Talking and chatting with friends at Washington DC Filipino Community, I landed a nice long chat with a Pinoy from Sarangani, a province in the southern tip of Mindanao. I did enjoy that conversation about the province as I have never been there. Matter of fact he said that he was there only a few months ago and really enjoyed his month long vacation. He mentioned about white powdery sand beaches, vast rainforest endangered species of wildlife as well as mystical caves, waterfalls and springs, historical archaeological finds, mangrove forests, pineapple commercial plantations, aquamarine farms producing the best tasting milkfish in the country…all these surprised me as I really have no idea of what the Province of Sarangani is made of other than a few clicks on the web when I browse.

As we went on deeper in our conversation I found out that Sarangani’s spectacular natural attractions are emerging to be the most famous tourist destinations in the Philippines. Sarangani offers travelers wonderful surprises that are relatively untapped in terms of its nature scenics, wildlife, marine and natural resources. The Municipality of Glan, the most popular destination, is dubbed as the Boracay of the South minus the commercialism. Any tourist will be overwhelmed with the vast stretch of white pristine beaches with the clear azure blue waters, by the mystic caves and the untouched waterfalls…truly a wonderful sight to behold. He said that jet skiing across the serene waters of the Sarangani Bay and exploring its 230 kilometer coastline would be amazed by the nature’s astonishing rock formations and picturesque coves. Also in Glan are the centuries old houses which would fascinate antique lovers who will surely be delighted by the grand and magnificent native balcony architectures, the “kalado” walls and the wide heavily carved wooden staircases of these ancestral homes that were constructed in the early 1900s. These homes that feature priceless oriental sets and antique collections are the pride of the Municipality of Glan .

The 13,500 hectare surface water of the Sarangani Bay touted to be the largest in the country is home to varied marine life that includes dolphins, whales, sea cows (dugong) and sea turtles. The coral reefs and shipwreck diving sites are the country’s most spectacular diver’s haven that would keep local and foreign tourists endless hours of diving delight. Viewing the thousands of multicolored and variedly shaped fishes that darts between the Acropora Corals in the Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba is a truly exceptional experience.

Sarangani also boasts a rich history. Include in your to-do list a visit to the Municipality of Maitum . Anthropomorphic potteries found in Ayub cave dates back to 300-500 B.C. The potteries are used as burial jars with covers in the form of heads that emulate different facial expressions. The 49 Maitum jars as they are now called are kept in the National Museum . Ayub cave is also the sanctuary of the giant golden crown flying foxes, the giant bats that are endemic to the Philippines . While the Municipality of Glan is the tourism capital going around the Municipality of Alabel, Sarangani’s provincial capital, ones attention will be drawn by a magnificent and imposing edifice, the Provincial Capitol Building . The building that sits on a 26 hectare lot is tagged as the White House of Southern Mindanao. Thirty minutes away from this town is the Sarangani Golf and Country Club where hobbyist could make a tour with a round of golf in the well landscaped 18- hole course while feasting your eyes on the serene beauty of its backdrop, Mt. Matutum . An annual event called the Lubi-Lubi Festival which is celebrated on November 25 is also a great site to view with its colorful costumes and great street dances in honor of Sta. Catalina de Alexandria. Lubi-Lubi sa Glan highlights a parade also similar to mardi gras but here costumes are made out of coconuts , husks and leaves. As they say in The Municipality of Glan in Sarangani, there is more to a coconut than just copra.

View the Province of Sarangani tourism video below.