MT. PUTING BATO, IGACOS

Mt. Puting bato is the highest summit in Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) with an elevation of 1,345 feet (410 masl). There are 2 trails that leads to the summit. The easiest way is a 15-minute trek via Sitio Tayapoc but if you want a longer and challenging trail you must try the 2- hour  trek from Brgy.  Guilon.  I have been to Puting Bato several times because it is one of the nearest mountain near Davao City and the view above is breathtaking.

  

Photos were taken during our warm up climb last February 2009:

   

 

 

 Photos were taken from our  May and October 2010 climb  via Tayapok trail (photo courtesy of  Olan Emboscado, Joemarie Escovilla and Caroline Espejon)

 

Getting There:

From Davao City, Island City Express bus is  available  at Php40.00 per way on non aircon and Php50.00 per way on aircon bus with trip schedules from 5:30 am to 10:30pm that will take you to Peñaplata or you may try the barge and boats in Sasa. Upon arrival in Peñaplata a motorcyle will take you to Brgy. Guilon or Sitio Tayapok. For first timers it is better to secure a guide for you not to get lost along the way but if you will go to Sitio Tayapok guides are no longer necessary.

       

Sarangani Bay Festival 2011 Tour

It was 6:30am when the group leave Davao City. Some Participants were picked up along the way. We arrived in Malandang, Malungon, Sarangani Province where we ate our breakfast at 3 Doe fast food. Afterwards we dropped by at Isla Parilla for a few minutes for picture taking  then   proceeded to Gumasa in Glan Sarangani for the Sarangani Festival 2011. Various activities was held on designated beach resorts like skim board exhibition, sand sculpture competition, frisbee competition, beach volley, bay bodies competition and summer party at the bay. It was already late when the group returned to General Santos City.

Sand Sculptures in Coco Beach Resort

Bay Bodies Contestants in their  summer wear

We checked in at Sarangani Highlands in Purok Wal, Tambler, General Santos City. The place was awesome as it is located on a hilltop with spectacular overlooking view of the city, sarangani bay and on day time the magnificent Mt. Matutum is visible.

On the second day we went to Fort Maasim, in Sitio Tamboan, Maasim, Sarangani. It was the military camp of  73^rd Infantry Batallion headed by Col. Rodolfo Espuelas Jr. The soldiers warmly welcomed us as they tour us around the area. They have "Flirtation Park" which was designed for the soldiers to flirt with nature if they missed their loved ones.

Fort Maasim

Group photo at Flirtation Park in  Fort Maasim(courtesy of Dr. Pen Casel)

From Fort Maasim, it took us an hour to arrived in Kiamba, Sarangani. After  we took our lunch we went to Pangi River in Barangay New La union, Maitum, Sarangani  for our  "White Water Tubing"Adventure. In every participant one guide is required since the  strong current of  water.

At Triswood Snack haus located in Kiamba facing Sarangani Sea (courtesy of Dr. Pen Casel)

I would like to thank  the sponsors  Gov. Miguel Dominguez, Cong. Manny Paquiao,  Kiamba Mayor Danny Martinez, Brgy. Captain Flora Benzonan, 73rd Infantry Batallion,  Mindanao Tourism Council specially Sir Jon Perez and Board Member Eleanor Constantino-Saguiguit.

Sarangani Province Tourist Destinations:

Glan, Sarangani : Coco Beach, Rosal Resort, White Haven Beach Resort, Isla Jardin del Mar

 

Isla Jardin Del Mar

Rosal Resort  Floating Cottage

White Haven Beach Resort

Alabel, Sarangani:   Isla Parilla Resort

Isla Parilla Resort

Maasim, Sarangani : Fort Maasim, Lemlunay Dive Resort

Kiamba, Sarangani: Tuka Marine Park, Badtasan Falls, Nalus Falls, Maligang or Nabol Falls,

                                Bocay-il  or Twin Falls, Kansan Falls, Lomuyon Falls, El Kawil Falls

Maitum, Sarangani: White Water Tubing, Anthropomorphic pottery museum

                                             (courtesy of Dr. Pen Casel)

(courtesy of Dr. Pen Casel)

white water tubing in Maitum, Sarangani Province (courtesy of Dr. Pen Casel)