Showing posts with label South Cotabato. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Cotabato. Show all posts

Thursday, September 19, 2013

P13,273: What I spent in Mindanao for 13 days

I left manila with a 10L backpack stuffed with 4 pairs of clothes, a towel, battery bank, portable speaker, underwater iphone case, toiletries, atm and student id (very imporant :-) ). I have been enjoying spontaniety a lot, so not even an itinerary with me (except that I knew the provinces I wanted to go to and Asik Asik at the top priority). More than that, I just asked around, and researched on my 3G while in the airport, jeeps, bus, trikes, etc. (Did I mention I brought my Mcdonalds Happy Meal minion with me? :-) )

Below is what I spent in 13 days and where I got myself to:







Day 1: Gumasa Beach (with 3 others)
Taxi 250/4=62.50
Jeep to Gumasa fr Lagao: 50 (topload)
Habal back to Glan from Beach: 20
Food: 30
Van to Gensan: 70 (student fare)
Trike to Tyongson: 8
Dunkin Donuts: 180
Room: 700/4=175
Total: P720








Day 2: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Breakfast: 57
Trike from Kadulasan St, Gensan to Bus Terminal: 16
Bus from Gensan to Denmark Van Terminal in Marbel: 75
Van from Marbel to Lake Sebu: 55
Skylab: 200 (Half day service: 150+tip)
Lunch: 105
Entrance (7falls): 20
T'boli Costume Rental: 50
Dinner: 90
Alcohol: 144
Lodge: 60
Total: P875




Day 3: Lake Sebu + Marbel City (had to stay in the city as I have an online exam in grad school)
Habal: 100 (from Lodge to National Artist and back to terminal)
Cassava+Cofi: 16
Van from Lake Sebu to Marbel: 55
Lunch: 35
Trike: 8
Internet: 27
Trike: 8
Eduards Lodge: 230 (single fan room common toilet)
Dinner: 75
Cofi+bread:35
Internet: 35
Trike: 8
Total: P642









Day 4: Sultan Kudarat Capitol, Pink Mosque Datu Saudi Maguindanao
Breakfast: 65
Trike to yellow bus: 8
Bus Fare: 45+15 (From Marbel you have to Pay up to Tacurong; And in Tacurong, they issue another ticket for P15)
Trike: 20 (The bus missed dropping me in the capitol so had to take a trike back, and then return to roundball, a.k.a. roundabout where I took the jeep to Datu Saudi Maguindanao).
Jeep to Datu Saudi: 40
Softdrink: 10
Jeep from Datu Saudi to Cotabato City: 50
Lunch: 60
Van from Cotabato City to Midsayap: 60
Skylab to kitacubong, alamada: 70 (missed the last trip; was supposed to sleep in the outpost but was lucky to catch a habal service on his way home willing to take any amount; jeep fare from midsayap to alamada was P50 so gave P20 extra)
Dinner (3burgers, 1 zesto)=73 (Didn't eat all burgers; 2 i handed over to the barangay tanods with me in the hall; just makng clear im not a bburger monster)
Internet=16
Total: P532



Day 5: Asik Asik Falls
Marlboro: 60
Coffee+Pandecoco: 16
Coffee+bread: 15
Habal: 550 (alamada-asik-Linungan)
Misc food at asik: 101 (me & habal driver)
Entrance: 35
Food at Libungan Term: 98 (me & habal driver)
Bus to Cotabato City: 50
Hotel Filipino in Cotabato City: 300
Cigarette: 45
Dinner at jollibee: 123 (missing Jollibee by now)
Prepaid Load: 50
Total: P1438



Day 6: Pagadian City
Fare from Cotabato City to Pagadian: 300
Dodol: 20
Suman: 10
Lansones: 25
Habal to town center from Integrated Bus Terminal: 30
Fan room at roxan hotel: 300
Coffee at roxan: 15
Sikad to Gaisano: 10
Nailcutter: 20
Sikad Gaisano to City hall: 10
Bbq: 10
Meal at Kamayan: 140
Latte at Bo's: 95
Misc hygiene: 26
Total: 1006




Day 7: Overnight in Panikian Island, Pitogo
breakfast: 40
Bread+coffee+load: 50
Fare to pitogo: 100
Misc food: 650
Total: P840





