A Taste of The Good Life... only at Pearl Farm Beach Resort

Tucked in the Island Garden City of Samal and Malipano Island is a picturesque resort that will surely take  your usual R&R to a higher level. What I am talking about of course is none other than Pearl Farm Beach Resort. The resort sits on a scenic part of the island of what used to be a south-sea pearl cultivation area. 

Before reaching the main resort, first timers will be in awe of the magnificent native interiors used in the hotel as they are ushered in the posh Pearl Farm Beach Resort’s Davao Marina. This is the drop off point to and from the resort where guests will board the boat on a 45 minute ride. The Davao Marina in itself is a hotel where rooms and accommodation plus a few of the luxuries of the resort are made available for overnight  guests who wish to stay in the city. Also very convenient for guests of the resort who still need to catch an early plane to another destination since they can opt to stay there for a night after their sojourn at the beach resort.

Upon arrival at the beach resort, guests are welcomed by Maranao music along with the gracious staff handing out fruit juices at the Parola Bar. The Parola Bar transforms as entertainment center at night, where guests can enjoy different draft concoctions while enjoying the view of the sea and the sunset.

My favorite part of the resort is the Maranao infinity pool, a well photographed sort of landmark of the resort.  The Mandaya pool on the other side of the resort is also another good attraction of the resort (not to mention near the Mandaya house where we stayed) which has a sort of Jacuzzi pool and a mini waterfall cascading to the main pool. The only setback is, the pool is only open from 9AM to 5PM. It might have been a terrific idea to be able to enjoy swimming  at the pool since we are mighty scared to swim in the beach at night. For guests with kids in tow (who don’t enjoy movie nights) it might’ve been an added plus for them to go night swimming at the pool. Hoping they extend the usage of the pool until 8-9PM at the least.

Apart from that minor glitch in swimming pool hours, the resort exudes luxury. It has 70 well-appointed rooms, executive suites, cottages on stilts perched on the sea, and exclusive villas scattered in the resort. The interiors are mostly inspired by the rich Mindanaoan tribe’s cultures with mainly bamboo and wood used to decorate the entire resort.

For us, we stayed at the Mandaya house facing the ocean which offers a relaxing view of the sea and the resort and very close to the Mandaya pool.

What I love about it is the big king sized poster bed hung with billowy clouds of mosquito netting. Perfect for honeymooners or a small family of three like us.

Inside the main bedroom is a huge dressing area complete with toiletries and a pocket garden at the back with an outside shower! How good is that? :) My little girl can’t even contain her excitement on whether to try the outside showers or raid the well-stocked mini bar first. But of course I had to remind her that the mini-bar was stocked not for us to devour as we please since we have to keep in mind that everything in it was there to be added on top of our bill and she’s gonna have to turn over her piggy bank to mommy should she consume all the candies in the ref. :)

During our stay at the resort, we were treated to a fire dance which earned a lot of screams as well as delight from the guests (including me and my daughter :) ) while we had dinner al fresco at the beach. 

The food of course is also worth mentioning as it was a truly delightful experience dining at the resort, with gastronomic feasts well-prepared by their superb chefs. We enjoyed the buffet banquets whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner as there are always an array of mouth-watering  dishes and a wide assortment of cuisine to choose from. Our hats off to the chefs of the resort for always coming up with glorious fare.  A good culinary experience for us altogether. 

Another good point worth mentioning is the courteousness of the staff. Whenever we pass by a staff, they never fail to greet us with a smile. Our needs were always met, towels always available, our room always clean. Even from the start when we booked our stay, we were assisted by their gracious Reservations Officers.  I always believe that the secret to a successful resort or hotel is in its staff.  They are the ones who make the resort a home away from home. 

So with a heavy heart, we leave the resort with a mental note to return once again once our schedules and pockets allow us to. We absolutely love Pearl Farm Beach Resort, a  resort that makes us Mindanaoans proud to have within our shores. 

Tips for tourists:  Since the resort is a AAA class resort, be prepared to shell out about US$150++ (to as high as US$680++ for a villa) and above for an overnight stay. Local tourists can avail of their promo packages which are way cheaper than the rack rates by more than half. You can view their existing promos and packages here. For a taste of the resort experience, you can book a day tour for only Php1,750/pax which includes round trip boat transfers to and from the Davao Marina, and 1 lunch. 

