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Mention "General Santos" and two things come to mind - Tuna and Manny Pacquiao. These two has been the iconic association to this huge city down south that serves as the gateway to SoCCSKSarGen.  You get to experience a unique morning adrenaline rush in General Santos City. Formerly known as Dadiangas, the city was later renamed to General Santos to honor General Paulino Santos, a military man from Tarlac who pioneered the settlement when he led the first group of migrants to the area in 1939. The city developed tremendously from thereon becoming the region's center for commerce with a strong agro and fishing industry as its backbone. In fact, the city is the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the country earning the monicker as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines".
The city is a bustling community that is at par with Manila, Cebu, and Davao. It has its own mix of old and new businesses that give it both the urban and provincial vibe. We walked around to look for pocket destinations that will give us that unique GenSan fill. Plaza Heneral Santos and the GenSan City Hall At the heart of General Santos City is a sprawling park honoring the man that pioneered the settlement in the region – General Paulino Santos. Born in Camiling, Tarlac, General Santos led the first batch of migrants to the Lagao area of Koronadal where he helped establish the first batch of communities in 1939. These colonies would help drum roll the development in the area that gave birth to the present-day General Santos City.  The sprawling park at the heart of the city that honors the man behind the birth of GenSan. The centerpiece of the park is a valiant gold statue of General Santos and a historical marker that outlines his contribution in the birth of the city. This monument also serves as his final resting place together with his wife.
Looming on the background is the city’s center of governance – the General Santos City Hall. The government complex houses the various offices that provide basic services to the people of General Santos City. Pioneer Avenue If we Metro Manila has EDSA and Cebu has Colon Street, General Santos City has Pioneer Avenue as its main artery in the city. This main thoroughfare cuts across the city from the Plaza Heneral Santos down to beachfront area facing Saranggani Bay.  Pioneer Street is GenSan’s iconic thoroughfare. Walking along its sidewalks, it will give you a glimpse and feel of the old General Santos because of some of the old and iconic stores that line the streets. And don’t forget to get a ride on a motorela that ply the roads of the city. Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish A few meters from Plaza Heneral Santos is the center of the Catholic faith of General Santos City – the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish. The quaint and simple façade and belfry of the church is dwarfed by the multi-story buildings in its area.
The simple vibe of the church transcends within the interior of the sanctuary. The altar is void of any grand design and its only highlight is the crucifix at the center of the altar. Despite the strict security at the time of our visit, you can feel the peace and serenity of the sanctuary. General Santos Fish Port A trip to General Santos will not be complete if you do not visit the General Santos Fish Port. The fishport boasts itself with modern facilities that are at par with international standards. Its daily yield of 750 metric tons of fish is the 2nd largest total fish catch in the country, next only to Navotas.  One of the arteries of General Santos City’s economy – tuna! The best time to visit the facility is in the early morning when fishing vessels unload their catch. Make sure that you wear pants and socks because the facility follows strict protocol on the dress code. You need to wear boots within the premises of the docking and processing area. General Santos is the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna and it was interesting to observe the whole process of classifying tuna at the fish port. The process begins when the tuna harvest are off-loaded and lined up for weighing. After the fish is weighed, its meat is then checked for quality. It is then classified whether it is for export, local consumption, or canning. I was lucky that I also got the opportunity how some of the harvests are cleaned and packaged for consumption.  Enjoying the early morning buzz of the General Santos Fish Port.
The view of Saranggani Bay with tens of docked fishing boats and the organized chaos of the morning grind of the fishport will definitely get your adrenaline pumping. You can feel the intensity of the action as you admire the tremendous work put in by each worker. As the buzz slowly dies down in the late morning, you can see the smiles flooding the area - another day's done and tomorrow is definitely going to be another exciting one. Getting there: You can take a blue trike to Tambler from Kimbol. Fare is at Php20 at travel time is 30 minutes. Just inform the trike driver that you are headed to the General Santos Fish Port. Queen Tuna Park Immortalizing its monicker, the city developed a beach spot within the city and aptly called it the Queen Tuna Park. The public park is a cheap and easy escape from the heat by some of its locals. Family and friends can enjoy a lazy afternoon or a quick dip in its waters.  Queen Tuna Park is a public beach within the vicinity of the city.
The beach spot is an easy find with its tuna design gates along P. Acharon Boulevard. If you intend to stay a while, there are picnic huts and tables for rent in the area. Pacman Wildcard Gym General Santos is Manny Pacquiao country. The world reknowned boxer considers the city as his hometown. He is considered a hero in GenSan that his mansions and the gym that he works out in and owns are tourism attractions. Previously, you can walk in to these attractions and just pay fees however Manny Pacquiao's foundation have streamlined their tourism initiatives. The fees collected are channeled to the scholars of the foundation.
