Palawan: The Country's Last Frontier

The Philippines, touted to be the “Pearl of the Orient Seas,” has more than 7,000 islands.  More than a thousand of these can be found in Palawan, situated in the southwest part of the country.

“Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines,” writes Conrado M. Lancion, Jr. in his book, Fast Facts About Philippine Provinces.  “Stretching 650 kilometers from tip to tip, it is composed of 1,780 islands and islets.”

Its three major island groups are Calamian in the north, Dumaran-Cuyo in the northeast, and Balabac-Bugsok in the south.  The main island is 425 kilometers long.  It has a width of 40 kilometers at its widest at Brooke’s Point, and eight and one-half kilometers at its narrowest in Bahile, Puerto Princesa.

“Tall mountain ranges bisect the province into eastern and western coasts,” describes Lancion in his book.  “The mountains average about 1,100 meters in elevation.  The east coast has narrow beaches and swampy shorelines, backed by plains and short valleys.  The west coast is more rugged, with mountains rising up neat the sea and narrow lowlands.”

Palawan is known as having one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world. Sprawled beneath the seas are nearly 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs.Palawan was proclaimed as a fish and wildlife sanctuary in 1967 and to this day, this group of islands is probably the most protected province in the whole country.

In a special report on travel, Time noted: “As global flourishes, the little-trodden paths have become superhighways.  Where can we escape the crush?  Where can we still find some sense of wonder or mystery?”

If that question is asked among Filipinos, Palawan would be most likely answer.  After all, Palawan is dubbed as the country’s last frontier.  Name it and Palawan is most likely to have it: historical sights, cultural experiences, wonderful beaches, eco-tourism spots for diving, snorkeling, trekking or just simple nature-tripping. 

Heading the campaign to make the province as one – if not the top – of the country’s ecotourism destination is environment-friendly is Edward S. Hagedorn, the mayor of the capital Puerto Princesa.  For doing so, he was bestowed with the United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honour Award in 1997 at Seoul, South Korea.

“Trees are refuge to many living creatures, and each has a role to play in life.  Thus the clean and green as well as the regreening projects are very important to be carried out by whoever sits as mayor,” says the country’s first political leader who focused on environmental protection.

One reason why people come to Palawan is the world-famous St. Paul Subterranean National Park, a massive white rock mountain which rises 1,028 meters above sea level and stretches towards Cleopatra’s Needle.  Its main feature is the underground river, with its 8.2 kilometers of labyrinthine caves carved by rainwater and the waves of South China Sea.

The Subterranean River is a maze of intricate caves and endless wonders.  Once inside, you can enjoy seeing myriad of rock formations which resembles to real things like giant mushrooms and jellyfish, a huge madre de cacao, a man and his dog, skeletal stalactites that look like filigrees.

The park, which sits on a 5,000-hectare area, can be reached after a two-hour drive from the capital city and a 30 to 45-minute boat ride from Sabang wharf. Cave entrance fee costs P150 for locals and P200 for foreigners.

If you happen to be in Coron, visit the Mount Tapyas Environmental Park.  Some 30-minute trek from the town proper, Mt. Tapyas provides a breathtaking view of the island, the residential areas, the commercial buildings, the greenery of Coron and the road to Busuanga.  A staircase of hundred steps leads to the spacious view deck with a giant cross on top of the mount.                           

In Busuanga, don’t miss the Calauit Safari Park.  This 3,760-hectare island shelters exotic animals from Kenya, Africa for breeding and propagation like the giraffe, zebra, gazelle, topi, eland, bushbuck and waterbuck combined with endemic species like the Calamian deer, Palawan bear cat, wild boar, mousedeer, peacocks among others.  The island boasts of sandy beach surrounded by crystalline waters that serve as a habitat for the endangered sea cows, sea turtles and giant clams. 

There are two more destinations you should not miss: El Nido and Honda Bay.  El Nido is the place with crystal clear waters and many wonderful dive spots with first class resorts.  It is named after the nests harvested from the islands’ limestone caverns and exported to some countries to be consumed in bird’s nest soup.