Day 8: Leave Panikian, sidetrip to Lakewood, and travel to Zamboanga
Boat: 1000
Fare: 100
Meal: 65
Bus to tubon: 25
Habal to resort: 40
Entrance: 50
Banana split at Lakewood: 45
Marlboro: 30
Habal back to Tubon terminal: 100
Food at terminal: 52
Fare tubon-zamboanga city (student fare): 265
Coffee+bread: 20
Habal: 60
Lodge: 150
Total: P2002



Day 9: Malamawi Beach, Lamitan Basilan, transit to Jolo, Sulu
Jeep from Lodge to Port: 8
Brekkie: 64
Terminal Fee: 10
Student Fare from Zamboanga to Basilan: 125
Load: 22
Tawid from Isabela City to Malamawi Island: 5
Habal: 100 (Special fare for single passenger; 2 passengers will be P50 each for back and forth ride).
Merienda: 30
Fare back to Zamboanga from Basilan: 125
Terminal fee in Isabela City: 4
Meal: 64
Fare to Jolo: 400 (used the same terminal fee ticket; instead of spending for lodge in Zamboanga, you might want to head to Jolo instead; it's a comfortable sleep with the ocean breeze in the ferry's upper deck).
Total: P957



Day 10: Quezon (Patikul) & Maugu Beach (Jolo), Capitol, Sports Complex, Pangasinan Island in Panglima Municipality, Badjao Stilts
Trike (Special): 300
Coffee: 12
Meal (Ginataan and some rice delicacy): 21
Yosi: 56
Meal : 228 (4 cuts fried chicken; 4 cuts chicken caldereta; mee goreng; 2 serves rice, and a softdrink for me and trike driver in BlueXXXX restaurant in Jolo Market)
Coffee: 18
Boat from fishport to Pangasinan Island: 350
Hotdog: 15
Bike from Stilts to Port: 15
Coffee: 22
Trike from Port to Sports Complex:30
Trike: 30
Lansones: 10
Misc food: 68
Ferry: 400
Total: 910



Day 11: Sta Cruz Island, Zamboanga, transit back to Pagadian
Meal: 26
Load: 50
Sta cruz Island: 288 (shared among 8; I joined a group of 7 in this trip; inclusive of a lot of crabs and tour of mangroves, cemetery, etc)
Cig+coffee: 55
Meal: 75
Fare: 8
Malong (pasalubongg): 200
Bus from Zamboanga to Pagadian: 295
Mealstop (banana bread 2 bbq hotdogs): 28
Water: 20
Trike from Pagadian Integrated Terminal to Town Center: 30
Roxan hotel: 300
Total: P1375




Day 12: Transit back to Cotabato City from Pagadian
Cigarette: 16
Misc: 54
Food: 55
Van to cotabato: 350
Meal stop: 30
Room at Hotel Filipino: 450
Meal: 225
Cig: 40
Fares: 76
Total: P1296








Day 13: Travel back to Manila
Jollibee: 65
Malongs (pasalubong): 425
Internet: 18
Fare: 15
Trike: 7
Load+coffee: 65
Terminal Fee: 85
Total: P680

Total Spending: P13,273. 


I was initially intending to spend only 7 thousand pesos for this trip; But, when I was in Asik asik falls and contemplating on the time I am comprimising versus budget, I thought my time was more valuable.. Also, especially in Pitogo, I thought it was but fair that I give back to the people who shared time for me. Besides, my average spend is P1000/day on my trips so my overall spending is just right for this solo (mostly) trip.



I managed to take a picture of the fares from Pagadian To Zamboanga





I left manila with a 10L backpack stuffed with 4 pairs of clothes, a towel, battery bank, portable speaker, underwater iphone case, toiletries, atm and student id (very imporant :-) ). I have been enjoying spontaniety a lot, so not even an itinerary with me (except that I knew the provinces I wanted to go to and Asik Asik at the top priority). More than that, I just asked around, and researched on my 3G while in the airport, jeeps, bus, trikes, etc. (Did I mention I brought my Mcdonalds Happy Meal minion with me? :-) )

Below is what I spent in 13 days and where I got myself to:







Day 1: Gumasa Beach (with 3 others)
Taxi 250/4=62.50
Jeep to Gumasa fr Lagao: 50 (topload)
Habal back to Glan from Beach: 20
Food: 30
Van to Gensan: 70 (student fare)
Trike to Tyongson: 8
Dunkin Donuts: 180
Room: 700/4=175
Total: P720