We did manage to visit the Pacman Wildcard Gym beside SM GenSan where we got a peek of the gym where Pacman works out and prepares for his fight. You cannot deny his influence in the gym with huge pictures of the boxer-turned-senator. POST TRAVEL NOTES The heneral in Santos was a major turning point for the city that was once known as Dadiangas. His unwavering trust to heed the call to lead the first settlers spurred the development in the region creating a bustling metropolis. The city, through time, has earned its own corner in economics and soon in the tourism front being the gateway to SoCCSKSarGen.  Get ready to get your palates teased on my next blog. Tiyak na mabubu-SOX kayo! General Santos have pocket of destinations that gives you the raw beauty of the city. Its economic development in itself is an attraction worth exploring. It is at the forefront of its tourism offer. But there is another tourism draw that General Santos can bank on and it goes beyond what we get to see and feel. Something that would literally warm your tummy. Let's talk about GenSan as a foodie hub on my next travel blog. Getting There: Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air have regular daily flights to General Santos City. You can take a jeep or a cab to SM City General Santos where you can take a van to Glan in Saranggani. Tricycle is the way to go around Glan. Sample Travel Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Cotabato City / Cotabato City Tour > The Grand Mosque (Habal-Habal Contact: Mohammad Edsa - 0935 9063067) > People’s Palace > Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral > PC Hill and Tantawan Park > Old Cotabato City Hall > Cotabato City Plaza Day 2: Asik-Asik Falls, Alamada, Cotabato (Click here for my trip details. Contact person for habal-habal arrangements from Midsayap: Jun Camap – 0919 4558958) Day 3: Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat Road Trip in the morning enroute to Lake Sebu. (Click here for my trip details.) > White Mosque (Datu Odin Sinsuat) > Margues Blue Lagoon (Datu Odin Sinsuat) > Pink Mosque (Datu Saudi Amapatuan) > Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol (Isulan) Lake Sebu Walk > Lake S’bu > T’Boli Museum > Lake Sebu Town Center Day 4: Lake Sebu Tour (Click here for my trip details. Contact person for Lake Sebu Tour: Ronald Maguan – 0997 2482160). Travel to Glan in the afternoon. Day 5: Glan Tour (Click here for my trip details.) > Lago Beach > Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church > Glan Municipal Hall > Taban Beach > Gumasa Beach Travel to General Santos City in the afternoon Day 6: General Santos City Tour > General Santos Fish Port > Queen Tuna Park > Pioneer Street > Plaza Heneral Santos > Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Day 7: Early morning departure to Manila
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The city is sizzling under the summer sun and most of the city dwellers are trying to get a piece of the beach. With the summer sun glaring mercilessly on us, it is definitely the best sanctuary to be in at this time of the year. Most of us don't mind the heat when we are feeling the sand under our feet. But did you know that there is a G-spot down south... err... i mean, a go to beach spot down south that could give Boracay a run for its money?  Glan in Saranggani has a perfect summer mix of sun, sand, and salt. Saranggani may not ring a bell as much as Aklan or Palawan but the municipality of Glan on the western coast of the province is a great destination to explore and discover for beach lovers. The beauty of its white sand beach and clear turquoise waters have earned it the monicker as the "Summer Capital of Saranggani". Roughly about an hour away from General Santos City, Glan is also being positioned to being included in the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites for its collection of well-preserved heritage houses similar to that of Vigan's. Lago Beach Located on the north of Glan, Lago Beach is a peaceful sanctuary where one can enjoy a steady day by the beach. Its cream-colored sand and calm turquoise waters is a perfectly relaxing view to appreciate. Taking a dip in its cool waters is a good way to break away from reading a book or the monotony of not doing anything.  Lago Beach is a great spot to relax and enjoy the beach. Hacienda Don Juan sits at the heart of its coast. The sprawling resort was established by the heirs of Don Juan Escobar who converted the beach spot into a realxing and instagrammable resort. The resort boasts of unique cocoon accomodations and family houses for the bigger crowd. The resort has its own restaurant and a small store that operates 24 hours. The staff are locals from Glan who are tapped to help during peak season and when needed.
At the heart of the estate stands the Escobar Ancestral Home which doubles as a home for the clan and a museum that displays family memorabilias. On display on its courtyard are some of the car collection of the family and a pen where they safekeep their pet ostriches. Its beachfront was designed to give its guests that relaxing and laidback beach vibe.  Enjoying the peaceful vibe of Lago Beach.
Kuya Lito gleams with pride that a lot of their guests enjoy the privacy that the resort provides. There is no doubt that the resort does provide a beach sanctuary away from the usual crowd. Glan Town Center Glan is a sleepy and laidback municipality and you get that kind of provincial vibe as you explore its town center. As mentioned earlier, the municipality is also known for its heritage structures and going around town by foot can be an interesting experience. It felt like I was in a scene of a movie set in the 1960s. Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church Void of the usual glam of a Catholic church, the Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church is a sanctuary that evokes simplicity - a reflection of the community. Its simple facade and belfry blends perfectly well with its surroundings. In fact without the belfry, one would probably mistake it as an office structure.  The simple façade of the Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church.