Just 30 minutes from the capital city is Honda Bay.  You can take a boat and beach hop the dozens of beaches on the islets that dot the bay.   What you can do? Nothing, except swimming, snorkeling, diving or just relaxing on the beach amidst the clear waters and fine sand.

For divers, Palawan is a paradise.  The mideast part of Honda Bay area is studded with coral patches up to 18 meters across, interspersed with sand patches.  There are plenty of small reef fish, parrot fish, snappers, and sometimes crayfish. Because the area is inconsistent, the tourism department urges divers to carry a compass.

At the north side of Cuyo Islands, you can find the wreck of an American LST that went down following the Battle of Mindoro during World War II.  After it was hit off San Jose, the vessel was brought by its crew to Cuyo.  It later slipped into deeper water with its bow ramp open.

In Busuanga Island lies the wreck of the Japanese cargo ship sunk by American submarines during World War II.  The cargo ship was on its way to Leyte Gulf from Japan, lade with war materials for the beleaguered Japanese forces during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

But the famous of all divesites is the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as a World Heritage Site.  Covering 33,200 hectares, including the North and South Reefs, the park is a well-preserved example of an atoll reef with a high density of marine species.  Seagulls and giant turtles abound.  It is 10 to 12 hours by boat from Puerto Princesa.

If history is your thing, visit the Tabon Caves Complex, located in Lipuun Point Reservation.  This 138-hectare land connected to the mainland by isthmus covered with mangrove forest can be reached within 20-30 minutes by pump boat from Quezon wharf.  Currently, there are about 215 caves and rock shelters in the caves complex.  Thirty are found to have archeological significance.

According to Lancion, Palawan was believed to be a land bridge that connected Borneo and Mindoro.  “Malaya from Borneo probably used this land bridge, and later the sea, to settle in Palawan,” he wrote.

The origin of the name “Palawan” has several versions.  Some said it comes from the Chinese word, Pa-lao-yu which means “land of beautiful harbors.”  Others said it was from the Indian word Palaws, meaning “territory.”  Few postulated it was derived from a plant which natives called palwa.  Most believed the name stemmed from the Spanish word paragua, because the main island’s shape resembles a closed umbrella.

In 1902, the Americans reportedly established the province of Paragua, with Cuyo as its capital.  Three years later, the name was changed to Palawan and the capital transferred to Puerto Princesa.

What are you waiting for?  Don’t worry about where to stay; there are many hotels of different classes, inns, and pension houses.   Some standard class hotels are The Legend Hotel, Airport Hotel, Asturias Hotel, and Hotel Fleuris. Staying in one of the world class resorts here is a good idea if you want to be closer to wonderful nature scenes.

You will never find it hard to look for a place to eat. The hotel or resort you’re staying in will likely have a bar or restaurant where you can grab a bite. In Puerto Princesa, you may also find your usual fast food.

How do you get there? Airlines that fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa include Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Zest Airways, and Cebu Pacific.  Flying time is one hour and ten minutes. South East Asian Airlines fly to El Nido, Busuanga, Taytay and Cuyo.  Shipping companies have regular boat trips of at least 3 times a week. -- ###

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

Additional Photos by Paul F. Llanos

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The Threats And Treats of Camiguin

The name “Camiguin” is derived from the native word kamagong, a tree of the Ebony family that thrives near Lake Mainit in Surigao del Norte. The original inhabitants of Camiguin were Manobos, who migrated from Surigao. The old native language in Camiguin is called “Kinamiguin,” which is similar to the dialect spoken in Surigao. 

 “Camiguin is an island of prime treats and primal threats.”  That was what the brochure said of island-province, which is approximately 90 kilometers north of Cagayan de Oro City.  In a way, that was I discovered during my recent visit to the island that was once part of Misamis Oriental.

