Finally, Star Cinema’s most awaited film, Forever and A Day hit cinemas last June 15, 2011. The movie stars KC Concepcion and Sam Milby in their very first film together as a love team. The movie is a sweet and inspiring love story in its own right, but that’s not the only thing to get excited about. Northern Mindanaoans have a huge reason to celebrate and anticipate the film, as the movie highlights several exciting places of attraction in Northern Mindanao.

Dahilayan Adventure Park

A huge part of the movie is set in Northern Mindanao, which was where the cast and crew spent several weeks. They first started filming in Dahilayan Adventure Park, a modern outdoor development located in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Dahilayan is well known for its dual zip line, which is the longest in Asia. Members of the cast and crew stayed at the Dahilayan Gardens and Resort, which offers a more serene and picturesque setting as opposed to the adrenaline pumping and sometimes busy adventure park. Of course, aside from filming KC, Sam and everyone else enjoyed the wonderful weather, beautiful pine trees and of course, the exciting adventure facilities such as the zipline.

They also had fun at Dahilayan Forest Park, where they tried the Zorb and Tree Top Adventure, among other things.

While Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro

After shooting in Dahilayan, they continued on and spent two days filming white water rafting scenes in the Cagayan de Oro River. White water rafting is the most popular tourist activity in the city and attracts thousands of people each year.

Tinago Falls, Iligan City

Finally, they moved on and shot several major scenes in Tinago Falls, which is located in Iligan City. Tinago Falls is one of Iligan City’s main attractions. Hidden beneath a deep ravine, one has to walk at least five hundred steps down before finally reaching the bottom of the falls.

During the filming of the rafting and waterfalls scenes, everyone was billeted at the Prawn House Suites and Restaurant – one of the newest attractions in the city. Prawn House Suites and Restaurants is located in Regatta Square, Pueblo de Oro, which is just minutes away from SM. After filming for two weeks from March 16 to 30, the team went back for one more week of shooting in May.

A lot of local Kookiberks (KC Conception Fanatics) and Milby Mob members (Sam Milby fanatics) from Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were really happy that they got to see their idols in person. In fact, several people were allowed to visit the scenes during filming and some even had the privilege to tag along during shooting of the white water rafting and waterfall scenes.

Truly, the film has been one of the most anticipated ones this season. It brings a fresh take on love, relationships and life. The film is directed by box office director Cathy Garcia Molina and also stars Matet de Leon and Robin da Rosa. “Forever and A Day” premiered last June 15 in 100 theaters throughout the country.

-Justine B. Raagas-

If you plan to visit a place you’ve never been to – and you wish to make the most out of your trip – what’s the first thing that you do? You find someone who knows the place, right? You might have friends coming along who can act as tour guides, or you may have friends living in the destination who can do the honor. But what if everyone in the group has never been to the place? And what if you don’t know anyone living in the place you’re going to? Simple – you look for a tour guide.

What Does A Tour Guide Do?

A tour guide, simply put, is someone who provides information (historical, cultural and contemporary) and assistance during tours. Guides provide assistance to groups or individual clients, and can guide clients in just one destination – or many – within a city or area, such as Northern Mindanao.

Tour Guides In Northern Mindanao

Truly, Northern Mindanao is becoming a very popular tourist destination. Quite accessible from most parts of Visayas by boat or plane, and only seventy minutes by plane from Manila, Northern Mindanao features plenty of things to see and do.

Northern Mindanao Tour Guides Association

To help you fully enjoy the Northern Mindanao experience, a tour guide is absolutely necessary. There are plenty of tour guides offering their services, but make sure that you choose one that is a member of the Northern Mindanao Tour Guides Association. The association, which is also known as the Giya Amihanang Mindanao Association, or GAMA, is an association of accredited and licensed tour guides specializing in Northern Mindanao. The group was established back in 2005. Today, the association is composed of 40 guides who are all committed to increasing and improving the city and the neighboring area’s tourism.

As of this writing, the officers of the Northern Mindanao Tour Guides Association are as follows:

President – Reina Bontuyan

Vice President for External Affairs- Shiegfred Roxas

Vice President for Internal Affairs- Paulane Tugas

Secretary- Regina Amador

Treasurer- Cernan Aguinot

Auditor- Romel Atilano

Things to See And Do in Northern Mindanao

Speaking of visiting Northern Mindanao, here are some things and places that you should expect to do and see when you’re here:

-       Whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro

-       Ziplining in Dahilayan or several other parks in Cagayan de Oro

-       Adventuring at Jatico Adventures

-       Jungle trekking

-       Ultralight flying in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

-       Caving

-       Visit the Camiguin Islands

-       Explore Cagayan de Oro City and neighboring towns

-       Experience the festivals (especially Kaamulan in March and Lanzones Festivals in October)

-       Thrift shop at the Night Market

-       Dine, bar-hop and party

-       Go swimming

Not all Northern Mindanao experiences and attractions are available for the whole year; but this doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy at all. Your reliable tour guide should put together an excellent itinerary for your whole duration of stay – and it should be something that you will completely enjoy. So, be sure to make the most of your stay in Northern Mindanao by getting a tour guide accredited by the Northern Mindanao Tour Guides Association.

