68
Smile
May2016
LifearoundLakeSebuhadchanged littlesince theT’Boli and
Manobosettledaround itsshores, until tourists tooknoteof
thisplacidSouthCotabato lake, its temperateclimateand
naturalbeauty.The lake is fedbysprings in thenearbyRoxas-
MatulasandDagumamountainranges; travelers
canhike to thearea’ssevenwaterfalls, orconfront
theiragoraphobiaat the local zipline, oneofAsia’s
highest.Real travelersknow thatculture trumps
adventure in theseparts.TheT’Boli tribespeople
inparticularhavebecomemasterweaversof
t’nalak
: theirmostaccomplishedartisansfind
inspiration in theirdreams, and translate their
visions intomagnificentwovenartworks.Tourists
can takeacanoe toanyof the local artisanal
communitiesand fetchacloth-bounddreamor
two to takehome.
lakesebu.southcotabato.org
Aspartofanetworkofhydroelectric facilities thatdraw
energy from therapidflowof theAgusRiver, theAgusVIplant
suppliespower toa largepartofMindanao.Anydoubtsabout
AgusVI’scapacity fadewhen facedwith the full forceofnearby
MariaCristinaFalls: a twinwaterfall thatcascades
almost 100m fromcliff topool.Dependingon the
needsof theplant, the fallscanbe turnedoff like
aswitch— thewater isdiverted to theplant to
ensure itscontinuousoperation.Weekendvisitors
canseeMariaCristina in fullflow fromaviewing
deckon the thirdfloorof thehydroelectricplant.
Mindful of touristscoming in from IliganCity, the
NationalPowerCorporationhasconvertedpart
of theMariaCristinaFalls’ grounds intoanature
park, completewithpicnicspots, rockclimbing
wallsandziplines.
TRIBAL
ENCOUNTERS IN
SOUTH COTABATO
CHASING
WATERFALLS IN
ILIGAN CITY
CebuPacific flies
to34destinations
around thePhilippines.
cebupacificair.com
PHOTOBY
PAOLOTIONG
(LAKESEBU)
Water, please