For one, the province is literally “born of fire” as it has more volcanoes than municipalities.  Camiguin has only five municipalities (Catarman, Guinisiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and Sagay) but it has seven volcanoes (Mount Vulcan Daan, Mount Mambajao, Mount Karling, Mount Uhay, Guinisiliban Peak, Tres Marias Mountain, and Mount Hibok-Hibok).  Not surprisingly, though, it has earned the distinction of having the most number of volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on earth (it has a total land area of 238 square kilometers).

Fortunately, only one volcano is considered active: Mount Hibok-Hibok (which means “that which heaves”).   According to Filipino volcanologists, the said volcano constantly rumbled and smoke from 1948 to 1951.  Some 79 people died when it erupted in 1949 due to landslides.  Two years later, it erupted again.  This, time, however, it unleashed boiling lava, poisonous gases, and landslides enough to destroy nearly 19 squares kilometers of land particularly in Mambajao. All in all, over 3,000 people were killed.

There’s more to the island than volcanoes.  Among locals, the place is known as “the island of  your imagination.” As one tourism official explained: “Camiguin almost defies description. It is a tiny island of lush forests, volcanic splendor, eternal hot and cold natural springs, pristine patches of black and white beaches, majestic waterfalls, exotic marine life, blue-ridge mountains, serene surroundings, idyllic lifestyle; it has a glorious past, and is inhabited with jovial people.  But the truth is, the province is best experienced than described as one gets enchanted by her mystical charm. It really has amazing natural resources and peaceful atmosphere that stir and baffle the minds of everyone.”

While traveling around the island, I was not surprised why the Department of Tourism has identified Camiguin as one of the top 25 tourist destinations in the country.  Indeed, it is a perfect package and a real ecological tourism destination.

One of the province’s tourist attractions is the sunken cemetery.  A huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the spot where the old cemetery sank when Mount Vulcan Daan erupted in 1871.  Every year, a fluvial procession is held to honor the sunken graves;  islanders bring flowers and candles as an offering to the dead. For those who want to take a closer look, bancas (outrigger canoes) can be rented to take you to the site of the cross.

Another must-see is the Katibawasan Falls, some five kilometers southeast of Mambajao at the foot of Mount Timpoong.   Enclosed by a massive, fern-swathed, granite mountain wall, the waterfall is a sight to behold: a seemingly singular stream of water drops 50 meters from a bulging source without touching the granite wall.  The falls tumble down into a green pool, ideal for a refreshing swim. Giant ferns decorate the surrounding land, carpeting for space with huge trees and dropping vines.

Not to be missed also is the Ardent Hot Springs, a government-run resort located at the foot of still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok.  The place has a four-tiered pool of varying depths and warmth.  The ideal time for swimming is early morning or late afternoon. There are cottages, a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and dormitory facilities provided for local and foreign tourists.  The resort, with its lush vegetation, offers the serenity and restfulness of quiet and peaceful surroundings.

If history is your thing, there are several centuries-old churches found in various parts of the island. One of the famous churches is Sagay’s Sto. Rosario Church, which was built in 1882.   A famous church located in Baylao is said to be miraculous during the volcanic eruption and claimed to have saved many lives.

Camiguin is known for two activities: Lanzones Festival and Panaad.  Since it was during summer when I visited the island, I wasn’t able to witness these two events.  But I was told that the Lanzones Festival – in honor of the tropical fruit that grows profusely in the island -- is celebrated every year in October with a weekend of street dancing, parade and pageants in the town of Mambajao. This festival includes an exhibit of agri-cottage industry products, barangay beautification, indigenous sports, tableau of local culture, and grand parade of the lanzones.

During Holy Week, religious devotees from all over Mindanao and the Visayas go around the island on foot for two days and nights as part of Panaad (literally means “promise”).  They start walking the minute they step out of the ferry boat in the Benoni pier, going northwards through Mambajao, until they reach the Stations of the Cross on the slopes of Mount Vulcan Daan.  In climbing up the mountain, they go through each of the life-size statues depicting the 14 stations of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ which are interspaced from each other.

