160
philippines
trip journal
PHOTOS: SAMUELDELEON (COTABATO), LESTERLEDESMA (GENERALSANTOS); EDGARALANZETAYAP (TAWI-TAWI)
COTABATO
“I love itsrichculture
anddiversity:Christians,
MuslimsandLumadsall
come togetherhere.Warm
hospitalityand friendly
smilesareeasy tocomeby.”
Head toDonRufinoAlonzo
Street to try thedelicious
misua
(salted
Chinesenoodles in soup) atMardoney’s
Restaurant for onlyPHP150per order.
Experience the local shopping
scenebydroppingby theBarterTrade
Center onGovGutierrezAvenue. Buy
the
inaul,
thehandwoven fabric from
Maguindanao, for aroundPHP300-500.
Explore the cityby
habal-habal
(motorcycle) for just PHP20per ride.
AREACODE
+64
TOUCHDOWN
AWANG
AIRPORT
GETTOTOWN
JEEPNEY,
MOTORCYCLE,CHARTEREDVAN
GENERALSANTOS
“Asa localentrepreneur, Ifind
GenSan tobeacompetitive
city—not tomentionmulti-
cultural. I’mproud tosay
that it’s the largestproducer
ofsashimi-grade tuna in the
Philippines.”
Get toGeneral SantosFishPort
Complexbydawn towatchfishermenunload
tunaof various sizes.
My favoritedishat
BIGBENSteaks&Grills is theNewYork strip
steak (PHP430), which comeswith sides of
riceormashedpotatoes.
“Generals”, as
we fondly call ourselves, areamixofTagalog,
IlonggoandCebuano, so youwon’t havea
hard time communicatingwithus.
AREACODE
+83
TOUCHDOWN
GENERAL
SANTOS INTERNATIONALAIRPORT
GETTO
TOWN
TAXI, TRICYCLE,HOTELSHUTTLE
TAWI-TAWI
“Irealized the true
meaningofadventureand
excitement inTawi-Tawi,
whichhasscenicbeaches
andengagingactivities like
mountainclimbingand
underwaterdiving.”
Havea relaxingdinner at Sandbar
BeachLepaandRestaurant inPasiagan,
Bongao, where you’ll enjoyheavenly
views of themountains and seawhile
trying suchTausugdishes as
tiula itum
(black soupwithmeat) and
piyanggang
manok
(chicken cookedwithburnt
coconut).
Go for awalk along
PanampanganBeach’s impressivewhite
sand, or gomountain climbing to see the
majesticviews fromBongaoPeak.
AREACODE
+68
TOUCHDOWN
SANGA-
SANGAAIRPORT
GETTOTOWN
TRICYCLE
(FROMPHP150-500,DEPENDINGONYOUR
BARGAININGSKILLS)
HenryP.
Balutan
Restaurantmanager/
networker
FielAngelie
Cortez
Entrepreneur
Salvacion
Pescadera
Tawi-Tawi provincial
tourismofficer
