Divine Mercy Shrine

6 years ago the families of my girlfriend brought me at Divine Mercy during the feast which is located at Himaya El Salvador Misamis Oriental. This Divine Mercy of El Salvador is the largest Divine Mercy in the world with a measurement of 50 feet tall which is facing the Island of Camiguin. Divine Mercy Shrine in now become one of the tourist spots in Mindanao, it is also became a tourist attraction for religious group.

Feast of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy devoted

Divine Mercy Stairs

This year is my 6 years of attending the feast of Divine Mercy and I really love to attend this feast. Every year the devoted of Divine Mercy is increasing, the people who attended this feast of divine mercy are come from different places not only in the Philippines but around the world. The Feast of Divine Mercy will happen every first Sunday of April after Holy Week. Since I was visited the Divine Mercy every year after they brought me in this place, I have 3 reasons why I always to attend the feast of Divine Mercy.

1. To get a water from the Area – According to the old and residence from this area the water is a holy and it can be heal some illness in your body that’s why if you are a devoted of Divine Mercy you will never forget to bring a Gallons for your water if you visit the Divine Mercy.
2. To see the Holy Bible and pray at the heart of the Divine Mercy Statue – There is a schedule of visiting the holy bible which is located at the heart of the divine mercy statue. You can reach this Holy Bible by using the stairs of the statue and when you reach there you have only 2 things to do, see the holy bible and pray solemnly with your heart. No bags, gadgets allowed if you have planned to visit the Holy Bible.
3. To see the Dancing Sun – Believe it or not but to see is to believe according to them. Just like me I don’t believe but when I saw it with my two eyes the only word in my mind and came out in my mouth is that God is good. You can witness the dancing sun after the 1^st Mass; the first mass is around 4:30 am or 5:00 am after the procession.

Divine Mercy Procession

Divine Mercy Procession

Another morning of April 7, 2013 I saw again the Dancing Sun which reminds me that life is beautiful and full of happiness. This year Feast of Divine Mercy I saw lots of people crying after they saw the dancing sun.

Divine Mercy

I ask one old lady why she was crying when she saw the dancing sun and she said

“I thought the dancing sun is only rumor and it is not true but after I saw it with my two eyes I could not understand the feelings I have right now.”  This is the first time that she attends the mass of the feast of divine Mercy during dawn. They are come from Pagadian City, they travel so far just to attend the feast of Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy devoted Cry after she saw the Dancing Sun

Feast of Divine Mercy Dancing Sun

So if you have plans to attend or visit some festival next year around Philippines please include the Feast of Divine Mercy. Check the Feast of Divine Mercy 2013 video below.

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Mintugsok falls

After our 4 days of water falling adventure I did not easily get over to the water falls that we’ve into.  Thinking and asking if Cagayan de Oro has waterfalls that people would like to visit and swim with this wonderful waterfalls.

And YES!!! I would like to say thank you to our mother nature because in spite that Iligan City has 39 waterfalls it give Cagayan de Oro a waterfalls and that is the Mintugsok Falls which is located at Indahag.

The river trek going to Mintugsok falls is only 45 minutes to 1hour including some rest along the trail. The waterfall is only near to the heart of the city Cagayan de Oro. The travel time from the City proper to the starting point of the trail is only 10-15 minutes with two options of transportations the multi cab or the Habal-Habal.

What I really like during our trail in this falls is that the paths that we followed are big stones, some are marble stones but there are trail that needs strength because you need to climb a few big rocks.

Big Rock Trail

I really like big formations of the stones which some of these big stones are look like a floor to your house..

Small falls before you reach the main falls

Before you will reach the main source of the waterfalls you will pass 2 small falls with nice view in front of it.