Truly, Camiguin is a dream island.  It is a place where you can simply revel in the marvels of nature without too many artificial distractions.

The main mode of transportation in the island is the jeepney.  You can ride one with other paying passengers going to a particular destination.  Or you can rent one jeepney for a day at a hefty price, but that includes the driver’s services and gasoline, too.

Going around the island’s 64-kilometer circumferential road on a motorbike is sheer fun – and highly recommended by locals.  Motorbikes may be rented at reasonable prices in the capital town of Mambajao.

To get to Camiguin, you to travel from your place (in my case, Davao) to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental.  You can take any of the hourly scheduled ferries (from 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon) across the channels of Mindanao Sea, which dock in either ports of Guinsiliban or Benoni.  If you take the Benoni port, travel time is about one hour.

Camiguin is accessible by air and sea from Cebu City; but trips are limited only. Most fly in to Cagayan de Oro City, which is 84 kilometers away from the port of Balingoan. 

For those who would like to take their own vehicles to Camiguin, some of the ferryboats at Balingoan Port can transport cars, pick-ups, vans, and even large trucks to the Benoni Port.  However, a number of fees have to be paid to transport these vehicles. -- ###

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Wildlife Encounter And Thrill Adventers in Davao

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

Davao has always been known for its fruits: the controversial durian, the seedless pomelo and the exotic mangosteen. But over the years, it has gained popularity as one of the country’s top destinations for its environment-friendly attractions like Philippine Eagle Center and the Malagos Orchid Farm.

Philippine eagles and orchids are understandable; they are part of Davao’s unique locale.  But what about Philippine crocodiles?  Sure, they are found only in the country but today, they are on the verge of extinction. 

In one of the episodes of National Geographic’s “Dangerous Encounters,” crocodile specialist Dr. Brady Barr wanted to be the first person to see all species of crocodile in the world.  Among those which he had seen, the most difficult to find was the Philippine crocodile.  Fortunately, he was able to see one but only about two weeks old.

As crocodiles are notoriously frightening, people often kill them.  There is also very limited governmental support for any conservation measures.  All these contributed to the decimation of their population.  In 1992, there were estimated to be less than 1,000 animals in the wild.

To save the crocodiles from disappearing in this part of the world, the Davao Crocodile Park came into existence.  “Crocodiles fascinate me,” says Philip “Sonny” Dizon, president of PSD Group of Companies, the mother company of Davao Crocodile Park, Inc.  “They are survivors.  I want to learn from their instincts.”

Business wise, the skin of crocodiles are very expensive.  When the skin is made into belts, the price ranges from P4,000 to P10,000.  In addition, there is a big demand for crocodile meat abroad.  Crocodile meat taste unusually like chicken, but only meatier. “It’s a great food,” he says.

Today, with about 700 crocodiles, the park is making waves as one of popular tourist spots in the city.  “The park is an establishment that showcases a state-of-the-art crocodile farming system in the Philippines,” Sonny says.  “It has the most recent crocodile farm design equipped with modern facilities and equipment.”

Actually, the park is more than just a crocodile farm; it also houses other kinds of animals and plants.  As one visitor observes, “Although the park is not a full-pledged zoo, it is one of the few places in the city where children and adults can learn more about the rich flora and fauna of the region and the rest of the Philippines.”

As soon as you enter the park, you would be greeted by colorful birds of all kinds: eagles, parrots, and lovebirds. Many are placed in cages but there are birds that are merely tied to their bird houses.  If you are a bird lover, you would surely enjoy the experience.  Of course, you’d also find snakes, monkeys, and freaky lizards, too.

If butterflies fascinate you, then visit the Davao Butterfly House, just a few walks away from the center of the park.  Upon entering, you will see butterflies flying around, crawling on the floor, drinking water on festive plates, and even mating!  The brochure says it all: “Learn the notable and unusual life cycle of a butterfly – from larval caterpillar stage to spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colorful winged adult form.”

