By Amadís Ma. Guerrero

Rich in history, its beginnings dating back to 320 A.D., Butuan is the capital of Agusan del Sur and the center as well of the Caraga region (which brings together the four Agusan and Surigao provinces in northeast Mindanao)

Your tour of Butuan should begin with the Butuan Regional Museum where you will see relics and artifacts, gold jewelry, including the Golden Tara of Agusan; and other archeological diggings. Nine ancient boats known as balangay are found at the Balangay Shrine Museum. Also check out the Diocesan Liturgical Museum.

Places to stay in Butuan include Balanghai Hotel & Convection Center, Almont Inland Resort, and Hotel Karaga.

Cagayan de Oro, regional center of Northern Mindanao, bills itself as “the City of Golden Friendship.” Although quite developed, it attracts adventure tourists because of its Mambuaya River, excellent for whitewater-rafting, the Macahambus Cave-Gorge, and Catanico Falls. Twelve kms from the city proper, overlooking Macajalar Bay, is the showpiece Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, with its tribal architecture, trees and nurseries, tribal huts and cottages, amphitheater for performances, and indigenous artifacts and souvenirs.

Davao City was in the news again recently because of the death squads which kill petty criminals and sometimes innocent persons. The Commission on Human Rights has investigated and found human rights violations. There was even an independent film on these killings, Engkwentro, which won for its young director, Pepe Diokno, a major award at the recent Venice International Film Festival.

Despite this negative image, Davao remains an interesting place for domestic and foreign tourists. It is a large, sprawling city with modern malls (you can skip these if you’re tired of malls), convection facilities, and fine hotels like Malagos Garden Resort, Apo View, Durian Hotel, and many more recently established.

Davao is also a feast for the lover of sea food, especially tuna. Check out restaurant row along Florentino Torres St. and get your fill of broiled giant tuna (bariles), panga, (head), buntot (tail), tungol (walls of intestines), bihod (eggs) and obol-obol (throat). Perfect when eaten with steaming rice and washed down with beer, as you exchange jokes and tall stories with your hosts and friends.

The same can be said for General Santos City (known as GenSan to its residents), which faces Sarangani Bay in South Coatabato. It thrives on tuna for domestic and export markets. The giant tuna and marlins arrive by fishing boats in front of the public market in the morning, and you can see local and foreign (mostly Japanese) traders buy these by the ton.

While in GenSan you can stay at Sydney Hotel, Sansu or Anchor; and dine out at Fiesta as Barrio, Lola Sisay or Ribs N’ Jazz. Resorts within the city include London Beach, Olaer, and South Sea Tropical.

 The well-maintained Shrine City of Dapitan in Zamboanga is for the lover of Philippine history, notably the admirer of National Hero Jose Rizal. Everywhere you see reminders of Rizal’s exile here, including a park with replicas of his clinic and residence. A gem is the Church of St. James, constructed by the Jesuits in the 1870’s, where Rizal heard Mass. In front of the church is a relief map of Mindanao said to have carved out by Rizal who was, among other accomplishments, a sculptor.

A 15-minute drive away from the city proper is the upscale Dakak Park Beach Resort, with its towering cliffs, palm trees, well-manicured lawns, hidden cottages, and white-sand beach cove.

Include Iligan in your discovery or rediscovery of Mindanao, if only because it is “the city of waterfalls.” You can start with the spectacular Ma. Christina Falls, which can only be viewed during weekends (and you cannot swim here). But there are over 20 waterfalls within the city.

There’s the smaller Mimbalut Falls, with a lot of boulders nearby and shallow but ever flowing waters. Move awesome is Tinago Falls, accessible downward through 315-step stairway of stone. The waters fall into a deep, natural swimming, and there is a raft attached to a rope overhead, plus other smaller falls. And if you get tired of cold spring waters, there’s always the Timoga de la Mar Swimming Pools, another popular destination.

If Iligan is the city of waterfalls, Islamic Marawi, only an hour’s drive away, is the city of mosques. There are over 70 of these places of worship, some of them grand and majestic. Also visit the King Faisal Mosque and Center for Islamic Studies, and the Mindanao State University and its attractive campus overlooking Lake Lanao.

The place to stay in Marawi is the elegant Marawi Resort Hotel, located within the MSU campus.

When in Zamboanga City, be sure to be a pilgrim and visit Holy Hill, trekking (or even riding) up the paved zigzag and the Fourteen Stations of the Cross, which leads to the mountain summit and its giant cross. There you will be rewarded by a grand view of all of the city, Santa Cruz Island and, separated by the bay, the mountains of Basilan province.