Kasalang Filipino sa Gensan 2013

So here are a few of the reasons why I love Kasalang Filipino 2013 at Gensan.

It was a wonderful experience being part of the Kasalang Filipino 2013. If only to support my hobbyist turned full time wedding photographer hubby - Omar S. Gallinero. 

Gala Builders Supply - Our Story

Gala Hardware at Mabuhay Rd. cor Nunez Sts., General Santos City

 Finally! Something to blog about (brag about actually - excuse the pun :) ) ... I've been blogging for almost three years now, raving about other people's business establishments and giving my honest opinion about their place, their food and etc. I've always been a bit shy to talk about our business, much less to blog about it here in Pinay Travelogue. But the time has come that I've finally have something to blog ("brag") about when Gala Builders Supply, our bread and butter, was recognized by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) as a Bronze recipient of its Bagwis Awards 2012. 

The Bagwis Award is awarded to business establishments that adhere to strict consumer laws such as selling only items with PS/ICC marks for products with mandatory standards, having consumer welfare desks and giving quality customer care to clients. The Bagwis Program aims to give due recognition to business establishments, that are compliant with all trade laws implemented by the DTI. Apart from this, it also encourages establishments to participate in government programs to become socially responsible businesses and provide safe and quality products and services to consumers. Consequently, the interests and welfare of consumers are protected and they are guaranteed to get the best value for their money.

The Bagwis Award comes as a surprise for both Mr. OSG and me, since we are not even aware there was a business ethics standards, let alone an awards committee giving recognition to small businesses such as ours. As far as we were concerned, we try our best to conduct our business by being honest to our customers and providing them with the best service our people can offer. It is also a fact that we value our people as partners since they are after all part and parcel in whatever success we attain. We owe it to them for whatever accolades our store gets. (Is this famas speech material or what? hehe)

Gala Builders Supply has come a long way. From one store in Cannery site, Polomolok in the year 2000 when we started, we have now expanded to three stores in all. One in Poblacion, Polomolok and another newly opened in Purok Malakas, Gen. Santos city (photo above). I remember when we started, we only had around 20-30 bags of cement a few hardware materials for sale and P20,000 pesos in revolving capital. At the time we started, Mr. OSG is the designated delivery driver and manager and I was the saleslady and cashier. Our staff at the time is only three heads, when you buy something from them in the morning, they will be the same ones to deliver the orders in the afternoon hehe. We know and embody the meaning of "multi-tasking". You can ask our loyal staff, some of whom are still with us till this day. 

We had humble beginnings, and we have worked hard for more than a decade now, building what Gala Builders Supply is today. Of course, at the end of the day, we still have our own share of headaches and stress but when we look back at what we've accomplished, our business has given us a wonderful learning experience. We still continue to improve and rise up amidst all our mistakes businesswise. The Bagwis Awards is the cherry on top  of the cake and we are so proud to have been recognized. Thank you, this means a lot to us. 

A True Blue South Cotabateño

Its been more than a decade since I’ve moved here in South Cotabato. So the question of whether I am now eligible to be called a true South Cotabateño still remains to be answered. To most of you who are from this beautiful province, but are scattered all across the globe in search of greener pastures, let me tell you what I loved about your province, this often misunderstood part of Mindanao and why I came to love living here. Then maybe you can decide for yourselves whether or not I am worthy of being called a true blue South Cotabatenean.

Pictures courtesy of our official lensman: Mr. Omar S. Gallinero :) Taken from his collection of photos. 

1. The T’boli Tribe. What I love about this tribe is their adeptness in preserving their culture despite the modern times. Their culture has been shared to tourists and guests all around South Cotabato. I think the region should thank them for sharing their culture with us and hoping that they get to preserve it for years to come so our children can also enjoy the richness of their way of life. To get a taste of their culture, you can read about some of them in this post here.

2. T’nalak fabric. Although most would not classify it as a fabric or cloth, due to its course texture, the T’nalak fabric is highly revered in the T’boli tribe. This cloth is part of every T’boli’s culture and way of life. You can say that it is similar to the importance the Scottish people give to their kilts. The T’bolis consider the T’nalak part and parcel of every significant event in their life such as in birth, marriage or even in death. And it is in this deep veneration for the T’nalak that South Cotabato adapted it to symbolize the richness of the region’s culture.