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Lazones Fiestival

Lanzones Festival Camiguin Island, it’s been a while since my last visit to the Island Born of fire Camiguin Island. Most of the time when we visit at Camiguin is during the Holy week and some occasion. Before the end of October the group was decided to visit Camiguin just for weekend getaway and have this tag line (for a change) and to stay for overnight. We have only 2 reasons why we say yes to come to Camiguin, because on the weekend is the opening of the Lanzones festival which this Island popular with the sweetest Lanzones in the Island of Mindanao, lanzones is a small grape-sized tropical fruit grown all over the island. The week-long Lanzones Festival is one of the more colorful events in the Philippines. The second reason is to experience how harvest Lanzones from the trees and to eat unlimited Lanzones which all of us was satisfied during this experience. They are celebrating festival every October.

Choosing which to pick

To make the story short and to start our adventure, we arrived at Camiguin Island on Saturday 6 pm then went to our host for that evening to have some dinner and to stay overnight. During dinner we also start planning on what to do on the next day during the opening of the Lanzones Festival because we have only 1 day to enjoy Camiguin. Instead of going to the opening of the Lanzones Festival we decided to went to Mantigue Island early in the morning to enjoy the white sand and calm water with the beautiful view of big mountains in front of the Mantigue Island during morning and have our lunch at Fishpen which is located near Benoni port.

Lanzones Fruit

Lanzones Harvest

So we will spend our half day for the second reason, to experience how to harvest lanzones and to eat unlimited. The grandparents of our host incdo were owned lands where lots of Lanzones trees were planted and she promised us for the experience of eat all you can Lanzones.

Lanzones Tree

Lanzones Tree

So here we go, we are just like little kids very happy when we saw these trees and yes I admit that we really enjoyed during these experience and because of the excitement I felt I forgot to ate lots of Lanzones because I was enjoyed taking pictures on the trees. Lolz.. J I think I need to come back here next year during the lanzones festival to eat lots of Lanzones and when it will be happen I will leave my camera to avoid destruction for my unlimited Lanzones.. :-p

Lanzones Tree

So tell me, do you think you can eat more Lanzones if these are in front of you…?

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Welcome to Marawi City

Marawi City Summer Capital of the South because of its higher elevation and cooler climate. For composing my first line for this post of Marawi City it took me 10-15 minutes to think on how to start my blog post about this Islamic City. I heard some bad and good news about Marawi City but this news could not stop me to visit the capital of Lanao Del Sur on the Island of Mindanao. I was born at Lanao Del Norte one of the Islamic region in the Philippines and the capital province is Tubod so I think there is no reasons not to visit this neighboring city and the province border of the south Lanao Del Sur.

Marawi City Kilometer 0

It is my first time to visit after twenty-something years of exciting me finally visited the capital of Lanao Del Sur, Marawi City with my fellow traveler bloggers. Yes doubts in my mind were played during that time but I need to experience and see what their culture and some tourist spots to visit if you were in Marawi City. Some of the famous tourist spots to visit if you are in Marawi City are the Lake Lanao, the main campus of Mindanao State University (MSU Marawi), and old mosques. I also amazed the old buildings that the city has.

Marawi City Aga Khan Museum

Aga Khan Museum

We only explore inside Mindanao State University the biggest campus of the MSU System and some mosques around MSU because we don’t have much time to explore Marawi because of limited time we have as group, this is only our side trip after our activity in Iligan City which is the water falling adventure. I’m sure this is not my first and last visit for this City, I will go back here and explore the place after exploring the place where I was born, Lanao Del Norte..:-)

King Faisal Mosque

King Faisal Mosque MSU

My tip when you visit Marawi, rent a van to move around the city much cheaper if you are into group and you can save time. You can do walk around the city if you like and if you already familiarized the city or have some tourist guide friend to walk with you around Marawi City.

MA’AHAD JAMIO MINDANAO AL-ISLAMIE
Mindanao Islamic Center

The people of Marawi are called the Maranaos and speak the Maranao language.

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Did you know that Camiguin Island also called “The Island Born off Fire” because of the 7 volcanoes namely Mt. Hibok-Hibok, Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Guinsiliban, Mt. Mambajao, Mt. Timpoong, Mt. Tres Marias and Mt. Uhay. Mt. Timpoong is the highest volcano in Camiguin with about 1600 meters and Mt. Hibok-Hibok is the active volcano. The last eruption dates was December 4, 1951 which killed 3000 people on the island.

