The Seven Tribes of Bukidnon

Yesterday I watched this movie called Looper and I think that the movie is not about time travel--it's more like some alternate universe kind of movie. The Romeo Must Die sort of movie. The guy didn't kill his future self, he only ended the alternate version of himself. Not someone from the future but someone from a universe where he made that other decision.

My post does not really have anything to do with Looper. Most of my posts got nothing to do with anything. I just wanted to post about the seven tribes of Bukidnon because I recently went to Kaamulan grounds. That's in Malaybalay City. Their names are there because Kaamulan is celebrated to honor the ethnic tribes of Bukidnon.

My grandma's mother was a Talaandig. My mother can speak Talaandig very well. The last time I heard her talk Talaandig was a week ago and she was talking to some native about Pepsi. I don't know exactly what they were talking about.

Bohol Is that You??

After this post I am going to write about Bukidnon, because I am in Bukidnon as of this writing. It's gonna be scary and I might end up not writing about it at all. It’s always scary to write about something so dear to you. My creative writing teacher agrees with me. I know he said something along that line, I don't know how exactly he said it. Writers have a way of saying things so well that only them could say it.

 I guess I’m afraid to write about the place where I spent my childhood. I don’t wanna turn wrong recollections into narratives and end up regarding them as real. But so much for the Bukidnon talk. I’m gonna write about my recent trip to Bohol, which is only my second by the way.

The fast craft trip from Pier 1 to Tubigon is only an hour and 280 pesos away. Or if you have a lot of stuff to bring you can take the 10pm Lite Shipping slow boat. But slow boats to China or anywhere only applies to lovers (with all due respect Mr. Simic) so it’s better to take the fast craft. They depart every hour. Supercat is your cozier option, plus it docks at Tagbilaran which is a lot nearer to Panglao.

The bus ride from Tubigon to Dao Terminal near Island City Mall is more than an hour, with the wait time at the terminal taking longer than the actual trip. The bus left Tubigon when I was about to die of dehydration. Yes, it’s one of those “mini-buses” where the only ventilation you have is some rust-edged window that is just enough to prevent asphyxia. And they crammed us inside the bus like we don’t need space. I know I lack some imagination because I thought it couldn’t get worse.

But when I took the bus from Carlos P. Garcia museum to Panglao, I got a sampling of how a bus can double-capacity-double-profit at the expense of my sweat glands. And us the good passengers. But then again, it was the only option I had and I stood during the whole trip.

I stayed at Chill Out and I would really recommend the place because you get a huge veranda and a bathroom with wooden floor for P1,200. Regular room rate is P1,500 but walk-ins get a discount. But they only have about six rooms so walking in is not the best idea. Their staff are some of the most beautiful people in the world and I really appreciate how helpful and friendly they are. I don’t get paid for this (I wish I did) but those people deserve some kudos. Here’s there website http://www.chillout-panglao.com/.

I did go to Alona, that’s a given. But the place that captivated me most is this quiet little place away from the awareness of most people. I just love that little rocky beach because the water looks so clean. It’s a public beach and there’s a free cottage you can just use, nobody will mind because nobody is there.

It’s best to go there in a huge group because it has the feel of a murder scene if you’re alone. You know the drill, just copy and paste to Google Maps 9.617813,123.773024. I wasn’t able to the place justice because my camera went out before I got to take some pictures. So unfair of it to always tell me that it’s full then it would go on the whole batter exhausted thing. I know I’ll be back. Here are a few snaps.


The Church of Calape, Bohol. I was inside the bus trying to stay alive when I took this.

I passed by this house going to Chill Out. There are quite a few of them there. I'm not sure if this is really the house, maybe this is just the attic and there's a really huge house underground.

The cliffy, rocky, murder-y beach in Tangnan, Panglao.

Musuan Peak

I didn't know until now (until I went online) that Musuan Peak is an active volcano. If I did, I wouldn't have gone there. I know the possibility of it erupting is very remote, but any possibility no matter how remote is still a possibility.

I went to Musuan Peak to visit my uncle Dante who works in one of the communication towers there. Actually, it was to get his mountain bike. I didn't bring my bicycle here in Bukidnon and my earthly survival is hugely dependent on having a bicycle.

My uncle picked me up at this place along the highway called Philippine Carabao Center at CMU. It's somewhere around this place, just paste this at GoogleMaps so life will be easier 7.876943,125.069518. There isn't a single carabao inside the Carabao Center which defeats the purpose, but they sell lots of really fresh milk so I guess that makes up for it.

The trail to Musuan Peak is really mossy and I don't know how my cunle manages to go up and down that place on a motorbike with road tires. He's real good at it, I guess.

There are two trails that lead up to the summit. One is the fire road, or the main road if you may. There are huge ruts that crisscross the road, which makes the road a great place for recreation and accidents. This is the road that most students from Central Mindanao University take whenever they go up for recreation or research. Or recreational research. Tree branches canopy most of the road so mosses grow all over it (no, not the biblical mosses). Mossses and mountain bike tires are like magnets with the same charge, so if you are going down that trail might as well bring your insurance card with you. Or just be careful, I think being careful is a better idea.

The other trail is the footpath. You have to cross the fire road every now and then but as long as you follow the line, you'll reach the top. There are no houses in the area for the only trail that leads to somewhere is the one that leads to the top. There's a ten-peso fee at the gate, proceeds go to Central Mindanao University. At an elevation of only 2000 feet ASL, Musuan Peak is perfect for recreational hiking. You don't have to brutalize yourself to enjoy great view. I didn't take a photo of Musuan Peak because you can find a lot of them on the Internet.

San Carlos Heights

San Carlos Heights is a subdivision in Quiot, Pardo, Cebu City. If you have no idea where that is, let Google Earth make it easy for you. About a couple of kilometers where the houses is a hill that hosts a trail of pure, solid, I’ll-rip-your-flesh-off rocks. It recently was the venue of a downhill competition organized by OZ racing, Gene’s Mountain Bike Adventure, and our group of friendly riders, which I was not able to attend because I was at work.

I am glad that I had work as an excuse because it rained that day and the trail may not be that steep but it has rocks that are willing to devour every square-inch of flesh you offer it. To get to the trail, you can ride a motorbike for 25pesos. Or you can bring your own ride. Pedaling is not an option if you have a full-on downhill bike because the climb is quite steep, unless of course you dope regularly.