For reservations:  Davao Sales Office: G/F Alflocor Corporate Center, Damosa Bldg., Lanang Davao City;  Tel No:  (63 82) 235-0876, 234-0601 Fax No: 235-0873

Getting There:

By plane: From Manila, three (3) major airlines fly daily which takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Cebu, two (2) major airlines fly daily which takes approximately 50 minutes. (If you are coming from Gensan, Davao to Gensan takes about 2 hours 30 minutes’ drive) 

By Boat: Two (2) shipping lines have regular trips to Davao from various points of the country 

From the Davao International Airport, guests will be transported to Pearl Farm Beach Resort’s Davao Marina – where guests will board the boat which takes about 45 minutes to Samal Island where the resort is located. There are four (4) trips to and from Pearl Farm daily.

REGULAR BOAT TRANSFERS SCHEDULE (Sccheduled to change w/o prior notice)

From Davao Marina ( Lizada Road) to Pearl Farm Beach Resort:

8:00 am / 1:30 pm / 4:00 pm / 6:00 pm

From Pearl Farm to Davao Marina ( Lizada Road):

  6:45 am / 10:00am / 1:00 pm / 4:00 pm 

**NOTE: **The COMMENTS FORM is found below the last comment. Pls scroll your mouse, sometimes it just disappears since my background is black.. looking for someone to help me fix it. Sorry for the inconvenience dear readers. :)

Help Save Tuka Marine Sanctuary

When you come to Tuka Marine Park, you will be in awe of the beauty of its beaches.  It is divided into four coves, so there are different choices for the avid beach lover.

This one is taken at Tuka cove 3 where the stretch of sand is perfect even for families with little kids who love to wade on the shallow waters. With its clear water, you can see a variety of small fish swimming alongside you. A great way to spend the time looking for Nemo. :)

But for me, I've always known Tuka Marine Park as a sanctuary for a number of different species of fish and other marine life, with rich coral reefs. Well, that was years ago. I wish I had underwater photos to vouch for the beauty of its coral reefs before. It is a 10-ha protected reef area spanning 2 small coves south of Buko Mountain as we were told. It includes fringing reefs with a  20-70o slope.

So it came as a shock that during the last SEx Tour (Soccsksargen Experience Tour) with other bloggers just recently, the beautiful coral gardens were not as they used to be. An infestation of the Crown-of-thorns starfish has done a lot of damage on its live coral reefs. Photos below will show the damage these pests have done on the coral gardens in the area.

Excuse my photos, it is taken with my point and shoot camera in a dicapac :)

The crown-of-thorns has done extensive damage to this once rich coral gardens

For your info, the crown-of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) is a large nocturnal sea star that preys upon coral polyps. The crown-of-thorns receives its name from venomous thorn-like spines that cover its body. It is endemic to tropical coral reeds in the Red Sea, The Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. As a solitary animal, they feed alone and maintain constant distance between themselves and other members of their species. (Information taken from the wikipedia).

taken at Tuka about 2 yrs ago, there were just a few of these then

This is the only starfish we may not grow fond of. :) As it may grow to about a foot across, it feeds on live corals by climbing onto reef structures, and then extrude their stomach onto the coral. This releases digestive enzymes that allow the starfish to absorb nutrients from the liquefied coral tissue. The crown-of-thorns also preys on brittle stars in a similar fashion.They are voracious predators. An individual starfish can consume up to 6 square metres (65 sq ft) of living coral reef per year. (also from the wikipedia)

Photo courtesy of Mr. Jeff Jeffords  of dive gallery

It is hard to control an infestation of this type since the crown-of-thorns when under stress can create outbreaks and, if dismembered, can regenerate from each severed or damaged limb, creating more sea stars. Therefore, controlling the crown-of-thorns is difficult and much care is required. 

The people of Kiamba are calling on Scuba clubs and scuba enthusiasts/volunteers to help harvest these one by one since it is the only way to prevent further damage on Tuka's coral reefs. For more information , please get in touch with Ms Michelle Lopez-Solon, or Mr. Avel Manansala.

Untouched Beauty of Tuka Beach

My first time in Tuka Marine Park, I was wowed by its pristine waters and natural beauty both in the island and the colorful life under the sea. It is located in Kiamba, Sarangani Province about an hour and a half drive from Gen. Santos City.

The Tuka Marine Park as I learned is a protected marine sanctuary divided into four coves but the most accessible and usually the one perfect for tourists like us is Tuka 3. So that's where we were headed after all of us (our family of three with my hubby's small clan) were hoarded in a big motor boat provided for us by hubby's friend Mr. Allan de Lima.

