The Other Side Of Southern Philippines: Mindanao

In this photo, I remember there is that Filipino folk song about a drunkard fisherman named Felimon. After fishing, he got drunk for drinking 'Tuba" a native coconut wine. Drinking of 'Tuba" wine is a very common vice among the folks in any rural villages in the countryside. I hope this man will not follow Felimon. His family is looking after him and he has children to feed.

"Have seen this as one of the feats in the famous TV show Fear Factor, eating balut. It is a must try for the daring foreign visitor when in the Philippines. Balut is incubated duck eggs and aborted a few days before it will hatch. Boiled before serving, the soup is so yummy. Eating the almost-chick thing is a such a feat - your mind commanding you to eat overpowering against what you are seeing. No, no, no! - that was just cinematic effects. Once you tasted it, you'll gonna keep coming back for more. Warning: Very high in cholesterol. Do not eat more than 5 in one sitting! As night falls, be aware of the man shouting "Balut, balut!" with a basket over his shoulder doing the rounds through the city streets. The basket is heat-insulated, so expect a hot balut when handed over. It costs P12.00 a piece." --as described by Back packer.

Sight-seeing along the coast of Macajalar Bay is very refreshing at the start of the day. Not just the fresh sea breeze makes the morning beautiful but........the sun that rises.

Beautiful morning at Macajalar Bay!

Everybody loves a clean environment. If other countries are able to maintain cleanliness, then why the Philippines can not. I was bothered this morning upon looking the wirings at this electric post. Is there no solution to these ugly noodles? This is unusual not just here in Mindanao but all throughout the Philippines. So don't be amazed!

As if I was travelling around New Zealand or Switzerland. Actually I got this picture just in my neighborhood last Sunday. This ranch is so fascinating! Milk is still expensive here in the Philippines.

Summer in the Philippines is the most awaited time for those exhausted from classes and work. It's vacation time. The hot tropical climate is undoubtedly perfect for outdoor activities. Though some classes are not over yet, but people seem to be very excited for the coming vacation. Who don't like vacation anyway? When I went to this favorite place yesterday, I saw these young men on their bamboo boat which is known here as "gakit." I feel like to swim. I could not sleep well now for the coming April. It is the time for travel, mountain climbing and going to the beach. How about you?

Once you reach the countrside, you'll find plenty of different vendors (flowers, plants, fruits, foods,...) along the roads. The above picture is a man selling a "Buko." A 'buko' is in fact a young coconut. The water inside this young nut is advisable to drink especially for those with kidney problem. "Buko' juice is a healthy drink. Now that it's summer in the Philippines, "buko' juices are very salable.

Filipinos also play lotto. If pawnshops are the lucrative businesses here, then lottery has overtaken pawnshops. Lottery outlets do exist doubly than pawnshops. Everybody tries his luck to become rich anyway. Who knows you will become an instant millionaire? But how will you win if don't gamble? Does anyone here knows where lottery originates?

When going for a trip around Mindanao, something what catches a foreigner's attention are the pawnshops. From the urban cities to the smallest municipalities, pawnshops are there and in almost all parts of the country as well. Maybe pawnshops are one of the most profitable businesses here. In times of immediate needs, pawnshops accept valuables like jewelries, appliances, and cellphones. Could you share something about pawnshops in your place too?

Tricyles in Mindanao and in the whole Philippines are of different models. Every city has a distinct model. Like on that photo, that is the tricycle in Cagayan de Oro City. Cities in Butuan, Surigao and Pagadian have the models of their own. Tricycles are not allowed to pass in any major roads. It travels for short distance trips and as expected, tricycles are not as luxurious as a car.

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Mangoes catched my attention this morning when I went to the Market's Spices' Section. I just wondered why these mangoes are displayed here but did not bother asking the stall owner anymore.Instead, I bought 2 kilos of this mangoes for 50 pesos though not included in my list. Isn't the price so reasonable?




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Have you tried riding a cab? In local term, that cab in the picture is known here as "traysikad" or simply a "sikad" and is common when bound for short distances but as a rule, a "sikad" is not allowed to pass in major roads. A "sikad" would run manually with the use of a pedal. But there are "sikads" that are modified, instead of a pedal, a motorboat engine is used. Once you take a "sikad" you will pay 4-5 pesos.





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This is a typical wet market in the Philippines. I took this photo at 5 a.m. today while I bought fish for our breakfast. The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of more or less 7,000 islands and islets which undoubtedly we are enjoying fresh and very affordable fishes. Fishes are a main staple along with rice for us Filipinos for these what we are abundant of. Fishing is a major livelihood for many Filipinos. But the problem is, though there are coast guards who take a look for illegal fishing, such activity cannot be avoided because of wide coasts that they are guarding.




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Never mind the high cholesterol it might give, the keep-me-coming-back-for-more taste of "lechon" is no wonder it is offically considered as the national food for Filipinos. "Lechon" is a roasted whole pig. The crispy skin is the creme, that when served, the lechon would lose all its skin in no time. Serving lechon is a must for Filipinos, come any big occassion or festivity (may it be a birthday party, a wedding, Fiestas, etc). There are Lechon shops wherein the roasting with charcoal can be witnessed. Waiting for your lechon to be cooked would make you salivate on and on - so better buy the first to go. If you are at the right time of the year, check the Lechon Festival in Balayan, Batangas every 24th of June commemorating the feast of St. John with a parade of crispy and golden-red lechons.




