Travel Guide: Little Baguio of the South; Bukidnon

Travel Guide: Little Baguio of the South; Bukidnon

    Roadtrip just never ends! I just love road trips so much that I couldn’t stop myself from having one more sojourn to the vast expanse of the nature's wild parks even if the exam is coming and looming around the corners and there are tons of projects that needs to be done. Just a little refresher, I guess. I need to have a glimpse of the exceptional beauty of nature that when my friends invited me to have a short trip to their place in Bukidnon, I immediately said yes. Little did I know that I would be encountering an amazing nature park. I just fell in love with the place and I would love to go back there anytime sooner—The Little Baguio of the South. 

Bukidnon

   Bukidnon owes its name to their early Spanish conquistadors who first named the whole area Malaybalay (few houses) and the people were then referred by the Spaniards as Bukidnons meaning mountain people. Later on, Malaybalay was changed into Bukidnon which means "highlander" or "mountain dweller" and the province's capital was called Malaybalay. The region became part of Misamis province as a municipality in 1850.  

     The province is considered to be the food basket of Mindanao, being the major producer of rice and corn in the region. Products from plantations in the province also include pineapples, bananas and sugarcane. 

Kitanglad Mountain Range

     Situated within Bukidnon is Mount Dulang-dulang, the 2nd highest mountain in the country, with an elevation of 2,938 metres (9,639 ft) located in Kitanglad Mountain Range. I really enjoyed taking pictures of the 360 degree remarkable horizon of the said park.

    As it happens, Bukidnon is noted to be landlocked which means there are no seaports in the province because the whole place is surrounded by mountain ranges. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental,Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte. And according to the 2015 census, the province is inhabited by 1,415,226 residents

The Overview Park in BuDa 

   If you are looking for a place to hang out for breezy air and picturesque view, The Overview Park in BuDa (Bukidnon-Davao road) is perfect for you. This is for those people who wanted to have a glimpse of the magnificent mountain ranges and the beauty of nature.

      Actually, we didn’t really plan on visiting the said park but on our way to Bukidnon, we couldn’t just help ourselves to climb out of the car and took amazing pictures of The Overview Park. It is located at Kipolot, Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon. It is just along the highway so you wouldn’t have a hard time trying to look for the place. From Cagayan de Oro, you can just ride a bus going to Davao City Proper and tell the bus attendant to drop you off at The Overview Park. And if you are from Davao City, you should also ride a bus going to Cagayan de Oro and tell them to drop you off at The Overview Park. There are no entrance fees because the park is being taken care of and maintained by the DPWH for travelers who wanted to take a short break from driving and be soothed by the beauty of the nature.

    The Overview Park is developed park that offers refuge and a rest area for travelers and non travelers alike where lovely mountains high and forests old and grand, has a very rich cultural heritage that lingers in the present. Perfect for those who are looking for a quiet and peaceful place for meditation, relaxation and peace of mind. As what I have mentioned above, this park is just located along the highway and you can easily see the entrance sign on the road. It was my friend who first spotted it and we decided to all take a break and we were amazed by the exceptional view of The Overview Park because no one had ever expected a park like this on our way to our friend’s house in Bukidnon. Somehow, it turned to be a little adventure between our group and I’m glad it ended that way.

    Aside from the park, there are also statues of indigenous people scattered around for picture-taking purposes. Over the years of exposure to the different harsh elements of the weather, the bright colors of the statues started fading away. It was one of the masterpieces by the Mindanao artist named Kublai Millan. One of the sculptures that had caught my attention is a native woman playing kubing. Kubing is a Philippine jaw harp that is made out of bamboo. In order to produce sound, you will put it on your lips and start blowing it.

     Wandering around, there are also souvenir shops on the area where they sell different souvenir items such as bags, t-shirts, key chains, hats and most especially the wrist charms. It was so beautiful and delicate I couldn’t help from buying myself one. I don’t want to go home empty-handed especially when I’ve came from such a beautiful place with stunning landscape and artwork! If you are looking for food, there are stalls and booths everywhere that sells food for hungry travelers. It is quiet cheap yet delicious. There are also young kids who sell wooden bracelets around so if you want one, you can negotiate the price with them. Do not forget to make them smile! They are all beautiful little creatures that I adore the most. 

Not only that but along the highway of Bukidnon to Davao road, there are also pine tree galore, houses with such amazing gardens, vendors selling strawberries and strawberry jam and there are fresh vegetables and fruits for sale everywhere! One of the main attractions of this highway is the Seagull Mountain Resort. This is for those who wanted to savor every moment in Bukidnon. 

Waig Spring Resort

   Waig Crystal Spring Resort is one of the most extensively developed spring resorts in Maramag, Bukidnon where in you can spend the night with and as far as I know, during the night and in early morning, the whole place is covered with fog. How cool is that?

    Actually, there are lot more to see in Bukidnon. It is abundant in natural resources and magnificent panoramic views. If you are looking for a new place to hit the road, this would be the perfect place for you. Aside from the fact that it is not that costly because there is no entrance fee required and accommodations that you have to pay, travelers who are on a budget should consider visiting this place. 

    So far in my experience, every moment is just amazing and I will always love to go back here than spend my days in crowded city and shopping malls and be in the nature. 

By; Hannah Mariam Singson

       Spanish gate

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