Day 2: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Breakfast: 57
Trike from Kadulasan St, Gensan to Bus Terminal: 16
Bus from Gensan to Denmark Van Terminal in Marbel: 75
Van from Marbel to Lake Sebu: 55
Skylab: 200 (Half day service: 150+tip)
Lunch: 105
Entrance (7falls): 20
T'boli Costume Rental: 50
Dinner: 90
Alcohol: 144
Lodge: 60
Total: P875




Day 3: Lake Sebu + Marbel City (had to stay in the city as I have an online exam in grad school)
Habal: 100 (from Lodge to National Artist and back to terminal)
Cassava+Cofi: 16
Van from Lake Sebu to Marbel: 55
Lunch: 35
Trike: 8
Internet: 27
Trike: 8
Eduards Lodge: 230 (single fan room common toilet)
Dinner: 75
Cofi+bread:35
Internet: 35
Trike: 8
Total: P642









Day 4: Sultan Kudarat Capitol, Pink Mosque Datu Saudi Maguindanao
Breakfast: 65
Trike to yellow bus: 8
Bus Fare: 45+15 (From Marbel you have to Pay up to Tacurong; And in Tacurong, they issue another ticket for P15)
Trike: 20 (The bus missed dropping me in the capitol so had to take a trike back, and then return to roundball, a.k.a. roundabout where I took the jeep to Datu Saudi Maguindanao).
Jeep to Datu Saudi: 40
Softdrink: 10
Jeep from Datu Saudi to Cotabato City: 50
Lunch: 60
Van from Cotabato City to Midsayap: 60
Skylab to kitacubong, alamada: 70 (missed the last trip; was supposed to sleep in the outpost but was lucky to catch a habal service on his way home willing to take any amount; jeep fare from midsayap to alamada was P50 so gave P20 extra)
Dinner (3burgers, 1 zesto)=73 (Didn't eat all burgers; 2 i handed over to the barangay tanods with me in the hall; just makng clear im not a bburger monster)
Internet=16
Total: P532



Day 5: Asik Asik Falls
Marlboro: 60
Coffee+Pandecoco: 16
Coffee+bread: 15
Habal: 550 (alamada-asik-Linungan)
Misc food at asik: 101 (me & habal driver)
Entrance: 35
Food at Libungan Term: 98 (me & habal driver)
Bus to Cotabato City: 50
Hotel Filipino in Cotabato City: 300
Cigarette: 45
Dinner at jollibee: 123 (missing Jollibee by now)
Prepaid Load: 50
Total: P1438



Day 6: Pagadian City
Fare from Cotabato City to Pagadian: 300
Dodol: 20
Suman: 10
Lansones: 25
Habal to town center from Integrated Bus Terminal: 30
Fan room at roxan hotel: 300
Coffee at roxan: 15
Sikad to Gaisano: 10
Nailcutter: 20
Sikad Gaisano to City hall: 10
Bbq: 10
Meal at Kamayan: 140
Latte at Bo's: 95
Misc hygiene: 26
Total: 1006




Day 7: Overnight in Panikian Island, Pitogo
breakfast: 40
Bread+coffee+load: 50
Fare to pitogo: 100
Misc food: 650
Total: P840





Day 8: Leave Panikian, sidetrip to Lakewood, and travel to Zamboanga
Boat: 1000
Fare: 100
Meal: 65
Bus to tubon: 25
Habal to resort: 40
Entrance: 50
Banana split at Lakewood: 45
Marlboro: 30
Habal back to Tubon terminal: 100
Food at terminal: 52
Fare tubon-zamboanga city (student fare): 265
Coffee+bread: 20
Habal: 60
Lodge: 150
Total: P2002



Day 9: Malamawi Beach, Lamitan Basilan, transit to Jolo, Sulu
Jeep from Lodge to Port: 8
Brekkie: 64
Terminal Fee: 10
Student Fare from Zamboanga to Basilan: 125
Load: 22
Tawid from Isabela City to Malamawi Island: 5
Habal: 100 (Special fare for single passenger; 2 passengers will be P50 each for back and forth ride).
Merienda: 30
Fare back to Zamboanga from Basilan: 125
Terminal fee in Isabela City: 4
Meal: 64
Fare to Jolo: 400 (used the same terminal fee ticket; instead of spending for lodge in Zamboanga, you might want to head to Jolo instead; it's a comfortable sleep with the ocean breeze in the ferry's upper deck).
Total: P957



