EXPENSES WITHOUT AIRFARE: 18,486 Pesos
AIRFARE: 2,235 Pesos Back and Forth
Awao Falls hides on the mountainous farming village in Brgy. Awao, Municiplality of Monkayo. In terms of Eco-tourism, Awao is the top destinations in the province of Compostela Valley, now Davao de Oro. There is no direct transportation to this majestic waterfalls, so having an hour bumpy habal-habal ride, with river crossing, is necessary to see its hidden beauty. Getting here will certainly be challenging but you will be rewarded with a pristine and breathtaking waterfalls. The picturesque is perfect, the ambiance is relaxing, the water is cool, and the air is fresh.
Kaamulan Park and Zoo is definitely the most relaxing part of my travel in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. This government owned park offers an outstanding and remarkable experience to all visitors. Why not? Inside Kaamulan, the wind is fresh, the temperature is cool, and the ambiance is relaxing because of the greens that surround the area. The landscape is clean and well-maintained, thus, the entire area is picture perfect - a perfect place to bond with your loved ones.
My Iligan City habal tour ended at the Paseo de Santiago, a seaside complex with several food stalls and shops. Since it's seaside, of course it's by the beach, the sound of the waves makes the area cozy with the cool breeze - a perfect spot to relax. Others would call it a "hangout area" where you can have a few bottles of beer and "ihaw-ihaw," with someone performing on the mini stage. The area is wide with an instagrammable landscape which includes the gorgeous fortress (photo above), a wide map of the Philippines on the ground and the statue of Lapu-Lapu on the other side. The perfect time to visit this place is during sunset. It is privately owned, thus, entrance fees are being collected.
Tori's Backpackers Paradise is the cheapest place to stay in Siquijor. At their small reception area, the receptionist greeted with the genuine "Good Morning, Sir!" and a smile. That very moment, I thought that this place is perfect. For an overnight stay, I only paid 350 pesos, great deal, right? This resort is backpackers friendly because of its cheap price and they have a dormitory type room where visitors can meet other visitors. I was just sad because my visit was off season and there were only three visitors in the resort. If you want privacy, that's not a problem because they also private rooms.
The Siquijor Church greets all the visitors as it is situated near the port. It was established in 1783 by the secular priests. It was built using coral stones and initially used cogon for roofing. What's unique about this church is the bell tower built a few meters away. Like some other old churches in the Philippines, its convent served as the hiding place from the pirates and other invaders. Today, it is the center of Catholicism in the province but for a non-Catholic like me, this church is the living witness of the past survived by the province and its people.