3. T’nalak Festival. Aptly called since it holds the T’nalak fabric in high esteem. This festival is a tribute to the T’boli tribes, the first settlers in South Cotabato. I love that this festival showcases T’nalak in a variety of forms, there even has a fashion show using the fabric in modern, hip designs. The street dancing alone is a fun-filled event celebrating the South Cotabatenean’s veneration for the T’nalak and the T’bolis of South Cotabato. 

4. Lake Sebu. Oftentimes referred to as the summer capital of the southern Philippines. What I love about Lake Sebu besides its cool climate is the tranquil view of the lake. We always bring guests from Manila here.

5. Seven falls. Needless to say, the 7 falls is a true gem. I mean, who ever comes across not one or two but seven (!) falls in one place, right? At first, even before I set my eyes on them it sounded crazy… I mean seven falls? :) But then I know most of first time tourists will be in awe of the beauty of these falls. It is nature’s hand at its finest. I do recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for first time guests. Read more about the seven falls here.

6. The Majestic Mt. Matutum. Of course I couldn’t fail to mention this resplendent mountain towering over all of us in South Cotabato. Despite the qualms that this is a dormant volcano… Mt. Matutum gives the people of South Cotabato a reason for its fertile lands. I don’t know maybe once upon a time it erupted, but the fertile soil surrounding it continues to give farmers a bountiful harvest all year. During the summer months, I was told that it is also an exhilarating feeling to climb the summits of this revered mountain, but I have yet to see this for myself. :) In plane rides over the region, you just know you are in South Cotabato once Mt. Matutum comes into view in your airplane windows. 

7. Kape Alamid. or otherwise known as Civet Coffee. I've been a coffee lover for how many years now, and I just can't find another coffee to equal the robustness of the civet coffee harvested from the coffee trees in Mt. Matutum. Let's just not discuss where the coffee bean actually passes through that gives it that delectable taste. But this makes it to my list of  top 15. :)

photo courtesy of  http://www.telegraph.co.uk

 


8. Pineapples. This is the fruit of life for the South Cotabatenean. Many of the people here breathe (as in literally :) ) and have livelihood thanks to this fruit. I vouch for the truth that the South Cotabatenean - grown pineapple is the sweetest in all the world. 

9. Dolefil. Call me biased or what, but living in Polomolok, South Cotabato, Dolefil has always been an integral part of my everyday existence. My prejudice comes from the fact that most of the people here have a dependable livelihood (well probably me included) because of the existence of this multinational fruit company. And… Polomolok will not be world famous for it’s sweet tasting pineapples if not for Dole Phils. So excuse my being blunt in including them in my top 15 list of favorites. :)

 

10. Kalsangi. Of course Dolefil’s Club Kalsangi also made the cut to my list. Where else can you find a top of the class residential area comparable to Baguio’s Camp John Hay or Clark field’s loghouses other than at Kalsangi? It Is worth mentioning since our country’s leaders such as President Ramos, President Erap, even the late President Marcos and President Cory have all spent the day or night within its boundaries. Its streets are all lined with big acacia and macademia trees. It even boasts of a 9-hole golf course which is one of the best and well maintained in Mindanao. To read more about Club Kalsangi, click here. 

11. Polomolok Sunsets. Living in Polomolok, I’ve come to love my Polomolok sunsets. It’s a rare treat for someone like me from the Metro waking up to a glorious sunrise and ending the day with a breathtaking sunsets. It is only in these parts of Mindanao where we rarely experience monsoon rains or typhoons for days at a row so the sun gets to shine its rays all throughout the region. More pictures on my Polomolok sunsets here.

12.Ukay – ukay. South Cotabato of course is also famous for its “ukay-ukay” or to literally “dig” hordes of used clothes and what have yous for a bargain. I wouldn’t forget the bargaining prowess I picked up in these flea markets. 

13. Fresh food. The standard of living here is not high compared to highly urbanized regions. There is an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, plentiful seafood, poultry and meat. It is an adage here that when you live in South Cotabato, you will never go hungry since most of the country’s food come from here. The biggest piggery can be found at Koronadal city. There are also a number of cattle raisers and poultry farms. Not to mention vegetables and fruit farms dotting the entire region. So if you are from Manila, some of your food comes from here. We can literally have steak and vegetable sidings each day here if we wish without burning a hole in our pockets. 

