know Lake Sebu is situated at the ancestral domain of the T'boli and Ubo tribes of South Cotabato? Aside from its richness in Culture and tradition, Lake Sebu has been promoted by the Department of Tourism as a prime eco-tourism destination in Mindanao. So, when you visit SOX, make sure to visit Lake Sebu and make sure it's morning between 7-9 AM so that you'll witness the beautiful blooming of Lotus Flowers.

📍 Punta Isla Lake Resort

Location: Brgy. Poblacion, Sitio Tuko-fol, Lake Sebu

Mobile: (083) 236 1053 | 0919 451 5015 | 0905 289 5134

Email: reservations.puntaisla@yahoo.com

TNALAK TOUR

The last stop before dinner was the Tnalak Tour. T'nalak, is a weaving tradition of the T'boli people of South Cotabato, Philippines. T'nalak cloth is woven exclusively by women who have received the designs for the weave in their dreams, which they believe are a gift from Fu Dalu, the T'boli Goddess of abacá. (Wikipedia)

📍 Lang Dulay Weaving Center

Location: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Mobile: 0936-7827471

Contact: Charlie Dulay for a bulk order of TNalak

Aside from experiencing and learning the T'Nalak weaving, we also visited the ff:

📌 Cooperative of Women in Health and Development (COWHED) Souvenir Shop for some pasalubong which are handmade by TBoli Women

📌 the TBoli Museum which houses a number of Gongs of different sizes

📌 100 Tnalak Collections where a number of TNalak designs are displayed

ORGANIKIAN URBAN FARM

We ended the SOX Day tour with a healthy dinner at OrganiKian Urban Farm! They have a wide choice in their MENU such as Powerbowls (PHP 235), Salad (PHP 235), Quinoa Bowls (PHP 265), Desserts and Sweets (starting at PHP 120), and for Beverages, Shakes, and Immune Booster for the pick! Also, I’m obsessed with their beautiful Comfort Room!

📍OrganiKian Urban Farm

Location: Reyes Subd, 1st Block 9506 Koronadal, Philippines

Mobile: 0917 717 5268

Mail: organikianurbanfarm@gmail.com

Website: https://organikianurbanfarm.com/

📌 Promote sustainable produce of organically and hydroponically grown vegetables and share with the community the importance of growing vegetables in small areas.

📌 Free WiFi is available

📌 Operating Hours: 8AM to 9PM

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Second half of April, some cousins, relatives and members of Tita's Cathecism organization chose to spend a week of Summer in the scary place of the Philippines, the Mindanao. But guess what? It was not scary at all - it was amazing! We picked the beautiful paradise of Dakak Park and Beach Resort in Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte. My manager at work once mentioned how nice the Resort was and wondered how the Resort look today? And of course, who wouldn't be interested to experience Dakak after that commercial made by AlDub (famous Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza loveteam)?

Dakak Park and Beach Resort

Blogger Mark Monta at Dakak Park and Beach Resort

Inside George & Peter Lines

Just another skyline shot

While we are docking in Dapitan port

It's Holy!!!

Cool shot at Dapitan Wharf!

So, why the place called Dakak? While on our way to the Resort, we had a chance to visit Rizal Shrine. During the quick tour, the guide mentioned Dakak stands for "Dagkong Kakahoyan" or Big Trees. In addition to this trivia, Dapitan City is called Historic City of the South. Why not? This City got a lot and is indeed part of the History. Not to mention, this is where our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled and met her lovelife, Josephine Bracken. Also, in Dapitan lives the smallest person in the whole world. We can see Holy Rosary Cathedral of Dipolog, the City’s century-old cathedral. And of course, most Spanish houses which are reserved until this era.

Rizal Park

The team in Rizal Park

Holy Rosary Cathedral of Dipolog

Ancestral House of Dapitan

Dr. Jose Rizal Museum

Dr. Jose Rizal old Clinic

Eating lunch in a buffet type during River Cruise

The team during River Cruise

Back to Dakak Park and Beach Resort! The Resort has a lot to offer. From Foods - Different themed-Restaurants such as Thai, Korean, Itialian and Filipino Restos are set for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. You can choose and pay! Entertainment-wise, Dakak offers unlimited rides in Gloria's Fantasyland and when food and entertainment combined? You can join the River Cruise at Dapitan River with buffet lunch. At the end of the day, Dakak offers the best view of Sunset while enjoying a booze and grub in the seashore and playing in the white sand.

Swimming Pool of Dakak Park and Beach Resort

It's not a ship - It's a bar in a boat shape inside Dakak

Cousins and the Blogger in Dakak

Dakak in that Horizon

Another Swimming Pool of Dakak

Make Your Own Havaianas 2015 Pair in Dakak

Minutes before Sunset

Dakak Park and Beach Resort during Sunset

Dakak's Church

Sunset Horizon

How to get to Dakak Park and Beach Resort From Cebu?
1. Take ship from either Ocean Fast Ferries, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc. and George & Peter Lines. Check the Cebu to Dapitan Boat schedule.
2. From Dapitan Wharf, you can ride a bus as offered by Dakak Park and Beach Resort.

For details, contact the Resort:
Phone Number: (02) 696-9726
Email: onlinedakak@gmail.com