KALAJA KARST AREA (Kalaja Cave/Malakong Wall) Brgy. Conel, General Santos City, Philippines

Discover Amazing Nature!

General Santos City Tours- Trip to nature

Are you planning of spending an excursion to General Santos City? Then these are the places that you should know for you to enjoy having a tour at General Santos City or locally known as GenSan. This city The city is one of the islands of Mindanao and is mainly located within the province of South Cotabato.

Today, General Santos doesn't only have man made attractions but as well famed by having people concern about taking care and preserving it's natural beauty among the sectors of fishing and agriculture which makes GenSan one of the hottest tourist spot in the island of Mindanao.

If your're wondering where to take a tour at Gensan, you may take these places as one of your tour list and see nature's bounty, having scenic spots in the midst of this mid- sized city.

1. Kalaja Karsts Island

Have you heard about the frying pot island located in GenSan? Well, it all refers to the Kalaja Karst Island. Believed as hundred years old karts formation, Kalaja Karsts Island has been one of the top list of Gensan's tourist destination. Having it's wonderful nature campgrounds, waterfalls and caves, sightseeing is truly the best things to do. Kalaja karsts Island is one of the prestigious myriad tourist spots located in General Santos City.

The area is about 15 kilometers from General Santos City’s northeast side at Barangay Conel. The name Kalaha Karsts Area is derived from the word Kalaha, which means frying pot due to the formation of the karsts made millions of years ago. Waterfalls and caves are abundant in this area.

Tourists can explore the Kalaja Cave in General Santos City. The cave has a pool inside that is about three meters deep and 22 meters wide.

Bunga Spring is found in the center of the Kalaha Karsts Area in General Santos City. The place has a campsite for tourists and stargazing is a great night activity. 

Ranked high on the most visited General Santos destinations is the Kalaja Karst Area found in Barangay Conel. The General Santos destination is a national reserve that is good for anyone who knows how to appreciate nature. One does not have to be a nature lover to be able to enjoy the Kalaja Karst Area because once here, one will realize that nature is something that’s truly wonderful and should be preserved. Aside from picnics and camping, a tour guide awaits at the Kalaja Karst Area to bring one to the Kalaja Cave and the different waterfalls in the area. This General Santos destination is a one stop for those who want to go on a picnic, swim, go trekking or camping. Because of the many options offered by the Kalaja Karst Area, one will definitely not get bored and the rugged environment is something that is very laid back. Even children can enjoy this tourist destination and it’s a good idea to bring them to Kalaja Karst Area so that they learn to appreciate nature at an early age and feel the need to preserve and protect it as they get older.

Another tourist destination in General Santos City is the Malakong Gorge just about three-and-a-half kilometers away from Kalaja Cave. This is an excellent place for boulder and rock climbing for novices and beginners. Camping for tourists are also allowed.

Just a 30-minute drive from the Kalaha Karsts Area is the Nopol Hills. It is General Santos City’s highest camping ground and gives a good panoramic view of Sarangani Bay and the neighboring towns. Hiking in Nopol Hills in the afternoon will give you a good view of the sunset at the bay.

2. Lake Adventures

The scenery of Lake Sebu is truly impressive thing that remarks beauty for the fact that the place defines a serene atmosphere and a lake that holds several kinds of cultured fishes that can be catched at hand. The mystic clearness of the water conceals a lot of stories that is impart of the place. Having it's tranquill and peaceful place, many believed that Lake Sebu is a miraculous place that serves as a means of nourishment and a body of water that continuous to flow for the local T'boli tribes. The lake is truly a natural preserve that serves as a sanctuary for some exotic animals and plants.

3. Mountain trekking

Nature lovers and campers is undeniably one of the numerous ones that loves to try outdoor activities especially along mountains and hills. In General Santos City, Mount Matutum is one of the hotspot for tourists and travelers. Regarded as one of the highest mountains in Mindanao Mount Matutum attracts a great pool of tourists which give fun, exitement, thrill with complex mountain formations that surely surely gives a challenge to anyone; healthy excursion as well that energize body and mind having 7,600 feet height of the mountain. It also gives a rewarding moment as you get through the mountain's peak, having vast mountain ranges and the spectacular sight of the skies that will surely pay off your tired body.

4. Dive through the Kamanga Reef

Have you been mesmerized seeing breathtaking sights of underwater in Kamanga Reef? Then why let yourself miss it's beauty. Seeing the wonders of the sea are the best place to appreciate natures bounty having awesome coral reefs, bunch of different kinds of fishes that you may snorkel out of the blues. Getting a trip to the Kamanga Reef is truly a wonderful nature experience.

5. Trip to Nopol Hills

Enlisting nature excursions are nice things to do while in General Santos City. To be specific, the Nopol Hills. The place is one of the most outgoing and highest grounds in GenSan. Some of the outstanding activities to spend in Nopol Hills are mountain hiking and watching the sunset that you may do while you're with your friends, family, business partners and associates.

