Balmed by Bali-Bali Beach Resort

Balmed. That’s what Bali-Bali did to me one balmy weekend. Like my favorite beer, the swanky hideaway in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), or simply Samal to most locals, soothed my heart, mind and soul, getting me intoxicated by its sheer beauty, superb amenities and sought-after exclusivity during a prelude-to-summer escapade with two of my bosom buddies, Jobots and Manoy.

Samal may be besieged by tourists on weekends and holidays, but it has some sweet secluded spots for those wanting to escape the throngs. Bali-Bali, just a few minutes away by boat from Davao City, is one of them. The semi-private resort is an exclusive refuge tucked into a picturesque hilly landscape overlooking the blue waters of Davao Gulf.

Bali-Bali, as it is aptly called, derived its name from the Pangasinense word for “beautiful”. Geez, I can’t seem to find the right words to describe the exotic appeal of the resort. It’s a slice of paradise that offers first-time visitors and frequent guests a different kind of summery sweet escape from urban tedium that’s so worth any adventure junkie’s time, money and effort.

Found along the southwestern part of the island, the resort is the perfect hideaway for those seeking to break free from the din and drudgery of city life without going to some faraway destination. Bali-Bali entices weekend warriors with the rare chance to either hang out by the infinity pool, hibernate inside their shacks or have fun in the sun. 

Bali-Bali's beachfront

Samal as seen aboard the barge

Babak Ferry Terminal

Getting there is a breeze, be it by land or sea. Upon arrangement, the resort provides boat transfers to guests coming from Davao Boat Club Marina in Lanang. But we didn’t avail of this since I decided to bring along my car. Instead, we took the 15-minute cruise aboard the barge that shuttles commuters and vehicles to and from the island. The sea was calm that day so we reached the island in no time.

Arriving at Babak Ferry Terminal, my friend Manoy then sat behind the wheel and drove us to the resort. En route to Bali-Bali, we passed by several resorts bearing such exotic names as Bluejaz, Paradise Island, Costa Marina, Bluewaters, La Familia, Mayumi, Punta del Sol, to name some. On weekends, the crowds overrun these hideaways, shattering your illusions of finding serenity there. 

Davao City as seen from an elevated part of Samal

What caught our fancy during the short drive to Bali-Bali was the picture-perfect panorama that usually greets motorists who pass by the island’s southwestern side. The seascape was spectacular, to say the least; a visual treat that thrilled us as my car snaked its way through the well-paved circumferential road that slithers up and down a cliff overlooking the deep blue sea. 
 

Stretched out below us are the deep blue waters that separates Samal and its islands from the rest of the region’s mainland. From a distance, the coastal fringes of Mindanao’s premier city loomed. Davao looked resplendent with all the trappings of a highly urbanized metropolis–malls, hotels, condos, residences, factories and manufacturing plants.

Bali-Bali's main attraction

Surrounded by lush greenery, the one-hectare beachfront property in the village of Catagman offers its guests with various types of accommodations found in its chic villas and suites designed with Japanese, Thai, Balinese, Oriental, Mediterranean and Filipiniana-inspired motifs. Aside from these, Bali-Bali also boasts of a two-storey hotel that’s quite cozy and capacious to give visitors the ultimate holiday experience.

A picturesque vista of the sea in Bali-Bali

Staffed with warm, courteous and friendly attendants, the resort makes visitors feel so welcomed. From the front desk down to housekeeping, everyone goes out of his way to be nice and accommodating—with a gracious smile at that! I can’t recall an instance when our requests and inquiries weren’t promptly attended by the staff. To say that they were at our beck and call would be an understatement.

The exclusive resort sizzles at night


 

Bali-Bali also delights its guests with a wide array of delectable cuisine concocted by its in-house chef. Meals are served at the sprawling pavilion where diners can relax and relish the view of the resort’s main attraction—an infinity pool that stretches out to a picturesque vista of the sea, perfectly framed by conifers, trees and ornamentals for a tropical ambiance. At night, luminaires light up the pool, giving it a fascinating mise en scène that would enchant swimmers and strollers alike. 
 

 
After the exhilarating ride, we reached Bali-Bali early in the afternoon. The staff served  us our welcome drinks and then ushered us into a comfortable Thai-inspired two-bedroom villa, one the four in the resort, all of which face the infinity pool, undoubtedly the most distinct feature of the resort that sets it apart from the rest of the havens in Samal. 

The one we had is relatively small but we have everything we need right around it—aircon, cable TV, private bath with hot & cold shower (replete with the bare essentials, that is, soap, shampoo, towels, rugs and bathroom tissue, the works), two double beds (plus one extra) with comfy blankets, two fluffy pillows, among others. 

