Backpacking in Mindanao

Ever seen a chicken standing and walking up straight? Well, I have. I was so awed and amazed, i just had to take a picture of it (with permission of course from the owner).

It's been some time since i last posted anything here and the reason is simple: i was just too busy for anything else than work.

I just got back from a three-week backpacking adventure in Mindanao. It was both for pleasure and work.

I start off my adventure when i found out that i had to take back my leave that i have applied for since last May to attend the Kadayawan festival in Davao to attend a forum of sorts in Cagayan de Oro City. I had to spend two hours in line in the Cebu Pacific ticketing office in Galleria to rebook my return flight only to find out the next day that i had to rebook it again.

Anyway, I arrived in Davao on a Saturday which my friends and i already marked off for a surprise despedida for a friend who is, as i write this, in class in Trente (inggit). The party was a blast, and we ended up driving about two hours around the city looking for a Videoke bar that wasn't brimming with customers. We then set out for a tree-planting expedition in Arakan (still part of the despedida thing sponsored this time by my friend), South Cotabato. View was exquisite (don't have pictures of those yet), it would remind you of the Shire, and the falls was fabulous. The trek was kinda horrific for my busted knees but fun nevertheless (with my trusty knee brace and Hot Leg dancer Jan). Imagine sliding down on cogon grass to end up in a falls overlooking the whole valley. (A friend of mine, before he jumped from the falls, said he wouldn't mind dying as long as his last image of earth was the one before him)

With that adventure over, and with my aching bones, I then proceeded to CDO after a great seafood dinner. CDO was pretty much all work. After spending the week there, i went back to Davao and then trooped to Samal Island.

Come Monday, I then went to Kidapawan to visit a very dear friend, a 69 year old Italian missioner who gave me his published diary, with matching dedication and all. I was too spend a couple of nights on the field after passing through Kidapawan. Fortunately, during the Red Moon, when the shadow of the earth fell upon the moon, i was at a place where the stars were so clear and so bright, like nothing you've ever seen anywhere near the metro.

It was the next day when i saw the standing chicken. And i was enthralled. I guess it was a good ten minutes that i just watched it walk, pecking around for food.

After another night staying at a friend's place, i went back to Kidapawan, but passing through Sultan Kudarat first to drop in at a government office there (and what a small world, the official there is the father of a schoolmate), and spent another couple of nights there to finish my business.

I went straight to Marbel (Koronadal), riding in a van that just had to cram all breathable space with people and stopping at every possible stop, to meet up with an officemate for another field visit. We were to ride the habal-habal for about 2 hours up the mountains (where it's freaking cold), and chat with the indigenous communities, explaining to them their rights to land and to life. By this time, i have already gotten sick thrice during the trip and i've been sleeping pretty early to catch up with all the traveling i've done.

Of course i had to plan when and where i would be having my clothes laundered in between trips. I also had to schedule my bathroom time.

Finally, after two nights spent on field, I traveled back to Davao, bought dinner from McDo, took a bath and just sunk in bed...of course i just had to get sick anymore because of the damn aircon.

Exactly on the 21st day of my trip, i finally flew back to Manila with 23 kilos of fruit, but spending only 400 for all of it. I love fruit season.

Anyway, in a nutshell, I have been to six cities, passed through ARMM, gone to three provinces and i lost count with the barangays, and only spending not more than two nights in any one given place. whew.

But what can i say, the view is spectacular, the people are lovely, and the food is great!

Though i wouldn't want to repeat that any time soon, it's a trip worth taking.