SAN AGUSTIN CATHEDRAL

Taken during golden hour after sunset. Came from a work visit, I was able to do my itinerary to visit the churches of CDO as many as i can. A church that is located at the heart of the city and a home of Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro, near city museum and park, serves also as a city's main catholic church. One of Hispanic era built church, that has been destroyed during American siege in 1945 war. The church was originally built on 1845 by the Augustinian friars, the wooden cross in front is the only left standing and survived during the war and is preserved up to now.

San Agustin church was then later rebuilt on 1950's by the American missionary FR. James T.G. Hayes S.J. with inspired of an old Gothic architectural design, its stained glass is also a century old materials from an old church donated by the American catholic missionaries from New York City, USA.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH CHURCH

After a visit from San Agustin cathedral, Our lady of Mt. Carmel was in my second destination. Upon visiting of this church i have observed a beautiful details of its exterior and interior design, you can go here by a tricycle route going to this place or a taxi cab, don't have estimated budget going here. I was just hired a single motorcycle for a P 100.00 to roam around to the different churches i can visit in CDO. Locals are very familiar for all the places you want to go, make sure you will clearly have to dealt first with them for your itinerary to make your time compact.

SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA CHURCH

OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH CHURCH

Last in line, I was looking for a church authorities to have some interviews for the history details of this church but since it's already late night there's nobody i can find. It was a near full moon and cloudy when i took this photo, the moon lit so bright and gave a bluish color of the sky with a streaking clouds from a long exposure.

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HOT ICE CREAM

Hot as in spicy, on my previous post I've been referring to this chili ice cream, I've promised to take some pictures to share it to some readers... Well it has been featured already on TV several times, this is an authentic of bicol delicious merienda food for the sweet tooth, but i don't think your sweet tooth can make you distinguish a hot in a cold. It is a must to try if you are in Legazpi, don't missed it to put on your food escapade. 

LAING

CHICKEN BUFFALO WINGS

This may tests your toughness eating spicy foods, a presence of chili in this food is absolutely an evident of a spicy delicacy. Well presented with a chip sliced and deep fried potatoes on its side gave the food looks so inviting. Sauteed in a spicy herbs and garlic mixed with slices of green pepper, buttered with honey or sugar, makes the foods sweet and spicy taste.

TINAPA RICE

A rice mixed with a Tinapa, Don't know yet if tinapa is a smoked fish or canned fish in tomato sauce. Fried with a chosen ingredients that makes this rice tasty, a Filipino version of Yang Chow.

LUMPIA

Same with typical lumpia, deep fried tasty fillings in a wrapper seasoned with special ingredients,  but take note this is spicy, since this region is famous of hot and spicy foods. Most of their local delicacies are mixed with chili as one the ingredients.

You can find this foods at COLONIAL GRILL one of the famous restaurants among the region of bicol.

BULALO

For a budget travelers like me, here are some of the local foods that can be found in bicol. I usually looked for it when I am in travel. Having my budget not to exceed but without compromising the quality taste, look for a budget eateries that serves a good foods. Here's one of the eatery I have found that made my stomach full and satisfied, and almost saved 50% of budget out from what I have experienced from other food bazzars. Well if you are really not that sensitive, try this.

FRIED CRISPY DILIS

MENUDO

As usual this is one of the well familiar foods you can find in the Philippines. all these and more others can be found on this local eatery, as they serve also rice in (Bandihado) one big service plate. This local fastfood (JAMIL'S BULALOHAN) is located at Alternate road bitano, Legazpi City near Caltex gasoline station.

Some more foods in Legazpi Follow>>> Here

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KATIBAWASAN FALLS

Camiguin have a lot of nature spots to offer, there are two majestic waterfalls you can visit, Katigbawasan falls and Tuawasa falls. Katigbawasan falls is one of the most accessible you can go with a concreted road that leads you to this site. Go dip into its refreshingly crystal clear cold water, go near in the cascading water and feel the natural massage on your body.

Katigbawasan waterfalls located 5 kilometers southeast of mambajao, measures 76 meters high with a basin shape base, a jewel in the middle of the magnificent mountain and greenery lush forested area of Camiguin, where you can enjoy swimming for the rest of the day. Although, this waterfalls have converted into a tourist spot and already developed, the local still preserves the forested area of Camiguin.

THINGS TO KNOW

Follow here>>>

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SUNKEN CEMETERY

Early rise up, we traveled early morning to catch the schedule of the ferry going back to CDO. From Mambajao we started from the other side of Camiguin to complete the circumferential road of the island. Sunken cemetery is 5km east of of mambajao,  along the right side of the road you can find a gate with a signage GOING TO SUNKEN CEMETERY. If you really want to see it with a good light try to come before lunch until sunset, which you can capture the place with a dramatic colors of the day.

THINGS TO KNOW

There is no traffic congestion in Camiguin, most of the transportation here is a single ride motorcycle, tricycle, quad cycle, and jeep. If you want to get more adventurous, motorcycle for hire is a common transportation you can get.