Day 10: Quezon (Patikul) & Maugu Beach (Jolo), Capitol, Sports Complex, Pangasinan Island in Panglima Municipality, Badjao Stilts
Trike (Special): 300
Coffee: 12
Meal (Ginataan and some rice delicacy): 21
Yosi: 56
Meal : 228 (4 cuts fried chicken; 4 cuts chicken caldereta; mee goreng; 2 serves rice, and a softdrink for me and trike driver in BlueXXXX restaurant in Jolo Market)
Coffee: 18
Boat from fishport to Pangasinan Island: 350
Hotdog: 15
Bike from Stilts to Port: 15
Coffee: 22
Trike from Port to Sports Complex:30
Trike: 30
Lansones: 10
Misc food: 68
Ferry: 400
Total: 910



Day 11: Sta Cruz Island, Zamboanga, transit back to Pagadian
Meal: 26
Load: 50
Sta cruz Island: 288 (shared among 8; I joined a group of 7 in this trip; inclusive of a lot of crabs and tour of mangroves, cemetery, etc)
Cig+coffee: 55
Meal: 75
Fare: 8
Malong (pasalubongg): 200
Bus from Zamboanga to Pagadian: 295
Mealstop (banana bread 2 bbq hotdogs): 28
Water: 20
Trike from Pagadian Integrated Terminal to Town Center: 30
Roxan hotel: 300
Total: P1375




Day 12: Transit back to Cotabato City from Pagadian
Cigarette: 16
Misc: 54
Food: 55
Van to cotabato: 350
Meal stop: 30
Room at Hotel Filipino: 450
Meal: 225
Cig: 40
Fares: 76
Total: P1296








Day 13: Travel back to Manila
Jollibee: 65
Malongs (pasalubong): 425
Internet: 18
Fare: 15
Trike: 7
Load+coffee: 65
Terminal Fee: 85
Total: P680

Total Spending: P13,273. 


I was initially intending to spend only 7 thousand pesos for this trip; But, when I was in Asik asik falls and contemplating on the time I am comprimising versus budget, I thought my time was more valuable.. Also, especially in Pitogo, I thought it was but fair that I give back to the people who shared time for me. Besides, my average spend is P1000/day on my trips so my overall spending is just right for this solo (mostly) trip.



I managed to take a picture of the fares from Pagadian To Zamboanga





Read More »

Thursday, August 22, 2013

How to go to Gumasa Beach from General Santos Airport


Gumasa Beach, Glan, Saranggani


From gensan airport, there is no option outbound but to eiter take the P50/pax multicab service or P300-P350/cab (which in our case, we managed to haggle though for P200) to KCC Mall. 



From KCC Mall, take the van to Glan for P80. Upon reaching the Glan Terminal, take habal/trike to Gumasa beach (P25/head).

Alternatively, (cost effective for solo travellers), instead of KCC Mall, get your way to Lagao Public Market where there is a jeep direct to Gumasa for P100/head, or P50/head in case u topload. The jeep will drop you right in Gumasa beach.

Lagao Public Market in General Santos City

Jeeps going direct to Gumasa from General Santos City

Toploading in General Santos City en route to Gumasa Beach

Contacts:

Gumasa Habal Service (Reybert): 09261168213
Gensan Airport Taxi: (Tony): 09073517947 (Sunny): 09199841933




Hungry? Check out where we ate in General Santos City


This trip is part of my 13 day Southern Mindanao Trip. I posted a few details of my schedule and expenses here


Gumasa Beach, Glan, Saranggani


From gensan airport, there is no option outbound but to eiter take the P50/pax multicab service or P300-P350/cab (which in our case, we managed to haggle though for P200) to KCC Mall. 



From KCC Mall, take the van to Glan for P80. Upon reaching the Glan Terminal, take habal/trike to Gumasa beach (P25/head).

Alternatively, (cost effective for solo travellers), instead of KCC Mall, get your way to Lagao Public Market where there is a jeep direct to Gumasa for P100/head, or P50/head in case u topload. The jeep will drop you right in Gumasa beach.