Aside from the butterflies, the Davao Butterfly House also boasts of lush vegetation and a pond.  Here’s one observation of a recent visitor: “You will see butterflies of virtually any color you can imagine, and not just a few of them – literally hundreds of butterflies (maybe thousands) flying around enjoying the lush vegetation, colorful flowers and even a koi pond. It’s a great place to visit. I recommend it highly for families with kids. It would probably make a sort of romantic spot for a guy with his girlfriend, too.”

Adjacent to Davao Butterfly House is the Ostrich Ranch.  Here, visitors can interact with the biggest bird in the world.  There are about 40 of them.  Go through the once-in-a-lifetime experience of feeding the ostrich and capture the moment when its beak reaches your palm taking the food you are giving.

If history is your thing, don’t miss the Tribu K’ Mindanawan.  It is a cultural village that showcases the richness of the indigenous people through their dwellings, rituals, traditions, products and culinary arts.  If you happen to visit during weekend, you will see a cultural presentation that is highlighted with a very spectacular fire show.

Are you concerned about not eating while there?  Don’t worry; there’s the Riverwalk Grill.  It is the only restaurant in the city that is situated beside the Davao River that serves crocodile dishes and many exotic foods.   It is truly a unique gastronomic experience.

Davao Crocodile Park is open every day from Monday to Sunday. It opens its gates at 8:00 AM and its show starts in the afternoon at quarter to 5. It is located along the Ma-a diversion road and is only about a mere 20-minute drive from the heart of the city.

According to Sonny, Davao Crocodile Park is just one of the tourist destinations his company has established.  In fact, he wants Davao and its neighboring areas to be known as the “eco-adventure capital of the Philippines.”

“We have all the adventure destinations here,” he points out.  “You can go trekking at the country’s highest peak, Mount Apo; you can experience Wild River rafting any time of the year, we have a good number of zip line facilities, and many more.  The good thing is, we are still continuing to build new destination facilities that will surely help our place in tourism business in years to come.”

Inside Davao Crocodile Park is the office of Davao Wildwater Adventure, Inc., the premier white-water rafting sports facility in the region.  It takes tyro and experienced paddlers on a 15-kilometer adrenalin-rush ride downstream the majestic Davao River.  Before doing so, they are given thorough, on-location training on land and in the river, including paddling basics.

Here’s what happen during the rafting: “At one time, the river takes you on a ‘washing machine’-like spin-dry as your raft slams against large rocks. Then on another, you’re taken on a sudden drop that sucks you into the river. Then just when you feel like a cool dip in the river seems like a good idea, the river gives you just that – a long stretch of calm, free flowing water where you can lay on your back and let the river carry you while you enjoy the beautiful scenery.”

Another adrenalin-rush experience is the zip line in Zipcity, located at the Hilltop diversion road.  You can enjoy a 360-degree view of Davao City while zipping down the 310 meter-cable with an elevation of 120 to 200 feet from the ground.  “This is just the first development because in the following months, more zip cables will be raised for a more thrilling experience,” Sonny informs.

Other eco adventures Davao visitors should experience is the canopy tour, aqua fun and tarpaulin slide at Maxima in adjacent Samal Island.  Maxima is a house built above the sea in barangay Cawag in Peñaplata City.  It has four fully air-conditioned rooms, with all the amenities and facilities. 

Maxima is the home of Abyss, the only water slide in the whole country that is made of canvass material (about 40 meters).   Aside from water slide, you can also do the canopy walk at the upper portion of the place. -- ###

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Discovering The Placid Lake Sebu

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
Additional Photos by James Michael N. Montaño

“Lake Sebu is a beautiful inland sea on the island of Mindanao and is nested into the southern highlands at an altitude of almost 300 meters (984 feet). Lake Sebu is surrounded by rolling hills and forested mountains and is home to the T’boli, a highland tribe famous for their colorful costumes, intricate beadwork, woven work and brass ornaments.” That was the impression of an American who visited the place some years back.

