South Cotabato is my home, and never did I ever imagine leaving this beautiful province. Aside from a bounty of fruits, flowers and vegetables, one of the best things to experience in my dear province are farm tours. Farm owners open their farm to guests who want to experience life in a farm.
Teodoro’s
Farm is a cacao farm that processes and produces tablea. Guests get to enjoy a
cup of “sikwate” paired with “ibos” which is one of the farm specialties in a
rustic two storey bamboo structure. Aside from sikwate, they also offer Ilonggo
cuisines like; KBL(kadyos,baboy,langka), Inubaran nga Native Manok and a must
try is the Gor Juice.
Teodoro’s
Farm has a bed and breakfast for guests who want a much longer farm experience.
I had the chance to talk with the owner, and he shared his future plan of
expanding by opening the farm to corporate teambuilding activities.
Our
Teodoro’s Farm experience is another memory to cherish with my family. Teodoro’s Farm is located in Brgy.
Edwards, T’boli, South Cotabato.
We
love tagging along our parents all the time, no matter how old we get, we still
love being with them and experiencing new things with them. On the regular
meeting of T’boli Pawnshop, we all went with them to experience the Lemsnolon
Homestay.
Gunu
Bong means the big house in T’boli’s dialect. It is a big house above ground
with a big open hall where the bed room, dining room and the kitchen are found.
The ground floor of the Gunu Bong is where the economic activity of the T’boli
women happens, weaving instrument and a small shop selling crafts and
accessories.
Lemsnolon Homestay is open to guest staying for a night for ₱300 per person, it includes a meal and place to stay for a night inside the Gunu Bong. While we did not stay for night, we get to enjoy their traditional food offerings. Food was prepared in a long table at the center of the Gunu Bong. For snacks we had; Soging Hega (hega means steamed) and Ubi Hega with an unlimited coffee. Lunch was a feast of traditional T’boli food; Onuk Heklafak(roasted chicken), Nelut (chicken cooked inside a bamboo trunk), Onuk’ Lagpang(roasted chicken made into a soup with tomato,onion and ginger), Onuk Snubaw(Tinolang Manok) and Ken Hnunges be Doun Menge(rice packed in Balantik leaves).
It
was a great experience to eat seated on the floor that from time to time we
have to change position for a little stretch. The best thing about the food
they offer at Gunu Bong is that they use herbs and spices grown around the Gunu
Bong.
We
were so full after, that we went to walk around the Gunu Bong while the parents
are in the meeting. Lemsnolon Homestay is managed and operated by the women of
Lemsnolon assisted by the Local Government of T’boli.
It
was so empowering to see a group of indigenous women managing an entrepreneurial
project that help them have an extra income for their family.
Gunu Bong Lemsnolon Homestay is located within the compound of Brgy. Lemsnolon Barangay Hall. Lemsnolon Barangay Hall is about 5 kilometers from the main highway, of rough road passing through farm lands. Located along the highway, on your way to town proper of T’boli in Brgy. Edwards on the left side is a signage directing you to Lemsnolon Homestay.
Table Date: May 18, 2019 Table Buddies: T’boli Pawnshop Shareholders,empoyees and their families
After a morning of errands, round and round we go around General Santos City looking for a place to have lunch. Until we decided to go to Gensan Foodtrip Plaza, at least we get to choose among a number of food stall that offers a diverse cuisine but nothing beats a good old Filipino home cooked recipes. Good Bull has been a GOOD choice for us.
Good Bull is an all day comfort food restaurant along side Gensan Foodtrip Plaza, an Old House converted into a restaurant. The experience was like visiting your grandmothers house and feasting on traditional family recipes.
Food was so good that I just felt like I am at home enjoying a meal with my family. Price and serving sizes makes every cent counts. For lunch we had; Ranchero’s Baby Back Riblets, Sizzling Bulalo and Pork Adobo.
Good Bull for me is the best place to satisfy your cravings for comfort food that makes you feel you are at home.
The buzz is on this beautiful white sand beach in the historic town of Glan, Sarangani Province. Being a Piscean, I wanted a beach birthday where I can relax and simply be away from the my daily routine in Aurora’s Kitchen and home.
View from Casa Dos right deck
Belimac Sumbang Point is tucked in seaside cliff of Taluya, Glan. Upon arrival in Poblacion Glan, we were instructed to go to the Port of Glan where we took a 4×4 ride going to the resort. Waves were too strong that day so instead of a boat ride to the resort, we had the 4×4 ride, if you are to take this route be ready for a heart pumping walk down the resort.
We reserved Casa Dos Upper Deck for an overnight stay. Ma’am Rowena, the owner, is nice and kind to provide us with enough pillows and extra foam for sleeping. Casa Dos Upper Deck is a beach front cottage with two side decks, a restrooms and near the grilling area.
The room has; 1 king size bed, sofa bed and 3 mattress
The resort is not just a place of pristine waters and unspoiled scenery, but a place of history as well. The rest of the afternoon on our first day was spent it looking for a historical marker on the Memorial for the Philippines Baptism along Sarangani Bay Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in1543.
On our second day, after a morning swim, I passed by Ma’am Rowena by the resort’s canteen, had conversation with her, until I saw the historical marker I been looking for. She told me that it was placed in Sumbang Point in the 90’s recognizing the historic significance of the place.
Sumbang Point marker
According to Ma’am Rowena, they plan to open a restaurant and a bigger place that can accommodate groups for seminar and team building activities. For those planning to visit Belimac Sumbang Point you can visit their Facebook Page.
I
am back on the road with my family, for my advance birthday beach weekend. And
there is no better way of having a beach weekend than spending it in Southern
Mindanao’s beach town, Glan, Sarangani.
We left home right after breakfast. After an hour and half on the road, we reached Glan, Sarangani. Before heading to the port of Glan, we made a quick stop at Chef Nico’s Choco Puro Cafe of Sweetsbank at Curbada Menor, Brgy. Ilaya, Glan.
Me and my beautiful Mama
Sweetsbank is located right before you enter barangay Poblacion. We had “sikwate” and “puto maya” a must try combination at Sweetsbank. They also offer “pasalubong” products and frozen tuna as well as short orders of rice and pasta combo meals.
The
“sikwate” and “puto maya” is really good; I loved the gingery taste of the puto
maya. We also tried the moron for only ₱15.00 per piece, it is
glutinous rice with “tsokolate” swirled together and formed into a log wrapped
in banana leaves.
Papa
and Mama even had a chat time with the owner Mr. Hulguin who even asked if we
made an advance reservation with the resort we are staying in, he even told us
that he’s friends with the owners. Even before our beach weekend, it seems
promising that we are off to a great start because of the nice people we meet
along the way.
Before
we left, Ate Nene bought a bottle of alamang, a shrimp paste, for our dinner
later at the beach.
Sweetsbank
by Chef Nico’s Choco Puro is a must try in Glan, Sarangani.
Table Date: February 16, 2019 Table Buddies: Family
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