I have two reasons why I love to visit Camiguin Island aside that it is near to Cagayan de Oro it is because my grand grand grand parents was live in this Island before the Volcano was erupted and the second reason why I love to visit this place because of the beautiful tourist spots that they have.

Mantigue Island

We need to spend our weekend wisely, together with our friends we spend our weekend at Camiguin Island. We do over night and visit some favorite tourist spots that we love in the next morning and these are the ardent hot spring and my favorite Island, the Mantigue Island. Mantigue Island is a nice place to visit and hang out with your friends’ family and love ones. It has nice view to the big mountains of camiguin and you can explore the entire Island in just few minutes only.

Mantigue Island group pic with mountain background

The Island was developed by the local government and they have already entrance fee for the maintenance of this Mantigue Island nature park. You can do snorkeling and scuba dive also. It was a nice and fun adventure during our weekend getaway.

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“A wise traveler never despises his own country.”

Mimbalot Falls

When you hear the name Iligan City what comes on your mind are waterfalls and those waterfalls that are popular in this City are Maria Cristina Falls, Tinago Falls and Timoga one of the popular spring in Northern Mindanao. I would like to visit all the 39 waterfalls of Iligan City but only 23 of these were promoted, yes you read it right Iligan city has 39 waterfalls. I think there is not reasons why the city called the City of Majestic falls.

During the waterfalls adventure at Iligan one of the waterfalls that we visited is the Mimbalot falls. If I’m not mistaken this is my 4^th waterfalls that I was visited in Iligan City out of 23 that they have. The water falls that I was visited already are Dodiongan Falls, Tinago Falls, and Maria Christina Falls.

You can do picnic at Mimbalot falls because they already develop the place and put some tables besides the waterfalls, Mimbalot is located at Brgy. Buruun.

Mimbalot falls Picnic Tables

Image credit to Explore Iligan.

Direction and options how to get in Mimbalot falls:

From City Proper – Brgy. Buruun
1. Take the jeepney (PUJ) for Brgy. Buruun (Fare: 10-12Php)
—> Tell the driver to drop you off the Iligan City National School of Fisheries..
—> Or just say “Sa kanto sa Mimbalot lang ko manong” (At the corner road to Mimbalot, manong)
—> Take the off road trail beside the IC Nat’l School of Fisheries around 5-7 minute walk to the Mimbalot Falls.
2. Or you can take a taxi, tell the driver to take you to Mimbalot Falls
[No Fixed or Metered Fare (driver-passenger agreement): ~150-200Php]
3. If you’re driving, take the national highway going southbound. The ICNSF is a few minutes after you pass by the Timoga Spring Pools. Ask any locals which road bend to take.

If you visit Iligan again don’t forget to visit the Dodiongan falls and the Mimbalot falls, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy the place and ambiance of these waterfalls. If I have time will go back in this place and explore it.

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“A good traveler is one who does not know where he is going to, and a perfect traveler does not know where he came from.”

Dodiongan Falls

Day 3 of our water falling adventure tour hosted by the Iligan Bloggers Society Inc., the same day were Iligan City celebrating the Dyandi Festival 2012. The falls that we will conquer today is the Dodiongan falls which is my 3rd waterfalls out of 23 that I’ve been visited in the City of Majestic falls and I think most of the participants all over the world including me who join this adventure are first time to see and visit the beauty of these waterfalls. After few minutes of river trekking we finally reach the Dodiongan falls, but it takes 30-45 minutes travel from the City proper of Iligan. When I saw the beauty of the falls, I have only 3 things in my mind, to swim, to take pictures of the falls, and go back here when I have more time.

Residence from Iligan City usually visited this beautiful tourist spot Dodiongan falls for hang out and for family picnic. You could not see loathe in their face when they reach this waterfalls, even me of course if we have this nice and beautiful waterfalls in our backyard (LOLZ) why would I loathe to visit and swim in this kind of waterfalls.

I really enjoyed my experience in water falling adventure tour.