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One of the most enjoyable weekly routines of every Filipino household is going to the market during weekends. You can notice on the picture that farm products are displayed in the sidewalks. Vendors who have no stalls inside the market are allowed to sell their products in the designated sidewalks. Here, vegetables and fruits are very fresh from the farm and the prices are much much cheaper.





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Notwithstanding the advancement in technology, many folks in Mindanao still use firewoods for cooking. Everyday, truckloads of firewoods are delivered to the market for public consumption. Obviously, we all know the ill-effects. Deforestation is one of the major problems that must be addressed. Although the Philippine government initates watersheds programs, still the problem becomes worse if small scale timber-cutting and illegal logging will not stop. I do not know if other countries are confronted with this problem.

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We are lucky that we're not like that woman on the picture. When I went to the market this morning to buy some stuff for the week, I saw this woman holding a pen writing on a paper. But it seems that she has her own world. Must she live in this way throughout her lifetime? She must be cared. She's a human. I hope that one day she'll be placed in a shelter where she can eat regularly. Does her family neglected her? If ever, who will take care of her instead?

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National elections in the Philippines is set on the First Monday of May this year, 2007. What have you noticed on the above photo? That are campaign posters pasted on the walls. Isn't that unethical? Though the COMELEC(Commission on Elections) have guidelines regarding campaign posters, unfortunately our supposed to be the leaders are the ones who violated the laws. Are these people who are to run the affairs of the government worthy? What about in your place?




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No wonder why the Philippines is on the hotspots of countries where copyright violations are worse. It is a common streetscene that pirated CDs and DVDs are for sale. Despite that the country has a law on Intellectual Property (PD 49), inforcement of this law seems overlooked. In fact, Police precincts are just beside the stalls selling these pirated CDs and DVDs. Is this also common to your place?




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Mindanao is blessed with much resources. Thoughout the year, fruits are abundant. The world's giant pineapple-derived products suppliers Dole and Del Monte are also situated in Mindanao. When travelling around the island, along the roads are stalls selling fresh fruits and are relatively very cheap. Forget not several cents with you then. Mangoes cost only 40-50 pesos per kilo. Bananas are almost to be given away. Can't you believe? Want proof? Why not ask people you met from Mindanao?



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Most establishments in Mindanao and generally in the whole Philippines have security guards. Such establishments as schools, banks, pawnshops, gasoline stations, fastfoods, offices, etc., the presence of armed men can be noticed. If we are to look on the positive side, the presence of security guards may help minimize crimes. But I wonder if in other countries, hiring a security guard is a must.



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Sari-Sari stores are unique in the Philippines' villages and are ubiquitous in every corner. These stores sell varied items, which the name "Sari-Sari" is derived. Literally in English, "Sari-Sari" means "Mix-Mix." Here you can buy a sachet of shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, also can goods, and other basic commodities. A Sari-Sari store when properly managed or has several customers can become a grocery store or may grow into a Shopping Mall maybe. You can start this kind of business if you like. Your name may be placed in the Guiness Book if you are the one who will first establish a Sari-sari Store in Europe or in the Americas.



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Before going to work (@ 8:30 a.m.), I usually walk somewhere else as early as 5 in the morning. I took this photo a while ago when I was walking along the river and I remembered something way back in my elementary years and questioned myself, "Will the seas overflow with too much water from the rivers?" I could not imagine how the water from Agusan River, or the Pulangi River and the Rio Grande River evaporate....Anybody here? please explain.



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The above photo was captured a week ago in Cagayan de Oro. Major cities in Mindanao never cease to progress. This may be the reason why cost of living in these cities becomes higher and higher. Folks from rural places have migrated to the cities which has resulted to the build up of slums. People jampacked to these places just lived here practically to minimize expenses maybe. Is there a solution to this very alarming problem?



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A jeepney is the most common means of transport all throughout the Philippines. Jeepneys were derived from a jeep used by the US forces during the WWII. After then, the jeeps were modified by Filipino craftsmen and are now being used for private and public transports. Some other countries in Africa, then the Papua New Guinea now import jeepneys from the Philippines.



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Did you hear the song which entitled, "Sound of Silence?" How do you interpret it? 

Cities have noise different from that of the rural places. In cities, everybody looks busy never-minding people around. But foreigners might get irritated when they'll come to the Philippines because very early in the morning cocks will wake him up though he feels not going up yet whether he stays in the city or in a barrio. Roosters are pet for the folks.



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In the Philippines, it is not McDonald's that is more popular fastfood but Jollibee. This may be because Jollibee catches the Filipino Taste (sweet spaghetti....!!!). In Mindanao, every city has at least one Jollibee outlet. And in Cagayan de Oro City in particular, though not a metropolitan city but has already 9 outlets. The foto is the Jollibee Vamenta, in Cagayan de Oro City. Sometimes, service is not of a fastfood standard because you'll gonna wait for many minutes to be served. Maybe because the crews cannot accommodate several customers at a time. Jollibee continues to expand and is going global being Asia's one of the most admired companies. Does anyone here visited Jollibee?



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Despite the Island's richness, poverty still can be felt. Mindanao is the Philippine's food basket, vast of its land produces much food. Mindanao is one of the world's major producers of pineapples. Along the roads, the unending fields of rice refreshes one's eye not speaking the fresh tropical fruits. Not just world class white sand beaches that sprawl along its coasts. Moreover, in its interior are endowed with natural springs and timbers. Most inhabitants are well-educated but why some still live in poverty?

When you gonna rise up Mindanao?



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