The view of Tuka from the boat was splendid, with the natural foliage of coconut trees and other greens  that seem to cover the entire island. They weren't kidding when they said that this is a protected area. The whole island was untouched.. and so we were told that what we take here, our garbage and all, we have to bring back home. What we were allowed to take along with us in abundance though were pictures. :)

This is Tuka2, on the other side of the island is Tuka3 (Taken last summer, sorry wasn't a blogger then, would've blogged about this sooner :)

Another photo of the island as we approach the beach. Love the way that lone tree stands proud and tall on top of the hill here.

The Tuka Marine Cove 3 is about 600 meters stretch of yellowish white sand. Kids can readily wade in the shallow part of the beach as the sand is smooth even for bare feet. But then again, its still best to have your kids wear their swimming shoes just in case. Life vests and snorkeling gear are also a must here so you get to enjoy the beautiful corals and  rich underwater sea life.

As you can see, the water is crystal clear, like in a swimming pool "only salty" according to the kids who had a wonderful time since they can see the small fish swimming alongside them even without their goggles :)

I remember while snorkeling here, I got so awed by the corals and the variety of fish I saw that I forgot that I was already far from the beach. And then I noticed I was having a difficult time going back because of the underwater current, pulling me away from the beach..and lo and behold as I peeked in my goggles 

again, a number of jellyfish were going my way! It gave me the scare of my life..not so much as the current
 but the jellyfish! Luckily, one of the divers that came with us saw me and towed me back to the beach. I survived with a few scratches from the jellyfish.. I didn't realize I was on their turf :) The divers informed me that sometimes when the water is a bit warm enough, jellyfish are present in the deeper part of the water. But don't worry though, there weren't a lot of them near the shallow parts :) Maybe its just me, very attractive for jellyfish attack! hehe.

We had a nice time at Tuka beach all thanks to Mr. Allan de Lima who brought us there. For more info on Tuka Marine Park, you can also check out Mr Bariles' blog about it here.

To go there, you can take a van going to Kiamba from the terminal at North Osmeña St, the fare would be around P90-P120. Ask to be dropped at the Kiamba wharf, from there you can find fishing boats you can rent and haggle your way  to take you to Tuka Beach..ask the locals which cove is best for swimming at the time. For our case though, we were taken to beach/cove3. But its always best to take along a local who knows Tuka Marine Park well so you get to enjoy the whole day here. There are no accommodations or cottages there so you're going to have to rough it  out there and leave as soon as the sun goes down. (Unless you want to sleep under the light of the stars and the shelter of the coconut tree ala survivor style). 

PROVINCIAL TOURISM OFFICE
Provincial Capitol
Alabel, Sarangani Province
Tel No. (083) 508-2172 (083) 508-5231
Provincial Tourism Officer : MS. APRIL MARJORIE P. RUDES

4ML Beach Resort...Changing of Seasons..

In Maasim, Sarangani province, less than a kilometer from Gen. Santos city is a cute little beach resort which has the potential of becoming one of the best tourist spots in the Sarangani area...this is 4ML Beach Resort. It has its own private stretch of beach with a few cottages that are for rent at a minimal fee for those who want to spend the day in the beach. It has a lot of picturesque nooks and crannies that make it a favorite subject for photographers to shoot and test their skills artistically. In this case, Mr. OSG tried his hand in infrared photography which made 4ML look like in the middle of autumn or winter. This cottage might have been the most photographed slightly dilapidated cottage in this area. :) It provides a rustic effect to every photograph.

Below is another infrared picture of the foliage in the area with emphasis on the little boy playing in the tree's branches. If you want a quiet stretch of beach to spend your sunday with the family minus the crowd, then this is the beach to go. Its facilities might need a little improvement but you won't mind it much once you start frolicking in the water. Just make sure you bring all the necessary things you need to spend a day here like provisions for food and drinking water since they don't sell these in the area. After a day here, you can change and shower in your hotel in GenSan since it is only a  few minutes away.

World Class Beaches at White Haven Resort, Gumasa Glan

Just recently, we had the pleasure of bringing another bakasyunista from the UK to this lovely place in Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani Province. The White Haven Resort has become our favorite “go to” resort whenever we are in the Gumasa beach strip.

The resort is one of the first ones in Gumasa, owned by a doctor based in nearby Gensan. They rent out open cottages for day tourists and air-conditioned or fan rooms with toilet and bath for those who wish to spend the night. Each cottage has its own grill or gas stoves if you want to cook your brought in food, or for your convenience, you could just order from their newly opened restaurant.