But that’s going ahead of the story. Located in South Cotabato, Lake Sebu is often dubbed the “summer capital of Southern Philippines” as its climate is pleasantly cool (due to an elevation of 1,000 meters high from sea level). At night, the temperature gets cold and is pleasurable for those who seek the highlands and mountain feel.

But what makes Lake Sebu tick among visitors? Well, let me count the ways. For one, the town is an ancestral domain of the indigenous T’bolis. According to legends, they were descendants of the survivors of a great flood. A man named Dwata warned the people of an impending great flood. But the tribe refused to listen, except for two couples, La Bebe and La Lomi, and Tamfeles and La Kagef. Dwata told them to take shelter in a bamboo so huge they could fit inside and in this way survive the flood. The first couple was the ancestors of the T’bolis and other highland ethnic groups. The second couple descended the other Filipino indigenous groups.

The T’bolis are noted for their t’nalak, a sacred cloth made from abaca which is exchanged during marriages and used as a cover during births. “The T’boli t’nalak is distinctive for its overall tie-dyed design patterns laid on the entire surface of the cloth,” hailed the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA). “The highly stylized repetitive patterns depicting amphibious forms and plant elements pulsate in rhythmic cadence in definite hues of rust red, deep brown, and satin black against the light sepia hue of the abaca fiber.”

One of the famous dreamweavers, as T’boli weavers as known since the tribal designs are derived from a dream, is Lang Dulay. Only 12 when she first learned how to weave, she was chosen by the NCAA as one of the two Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan recipients in 1998 (the other was the late Salinta Monon of Bansalan, Davao del Sur).

A trip to Lake Sebu is not complete without going to the T’boli Museum. In the museum, which is actually a T’boli house, you see colorful costumes, bead accessories, brass made products and other souvenir items. You also get a glimpse of the clay pots used by T’bolis in cooking their food. You can even play the musical instruments – if you know how!

Aside from T’bolis, Lake Sebu is also home of the Tasadays, the cave-dwelling and primitive, stone-age tribe that lived in isolation in high caves of the primary rain forest area. It is for this reason that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has recognized the claim of both tribes that the lake and its surroundings are under their ancestral domain.

But one of the reasons why people flock to this place is due to its three beautiful lakes. The biggest among them all is the 354-hectare Lake Sebu (from which the name of the town got its name). The two other lakes are named Seloton (48 hectares) and Lahit (24 hectares).

It’s only in the biggest lake where you can watch magnificent panoramic views of sunrise and sunset. The kaleidoscopic scenery and incandescent light in this picturesque place, surrounded by serene waters, make it a photographer’s paradise.

During early morning or early evening, when the coldness can be felt, fogs rise above the lake. In some instances, according to have witness the phenomenon; the fogs drape the lake, making the large body of water totally invisible.

It is not clear how water is fed into the lakes, but the overflow cascades down a flight of seven waterfalls, one of its several outflows. These falls are spectacular and will remind you of the power of nature. However, only two are accessible; the others have yet to have access trails.

Going to the upper portion, in first waterfall, you have to ride a habal-habal (a motor bike with an extended back seat to accommodate up to 4 other passengers) to get there. The first one is considered a block type of waterfall, owing to huge water that comes from the biggest lake. The rapid gush and fall of waters from some 40 feet above makes traversing the river dangerous near the area where the falling water hits.

You have to take a short hike to reach the second waterfall, which is a plunge type. Going down may take your breath away, but once you see the second waterfall you will be totally mesmerized by its beauty -- as it has a height of more than 100 feet. Even from a distance, the fall is magnificent! The very small tributary from the top is almost inconspicuous but the rapids and the falling water from 80 feet is just too astounding.

The waterfall’s location is also mind boggling. It looks like it was actually etched like a crater in a mountain side with different layers of rock representing geological times clearly lined up in the in the overhang.