The price? Well, I must say it’s quite pricey by our standards but then again, you have to pay more if you want to enjoy the placidity and privacy of it all. Ergo, it’s so worth it, especially for me who’s been craving for a vacay in a place far from the madding crowd and for my friends who wanted to be close to the beach, which is just a few meters away from where we stayed.

That weekend in Bali-Bali was all about flirting with indolence. We did nothing but bask in the beauty of the resort: sprawl ourselves in the jacuzzi, the pool and the sea; saunter here, there and everywhere; speak our minds about life and its unfathomable mysteries; and swill all the brew we could.

Short as it was, the weekend wandering to the resort rejuvenated me. Days have passed since that whirlwind escapade but until now I haven’t gotten over my hangover of Bali-Bali. The delirium tremens of the booze we gulped have long been flushed out of my system but the fun we had in the sun, sea and sand still lingers in my head, probably remaining in my memory bank for a long, long time. :

For more about Bali-Bali, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtuwzVM5dns. :-D

Savoring Sarangani’s Super Treats (Part 2)

Summer is long gone. Yet I couldn’t shake off the overpowering urge to extend it a bit more, hitting the road whenever I can to explore this island I’ve been calling home all my life: Mindanao. This passion for travel—probably second nature to us who live in an archipelago blessed with natural wonders that remain alluring, vibrant and exotic, rain or shine—keeps me excited about life, work and everything in between.

This time, I opted to visit anew one of Mindanao’s lovely yet lesser known destinations—Sarangani Province! Separated by General Santos City and Sarangani Bay, the coastal province, which belongs to SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), was once a part of South Cotabato prior to its creation in the early 1990s. Geographically, there are two Saranganis: the eastern coast, which include Alabel, Glan, Malapatan and Malungon, and the western coast, which cover Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum. 

Gateway to the western side of the province

One of the known homelands of the B’laan, T’boli and Moro peoples, Sarangani Province’s western side, I believe, fits the description of the “lovely yet lesser known destination”. Revisited after some time, I couldn't contain my stoke after seeing once again its three charming towns—Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum—whose people and natural attractions have left not a few local and foreign travelers dazed and dazzled!

Awesome seascape as seen from a cliff in Maasim

Whenever I visit the province, I often head first to GenSan City, which is usually the staging area of my sojourns in SOCCSKSARGEN.  Driving solo along the coastal road that leads to the three towns on the western side of Sarangani, I hardly blinked for fear that I might miss a thing or two of the awe-inspiring landscapes that quickly unfolded before my eyes!

Whew, I had to make occasional stopovers if only to capture the plethora of picturesque images I saw along the way! To my right, the almost barren hills with sparse vegetation, calling to mind the naked mountains of the American desert states while to my left, the cerulean blue waters of Sarangani Bay—such picture-perfect subjects for nature photography!

The road to Maasim

So, here are some of the nice spots that are worth visiting whenever you want to head for that part of Sarangani:

Maasim. About half an hour’s drive away from General Santos City, this first-class town is noted for the beach and diving resorts dotting its coasts. Driving through the well-paved coastal road that links the three coastal towns of the province on the west end, I was treated to a visual feast of the vast seascape that somehow lifted up my spirit.

Amazing seascape as seen from Maasim's Lemlunay Resort

Along the way, I got to see a string of beach resorts lining along the town’s coasts—4ML Strand, Pacman, Susan’s Beach, Phil Florencia, IML Eco Park, among others. Sorry, no white-sand beach. The stretches along this part of the Sarangani coastline are nondescript, mostly black and gray sand.

Lemlunay's cool pool

However, when it comes to diving, the place to be is Lemlunay Resort. Perched on a cliff and overlooking Sarangani Bay, it’s a world-class diving destination that’s fast becoming a hub of many scuba divers.

Welcome to Lemlunay!

No, there’s no beach there but Lemlunay makes up for it with a number of amenities designed for superb rest and recreation: a kids’ playground, spacious lawns for picnics and games, a restobar offering all sorts of delightful dishes made out of fresh bounties from the sea and a fab infinity pool where guests can refresh themselves all day long.

Panoramic vista of Sarangani Bay

Underwater enthusiasts who come to the resort usually start their day by snorkeling. The resort has amenities that take divers into the depths of Tinoto Wall, a popular diving spot in that part of Mindanao. With clear waters, a plethora of under-the-sea scenery and a myriad of amazing sea creatures, plus the affordable entrance fee of P250, you can’t go wrong at Lemlunay, whose name aptly means “paradise” in T’boli. 

