Cruising

By Mae Lorraine S. Rafols

Marang sells for P15 a kilo. (Photo by Jovel Lorenzo)

For a place dubbed as the City of Good Luck, Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental does not depend on fate when it comes to the preservation and development of their natural resources.

Its local government, headed by Mayor Ruth Delara Guingona (wife of former vice-president Teofisto Guingona), believes that perseverance, careful planning, and the cooperation of its locals is the real key to taking care of the city’s treasures – which boosts the tourism industry.

Gingoog, a second-class city located 122 kms. east of Cagayan de Oro, has been so successful in its drive of preserving its natural domain, that it was recently awarded the National Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran awards. This made Gingoog the official representative of Region X in the nationwide search for the best clean and green city.

“We’ve incorporated our clean and green campaign with local tourism because we believe the two areas can truly work hand in hand. By taking care of our natural resources, we give people the chance to enjoy what the city has to offer. At the same time we teach them the importance of taking care of nature because in the long run, it’s still the people who will enjoy nature,” said Audie Ocampo, city tourism officer.

The campaign began in the city streets. Residents were given the responsibility to keep their surroundings free from trash and litter. Volunteers were tasked to maintain cleanliness of major public areas such as the pier, the breakwater area, the schoolyards, the market place, and even the cemetery.

The environmental campaign then became part of the city’s eco-tourism tour. A visitor’s first stop is the beach. Gingoog City is a favorite picnic spot because of strong waves perfect for surfing. The panorama of islets such as famous Camiguin island, and Misamis Oriental’s mountainous regions puts nature as an enchanting backdrop.

Here, the local government conducted a coral reef restoration program for its marine life, particularly along the bay area in Barangay San Juan.

Working along with the San Juan Fisherfolks Association and KALIPI, a local environmentalist group, corals were ‘planted’ using seabed blocks made of cement in one area of the San Juan bay. The project began more than a year ago, and today the area is already teeming with marine life. Exotic fishes can be found around the reef area such as parrot fish, jack fish, angel fish and others. The spot is constantly monitored and protected against all forms of illegal fishing.

Tourists can enjoy a view of the reef through a glass-bottom boat ride offered by nearby resorts at P300 for 10 people. Snorkeling around the area can also be arranged.

Beach lovers should also visit Gingoog’s Badjangon beach. Here, visitors can enjoy a cool dip in a natural spring, which flows through a small brook straight to the sea.

The place is a favorite destination because the spring is believed to cure various muscle and joint ailments. The water is in fact ice-cold, but people still enjoy the experience of having a refreshing feeling after every bath.

The eco-tour leads to the mangrove forest in Barangay Libon. The site is being groomed by the local government to become a viewing area for nature enthusiasts who enjoy bird watching. The 69.14-hectare land is considered a sanctuary for migratory birds as the place is teeming with various mollusks and crustaceans. A pavilion serves as view deck for those who wish to indulge in the experience.

The mini forest of Anakan Elementary School in Barangay Libon is backdrop to an information campaign of the local government on how to help save and protect nature by giving short courses on tree-planting and how to cultivate a small herb garden.

The cool forest consists of various fruit trees such as mango, santol, rambutan, makopa, lanzones, and local fruits such as marang and durian. Guests can bring home the fruits by paying P15 for a kilo of marang and P25 for a kilo of durian. Wood trees such as narra and kamagong can also be found in the forest, as well as flowering and medicinal shrubs.

The highlight of the nature trip is the waterfalls trail. Gingoog, also known as the “City of Waterfalls” has 33 waterfalls. However, only a few are easily accessible such as Kilubag and Gantangon Falls while the rest have difficult trails and can only be visited with a local guide.

Gingoog’s most, well-known waterfall is Tiklas in Barangay Lawit, a powerful body of water that plunges 50-feet from a cliff. This is the city’s main tourist attraction as guests truly enjoy going on a picnic with the waterfall as backdrop.

The hike to the falls takes at least 10 to 15 minutes through a muddy and rocky trail, but the sight of Tiklas makes the trek all worth it. The falls is covered by an emerald gorge of Gingoog’s virgin forest.

The thick and towering foliage gives tourists a cool shade during the summer months, and the thick fog covering the tip of the gorge during the rainy season creates a fantastic impression of the clouds coming down from the heavens.

To boost the tourism around the area, the local government constructed swimming pools on the viewing deck, with natural spring coming from the mountains filling the amenity. The construction worked around the area’s natural terrain, to make sure that it affects as little of the natural environment as possible. Cottages made of concrete and nipa can be rented by the hour. There’s also a clean and modern restroom available. Entrance to the viewing deck is P20 per head.

“There’s still so much to develop and discover in Gingoog. The good thing is that there are also many people in our city who volunteer to work with us to take care of our natural resources. It just goes to show that the real treasure of our place are really the people,” said Ocampo.

For more information on Gingoog City, log on to www.gingoog.com.