For those who do not like to trek, you can ride the 700-meter zipline from the first waterfall to the fifth waterfall. To return, you have to take the 400-meter zip from fifth waterfall to second waterfall. My friend Jose Rey L. Subaldo, who accompanied me during the visit, said: “The amazing thing about the zipline is you get to see the awesome view on top of the waterfalls.”

If zipline is not your thing of extreme adventure, then you can always return and try the cable car. Ramon Ponce de Leon, the provincial government officer, told a local daily that an investor has initiated talks with the provincial government “on their intention to operate cable car tours at the Seven Falls.”

Seeing the waterfalls may be magnificent, but the highlight of the town is taking a boat ride around the placid lake. For P400, you could hire a motor boat good for 8-10 persons in addition to your personal tour guide and boat man. During the boat tour, you get a glimpse of shoreline houses, the numerous tilapia farms, and people doing fishing. Don’t miss to see the inhabited Isla Grande (which looks like a sleeping crocodile from a distance).

So, what else you can do while in Lake Sebu? If you’re a biodiversity enthusiast, Lake Sebu should be one of your ultimate destinations. Wild boars and Philippine deer, both considered endangered animals, live around the lake. The lake and the surrounding rainforest are natural habitat to egrets, kingfishers, swallows, herons, Philippine cockatoos, and kites. If you are lucky enough, you might also see an endangered tarsier near the lush forests of seven waterfalls.

There are good resorts in town, with guided boat tours, recreational facilities and hotel accommodation. Among them, Punta Isla Lake Resort tops as it has a good view of the lake. Also, it is the only resort which has a floating restaurant. Imagine the cool weather, the breathtaking views, and the freshly grilled tilapia, which are raised in cages at the lake. Other tilapia delicacies they served include chicharon tilapia, tilapia foyong, tilapia rebusado, tilapora, kinilaw na tilapia, nilasing na tilapia, pinaputok na tilapia, and daing na tilapia.

How do you get to Lake Sebu? Well, there are flights from Manila to General Santos City (about three and a half hours by bus from Davao City). At the bus terminal, take bus bound for Koronadal City (often referred to as Marbel, its old name) and get off at the Koronadal bus station. The trip is about 45 minutes. From Koronadal, take the Yellow Bus to the town of Surralah (about 38 minutes). From Surralah, take a jeep to Lake Sebu (about 43 minutes). -- ###

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Philippine Eagle Center: Home To World's Noblest Flier

“For me, the highlight of my Davao trip was a visit to the Philippine Eagle Center,” wrote a Cebuano journalist after he returned home.  “The drive, although a bit far, was worth it after seeing the majestic creature.”

Visitors, both foreigners and locals, who come to Davao City for the first time, are almost always attracted to the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan.  Some 30 kilometers northwest and about an hour’s ride from downtown Davao, the center is the transient home of the Philippine eagle.

Here, visitors can see more than a dozen eagles, some of which were rescued after they were trapped or shot. Thirty-two birds have been raised as part of a breeding program.  Most of them are being induced to breed in captivity.  Pag-asa is one of its noted attractions; it made the headline around the world as the first tropical eagle conceived through artificial insemination.  Pag-asa is the Tagalog word for “hope.”

“Pag-asa connotes hope for the continued survival of the Philippine eagle, hope that if people get together for the cause of the eagle, it shall not be doomed to die,” said Dennis Salvador, the executive director of Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

PEF manages the eagle center.  A private, non-stock organization, it is dedicated to saving the endangered bird.  “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat,” said Salvador. 

The Philippines is among the world’s seventeen “megadiversity” countries, which together account for some 60-70 of total global biodiversity.  The World Conservation Union has identified the country as one of the most endangered of the world’s biodiversity “hotspots” – threatened areas with very high levels of biodiversity.

The Philippine eagle is one of the most endangered species in the country.  According to Salvador, the reason for this was due to massive deforestation.  “Deforestation is terrible,” he pointed out.  “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest had made it lose its natural habitat.”