Happy adventuring!

-Justine Raagas-

The Cagayan de Oro River cuts through the city, dividing its two congressional districts. Starting from the Kalatungan Mountain Range of Bukidnon, the river runs through the provinces of Libona, Talakag and Baungon, where it picks up tributaries (or small streams) along the way before it finally passes Cagayan de Oro and empties out into Macajalar Bay. The river runs a course of 90 kilometers from its source to its mouth, where it empties.

Activities In The Cagayan de Oro River

The Cagayan de Oro River is the setting for the most popular tourist activity in the city, which also is the reason why the city is very popular as a tourist destination, and all because of whitewater rafting.

While Cagayan de Oro and its river may be popular for whitewater rafting, one can also try another exciting and adrenaline pumping activity: river kayaking.

Whitewater Rafting Vs. Kayaking

So what exactly is the difference between whitewater rafting and river kayaking? What makes river kayaking more exciting?

Basically, kayaking makes use of a kayak to move across the water. A kayak (which is not, and should not be confused with a canoe) is a small boat ridden and powered by a human being. The deck is traditionally covered, except for one or more cockpits, which can seat one paddler each. The person uses a double blade paddle to cruise the boat through the water. Whitewater rafting, on the other hand, is a recreational activity that involves the use of an inflatable raft, which can hold four to twelve people.

What makes whitewater kayaking more exciting is that it provides a totally different experience than rafting. While rafting involves a lot of people in the boat, kayaking involves only yourself; or perhaps one other person, depending on what the kayak can accommodate – making it more thrilling and intense.

Kayaks also move at a slower pace, so you can choose to stay in a certain location for longer than possible. Kayaks can even paddle the opposite way, or upstream.

Kayaking Services in the City

Because kayaking is still a new trend in Cagayan de Oro, the number of outfitters specializing in this activity is quite limited in comparison to whitewater rafting outfitters. Kayak Domain, Cagayan de Oro is the pioneering Kayaking outfitter in the city, which provides clients with kayaking orientation, safety points, materials, safety gear and of course, a reliable safety guide with a 3:1 guide and client ratio.

If you want your kayaking  adventure to get going, contact:

Leonil Mistula

oneal@kayakdomain.com

www.kayakdomain.com
0917-706-4184

-Justine Raagas-

Cagayan de Oro is slowly becoming a popular adventure spot in Northern Mindanao with all its possibilities for outdoor activities. From zorbing to ziplining to whitewater rafting; there’s certainly something you can do in the city to get your adrenaline pumping. Of course, another exhilarating thing to do in the city is to visit some of its most famous naturally formed sites – the Cueba de Oro, Macahambus Gorge and Macahambus Cave.

Cueba De Oro

The name Cueba de Oro, when translated literally, means “cave of gold,” but basically; it simply connotes a cave in Cagayan de Oro. This is not just any ordinary cave, though, since it never fails to excite even the strongest adrenaline junkies. Entering the cave is no easy feat since you will have to rappel 120 feet down to get to the entrance. Upon reaching the entrance, you will find yourself eventually submerged in water, which can vary in depth. Sometimes, you will have to wade in ankle-length water, but in some parts of the cave, you will have to tread the path with water up to the neck.

The whole cave journey usually takes around an hour. And while that may seem too long for most people, you’ll eventually forget about the time once you start spelunking in the darkness.

Macahambus Cave and Gorge

Macahambus cave and gorge is another fun cave to explore. Combining the beauty of nature and the richness of history, Macahambus cave and gorge is a cave of many stories. Ideally located at the Macahambus Hill, the cave was a strategic location for guerillas during the battle of Macahambus Hill during the 1900s, when the Filipinos won for the first time over the Americans.

The cave is shorter than Cueba de Oro and only takes several minutes to completely explore. At the end of the cave is a veranda that overlooks the Cagayan River. To visit the gorge, however, you will have to go down over a hundred flights of stairs. Upon reaching the gorge, you can also see an underground river.

Safety While Cave Exploring

Cave trekking, while exciting as it is, can also pose several dangers. Thus, it’s very important to keep a few things in mind to make sure that you remain safe while caving.

1)  As exciting as it may sound – NEVER GO SPELUNKING ALONE. You should be with a group of people, and if possible, hire a reputable guide. If you don’t want to hire a guide, one of your companions should be at least knowledgeable around the area.

2)  Wear appropriate clothing and appropriate shoes. Your clothes should be comfortable ones; those that will not limit your movement. You may also pick out clothes with synthetic fabrics that can dry faster, reducing your chances of feeling cold and experiencing hypothermia. Also, don’t go in your flip flops. You don’t want to risk losing them along the way – and you certainly don’t want to continue the whole trek barefoot.

3)  Be prepared. Know what to do in case someone in your group is injured or hurt; and bring the necessary gear, too.

4)  Enjoy. Of course, this is the last thing that you should never forget. Enjoy, have fun and experience the beauty of Cagayan de Oro in these wonderful caves.

-Justine Raagas-