Lagao Public Market in General Santos City

Jeeps going direct to Gumasa from General Santos City

Toploading in General Santos City en route to Gumasa Beach

Contacts:

Gumasa Habal Service (Reybert): 09261168213
Gensan Airport Taxi: (Tony): 09073517947 (Sunny): 09199841933




Hungry? Check out where we ate in General Santos City


This trip is part of my 13 day Southern Mindanao Trip. I posted a few details of my schedule and expenses here

Read More »

Monday, August 19, 2013

Where we ate in General Santos City


It has been a long tiring day, and we haven't had any decent meal at all; our priority activity upon reaching general santos city was having a worth-the-starvation dinner. 

Upon reaching KCC mall, I asked some locals of where it is great to eat. Some pointed us to the restaurants at the ground floor, but the choices were the same as being in the 3rd floor of Robinsons Galeria. I rephrased my question and asked where locals mostly eat? Not too pricey, around 150-200/head? And seafood?

The staff of one of the kiosks answered me 'Tiongson' . Told us to take an P8 tricey and ask to be dropped of there. 



Tiongson happened to be a long strip of 'dampa' type restaurants. With so much choices, I asked the tricycle driver to drop us to where he thinks is the best. He dropped us in, I later found out, Danica's.

Fronting the stores will be fresh sea meat. 

Unlike in dampas where they have a price for the meat, and a separate charge for cooking, here, the price includes the cooking charges. (Although they don't really weigh and have fixed prices per cut/serve).




For instance, the tuna was 240 (i estimate it to be 750grams), and we were told we can have the half in soup (sinigang) and half in adobo.



We ended up with a bill of P800++, for a meal for four with 7 viands. 



I am not sure if we happen to have chosen all their must trys, but everything really tasted good, especially that deep fried catfish.

For brekkie, after checking out from Sonly's pension house in Kadulasan st, we asked around for nearby restaurants. We were pointed to this Banz eatery.

BANZ eatery fronting kadulasan st, General Santos City near Sonly Pension House

I don't normally eat heavy for breakfast; Usually, 2 eggs and coffee (and a bread if available), but my peers ordered this P25 per slice/order; ordered a second, and by then, i got so curious. Indeed, it tasted so well ;-)

the P25 delicious spare ribs

This trip is part of my 13 day Southern Mindanao Trip. I posted a few details of my schedule and expenses here

It has been a long tiring day, and we haven't had any decent meal at all; our priority activity upon reaching general santos city was having a worth-the-starvation dinner. 

Upon reaching KCC mall, I asked some locals of where it is great to eat. Some pointed us to the restaurants at the ground floor, but the choices were the same as being in the 3rd floor of Robinsons Galeria. I rephrased my question and asked where locals mostly eat? Not too pricey, around 150-200/head? And seafood?

The staff of one of the kiosks answered me 'Tiongson' . Told us to take an P8 tricey and ask to be dropped of there. 



Tiongson happened to be a long strip of 'dampa' type restaurants. With so much choices, I asked the tricycle driver to drop us to where he thinks is the best. He dropped us in, I later found out, Danica's.

Fronting the stores will be fresh sea meat. 

Unlike in dampas where they have a price for the meat, and a separate charge for cooking, here, the price includes the cooking charges. (Although they don't really weigh and have fixed prices per cut/serve).




For instance, the tuna was 240 (i estimate it to be 750grams), and we were told we can have the half in soup (sinigang) and half in adobo.



We ended up with a bill of P800++, for a meal for four with 7 viands. 



I am not sure if we happen to have chosen all their must trys, but everything really tasted good, especially that deep fried catfish.

For brekkie, after checking out from Sonly's pension house in Kadulasan st, we asked around for nearby restaurants. We were pointed to this Banz eatery.

BANZ eatery fronting kadulasan st, General Santos City near Sonly Pension House

I don't normally eat heavy for breakfast; Usually, 2 eggs and coffee (and a bread if available), but my peers ordered this P25 per slice/order; ordered a second, and by then, i got so curious. Indeed, it tasted so well ;-)

the P25 delicious spare ribs

This trip is part of my 13 day Southern Mindanao Trip. I posted a few details of my schedule and expenses here
Read More »

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