Opulent and Antiquated Maitum

Sarangani province, the current home of Filipino boxing champ and politician Manny Paquiao is also home to a number of Ilokanos who make up the majority of population in Maitum.

Maitum is a quaint little town in Sarangani province. It is a town with a lot of promise since it is slowly being known around the world as the site where archaeologists found burial jars believed to be dating around 225 AD (please don’t ask me how far back that is =). It just means that even before the Ilocanos or the T’boli tribe in the mountainous areas of Maitum settled there, there already exists a culture far richer than what we truly know about. And to think I always thought that people in Mindanao have only inhabited the island in the 1900s. hmm.. the discovery of these anthropomorphic (hope I got the spelling right =) potteries only means that people actually were in the island in the “cavemen” era! Wow.. is Maitum poised as the next Egypt? Hehe..

Another trivia for you.. did you know that Maitum got its name from a local folklore wherein it is said that a native princess all those years ago eloped with a warrior lover, to escape the furious father and all the stones in the river Saub turned black. “Maitum” in the local dialect literally means “black”, so there you go. Maitum is also known for their beaches with noticeable black fine sand. No wonder the color black is so loved in this part of the island. =)

Not only is Maitum rich in its past, but it is also rich in its wildlife. It is said that the Tarsiers (which are only known to thrive in Bohol) are also found in the forests of Maitum as well as the Philippine Eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), various fruit bats, the hornbill, deers and wild boars among others. ---well this is one traveller you won’t catch touring the forests..i’m a bit scared of the “wild”life sorry to say.

One thing I love about Maitum is its colourful sunsets. Much like my Polomolok sunsets but richer in color. Its sunsets always make one appreciate God’s blessings for although Maitum is not as rich as other towns in the province, God blessed the seas with the bountiful Bangsi (they even have the Bangsi Festival in gratitude for the gifts of the sea)as well as other seafood and its lands with fertile soil making Maitum the “rice granary”of Sarangani Province. Its people are always full of smiles especially for the visiting traveller so you easily feel the hospitable nature of the Maitumeños.

If you crave the adrenaline rush that comes with extreme outdoor activities, well you are in for a treat since Maitum is also home of the Pangi River white-water tubing which I will have to blog some other time. =)

Maitum is a three hour drive from Gensan. You can rent a van to take you around. I didn’t see a lot of bed and breakfast inns or hostels in Maitum so it is probably best to schedule your day trip there early to make the most of your visit there since there truly is so much to see and experience in Maitum. For sure hubby and I will come back to revisit Maitum in the very near future. See you there!

Picture of the brave photographers who braved the seas for a good photo of Maitum during the Bangsi Festival. I was nervous more for their gear than for them if the boat happen to capsize. =)