The Elusive Dolefil Club Kalsangi

On the foot of the majestic Mt. Matutum lies a secret village that are known only to the locals of Polomolok and GenSan. First timers will have a hard time finding it since it is not plotted on tourist maps. It is situated in the middle of Dole Philippines' 10,000 hectares of pineapple plantation. I'm not even sure I'm allowed to blog about it.hehe. It just makes me  feel proud in knowing that there is such a place in faraway Mindanao.

Of course there are reasons for its elusiveness. Dole Kalsangi is home to the multinational company’s ex-pats and top management. I could understand since some management positions in top companies as big as Dolefil hold sensitive positions. So let us not wonder why it is one of the safest places down south. Security there can be quite stiff mind you so if you’re planning to visit the place, I suggest you befriend one of the residents living there so they can vouch for you when you suddenly appear at the gate since the security guards won’t let you in not unless you have a sponsor from the company.

Upon entering Kalsangi, it feels as though you are not in Mindanao. Its streets are lined with Norfolk pine trees, Macademia trees (yep they have that there!), and other big trees complete with big wild ferns you only see in high altitude places. The cabin log houses remind me of Subic or Camp John Hay in Baguio.

Dole Kalsangi boasts not only of the elite living quarters of Dolefil's top brass but also of the premiere 9-hole golf course that is a favorite of many golfers in these parts. Its golf course is lined with a number of Norfolk and Pine trees that make you feel that you are playing golf somewhere in Europe. It's clubhouse is comparable to those in high society villages in the metro. It has an Olympic sized pool, kiddie playground and a restaurant that serves yummy delicacies that make lunches and dinners a festive occasion that most celebrate birthdays, anniversary among others.

To get there, you must first ask for a sponsor from any Dole regular employee. Then ask to guide you to the roads going to Club Kalsangi. Its not open for everybody so make sure you find a sponsor first, since they are the only gate pass you will need. :) Hope you get the chance to see for your own eyes the beauty of Club Kalsangi in Polomolok, South Cotabato

Big Appetite only at Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant

This is my first hand at blogging about a restaurant and the food we love. It comes not as a surprise since Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant is easily one of our favorite restaurants in GenSan. Every Sunday, we take our daughter on lunch dates after attending mass here. When asked which ones she loves to order, she will readily answer "the stetty". The Super Duper Spaghetti is a pasta dish with kids in mind. The fusion of sweetness and sourness of the sauce is just right even for picky eaters, topped with loads of cheese cubes and a little white sauce that my little girl can't get enough of. But it has been our habit to ask the servers to split it in half so we can take home the other half in case my little girl's attention drifts off her pasta. :)

Another of her favorite is the Dippy Doodle Doo Jr., a meal comprised of chicken fingers deep fried in a yummy mixture of bread crumbs and other herbs accompanied with a sweet and mild tangy honey mustard sauce. It is a a big hit with our little girl since it is boneless and easy to hold for little fingers, not to mention easily grabbed by daddy when she is looking the other way. :)

Another favorite is the Bermuda Triangle salad. What we love about this salad is not so much the mix of greens such as the romaine lettuce but the grilled chicken and beef with cheese sticks and croutons that come with it. If you are on a diet, then this salad is a meal in itself.

For birthdays or family dinners (with a party of about 4-5 pax), then I recommend the Fisherman's Catch or the Belly Buster. It is a combination of two or more dish in a huge platter. The Fisherman's Catch for example already has fish steak, gambas and shrimp-mushroom skewer and a few greens on the side.. yum!

The Belly Buster on the other hand is a healthy serving of grilled porkchops, a slab of baby back ribs and onion rings and greens on the side. This is a total winner especially for meat lovers, a must order for sharing! As its name implies, your belly will just explode with gooey goodness from this complete meal.

 This dish is the Wild Wild West Steak. Another favorite of hubby who never fails to get one for himself just as long as his triglycerides and bad cholesterol is under control. :) It is grilled so the taste has none of the greasy meat taste. Another perfect dish for meat lovers.

  

My personal favorite pasta however is the Raging Sausage Pasta, a fussili pasta what with the spicy and tasty sausages and fresh tomatoes that tickle the palate of your taste buds with just the right amount of spiciness. But I'm gonna have to leave your imaginations run wild with this dish since in my haste to eat it, I forgot to take pictures of it.. hehe. It wouldn't look good if I take snapshots of my leftovers for you. So trust me when I say it is one of the best pastas in Gen. Santos city.. What are you waiting for? Go head out to Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant over at Robinsons Place Gensan and order one for yourself! 

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

Christmas in Polland

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly..." so the song goes. But here in Polland (or Polomolok Land to those who are from here), Christmas is evident in the lights and display of the various cooperative offices lining Cannery Road. Its so nice to see that they have adorned their offices with the Christmas belen, twinkly lights and all the paraphernalia of the season.

My favorite display so far is the one by Unified Engineering Coop wherein they made a Christmas Village complete with a pineapple merry-go-round and ferris wheel. Its the first time in Polomolok that traffic starts as early as 6pm and onwards on this part of Cannery road as residents and their guests flock to the display to have their picture taken not only in the Christmas village of sorts but to pose next to a human sized Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman with his friends. I was so happy to note that the kids most especially (and the kids at heart like me) appreciate the display so much that their eyes pop out to take in every detail. And you wish its Christmas the whole year round. :) Its just too bad Mr. OSG always forgets to bring his camera so we didn't get to take our own pictures. Pictures below are courtesy of Ms. Yvon Buenavista.

The Christmas Village at Polomolok c/o Ms. Yvon Buenavista

Blogfest 2010....A Synopsis

There are award winning bloggers and emo bloggers. Those that blog about reality and those that blog prose and poetry... and then there is the SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers.

