Cagayan de Oro - Camiguin - Bukidnon Trip

My friends and I went to a 4-day trip to Cagayan de Oro- Camiguin- Bukidnon last 2011. We took a flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, then headed to Camiguin to spend 2 days there, then went to visit Dahilayan in Bukidnon. We spent our last day in Cagayan de Oro with a white water rafting adventure. 

Manila - CDO - Camiguin - CDO - Bukidnon - CDO - Manila

Please check the links below:

• Camiguin 
• Bukidnon
• Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro is a highly-urbanized first class and capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in Mindanao, southern part of the Philippines. It serves as the regional center and business hubs for the Northern Mindanao (Region X), and is part of a growing Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro, which include the city of El Salvador. It is located along the central coast of northern Mindanao island facing the Macajalar Bay and is bordered by the municipalities of Opol to the west; Tagoloan to the east, and provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte to the south of city.

Bukidnon

Bukidnon is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte. 

Camiguin Island

Camiguin is the smallest province in Northern Mindanao, with its land area pegged at 29,187 hectares. It is composed of five towns, namely, Mambajao – the capital town, Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay and Catarman. The island plays host to seven volcanoes, including the still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok. 

According to http://www.camiguin.gov.ph: "The island of Camiguin is one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines. The advantage of Camiguin versus other local tourist destinations lies in the "completeness" of its natural environment and the high diversity of the ecosystem." 

Baguio City

Bell Church

Most of us usually visit Baguio City to experience its cool climate, and to visit its tourist areas like the Mines View Park, Burnham Park, Strawberry Farm, among others. However, Baguio City is more than that. 

Despite its being one of the most popular tourist spots in the Philippines, there are still places which only a few have gone to. Get to know the other places worth visiting.

Sagada, Mountain Province

Lumiang Cave

Sagada is a municipality of Mountain Province is popular for its cool climate, caves, falls, amazing sceneries, warm people, and of course, good food. 

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Calle Crisologo

Bangui Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte

Bangui Windmills

Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The wind farm uses 20 units of 70-metre (230 ft) high Vestas V82 1.65 MWwind turbines, arranged on a single row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_Wind_Farm

Bohol

Yes, this is in Bohol. The province of the famous Chocolate Hills and the Tarsiers has more than what most of you might have seen on post cards :P

Iloilo City

Last 2009, I was able to visit Iloilo City. Aside from La Paz Batchoy, Pancit Molo, Piaya, or Biscocho, Iloilo is popular for its numerous old churches. 

Iloilo City Map

I was able to visit some fascinating churches and other places staring from the far end of Iloilo (the last town before Aklan). 

First Stop: San Joaquin 

San Joaquin Church

San Joaquin Church was built by the Augustinian Order in 1869. It is known as the only church in the country with a militaristic facade, incoporating the bas-relief mural Rendicion de Tetuan.

San Joaquin Cemetery

The San Joaquin Cemetery is located along the main highway in San Jaoquin Town. The construction of San Joaquin Cemetery was commenced by Fray Mariano Vamba, the last Augustinian parish priest of the town in 1892. A statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched stands on top of a baroque style gate, and on each side of Christ, two columns with angelic figures are poised as guards. In addition, sculpted heads of two cherubs and a skull representing death marks the entrance of the cemetery. Twenty stone steps after entering the gate and you will be greeted by the Baroque designed mortuary chapel standing on the center

Miag-ao Church

According to wikipedia, the Miag-ao Church, or Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, was built in 1786 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries and was declared as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines" in 1993. On the front facade, which is flanked by two watchtower belfries, one can see the unique blending of Spanish and native influences.

The central feature of the bas-relief facade is a large coconut tree which reaches almost to the apex. While an integral part of the Philippine landscape, the coconut tree is also the subject of lore. According to an old Philippine legend, the coconut tree was the only bequest from a loving mother to her two children, a tree which sustained them for life. On the church's facade the coconut tree appears as the "tree of life" to which St. Christopher carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulder is clinging to. The lesser facades feature the daily life of Miagaowanons during the time. Also depicted are other native flora and fauna, as well as native dress.

The church and its watchtowers were also built to defend the town and its people against raids by the Moros. It therefore has thick walls and, reportedly, secret passages. Indeed stretching along the Iloilo coast are defensive towers, but none that equal the size of the Miag-ao. It is because of this defensive purpose that it is sometimes referred to as the Miag-ao Fortress Church. 

Guimbal Church

One of the oldest in the country, the 400 year old Guimbal Church which was built in 1774, was made from adobe stones called igang and coral stones from Guimaras.