Nonchalant at the Norfolk Lorega of Bukidnon

Picture a picturesque place here in Mindanao where the air is fresh and nippy, where fogs envelop lofty mountains, where pine trees adorn the lush surroundings and, chances are, Bukidnon would most likely come to mind. Found in the northern part of the country’s second largest island, the landlocked province has practically everything I'd like to experience during a quick weekend wandering up there in the highlands.

Here’s a place where weekend warriors like you and I can be carefree and nonchalant about life and the cares of the world, even for just a few hours. Here’s a place where I would definitely—if and when I have the wherewithal to spare—build a cabin in the woods, a hideaway where I can hide whenever life weighs me down with its twists and turns. And if I were to choose the ideal location for my humble shack, the village of Lorega would be it. 

Located in the town of Kitaotao, Lorega is fast turning into a “village of mountain resorts” where city slickers can spend a day or two hibernating in any of the highland sanctuaries found there—Adrian and Alice’s Place, Alta Monte, Cicada Hills, Highway 81, Seagull Mountain Resort, among others.

Recently, my friends and I made it to one of the newest destinations in the village—the Norfolk Lorega, a two-storey villa whose appellation, I surmise, must have been named after those evergreens from Norfolk, an island in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Native to the island, the pine is a key export, being a popular ornamental tree on mainland Australia and the rest of the world. 

It was through some coworkers that I first learned about the Norfolk Lorega. Seeing some pictures which they shared online, I was instantly smitten by the simple yet scenic resort. Wasting no time, I readily contacted my fellow weekend warriors and invited them for a weekend spree in Lorega. To my delight, several of them signified their intention to join the trek—Jacques, Bong, Joel, Marisa, Cheryl and Letty. We missed Butch, Jerson, Manoy and the rest of the gang who didn’t make it. 

It was a cloudy Saturday when we hit the road to Lorega. The spur-of-the-moment escapade was a much-anticipated gathering for us because it’s been a while since our last get-together. It was a two-hour drive along winding roads with rough stretches but I didn’t mind the distance because I was having a grand time laughing at the funny stories of my two passengers.

The resort's furry receptionists

Around lunch time, the three of us reached Lorega while the others came later in the afternoon. And guess who helped the caretaker usher us into the resort? A couple of nice-looking labrador retrievers, Pressy and Messy, (I hope I got their names right.) who happen to be the resort's adorable and amiable receptionists! 

Why head for the hills? Well, we felt the need for some cool mountain air and the comfort of each other’s company. We do this once in a while because we want to nurture and preserve our friendship which has stood the test of time. 

For me, my friends are a source of strength, comfort and inspiration. Having these people I can trust and rely on has helped me through the bad times and has made the good times even better. I’ve known these fellows since college—never mind the year!—and their presence has always made life all the more worth living.

When they’re around, I can be as laid-back, indulgent and nonchalant as I can be. Mind you, these crazy bunch, my fellow college debaters, with their wit and humor (hmmm, should I add sarcasm?), not to mention the camaraderie we’ve managed to sustain, has kept me from going crazy all these years! 

And the Norfolk Lorega turned out to be the ideal scenic place for another reunion of sorts for us. We were fortunate that the mountain resort had no other bookings that week—the place was ours for the taking! Thanks to Jacques who has this knack for tinkering with electronics, we were able to hook his portable karaoke device with the resort’s TV and sound system. Left to our devices, we spent the rest of the afternoon (up to late in the evening) talking, laughing, eating, drinking and singing to our hearts’ content!

Dusk at the resort

Designed for group gatherings, the Norfolk Lorega is about as group-friendly as they come. Visitors of all ages can engage in a plethora of activities to while away time. It has several amenities, including a swimming pool (with cold spring water!), volleyball and basketball courts, a ping-pong table, a TV set, sound system, among others.  It also has a large kitchen area with some basic appliances and cookware where groups can prepare their meals.

Seeing those Norfolk pines scattered all over the resort can be a delight to the senses for those who seek solace for their sagging spirits. Walking around a vast expanse surrounded with evergreens can be therapeutic, so I heard. Alone with those trees can work wonders to the soul. Mind you, those pine trees not only smell sharp and sweet, they’re also the perfect backdrops for those fond of taking and posting pics on social media—either selfies, duofies, or groupfies!

Truly, the resort is an ideal venue for silence and solitude. A time alone to think and be as one pleases, with no intrusions, however, is such a difficult feat to accomplish these days. Not only because we are social creatures by nature, but the demands of family and work make it difficult for us to spend time alone with ourselves. With the world reduced to a global village, detachment is nearly impossible these days.