Mindanao's Funnest - Sox Bloggers

with the men of the hour..Orman and Avel Manansala

The Sox Bloggers are the team behind the recently successful BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN 2010. Conceived by the minds of GenSan's own celebrity bloggers Mr. Bariles, Avel Manansala and his royal Gandaness Orman Manasala. Under their constant leadership and guidance, the team of bloggers organized the biggest blogging event in Southern Mindanao ever! All in the span of three weeks tops! --something else huh? :) 

 With the charisma of the brothers, they were able to put together a  gathering of the best speakers in the entire local blogosphere. The likes of  Ria Jose, Jong Gonzales, Michelle Solon, Ryann Elumba, Danilo Arao, Jay Jaboneta, Dale Palileo, Aileen Apolo-de Jesus, Bob Soriano, Jun Acharon, Janette Toral and Brendel Balaga all authorities in their fields, some even flying in from Manila to share their time and talent to the 100plus registered attendees. Read more about them at GenSan News Online Mag.

funny moment with one of the speakers, Ms. Michelle Solon

 

exercise break

Many thanks to the following sponsors who made this event a resounding success! The Gold Sponsors for backing the Sox Bloggers in this endeavor: 

• East Asia Royale Hotel, 
• Sagittarius Mines, 
• Smart Communications, 
• Dolores Hotels and Resorts,  
• Gaisano Mall of GenSan 

Thanks also to these people who made this event truly memorable not only for the Sox Bloggers but all the bloggers of Southern Mindanao: Mr Omar Gallinero of Montage Digital Photography, Royal Iris Productions, the team from STI College and Robinsons Place Gensan.

From all of us in the SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers, we wish to thank everyone who flew in, rode a bus, a taxi, from all over just to be with us in our first Blogfest ever!Your presence made this event a success. Hope you learned a lot and had fun while you were here.  Hats off to everyone and till we all meet again....

Blogfest 2010 Live Blogging

I'm currently at the SOCCKSARGEN Blogfest at the posh East Asia Royale Hotel. When I say this is a first for me, I am not exaggerating being a newbie in blogging. So far the number of participant turnout is overwhelming that I consider this a success even if we are still halfway through the day.

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A good number of speakers such as the likes of Prof Danilo Arao, a professor from UP Diliman Mass Communications, mentioned the importance of responsble blogging and quoted on spiderman's motto: with great powers comes great responsibility. So far, based from what I learned from the notable speakers (which I will mention one by one in another entry....back to the days of Jose Rizal's days which were limited to newspaper and book publishing, the new media need to be reminded of the power of the pen and in our case, of the blog. We can not only uplift a certain community or a person with what we write but we can also destroy with harsh words and unreliable data. Whew! suddenly blogging for me seems to be a whole new ball game. :) more to come....

The True Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving. Its the favorite time of the year for kids who believe in Santa and all the gifts he gives on Christmas morning for the good boys and girls. Assuming that all kids are good, "why does Santa skip our house come Christmas day?" -- a question I was asked by a little girl many years ago in one of the community projects I volunteered for back when I was still working. Quite honestly, I didn't know how to answer her since Santa Claus does not seem to exist for the less fortunate kids.

Fast forward many years, hubby and I were involved in various community projects in our local Polomolok. One particular project we were fond of is the "Shoebox of Love This Christmas Project" wherein members of the Rotary Club of Polomolok choose a poor community every year as beneficiary of the collected gifts and sometimes along with a feeding project for the kids and medical/dental projects for the entire community. It is a heart warming feeling to be able to give to these people who are less fortunate than ourselves. It is a fulfilling feeling all the more when we see the smile on the children's faces, and the way their faces lit up as they play with the toys (that were considered old and well-loved by its former owners) that are given to them. One particular kid that poked our heart is this one (picture below) in Klinan, Plomolok where every drop of the arroz cado given to her was very precious. The clothes and the toys she received, well  appreciated.

 

Christmas should rightly be not just about Santa Claus and his reindeers or the Christmas tree and trimmings we decorate nor about the gifts we will receive on Christmas morning. Oftentimes we forget the true meaning of Christmas. Of how a man gave up His life for our sakes. In making ourselves useful and sharing our things and blessings with our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Truly, it there is no kind of satisfaction that can compare when we share our blessings. If you want to make a difference, The Rotary Club of Polomolok accepts donations of clothes, old toys, school supplies, canned goods or noodles for its annual project. You can get in touch with President Xavier Bayan 09228663693, CP Omar Gallinero 09228487921 or drop off at any Gala Enterprises or Gala Builders Supply outlets in Polomolok.

Our vote goes to LIFE WITH RIA

We vote for LIFE WITH RIA, 

a true Mindanaoan,

an inspiration to fellow bloggers here in the south.

Visit her site at:  http://www.riajose.com/

BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN 2010

This coming December 11th, will be the most awaited event of the year for bloggers of Southern Mindanao, me included! It will be this year's blogfest! Being a newbie in the blogging world, this is one event that I am really looking forward to. From my short acquaintance with the SOCCSKSARGEN bloggers, they have been a group of nice and very educated people who share a passion for blogging and uplifting the image of Mindanao to the rest of the world. It makes me really happy to be identified with them. From the time Mr. Avel Manansala welcomed me to the group, I never once felt out of place or insignificant in every meeting I had with the group. So this event is truly one experience that I am really really excited about.

A lot of notable speakers had been invited from all over who can be expected to give meaningful talks and insights not only about the entire blogosphere but I'm sure the attendees will get a lot from it. Bloggers will surely go home armed with the latest know how and techniques in blogging as well as have a lively time interacting with fellow bloggers. So what are you waiting for? Come join us and register this coming December 11th at the East Asia Royale Hotel . Blog about this beautiful island and interact with Mindanao's funnest - the SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers!

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.