Not a few of the Philippines’ loveliest beaches are found
along roads less travelled. Glan, a sleepy municipality in Sarangani Province,
happens to have some of them. This little town in Congressman Manny Pacquiao’s
turf has gradually carved a name for itself as a tourist hotspot in southern
Philippines.
Blessed with verdant mountains and rolling hills, dense
rainforests, varied wildlife, and crystal clear waters offering an excellent
glimpse of the marine life make Glan a veritable slice of paradise in that part
of Mindanao. However, it is those immaculately white-sand beaches that make it
worth the trip.
As an incorrigible beachcomber, I’ve long been wanting to
go on an escapade in Glan. However, it was only recently that I’ve finally made
it to this booming beach turf. After finishing my transactions in nearby GenSan
City, I decided to spend the night in the quiet town before heading back for
home. I’m so glad I did.
Found on the eastern side of Sarangani Bay, the town is
being touted by its drumbeaters as the "Boracay of the South”. Like Bora,
Glan also boasts of long stretches of white sand beaches but sans the chaos,
commotion and crass commercialism that one of the world’s best beach strips is
notorious for.
In recent years, people from all walks of life have been
flocking to Glan, especially during weekends and holidays, to bask in the
beauty of this alluring coastal town. Its obvious crowd-drawer is of course the
popular stretch of immaculate shores found in the quiet village of Gumasa.
Located roughly
twenty minutes from the poblacion,
Glan’s renowned white strip is caressed by the cool waters of the Celebes Sea.
Many of those who’ve been there say that Gumasa is what Boracay’s White Beach
was decades ago when the famed island in Panay wasn’t the top tourist
destination that it is today.
Gumasa boasts of palm- fringed, immaculate shores dotted
with a good number of resorts offering well-appointed accommodations ranging
from beach cottages, villas and hotel rooms. For me, the best place to stay
when you’re there is Isla Jardin del Mar, which translates to “island garden by
the sea” in Spanish.
Isla Jardin has probably everything I’d love to see in a
beach resort—swaying palm trees, emerald waters, white shores, clean and comfy
accommodations. More importantly, it offers two precious things that I think
many resorts in Bora could barely provide their guests—peace and placidity.
Separated from the main beach of Gumasa, Isla Jardin is
neatly tucked in a small cove found at the southern part of Glan. The entire
resort has a total sprawl of about 34 hectares, half of which have been
earmarked for development. The sand there, though white, isn’t as fine as that
of the main beach.
Summer is undoubtedly the perfect time for beach bums to
go and explore Glan. Every May, its white-sand stretches in Gumasa teem with
thousands of visitors who come in throngs to join the annual celebration of
Sarangani Bay Festival, arguably one of the biggest summer beach parties in the
country.
Now, here’s an enchanting place where you can let time
stand still while you live it up to the max:
swim in the cool blue waters, sniff the salubrious sea breeze, savor the
freshest seafood, stroll the shores sans sandals, shoot breathtaking seascapes,
snore to the soothing sounds of waves, and so much more.
Glan, no doubt, has captured my heart, enriched my mind
and resuscitated my soul the moment my beach-hungry feet first touched her
powdery shores. For me, this idyllic beach town is the proverbial Shangri-la
where I can get the best of what the summer season offers—without busting my
budget!
Having discovered this seaside enclave, I'll think twice
about traveling far and wide just to get a summery dose of sun, sea and sand.
After all, Glan has it all. No flights, no flurry, no fuss at that! Yeah, I’m
so glad I’ve made it to Glan. I can only wish though that it doesn’t end up
like Bora in the years to come. :D
More pics:
In the highlands of Davao
lies a slice of heaven here on earth where those who crave to escape the din and drudgery of urban life—that includes me!—can head for to experience the
plethora of pleasures waiting to be relished by nature lovers.
The fun and excitement that
you will experience in this sanctuary begin the minute you drive high into the
mountain south of the city. Ascending through a largely smooth road, you’ll be
treated to an awe-inspiring vista of hills and valleys swaddled with vegetation
as the visually arresting panorama of the city emerges from behind you. 
Up ahead, the looming figure
of Mt. Talomo—believed to be the Philippines’ highest peak before it literally
blew its top and got overshadowed by majestic Mt. Apo—zooms into view and takes
your breath away. 
Nestled at the foothills of
Mt. Talomo, it’s the nearest mountain resort I can readily visit if I want to
be close to nature. Rising some 2,630 feet (800 meters) above sea level, it’s a veritable
slice of paradise roughly 45 minutes away from the downtown area just waiting
to be visited (or revisited, in my case, for the nth time?) by those yearning
for some mountain magic while communing with nature. 
One of the things that I guess make the resort extraordinary is the lush pine tree forest that surrounds it, touted to be the only one of its kind in the city. Varieties of these lofty evergreen trees are extensively cultivated in the park’s nurseries. Another feature that will intrigue visitors is the scattering of rocks and boulders, said to be remnants of Mt. Talomo’s eruption.
There are also resting sheds
located at various points along the pine tree-shaded road where hikers can take
a break and catch their breaths. Signs and markers containing verses promoting
environmental consciousness are also strategically entrenched along some points
of the trails. 
Its most raved-about
features include an amphiteater-cum-flower-garden, which is a favorite venue of
debuts, birthdays, weddings, soirees and the like; a 200-meter
adrenaline-pumping zipline called “Sky Rider” as well as its predecessor,
“Indiana Jones”; an outdoor museum/cultural park named “Tinubdan”; a flower
garden featuring indigenous flora; a deer park and a bird and butterfly
sanctuary.
Day tourists can choose from two packages offered by the park. A lunch package entitles you to a sumptuous buffet lunch and a whole day access to the nature resort and its facilities. If you opt to stay for only half a day, there’s also a snack package. Regular tours around the nature park are also available, with a guide rattling off a volley of facts and trivia about the resort and answering some inquiries from guests. Overnighters and campers can also choose from a wide variety of accommodations with very affordable rates.
In the morning, when the sky
is clear, the sun shines and the mist blows away, Davao City, its gulf, and its
vast plains far below appear serene and beautiful beyond belief, making you
feel like you’re in seventh heaven. Silently, you’ll be thanking God and asking
Him to make them stay that way for a long, long time. That’s exactly what I did very recently. :D