Still, if there’s any chance coming my way in the future, I’d certainly love to come back to that resort on the hills of Lorega where I can be nonchalant as I please. This time, I’ll make sure it’s a solo sojourn—yes, without my dear, crazy buddies!—if only to smell those Norfolk pines, speak to myself and seek solace in the arms of nature.  😍😍😍

Dashing into Davao's Bamboo Sanctuary

Life on the farm has always fascinated me even as a child. I’ve come to associate it with those happy moments spent at my maternal grandma’s place in a remote village in Cotabato. Endowed with some of nature’s amazing wonders—sweet-scented mountain breeze, rolling hills, fertile valleys and a meandering river—that rustic haven was my favorite playground during the summer months.

Cool pool inside the bamboo sanctuary

Compared to the city, the air there was fresh and crisp, permeating the surroundings with a distinct whiff—a stimulating mix of dried leaves on the ground, smoke coming from the makeshift dirty kitchen and the sweet ripe mangoes clinging into the branches of a mango tree just behind her house. It’s a nostalgic episode of the distant past that still delights my senses even to this day.

A stone’s throw away from my grandma’s home was a cluster of tall bamboo trees which have formed a significant part of their bucolic yet blissful life. There, she and her children would gather huge bamboo stems to make garden trellises, carabao-drawn carts, fences for pigpens and channel linings for irrigating rice fields, etc. But the one thing that caught my interest were those bamboo shoots that our indefatigable matriarch picked, which she mixed with shrimps and coconut milk to make one mouth-watering dish for lunch or dinner! 

Humonguous dome at the Davao Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park

Unfortunately, time and circumstances have kept me from returning there if only to relive the memories of that rural life I’ve enjoyed to the hilt. So it was with fervent anticipation that I waited for the chance to rekindle that part of my childhood—sans traveling to that faraway place. To my delight, there’s this place somewhere in the outskirts of my home city where I had to chance to finally reconnect with nature, bamboos and all—the Davao Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park.

Hidden somewhere in a gently sloping, semi-forested area in the village of Malagos, this verdant slice of paradise is the perfect hideaway for those who want to run away from it all even for just a few hours. Here’s a place so Zen yet within the vastness of Davao where those who want to take a much-needed time-out from the hustle and bustle could find some silence, space, and, of course, satisfaction.

Mind you, the sanctuary, which is a few meters away from the Malagos Watershed, the home of the bred-in-captivity Philippine eagle, is a recent addition to the growing number of natural resorts found in that village. Recently, I, along with my staff, dashed into this new resort where we had our annual teambuilding activity. 

It's not so often that me and my staff—many of them so absorbed with their work as planners, analysts and programmers they couldn’t find time for some weekend escapade—flock together (yes, everyone was present!) and get away from the narrow confines of our cubicles and computers to bond in the great outdoors. 

That's why we all grabbed the chance to commune with nature—right smack in the bamboo sanctuary—if only to bang away at the ABCs of working smartly and swiftly, valuing the importance of the so-called three C’s of teamwork, namely, communication, cooperation and coordination—plus lots of strategic as well as creative and critical thinking so that we can continue to give our best to our customers.

A stream inside the sanctuary

Although it’s still undergoing some enhancements, the resort can already cater to the needs of guests for day tour and overnight stay. Davao Bamboo Sanctuary has family and dorm-type rooms that can accommodate large groups. Certain areas of the resort such as the dome, function hall, and poolside, are also open for events, be it baptismals,  birthdays, debuts, weddings, reunions and the like.

Caveat: The road leading to the resort is quite rough and still being paved. Small cars would surely have some tough time negotiating through the rugged terrain. A van, a pickup or some other huge car would be ideal if one intends to bring along his vehicle. For those who have no personal vehicles, however, the resort provides free shuttle service from Calinan where they can assist visitors who want to explore the place.

We spent most of our time inside the resort’s humongous dome where we engaged in various cathartic activities—playing games, cracking jokes, sharing stories, engaging in small talk, laughing our heads off, munching chicheria and what have you—which has helped foster the feeling of camaraderie among us. I believe the gains we had there far outweigh the cost of the day-long activity, that is, Php600 per person, inclusive of buffet lunch (such a bargain, indeed!).

Dashing into the bamboo sanctuary for some quality time with nature certainly did wonders to reinvigorate us. Truly, slowing down and enjoying the natural beauty around us helped uplift our sagging spirits. By taking it slow, we got to reassess so many things about life, work and interpersonal relationships. I guess that’s something all of us need to do once in a while.

In many Western countries today, the rise of the so-called slow living—a lifestyle that promotes the use of slower approaches to various aspects of everyday life—has lured many urbanites to take it slow and move from the cities to the countryside. I’m not sure though if this would catch fire here in these islands. Here’s hoping it would gain a strong following someday.

Like some city slickers who’ve grown weary of the din and drudgery in the urban areas and yearn to commune with nature every so often, a part of me dreams of escaping the rat race in the near future and, hopefully, start living again—on a farm. Like those tall bamboo trees at the bamboo sanctuary, which reminded me of my carefree days in the boondocks, I hope to be flexible enough yet firmly rooted should I finally opt for a slower pace of life. :-D