KALAJA KARST AREA (Kalaja Cave/Malakong Wall) 

Location : Conel,General Santos City. Just 15 km ride or P15.00 fare, you'll be at Kalaja Karst Area, just a km hike and you'll be at the cave, add another 2 km and you'll reach Malakong Wall. (JOP : est. 14km from the city proper) 

Description : The area is surrounded with limestone's cliffs. It has Kalaja river which irrigates the low land farm area of the city. During dry season, the river main source of water comes from a subterranean river named Kalaja Cave (a 207m cave that offers 20m of swimming and a smooth walk in knee to waist deep running water). The area has an established rock climbing route at Malakong Wall. The Wall offers beginners and Novice route to would be rock climbers. It also has many of unexplored routes waiting to be climbed. The place has also many tunnels left by the retreating Japanese forces during the WWII.

Source: http://www.101directions.com/reviews/story-589-General-Santos-City-Tours.html

http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=GeneralSantosCity&Page=1&pid=1049

Queen City of the South, Cebu City, Philippines

Why Cebu gets the title ‘Queen City of the South?

FROM the beginning of the 19th century up until the advent of World War II, no other province in the south was as important historically and politically and as progressive as Iloilo.

With its sugar industry flourishing and many other divergent economic resources, Iloilo’s economy was catapulted to enormous heights. And with the American government pouring in enormous political and economic functions to the city, Iloilo became the second major seat of power during that time with all administrative functions channeling to the province and Manila only.

The “Queen City of the South” title was then made as its official recognition when Iloilo was legally declared a city for the second time by the virtue of the Commonwealth Act No. 158 in 1937.

For historical glimpse, the city was first created by a Royal Decree of Reina Cristina of Spain on October 5, 1889. Its Ayuntamiento city government was inaugurated on February 7, 1890 by General Valeriano Weyler.

By the end of the Japanese Occupation, however, Iloilo’s economy, life and infrastructure were damaged. The declining sugar economy, the deteriorating peace and order situation in the countryside, divisive politics and the exodus of Ilonggos to other cities and islands that offered better opportunities such as Manila, Bacolod and Cebu led to Iloilo’s demise in economic importance in southern Philippines.

From 1960s towards 1990s, Iloilo’s economy progressed in a moderate pace.

The economic momentum thence angled off to its neighbor Cebu City, which, until 1937, had never been more than a town since its original founding in 1565.

Like greased lightning, this oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country swiftly transmogrified into the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines.

No city in the south progressed as much as Cebu in so short a time during this period.

By the time the 80s drew to a close, growth has spread to the countryside.

Indeed, a lot of this development and the economic expansion can be credited to the way the province and its capital city are governed by its local officials.

The public administrators of Cebu have been known to be development-oriented, steering Cebu to greater heights by putting in place infrastructure facilities needed for economic growth.

The Osmenas are prime examples, particularly Serge, Lito, Tomas, and Sonny. It was during their watch that Cebu experienced economic boom.

In many places, powerful politicians dictate their terms and faithful adherence to their plans and programs.

But in Cebu, political leaders upon assumption to their respective offices, work for the benefit of their constituents. It is because from hereon, partisanship has no place in the hallowed halls of the capitol.

They function to serve the needs of their people. As far as they are concerned, in terms of economic development, there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation — at least until the next election cycle.

It was only a matter of time before Cebu came to be recognized as the Philippines’ main domestic shipping port and home to about 80 percent of the country’s domestic shipping companies.

The province also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippines and is a significant center of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Most importantly, Cebu ranks number one because of the current unity that has never been seen before in any province — unity among elected officials, unity among business groups, unity among its people, and unity between the private and public sectors.

Seeing it in another way—this regionalistic attitude, whatever negative connotation it brings, paved the way for Cebu’s progress.

Indeed, it is an accepted fact that Cebuanos are intensely regionalistic. They also are a very proud people.

For the Cebuanos, this only means they are very proud of their craft and culture.

They think highly of themselves and show this by “loving their own,” which explains the refusal to speak Tagalog.

You see, Cebuanos insist on speaking in their native tongue to just about anyone, except foreigners, of course. If someone from the National Capital Region speaks to them in Tagalog, they would rather reply in English than speak Tagalog. 

But then again, proponents of regionalism say that strengthening a region’s governing bodies and political powers within a larger country would create efficiencies of scale to the region, promote decentralization, develop a more rational allocation of the region’s resources for benefit of the local populations, increase the efficient implementation of local plans, raise competitiveness levels among the regions and ultimately the whole country and save taxpayers money.

Overall, Cebu continues to excel and investors are drawn to Cebu because of the culture of professionalism and craftsmanship among its people, the vast highly skilled manpower resources resilient amid trying times, its fair weather, relative peace and business-friendly atmosphere.

Thus, Cebu being what it is today, is a triumph in local governance that led to a progressive and vibrant community. It could safely assume the de facto moniker as the “Queen City of the South.”

Without fear of contradiction and without malice, we doubt if Iloilo could retake this lost honor.

The public is already accustomed to the notion that Cebu rightfully deserves the prestigious title better than Iloilo.

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/columnist1/12433-why-cebu-gets-the-title-queen-city-of-the-south