14. South Cotabatenean Charm and Hospitality. Part of the wealth of any place comes from its people. Guests can be prepared to be welcomed warmly in this parts of the island. South Cotabateneans know how to treat guests amiably. 

15. Peaceful living. These parts of the island, I am proud to note that people here live peacefully. There are no Muslim-Christian conflicts here. Nor are there an abundance of street thugs or pickpockets for that matter. Maybe it is one of the reasons why many people have come to relocate in South Cotabato (well me included :)).

“This is my submission for the T'nalak Festival 2012 Blog Writing Contest, which is made possible with the support of sponsors such as Hon. Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr and the province of South Cotabato, Sun Cellular - get two days of unlimited text to all networks for only ₱15 with SUN TEXTALL15, Dole Philippines, Representative Teddy Casiño & Bayan Muna Party-List,  KCC Malls, SouthCotabato.Org and South Cotabato News.”

Hotel San Marco Exudes Class

Tucked in the middle of the bustling business and commercial areas of Gensan,  

Hotel San Marco

never fails to instigate a second look from passers-by. 

It's imposing structure screams elegance through and through. 

A first for General Santos city I think.

Upon entering the main lobby, I was in awe of its sophisticated interiors. 

The chic furniture was obviously carefully chosen. It made me feel like being in Venice all of a sudden.

It's baroque interiors remind me of the hotels I only see in luxurious hotels in Europe, so the only question left for me to ask was... is it also as pricey as the grand hotels it depicts?

Of course, being in Gensan has its perks... 

and among them is the affordable price of staying in this hotel. 

It was like having a taste of classy Europe without breaking the bank or putting a hole in your pockets. 

Their rack rate starts at P2,500 for a standard single but currently, they offer a promo rate of  P1,750. 

For their superior room, be prepared to shell out P3,200 rack rate/ P2,240 promo rate.

For more information, you can visit their website here. 

Hotel San Marco is located at Laurel East Avenue, Gen. Santos City

Or call them at: 083 301-1818/ 0922-8217332

Photography by Mr. OSG :)

Lemlunay Fever

For the snorkeling and diving enthusiasts, Lemlunay Resort never fails to impress...

It was my first time at this picturesque resort I have heard so much about. And clearly, it doesn't disappoint as the magnificent view of the Sarangani Bay and the neighboring towns of Glan even Balut Island can be seen from the Tinoto Wall or the cliff that is Lemlunay.

You will never have an idle time at this resort since they have a myriad of activities available for their guests. If you don't  feel like snorkeling or diving, you can rent their Hobie Cat for a measly P1500 for a maximum of 6 passengers for 30 mins. Just make sure though that the wind is strong so you don't accidentally just float in the water with no direction :)

For those who just want to chillax and wade in the water with the kids, you can enjoy their infinity pool. It has a magnificent view of the bay and a wonderful spot for day dreaming (well, at least for me). 

Their Poolside Cabins are perfect for families of four which you can rent for P3,000. What's good about it is, the rate includes breakfast for two. 

The rooms inside the Poolside Cabins have two double bed, so if you are there with friends or with the kids, four people can sleep comfortably. Or for the fifth wheel in the group, you can opt to rent additional mattress at P200/each. :)

The Garden View Cabins (picture below) which is good for two persons will set you back for P1,200 and the Ocean View Cabins (sorry.. didnt get a chance to take photos) costs P2,500 per night. all includes breakfast for two. 

moi.. :)

Lemlunay Diving Resort is a paradise located at the edge of Tinoto Reef at Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province. For more info, you can visit their website at www.lemlunayresort.com or call them at 083 228 1704 or text them at 0928 5244528.  

Philippine Blog Awards for Mindanao Nominations

I have only been blogging for more than a year now. At first, I never even imagined that anyone would be interested in visiting let alone read any of my blogs. I remember being hooked in this hobby because of my love for writing. I am not a lady who can say is good with expressing how she feels verbally. I have always had a strong love affair with the written word. I really don't know why but I can express myself well by writing (well.. typing mostly since nowadays we don't use pen and paper :). Sometimes I get absorbed with the ideas in my head, its frustrating that my hands can't type as fast as the ideas come.