Natural light brightens up its interiors with its large window frames along the sides of the church. Its main altar evokes simplicity with only the crucifix as its main focus. The place is a sanctuary of the faithful with its peaceful and serene ambiance. Glan Municipal Hall A few blocks from the church is the new Glam Municipal Hall facing the town plaza. The structure stands at the heart of town and dominates the skyline of Glan. A small gold-colored monument is the main centerpiece of the town that depicts the life of the locals in Glan.
Taban Beach 15 minutes away south of the town center is Taban Beach - a small public beach strip with white sand and clear turquoise waters. The beach stop is undeveloped and it has a small fishing community along its shores. Except for a small store, a couple of benches for rent, and a makeshift toilet, the beach is pretty much oozes with rawness.  Enjoying a quick dip at Taban Beach. The beach strip is bounded by rock formations on both ends. We explored the rock formations on the southern side where you get to view Gumasa Beach. You can actually cross its shallow waters to get to the more popular beachfront of Gumasa. It is a good beach spot for those who want to enjoy a laidback day by the beach for FREE unless you plan to rent out one of the benches for a picnic or a longer stay. You can actually find your own spot and enjoy its sand and the sun without the usual commerce of a beautiful beach. Gumasa Beach Gumasa Beach is probably the most popular beach spot in Glan. Its 6-kilometer white sand shoreline that stretches in a crescent-shape cove is so impressive that the beach is often referred to as the "Boracay of the South". The beach is not crowded despite the development of resorts in the area. It is the venue of the annual Saranggani summer festival - Sarbay Festival.  Gumasa Beach can give Boracay, Cebu, or Palawan a run for their money. The pristine beach of Gumasa Beach is a must-visit in Glan. We enjoyed its powdery white sand and its cool waters under the summer sun. It is one of the beaches in the country that oozes with charm, not to mention that it is very photogenic. The best part of it is that it did not have the crowd that we associate with a beauty like this. It can give Boracay a quick run for its money. But getting to enjoy Gumasa Beach can be quite tricky. The beach is already lined up with a number of resorts that charge "entrance fees". The access road of the Sarbay Festival is also closed at the time of our visit. One can choose to wade through shallow waters from Taban to Gumasa or go the way we did - charmed our way with a caretaker of a newly bought property to allow us to do "viewing". POST TRAVEL NOTES Pristine and without the crowd, the beaches of Glan can give Boracay, Cebu, or Palawan a run for its money. It is largely untouched and less developed so you get to see and experience the rawness of the place. It is a great option to consider for those who want to enjoy the heat of the summer without the usual crowd of the more popular destinations. Although it is starting to get traction and you can expect for development to increase its pace in the coming years. If there is a great time to enjoy the raw beauty of Glan, now is the time.  There is something cool and fishy. Are you ready? Mindanao is Philippine tourism’s pot of gold. A lot of its natural attractions remain untouched and it is largely from the misconceptions that come with the “Mindanao”. It is a haven of on-spot destinations that will surely delight every kind of traveler. The challenge that Mindanao faces is how they can develop these attractions with sustainably for the benefit of the community. Getting There: Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air have regular daily flights to General Santos City. You can take a jeep or a cab to SM City General Santos where you can take a van to Glan in Saranggani. Tricycle is the way to go around Glan. Sample Travel Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Cotabato City / Cotabato City Tour (Click here for details of the trip.) > The Grand Mosque (Habal-Habal Contact: Mohammad Edsa - 0935 9063067) > People’s Palace > Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral > PC Hill and Tantawan Park > Old Cotabato City Hall > Cotabato City Plaza Day 2: Asik-Asik Falls, Alamada, Cotabato (Click here for trip details of the trip. Contact person for habal-habal arrangements from Midsayap: Jun Camap – 0919 4558958) Day 3: Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat Road Trip in the morning enroute to Lake Sebu. > White Mosque (Datu Odin Sinsuat) > Margues Blue Lagoon (Datu Odin Sinsuat) > Pink Mosque (Datu Saudi Amapatuan) > Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol (Isulan) Lake Sebu Walking Tour (PM) > Lake S’bu > T’Boli Museum > Lake Sebu Town Center Day 4: Lake Sebu Tour (Click here for details of the trip. Contact person for Lake Sebu Tour: Ronald Maguan – 0997 2482160). Travel to Glan in the afternoon. Day 5: Glan Tour > Lago Beach > Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church > Glan Municipal Hall > Taban Beach > Gumasa Beach Travel to General Santos City in the afternoon Day 6: General Santos City Tour > General Santos Fish Port > Queen Tuna Park > Pioneer Street > Plaza Heneral Santos > Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage > Tiongson Arcade Day 7: Early morning departure to Manila
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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January 2021
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