What I love about the strip of beach here at White Haven is the white, fine and powdery sand that tickles your toes as you walk barefoot along the shoreline. It reminds me of the sands in Boracay. Being a mom and all, what I also love about the strip of beach here is the fact that I could just let my toddler play along the water since I don’t have to worry about a sudden trench in the ocean (but of course I see to it that my little one is strapped to her lifevest just in case =).

 

If you are a surfer, then this beach is not for you since there are no waves to ride here. It’s the only beach I’ve literally been to that doesn’t have the “jump when the waves hit” moment. =) The only time I’ve only experienced big waves there was during the time when tsunamis hit asia.. hehe. Don’t ask me what we were doing in the beach at that moment. =) …but I’ll tell you anyway..hehe. We were there since we have bakasyunistas (yet again) and I was already thinking about which tree to hold on to in case a tsunami really did hit. But I was told it was unlikely since the reason there aren’t much waves there is because its location is in the U bend of the Sarangani bay, so there!

When it’s low tide (as in really low tide) you can walk the stretch of the beach and head to the mini-caves in the coral cliff at the end of White Haven. My toddler calls it “bikini bottom” since  it looks like where spongebob lives. Its really a place perfect for photo ops. But watch out for sea urchins hidden in the holes in the coral-rock formation since there are a few.

the coral rock formation with mini caves at the end of White Haven Resort

The kids also love to catch the soft shelled crabs walking around the beach. We even saw a few crabs that look like they’re in a meeting, probably to transfer to their neighbor’s big shell. Starfishes and small fish sometimes swim with you in the shallow water. So the kids will really have a blast here. Just remind them to return the crabs and starfish in the water since these are alive and we want to preserve the beauty if this beach.

local kids who were playing by the banca

To get to White Haven, you can rent a van at Gensan or if you are bringing your own car, just turn right at the junction after Lagao public market, it will take you straight to Alabel, Sarangani Province and it’s provincial hall (or the white house as locals refer to it), and just follow the  road signs to Glan. Once in Glan poblacion, it takes about 30mins or so to Gumasa. White Haven Resort is right after Davak Ridge Resort.

For reservations and inquiries: White Haven Resort: 083 8950305 (Dr. Adarna's Clinic, they're the owners so don't be surprised, but they book tourists through this number :) or call 0920-9479148 (look for Cenie) they have day cottages at P150 and accommodations for overnight stays which range from 2500 and up depending on the size of the room you need.

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. =)

Gumasa, Glan - South Central Mindanao's Best Kept Secret

I love the beach. The sound of the waves for me is very relaxing… and it is a plus for us to be just 1hr 30mins away from the pristine beaches of Gumasa in Glan, Sarangani Province.

On weekends, if we have nothing else to do, we troop down to Gumasa with our little girl in tow. I remember that the first time we brought our little girl to the beach she was just 8 months old, but having a small baby didn’t stop us from enjoying our weekends at Gumasa. Hmmmm.. no wonder my little girl (who is now 3yo) loves the water so much! As a baby, she loved the feel of the fine white sand on her feet. And at times, we just let her frolic in the water since the water is shallow enough for her to wade in. (but of course it’s always a rule among parents to keep an eye out for your kids especially in the beach!).

The beauty of the beaches there reminds one of Boracay, minus the buzz and noise of the commercial areas. I love the fact that the sand are powdery white, well… at least at the stretch of beach in White Haven Resort where we usually go when we’re in Gumasa.

Accommodations in Gumasa and food is cheaper compared to other top beach destinations but the beach is definitely world class! Isn’t that a good deal? But if you're looking for luxury, hotels or spas are still not available in the area. You could stay in hotels in nearby Gen. Santos City. The place is also great for snorkeling. Dive spots can also be found within the area for the diving enthusiast.

Some say that Gumasa is South-Central Mindanao’s best kept secret since most of its beaches are unspoiled. But now, since most of the roads leading to Gumasa are paved and cemented, the beach is more accessible to the general public. Gumasa is slowly becoming one of the top tourist destinations in Sarangani Province.

A number of resorts are sprouting up like the Coco beach, Davak Ridge Resort, Isla Jardin del Mar, Rosal Beach Resort to name a few. So if you share this piece of info and invite more people to come see for themselves what Gumasa beaches has to offer..then it won’t be a secret anymore. =)

From Gensan, you can catch a van going to Glan Poblacion and from there, there’s always a habal-habal (motorcycle) around to take you to your choice of resort. For reservations and inquiries:

• White Haven Resort: 083 8950305 (Dr. Adarna's Clinic, their the owners so don't be surprised, but they book tourists through this number :) or call 0920-9479148 (look for Cenie)
• Isla Jardin Del Mar - 083 8930032; 083 5525478