But blogging for me is an outlet (visit my other blog: mommyjournals for more of my raves and rants about anything under the sun). The Pinay Travelogue is also a showcase of a few of Mr. OSG's prized photographs. That is one of the main objectives of this blog. And also to document and to showcase pictures of places we've ever been to, most especially those places here in Mindanao that are screaming for people to blog about. But in the course of updating this blog, you will find most of the photographs here are mine since Mr. OSG is really busy with this own hobby that at times, it gets hard threatening him to take photos of places we visit. hehe. So excuse some of my pictures here. :)

But not once did I imagine that people- well strangers to me that is, will really start reading our blog. It makes me happy to note that people who come visit our blog are mostly people I don't know personally. Well, of course at first the only ones I expected to visit are my relatives, friends and people who are acquainted to us as a couple. 

So from the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank all of you my dear readers who came and who have read and stopped by to visit our blog. Because of you, we got nominated in the prestigious Philippine Blog Awards for Mindanao - Travel/Destination blog category. 

from Gensantos.com 

Yeah we haven't won yet, just included in the nominations but it is an honor to be ranked among Mindanao's creme de la creme of experienced travel bloggers. Thanks for believing in us, and for giving me inspiration and motivation that I have to come up with more blog posts amidst our hectic scheds. Thank you readers for coming to this journey with us.  

12th Lubi-Lubi Festival

In Glan, Sarangani Province, they have a high regard for the coconut. The coconut after all is a major source of livelihood in this area of Southern Mindanao. It is the reverence they hold for the coconut that   they celebrate the Lubi Lubi sa Glan Festival every 8th of October. 

Lubi lubi is a native name for the coconut. They celebrate its benefits and multiple uses by a dance festival. Grooving their feet to the rythm of drums.  

They also give reverence not only to the lubi lubi but to their patron saint, Sta. Catalina de Alexandria

What I love about this festival is the painted faces and bodies of the participants. You can see a variety of painted faces and colorful costumes here. Often, I marvel at the intricacies of each costume's detail. 

Truly they go all the way when it comes to the Lubi lubi festival. And then it also helps that the prize money here is a whopping one hundred thousand pesos for the lucky winner! :) At least it only shows that the local government here give importance and therefore really alot budget to this festival.

Glan offers not only its pristine beaches but a wealth of culture and the arts. 

Given that this festival has already been on for 12 years, we wondered why  it was not well documented. Why do I think that? I tried googling it and I only came up with LGU published posts. So I wondered, why do photographers (and bloggers alike) seem to shy away from attending this festival when the street dancing was one of the most colorful we've ever been to. And then the 3 photo hobbyists from the camera club who came all the way to Glan had to stop shooting since the place intended for photographers were suddenly blocked by people from Glan themselves.  Blocking their view therefore preventing them from taking any more photos. :) Poor crowd control? Maybe.

So sad, when photographers (and bloggers alike) should have been their partners in promoting this event. They are also like tourists so to speak. If people here, start being really friendly to tourists (well, bloggers and photo hobbyists included) maybe more people would start enjoying this festival along with the locals.. --just my two cents worth on this, no offense meant. :)

13th Gensan's Tuna Festival

For this year's 13th Gensan's Tuna Festival, the generals along with their guests, tourists and pollanders like moi were wowed with this year's celebration. The activities were upped a notch with this year's theme on "Exploring New Depths, Conquering New Challenges". The theme was aptly executed in this year's events. And one of my favorites is the Float Parade...

The floats this year were adorned not only with the usual hoopla but was made more glamorous with the lights that come with it. Another added plus with the floats is the presence of the street dancers, which only made the float parade more festive, giving a party atmosphere which reminds me of Rio's Carnival celebration. The float below is by East Asia Royale Hotel, winner of this year's Float Parade.

Not to be outdone, this year's Street Dancing showdown was also a spectacle to watch. Their theme "Dili na mabangbang, Dili na mapunggan" (well, from my knowledge of the local dialect, that means  - cannot be defeated, cannot be stopped :) Indeed the dancers showed much vigor and energy with each of their numbers, adding  a feeling of festive cheer for everyone who was watching.

Talk about starting them young! These kids were avid performers in the street dancing showdown...

Mr. OSG's motion blur in this photo only shows how fun the street dancing competition turned out to be. No wonder he came home with a scraped knee! (nadapa ata taking this shot-hehehe)

And to cap off the celebrations, a fireworks display was a fitting end to this year's Tuna Festival. See you all next year for another round of Gensan's Tuna Festival!  