Directions | How To Get To Dodiongan Falls:
Updated: October 2012

1. Iligan City City proper to Dodiongan Falls, Brgy. Bonbonon
A.1. Jeepney: City Proper to Barinaut Terminal
Map: HERE, Fare: 7.50 Php, Time Travel: ~10mins.
— Take the Habal-habal: Barinaut to Dodiongan Falls Trail Start Point
Fare: 30Php/head, Time Travel: 20-30mins

B. 1. City Proper to Bonbonon and Digkilaan:
— Take a Digkilaan Jeepney Line at the Public Market Jeepney Terminal (Old Iligan City Boulevard)
— Tell the driver to drop you off the Dodiongan Falls

Post – TS Sendong: Easy to Moderate

Direction info from Pinay Travelista.

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Maria Christina Falls

How many waterfalls have you visited in Iligan City?, the City of Majestic waterfalls. Did you know that Iligan City has 39 waterfalls?? Yes, you read it right 39 but only 23 waterfalls have been promoted. You wonder where are the 16 waterfalls?

Tinago Falls

I do know where to start this post and how to share my experience during the Water falling Adventure tour in Iligan City. During this event I have doubt in my self and ask if I’m gonna enjoy my water falling adventure with this group because I only knew few of them. But when the 2nd day of water falling start I felt that all of the participants who joined are kalug. Until now it makes me smile when I remember the group who join the water falling adventure (#smilingPilipinaslang), because everyone in the group is down to earth as in down into really down, please don’t ask me why please.. This is the after effect of the waterfalling tour.lolz

There are two common waterfalls of tourist spots that people love to visit when they are in Iligan city, the Maria Cristina Falls and the Tinago Falls. But during on the 2^nd day of water falling adventure tour we visited 3 water falls the Maria Cristina Falls, Tinago falls and the Mimbalot falls which it’s my first time to hear.

Mimbalot Falls

How to get to Mimbalot Falls.

From City Proper – Brgy. Buruun
1. Take the jeepney (PUJ) for Brgy. Buruun (Fare: 10-12Php)
—> Tell the driver to drop you off the Iligan City National School of Fisheries..
—> Or just say “Sa kanto sa Mimbalot lang ko manong” (At the corner road to Mimbalot, manong)
—> Take the off road trail beside the IC Nat’l School of Fisheries around 5-7 minute walk to the Mimbalot Falls.
2. Or you can take a taxi, tell the driver to take you to Mimbalot Falls
[No Fixed or Metered Fare (driver-passenger agreement): ~150-200Php]
3. If you’re driving, take the national highway going southbound. The ICNSF is a few minutes after you pass by the Timoga Spring Pools. Ask any locals which road bend to take.

Guide instruction from Pinay Travelista

Mimbalot falls is now on the development stage to make it accessible to the tourists who love to visit these waterfalls. The Mimbalot located at Brgy. Buruun, which is approximately 11km drive from the city.

I really enjoyed the 2^nd day of the adventure tour, the trekking part of every waterfalls, the laugh trip, and of course the food that served to us..

water falling participants

3^rd day of the waterfalling adventure experience is more fun and more water..lolx

“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.”

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Maria Cristina Falls

This September I’m very excited to go back and visit again the City of Majestic waterfalls because of the waterfalling adventure tour. This adventure tour will last for 5 days from September 25-29, 2012; this adventure tour is part of their Dyandi fiesta celebration where in Iligan Bloggers Society Inc which is a non-profit organization invites bloggers to join this exciting event that they made. One of the goals of the Iligan Bloggers Society is to help the Iligan City Tourism to promote Iligan as a tourist destination in the Philippines.

Dyandi Calendar of Events

I’m so excited to visit again and join the Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0, the Iligan Bloggers Society Inc. and the participants would like to say thank you to the sponsors to support this adventure tour. Jam Packed na..!!!!!!!!

 Tita Fannies, Red Planet / Calda Pizza, El Canto / Macki’s, Iligan City Government, UNILAB, NPC Natures Park, Third Team Media, TravelJams, PurpleSlipperz, and Pinay Travelista.

