THE GARDENS OF MALASAG ECOTOURISM VILLAGE (CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY)

Looks like Baguio from where you are sitting? No way (Me? Go to Baguio? I thank you! *bow*). Not when everyone else is up there these days. Or not. Anyway, this was my 2nd time to come home to Cagayan de Oro within a month's time. Yeah, you can say na ginawa ko lang Quiapo ang CDO, but I had so many things to attend to - pay real estate taxes, clean out the house there for the next couple who are renting (see similar entry at Radioactive Adobo) and meet up with Mom's friends to say thank you.

On my second visit, I brought along my cousin (who just graduated from High School) and my Aunt (my Mom's sis). This will be their first time in this Bay City. Another cousin, Ken from Cebu, joined us.

Naturally, when in Mindanao, the best places to go to would be ecotourism attractions (do you know that hardly anybody goes to the SM Mall here? Buti nga sa kanila!). One of them older destinations would be this place - the Gardens of Malasag Ecotourism Village in Cugman.

I chose to go here because first, it's just 30 minutes away from the house. My house's front door opens to the same Cugman hills this place is on so you can imagine how near it is. Second, I want to see if it continues to be worth visiting because there's a tendency for the Philippine Tourism Authority, which manages this village, to leave things to survive on their own.

And I wasn't wrong.

At the main entrance with Mac and A. Loi. Me fat! (but i'm sure you've already noticed that).

To your right is the ecotrail but this ends in a dead, uh, end. To the left leads you to the Hiligaynon Restocafe (formerly the Village's Museum) and other attractions (or whatever is left of them anyway). The saddest part in coming here is this: it's almost a dead place. Hardly any visitors, especially now that it's summer. It's very windy here and it could be a great place for picnics, rolling on the grass, etc. Also, the tribal community is gone. They probably couldn't endure the boredom and went home. Before, in its heydey, you can visit tribal homes and there are indigenous people who will welcome you and perform dances, weave, etc. Then again, that already sounds like exploitation-in-the-name-of-tourism, right? *sigh*

What's sad about this place are the state of the animals. Maybe they should just let them go.

The Village's version of the hanging bridge. It was fun as it lasted. My first time! There's a better hanging bridge at the Makahambus Cave complex. For those who love heights, you can visit Bukidnon for the canopy walk at the Mount Kitanglad National Park.

Misery loves company. 2 deers & chickens. Weird, huh?

Yeah, I know you have noticed them. Grrr....

Beautiful, 'no? I see this all the time in Dangwa in Sampaloc, Manila but this is the first time I saw it in its actual plant setting.

A towering Eucalyptus deglupta. Lovely tree.

A Phaelenopsis. My favorite orchid.

A staghorn! Isn't it fantastic?!

My cousins at the Maranaw house.

Tourists can rent cottages here for overnight stays. It costs around a thousand bucks per cottage. It is fully airconditioned and has a mind-blowing view of the Macajalar Bay.

Pinoy tradition. The age-old tradition of removing the slippers or shoes when entering a home came from our indigineous peoples. This is a sign of respect for the residents of the house, especially if they have a high standing in society (i.e. village chief, etc.).

That's Macajalar Bay. On a clear day, you can see the island of Camiguin. From these photos, you can also see the cannery of Del Monte Corporation (quick, check that pineapple juice can and see where it was canned!), formerly known in these parts as Philippine Packing Corporation. Older residents still refer to Del Monte as "Packing".

At the Hiligaynon Restocafe, they maintain plots planted to vegetables. They get their supplies from here. At least you know it's fresh and crisp.

Formerly the Museum, it is now the Hiligaynon Restocafe. What happened to the exhibits?!

The voyager palm is also the village's logo.

No idea what they call these umbrellas, but they reflect the colors of the rainbow which is called balangaw in Hiligaynon (spoken in Antique and parts of Iloilo).

To go up and back from the Village, you have to ride one of these - the habal habal! This is very common in many places in Mindanao (and in Visayas too) because not many have their own vehicles and motorcycles are the best way to access faraway villages. In some areas, one motorcyle can seat 5 people - 4 passengers and the driver (who is standing up, no kidding!). For this trip, we paid Php 15 / person / trip. You can text the driver if you wish to be fetched.

Going back to the city on the habal habal. Wheee!

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