South Cotabato:The Land of Diverse Heritage
Pristine natural beauty and time-honored traditions combine to put one-of-a-kind travel experiences at the heart of a visit to South Cotabato.
Gracing the Philippines’ southernmost tip, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, and General Santos) is the land of diverse heritage. Few venture this far south, where an ethereal backdrop of serene lakes, cascading waterfalls, and pink lotus gardens inspires celestial weaving and spiritual dance.
At the heart of the region is South Cotabato, home to a melting pot of languages, cultures, and religions. “South Cotabato is a largely unexplored part of the Philippines, which means most of the natural attractions there are still unspoiled,” says James Ong, a travel editor at Ink Global, which handles travel media for Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. Ong has been covering travel in the Philippines for over a decade and has a black book of the best possible experiences for savvy travelers. Top of his list: the legendary lakes.
Unspoiled Natural Beauty
Nestled within a near-perfect ring of forested mountains are the azure waters of volcanic Lake Holon, where outdoorsy travelers can enjoy swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and stand-up paddle boarding. After a day of water sports, overnighters set up camp at Lake Holon Camping Site, one of the Philippines’ most dramatic overnight spots with spellbinding views of the rising sun on clear mornings. From here, trails fan out to mountain peaks and hot springs, where hikers can take in the panoramic vistas and soak away the day’s travel.
Hiding in the hills and an easy day trip from Lake Holon are other natural wonders to discover. Hidak Falls affords a single stream that plummets into a foaming pool of water, and the meandering Bakngeb River churns up thrilling water cave experiences.
A little further afield sits the Linan Conservation Sanctuary, which offers a unique way to see the tarsier, one of the Philippines’ iconic animals. Each visitor purchases a tree that is then planted and cared for by the local people, making the visitor part of the conservation experience. Donors are rewarded with encounters with the tarsier, but “they are often surprised by the other animals they discover”, says Rolando Visaya, a Tupi municipal environment and natural resources officer, and one of the leaders of the sanctuary. “The tarsier is just one of the flagship species for conservation, but when we restore its habitat, we also restore the habitat for other species like snakes, turtles, and birds.”
To keep visitors safe, Cuyasen follows guidance issued by the Department of Tourism, but he also implements additional safety measures. “We work with customers to try and pre-book as much as possible to help keep the tours safe,” he explains. This allows him to design tailored itineraries that avoid sites and activities when they might be crowded.
Time-honored Traditions
Around twenty kilometers northwest of Lake Holon sits a very different body of water. Instead of being isolated and ringed by mountains, Lake Sebu is populated by village communities, lotus gardens, and farms offering agritourism activities. “This is a real farm where visitors can learn first-hand about farming, such as planting cacao, tapping rubber trees, and feeding animals,” says Mayette Sy, who runs Sebul Farm with her husband. After working up an appetite, visitors can sample what the farm has to offer with traditional family-style meals. “We also grow organic veggies like lettuce, kale, arugula, and others, so it really is farm to table for our guests,” says Sy.
For something extra special, Sy arranges cooking classes with the local T’boli people, the ethnic group that lives in bamboo houses dotted around the lake. The T’boli also use hollowed-out bamboo in their cooking classes, which they stuff with rice, meat, fish, and vegetables before cooking with charcoal.
Getting to know the T’boli, many of whom still wear traditional clothing, is one of the highlight experiences of a trip to South Cotabato. An explosion of red, blue, and green fabric, T’boli dress is on full display during a traditional dance to honor the gods or usher in a healthy harvest. Visitors can learn more at the T’boli Museum or Lang Dulay Weaving Center on the shores of Lake Sebu, or at the South Cotabato Community Museum in Koronadal City, the capital of the province.
“The museum is not just a storehouse of artifacts,” says Argie Asaria, senior tourism operations officer of the Arts, Culture, and Tourism Unit under the Provincial Governor’s Office. “It is a place to learn and understand our past and to appreciate our present.” For Asaria, it’s the T’boli weaving culture that is particularly special. The artistic concept for the T’boli fabric comes to the weavers in their dreams, which they actualize into intricate, multicolored designs. Only those that experience the divine intervention of Fu Dala, a god that appears during sleep, can be true weavers. “Anyone can weave, but few can become dream weavers,” says Asaria.
Looking to the Future
While travel is suspended and the Philippines gears up to welcome back international tourists, South Cotabato is doing its part to keep future travelers safe. The Department of Tourism and Department of Health have organized training webinars for the tourism industry. The entire province is required to follow mask protocol, temperature check, and health declaration mandates.
James Ong of Ink Global believes that when it’s safe to travel again, people will make more discerning choices, going further to match their travel activities with their interests.
It will no longer be a carte-blanche to do crazy things because everyone should experience everything life has to offer. Instead, travelers will choose their activities more wisely.
James Ong, Travel editor, Ink Global
With South Cotabato offering adventures in unspoiled natural beauty, meaningful conservation experiences, and a diversity of cultural heritage, there’s hardly a wiser choice.
A plethora of exciting experiences for you, find out more at morefunawaits.com
In light of Covid-19 and restricted international travel, the recommendations in this article are for future considerations.
