Bukidnon is
known as both the watershed of Mindanao (six major rivers run through it) and
the food basket of Mindanao (major rice and corn producer). Taste the sweetest pineapples and
freshly-harvested fruits such as dragon fruits. You can get a beautiful view of
the Del Monte pineapple plantations from Manolo Fortich (formerly Maluko).
It’s also where
you can find a bunch of mountains, including the second highest in the country,
Mount Dulang-dulang, which explains the name. Bukidnon means “mountain dweller”
or “highlander.” While they do not live forever, they have managed to keep
quite a lot of their traditions in intact over the years.
The weather
up there is mostly cool and humid, depending on what part of Bukidnon you
visit. If you go above 1,600 feet, you get the cool weather and dry feet. With
an average rainfall of 110 inches a year, you can imagine that it is always a
little wet, especially in the lowlands. It is particularly rainy from June to
August. The best time to go to Bukidnon is November to May, unless you plan to
stay indoors the whole time.
There are
seven indigenous tribes in Bukidnon: the Talaandig, Manobo, Umayamnon,
Matigsalug, Tigwahonon, Higaonon, and Bukidnon. The latter is mostly
acculturated Cebuanos and Hiligaynons as well as a smattering of Ilocanos and
Tagalogs that moved to the area over the years, and ironically, live in the
lowlands. All seven tribes congregate once a year during the Kaamulan Festival.
Most people
understand English, and the lingua franca is Cebuano instead of the more local
Binukid. However, many people still speak the local dialects, much like in any
other major city in the Philippines.
Here are some of the top things to do in Bukidnon Province:
Witness
Kaamulan Festival
If you want
to see ethnic action, you really should not miss the Kaamulan Festival. The festival is a massive month-long
celebration held in Malaybalay (the original name for the entire province of
Bukidnon) City. The “amul” in Kaamulan
means to gather in Binukid, so the Kaamulan Festival is literally The Gathering
Festival. One of the most colorful ethnic-cultural festivals in
the country, it is a chance for all seven tribes of Bukidnon to display their
cultural heritage with dances, rituals, and competitions. The first Kaamulan was held on May 15, 1974, and
it was not a festival then. It was just one part of the program for the
Malaybalay fiesta. It received such an enthusiastic response that it became a
regional festival. The celebration schedule changes from year to year. In 2016,
the celebration was from March 1 to April 2. Make sure you make your plans to
see it way before the 2017 schedule.
Kaamulan Festival - photograph by (c) Bonzenti Panganiban | http://www.contourblog.com |
Waterfalling!
With a
multitude of mountains and rivers, you can expect waterfalls. Gantungan Falls
Natigbasan Falls and Dila Falls are all within shouting distance in The Center
for Ecological Development and Recreation (CEDAR)" in Impalutao. There is
also Balisbisan Falls in Kibangan and Alalum Falls in Sumilao.
Alalum Falls - photograph by Tupe Diaz | trekero.blogspot.com |
Visit the Monastery of Transfiguration
AKA Bukidnon Monastery, its pyramid structure is certainly striking. The design is the brainchild of national artist Architect Leandro Locsin, and is one of the most visited religious building in the country. You should attend at least one mass to take in the air of peace and serenity if you can manage it.
Lake Apo
Head on over
to Valencia City and check out Lake Apo, a lake within a volcano crater. It is
the cleanest lake in the region. Ride the floating cottage or go kayaking with
peace of mind!
Dahilayan Adventure and Forest Park
You should
also try the Dahilayan Adventure and Forest Park in Manolo Fortich if you are
traveling as a family or large group. The park offers an array of exciting
outdoor adventures, including the longest dual zip line in Asia. You can have a picnic, marvel at the animals,
explore the lagoon, practice your putts, ride a zorb, or go through the Treetop Adventure (ideal
for teambuilding). You might also want to try riding a luge down a slippery
slope!
Overview Nature
and Culture Park
If you want
a fantastic view of the mountain ranges, go to Overview Park in Palacapao. The
aim is to see, not to do, so prepare for serenity. You will get some breathtaking
photos of nature’s beauty at its grandest.
Spelunking
A little know fact about Bukidnon is it has a
lot of caves, so spelunking is definitely a good idea. You can try Paiyak Cave,
Basag Cave, Sumalsag Cave and Lagundang
Cave, all in Sumilao. Other possibilities are the Salawaw Cave and Kasanayan
Cave (Valencia City), the White Mountains and Caves and Rock Walls (Quezon),
Blue Water, Sagongsong Caves, Minsulahog Cave (Baungon), Kabyaw, Quarry Cave
(Kitaotao), Bogsok Cave (Libona), Liroan Cave (Malitbog), Borantawan Cave (Talakag), and Spiring,
Kisolop and the Linking Caves (Kibawe).
TRAVEL NOTES
- Go there between November and May when it is relatively dry
- Don’t expect beaches, it’s landlocked
- Be ready with cash, ATMs are not in great supply outside the main cities
- Try the steaks at the Del Month Golf Club House
- Almost no night life
HOW TO GET THERE
The nearest
airport is Laguindingan International Airport - more or less 3-hour travel to/from
Malaybalay, the province’s capital city. From Laguindingan Airport, take a van, taxi or coaster ride going to Cagayan de Oro City, and then ride in a bus, jeep,
or van going to Bukidnon. The bus fare is about Php160 via Agora Bus, and takes
about 1½ hours to get to Malaybalay City. From there, you can get public
transportation to any area you want to visit.
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The view is breathtaking, it's hard not to stop for a second and just take in the view. There are so many things to see and do here, and the fruits look so fresh!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Bukidnon a few times now but I have not seen these beautiful places there. Maybe next time this will be included in our itinerary.
ReplyDelete