• Language
• English
• Can able to understand and speak since most of schools and local offices use it as their medium language.
• Tagalog
• Will do and understand as well as can speak
• Visayan
• Most of the locals speaks Cebuano
• Greet everyone as
• "Maayong Buntag" - Good Morning
• "Maayong Udto" - Good Noon
• "Maayong Hapon" - Good Afternoon
• "Maayong Gabi-i" - Good Evening
• "Bay" or "Bai" - Calls for a friend
• "Tag-pila" - How much
• Transportation
• Sea
• From Balingoan Misamis Oriental to Benoni, there are ferries and barge going to the island. P 170.00 Vice versa
• Air
• Camiguin has a small airport but you can access it by plane through CDO and Butuan with a daily flight.
• Cebu Pacific, Airphil, Zest Air and Philippine Airlines
• Land-Tricycle
• P7.00 in short distances 
• Land-Bus
• P143.00 Cdo to Balingoan Vice Versa
• Butuan to Balingoan Vice Versa
• Land-Van
• P145.00 Cdo to Balingoan Vice Versa (Approximately)
• Butuan to Balingoan Vice Versa
• Foods
• You can find restaurants in Mambajao
• Budget for "Motorcycle"
• P400-500 per day you can take it anywhere in the island
• Transactions must have done first, payment of rental may base on deposit or fully paid upon using the vehicle.
• Financial Establishments
• Some Banks serves already to this Island, ATM as well
• Remitance centers can be found in the Mambajao proper

"TIP"

• You can go around the island in one day but to be sure you can really enjoy the places spend about two to three days stay. 
• Make sure you wear the helmet during travel, authorities here are highly implementing safety.
• "Motorcycle rental" we rented ours from a good guys >>>>>>.

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LANSONES FESTIVAL

Camiguin celebrating lansones festival every 3rd week of October, it is their beliefs from their ancestors that the lansones festival started when the couple have wished to grant a child in a fairy living in a lansones tree. Who therefore took back their son when the fairy have taken the spirit of the young boy in replacement for being so forgettable to thank the said fairy, so the offering and rituals have took place honoring the fairy and the couple have granted in a second time to win back their son, so the celebration have started on that day. Until such time the ritual have celebrated annually to commemorate the ceremony of their great ancestors honoring thanks to the Gods for their bountiful harvest.

The commemoration of festival usually held in a one week celebration, it shows the rich cultural diversity of the island. Lots of tourist come here from different places to witness the great festivity of Lansones. During celebration you can see colorful displays on parade, street dancing, talent and beauty search for Ms. Camiguin.

LANSONES

Lansones in Camiguin is said as a sweetest lansones in the country. It is their main livelihood and major crops that made the camiguin known as a Lansones Capital of the Philippines, aside from the other tourist destinations that camiguin have to offer, from its white sand bar, old and ruin church, waterfalls, cold and hot springs and a very well known sunken cemetery. Make sure you don't missed to bring home some lansones if you are to visit camiguin. LEAVE NO TRACE

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BLAZING SKY

It was a short visit from a small white sand island of camiguin we were in our way back to the main land when the sky begun to show the beauty and its color,  i waste no time to take this moment. I was in a boat ride tried to capture the best as i can while in motion, it is so amazing when the golden hour shows the true beauty of the world.

The travel would only took us 15 minutes ride in a semi rough tides. After we disembarked from a small boat, I spotted a good view to take this photo, Camiguin have a lot of beautiful spots if you are a nature lover.

BOAT

A small boat good for four persons, we rented to take us into the small white sand island a part from the mainland of camiguin, it might take you 15 minutes ride, it depends in the weather for the roughness of the waves but it is safe enough just wear your life vest.

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LINAMON

Is a Municipal of Lanao Del Norte province located in Northern Mindanao. Its boundiries are divided by  Lanao Del Sur province in the south, Bukidnon in the east and Iligan City in the north. Five Municipalities of this province are Kauswagan, Maigo, Kulambugan, Bacolod and Linamon a boundery of bridge that links to Iligan City.

The province of Lanao was divided into Lanao Del Sur and Lanao Del Norte on July 04, 1959 with the passage of Republic Act 2228. Iligan City was once served as the capital of Lanao Del Norte until June 24, 1982. The capital of the province was moved to the municipality of Tubod in pursuance to the Batas Pambansa 181. Text from Province of Lanao Del Norte blog

Lanao provinces is rich in cultural diversity, where Christians and Muslims lives harmoniously. Unlike from what we have heard in the news, not all parts of Mindanao were affected of the arm conflicts. This part of municipalities of the province is peaceful and crimes were just an isolated incidents.

FRUITS

This is usually seen in some part of Mindanao, they called it "MARANG" it is similar to a jackfruit. It is juicy and sweet with a small seeds inside rich with protein and minerals, this is familiar to all parts of Mindanao, it is a must to try fruit if you are to visit Mindanao. Durian, Jackfruit, Pomelo and Mangostain are also can be found here in Lanao.

How to get there, from Cagayan De Oro you can take a bus to Iligan City or Marawi, look for Bulua terminal in CDO. There are two buses company serves the route going to Lanao Del Norte. There is no taxi available in Lanao Del Norte, you can go from point to point by commuting through a jeepney or you can get a ride by single type passenger motorcycle.

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