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The group with the Guns

We try and experience the 6 different guns in the shooting range. We try the 45 calibers pistol, 22 caliber, Shotgun, Ruger, MP5 submachine gun and the Thompson sub-machine gun which this Thompson sub-machine gun was used during world war II.

At first I admit doubt and fear are already there when I saw these firearms. Doubt because what will be happen after I shoot one of these guns. Fear, because first time to shoot a real guns. But after the first bullet I feel the enjoyment of the real guns and I found out that pulling trigger can release stress aside on that it will add some adrenaline rush. Its different adrenaline rush compare to white water rafting. JJust wondering already when to get back in the shooting range to try another rounds of bullets.

MP5 Submachine gun

If you wish to try this pulling trigger you can visit the Northern Mindanao Practical Shooting Association (NMPSA) located at Zone-9 Anhawon, Bulua Cagayan de Oro City their widest shooting range so far and they are accredited Gun Club with three (3) accredited firing ranges in Region X. For first timers don’t worry because they have trainers/instructors are there to assist and assure you that it is safe. To tell you guys it can be nerve wracking and scary!

You can bring your gun if you have and just pay for the ammo since they allow customers to use their own. They have also packages prepare for you guys who love guns.

Company Package
P500.00/person. (Minimum: 15 pax, Maximum: 25 pax)
Duration: half day(approx 4.5 hrs)

• Lecture of Range Instructor about the Rules of Firearm Safety, Fundamentals of Shooting, Dry Firing, Live Shooting and Unloading Firearms
• Use of 4 Firearms(Pistol, Sub Machine-Gun, Rifle, Shotgun)
• 10 rds pistol ammunition
• 15 rds sub machine gun ammunition
• 12 rds .22 rifle ammunition
• 1 rd shotgun ammunition
• 1 small target paper
• Free use of range and equipment
• For companies outside Cagayan de Oro, we will be having a free transportation service from specific pick up points.
• Additional P70.00 for lunch(food and drink)

Tourist Packages:
Barkada 1 Package (10 persons or more)
P 6,000.00

• 30 minutes lecture of Range Instructor about the Rules of Firearm Safety, Fundamentals of Shooting, Dry Firing, Live Shooting and Unloading of Firearms.
• Use of 3 Firearms ( Pistol, Shotgun and Sub-machine Gun)
• 10 target papers
• 100 rounds of pistol ammunitions
• 100 rounds of sub-machine gun ammunitions
• 10 rounds of shotgun ammunitions
• Free use of range and equipments

Barkada 2 Package (5 persons or more)
P 3,000.00

• 30 minutes lecture of Range Instructor about the Rules of Firearm Safety, Fundamentals of Shooting, Dry Firing, Live Shooting and Unloading of Firearms.
• Use of 3 Firearms ( Pistol, Shotgun and Sub-machine Gun)
• 5 target papers
• 50 rounds of pistol ammunitions
• 50 rounds of sub-machine gun ammunitions
• 5 rounds of shotgun ammunitions
• Free use of range and equipments

Small Group Packages
Sub- Machine Gun MP5 (1 or 3 persons)
P 2,000.00

• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 50 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance

Pistol Classic 1911 (1 or 3 persons)
P 1,250.00

• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 50 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance

Sub- Machine Gun Thompson (1 or 3 persons)
P 1,600.00

• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 50 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance

Shotgun Pump Action
P750.00

• Lecture
• 1 target paper
• 10 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance

Ruger 10-22 Rifle
P 1000.00

• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 100 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance

Every tourist package will consume a maximum of 2 hours. Thus, we require early bookings and reservations for the availability of the range.

Time Schedule for tourist packages:
8:00 – 10:00 AM Monday – Sunday
10:00 – 12:00 AM Monday – Sunday
1:00 – 3:00 PM Monday – Sunday
3:00 – 5:00 PM Monday – Sunday
5:00 – 7:00 PM Monday – Sunday

For reservations and inquiries, please contact Rheinhart Marc Conrad L. Robles @ 09177170209 or call them through their landline number 729155, email: nmpsa_cdo@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to visit their facebook page for updates.

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