PEF aims someday to release the captive birds and those that have been artificially bred back into its natural habitat.  But “if time will come that we have enough stocks, where shall we release them” Salvador wondered. 

The Netherland ambassador to the Philippines Robert G. Brinks echoed the same sentiment.  “If nothing drastic is done about deforestation of the remaining woodland areas in Mindanao, within the lifetime of the present generation, the heritage of the national bird of the Philippines will only be seen on DVD, or at best tethered to a stump of a dead tree in the Eagle Center in Davao,” he deplored.

Efforts to save the Philippine eagle was started way back 1965 by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine conservation efforts.

Rabor fought for the recognition of the plight of the Philippine eagle at the world conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in Bangkok, Thailand. He succeeded when the IUCN – of which the Philippines is a signatory -- was declared the Philippine eagle an endangered species.

From 1969 to 1972, America's famed aviator Charles Lindbergh spearheaded a drive to save the bird, which he called as the “noblest flier.” Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed.

During the time of the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, he declared the bird – which is bigger than the American Bald eagle – as the national bird.  This brought the bird to the top of the priority list of Philippine wildlife conservation efforts.  If the national bird dies, so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures, Ramos said at that time.

The eagle center has been doing its best to educate the Filipino people as to the importance of the bird and its habitat.  Its facility was actually opened to the public in 1988 to raise awareness among those who visit the center.  Majority of its visitors are children on school-sponsored field trips.

“Many of these children came from all over Mindanao,” Salvador said.  “We use the opportunity in telling them the importance of wildlife conservation.  Our mode of dissemination ranges from providing lectures, slide and film presentations, to guide tours.” 

Many Filipinos – and some foreigners – were baffled: Why do we have an endangered Philippine eagle as the country’s bird icon? 

The Philippine eagle was formerly known as monkey-eating eagle (its generic name, Pithecophaga, comes from the Greek words pithekos or monkey and phagein meaning eater).  It was later renamed the Philippine eagle by Presidential Decree No. 1732 in 1978 after it was learned that monkeys comprise an insignificant portion of its diet, which consists mainly of flying lemurs, civet cats, bats, rodents, and snakes.

The eagle stands a meter high, weighs anything from four to seven kilograms and has a grip three times the strength of the strongest man on earth.  With a wing span of nearly seven feet and a top speed at 80 kilometers per hour, it can carry unsuspecting monkey and carry it off without breaking flight.

Unlike most animals and humans, Philippine eagles are monogamous and bond for life.  Once an eagle reaches sexual maturity – at around five years for females and seven years for males – it is bound for life with its mate.  They can be seen soaring in pairs in the skies.

The female eagle lays once every two years.  The breeding season ranges as early as July to as late as February.  During the breeding season, the eagles do aerial courtship and mate in the nest or near it.  Female eagle lays only one egg.  Both parents alternately incubate the egg for about 60 days, although the female spends more time incubating while the male hunts.

Upon hatching, the eaglet remains in the nest for about five and half months.  Once it fledges, the eagle parents will continue to look after its young for as long as 17 to 18 months teaching the young eagle how to fly, hunt, and to survive on its own.  The young eagle matures in about six years.

“The Philippine eagle is truly a Filipino pride,” said my nephew, Generoso Tacio, Jr.  After our tour, he added, “Now, I know why we have to protect and save them from disappearance in our land.”

 Aside from Philippine eagles, you can also see these birds at the center: black-and-cinnamon fantail, black-faced coucal, blue-crowned racquet-tail, brown tit-babbler, brush cuckoo, chestnut munia, cinnamon ibon, dark-eared brown-dove, eurasian tree sparrow, everett’s white-eye, glossy swiftlet, golden-bellied fly-eater, little spiderhunter, olive-backed sunbird, orange-bellied flowerpecker, rufous night-heron, silvery kingfisher, and stripe-breasted rhabdornis. -- ###

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