The Prestigious Mr and Ms Gensan 2011

Being a travelogue, you might be surprised with this blog post which tackles not about a particular place in my island Mindanao. But, I couldn't let it pass without blogging (bragging actually :) about the Mr and Ms Gensan 2011. People after all are part and parcel of a place's charm and a fitting attraction that lures visitors to South Central Mindanao. 

This prestigious pageant is part of Gensan's Tuna Festival celebration. Organized by topnotch events specialists Project O consultants spearheaded by Gensan's main man - Mr. Orman Manansala. 

What really captured my attention in this pageant right from the very start is the parade of their Festival Attire. They centered on silver and white marine inspired theme. I looove the elegance and extravagance of each detail.

And I am sure, you will never see a festival attire as intricate in detail as what these pageant finalists have donned.

Truly one of a kind, you can only see these in Gensan. I literally felt being in the company of mermaid royalties when each of these beauties came out on stage.

Truly, the participants (the candidates and their designers) didn't want to go half way in their designs. Suddenly, I no longer have any idea what the term "simple" meant. :) Elegance was a picture painted by all of these lovely and handsome candidates.

Have you ever seen a sight as jaw dropping as these?

And of course, the ladies also comes with these handsome mermans donned in their own extravagant designs...enjoy the pictures by MR. OSG.

To this year's winners: Mr. Gensan 2011 Marc Jerick Chan and Miss Gensan 2011 Caroline Lim - congratulations! You have just been lined along Gensan's finest. Our hats off to all the organizers and the people who were part of this awe inspiring pageant.

Little Kitchen’s Quiet Solace

Just this weekend, I had the pleasure of having an intimate dinner with a few lady friends at this cute little restaurant at the corner of Quirino Ave and Zapote St. in General Santos City. The Little Kitchen is situated in a quiet little nook, perfect for small gatherings or private dinners or luncheon meals for two. (Note to self: remind hubby to book dinner here one of these days! J)

We were welcomed not just by the friendly staff but the gracious owner herself, Dr. Margarita "Aret" Dometita, a dentist by profession. It comes not as a surprise that this lady dentist’s love for cooking is truly evident in the sumptuous meals they serve in this quaint, little restaurant. The interiors of the restaurant exudes elegance and has non of the extra clutter that usually adorns walls of many restaurants all around the city. The chairs and tables are just the right size, so as not to overcrowd the restaurant’s intimate space.

We were treated to a sumptuous feast comprised of a three course meal starting off with their own creamy Mushroom Soup with a basket of garlic bread , perfect match to start the meal.

Then comes the  appetizer salad. They served us one of their signature Green Salad, with iceberg and romaine lettuce, cucumber, and a surprise ingredient of pomelo and mango. It is a light salad  designed to stimulate our appetite. hmm...as if it still need sstimulating. :) The salad comes with a choice of four (– yes four!) dressings: thousand island, anchovy, strawberry (which I am sure has a tint of chocolate) and Dr. Aret's own concoction of mango puree.

The main course is a sumptuous feast of Lengua cooked in a rich tomato based sauce with mushrooms and spices. What I love about this dish is the richness of the sauce, which was perfect with the soft lengua. It has none of the after taste of the meat or the oil. This delectable dish though is another special recipe of Dr. Aret. She really knows good food! :)

Another dish served is their signature Baked Bangus.  It is a scrumptious dish of boneless bangus topped with a mixture of cheese, cream, onions and spices. Truly another dish that will make your taste palettes crave for more.

Dessert was the best part of the whole dinner, where we were treated to a delightful treat of three different types of sweets. Dessert being my favorite part of any meal, I enjoyed these three treats of choco cream, fruit jelly and bread pudding.

We learned that the Little Kitchen used to be a noodle house and a residential home before that. It is no wonder that as you enter the restaurant, a feeling of the warm comforts of a home is resonant in its interiors. Match that with the range of superb fare they have in store for their dining customers. Their best sellers are their range of pasta and pizza – yum! Something I will surely try on my next visit which will be soon! It was a truly delightful experience having dinner at Little Kitchen. Our thanks to birthday gals, Ms. Espie Maliwat and Dr. Bel Acuesta for bringing this blogger to this charming little restaurant! Buon Apetito!

For reservations, you may contact them at 083 3031586 or email them at your_littlekitchen@yahoo.com