Upper portion of Tinoto Wall

But plunging into the depths of the bay wasn’t the reason why I visited the resort. So what’s a deep seawater-averse foodie to do when in Lemlunay? What else but to dive into the gastronomic abyss of delightful offerings at their restaurant! Seafood overload—that’s what I gained after hibernating there for a day!

Kamanga coal-fired power plant as seen from Lemlunay

Incidentally, I also caught a glimpse of Maasim’s coal-fired power plant in the village of Kamanga, which is still a work in progress. Also known as Southern Mindanao Power Station or the SM200 Project, the half-finished facility is a 210-megawatt (MW) power plant owned by Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC). Once completed, the coal-fed plant, which is a joint venture between the Alcantara family and a Thai power company, will help stabilize Mindanao’s energy grid that currently relies on hydropower.

Kamanga coal-fired power plant in Maasim

Kiamba. Next to Maasim lies the quaint town of Kiamba, probably one of the hidden gems of the province. Kiamba is home to a number of natural attractions including powdery white-sand beaches, secluded coves, enchanting waterfalls, meandering rivers, to name some. Two of the more popular tourist attractions are Nalus Falls and Bocay-il Falls. 

Nalus Falls

Located less than a kilometer away from the main road, Nalus Falls has huge boulders of granite from where the water drops down a natural pool surrounded by lush vegetation. Though short and narrow compared to most of the cascades I’ve seen in Mindanao, you can still indulge in swimming, diving, bouldering and rappelling at Nalus. 

Another part of Nalus Falls

Bocay-Il Falls, on the other hand, is found at the heart of the town’s rainforest. A two-drop cascade, the falls is secluded but accessible through a T’boli village. Bocay-il in T’boli means “clear water.” Nestled some 13 kilometers away from the national highway, the falls represent the sixth and seventh drops of Fi’cong Limo, the first five waterfalls found in Kiamba’s highlands.

First tier of Bocay-il Falls

Bocay-il Falls

Second tier of Bocay-il Falls 

Just like Maasim, most of Kiamba’s beaches are black sand. However, just a few minutes away from the poblacion, you’ll find four small, protected coves with cream-to-white sand shores. No access roads were built leading to the coves, which are neatly tucked into the curves of Kiamba’s coastline. The coves are separated from each other by thickly forested cliffs.

Kiamba Port

Fishing is a major source of livelihood in Kiamba

Collectively known as Tuka Marine Cove, this hidden sanctuary was on top of my itinerary when I recently went to Kiamba. Of the four coves named Tuka 1, 2, 3 and 4, only one (Tuka 3) has simple resort amenities like nipa cottages, including Congressman Manny Pacquiao’s huge beach house! 

A boat bound for Tuka Marine Park

A glimpse of Tuka 3's beach

From what I’ve gathered, the local government regulates visitors who explore the place to ensure its pristine condition. If you want to reach the cove, you have to take a 15-minute boat ride to get there—and only when the tide is very low as the waves could be quite treacherous on certain occasions.

Tuka 3's pristine beach

PacMan's resthouse in Tuka

Colorful  umbrellas adorning Kiamba's town hall

Probably the best way to end a day in Kiamba is to linger at the sprawling municipal plaza, which is also ideal for biking, chatting or strolling with family and friends. What struck me most about the plaza are the hundreds of colored umbrellas that adorn the pathway leading to the town hall. Simply amazing!

Kiamba Baywalk

Or you can roam around Lourdes Park. As dusk settles, you can enjoy the street foodstuff such as balut (boiled fertilized egg of chicken or duck), chicharon (deep-fried pork rind), isaw (barbecued pig or chicken intestines), pork and chicken barbeque, etc. Just across a bridge from the park is Kiamba Baywalk where you can catch the sun as it goes down the horizon.

The road to Maitum

Maitum. Dubbed as "Mindanao's Old World, this quaint town whose name means “black” in the vernacular, is famous for the anthropomorphic burial jars which were discovered inside Ayub Cave in the village of Pinol. Said to be one of its kind throughout Southeast Asia, the ancient relics are said to have been meticulously crafted by Maitum’s forefathers some 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. The terracotta jars served as receptacles of the bones of dead family members.

Maitum's mighty Pangi River

Each jar bears a sculptured face that bears a likeness to the dead person interred. Other jars, without the sculpted head, have interesting markings and hold other remains. It’s possible to visit the cavern by asking the caretaker who lives just opposite the mouth of Ayub Cave. Although the place has been cleared of the findings, some jar fragments and bones can still be seen inside.

Replicas of the original Maitum anthropomorphic jars

For me, it’s a mortal sin for any traveler who’s fond of arts, culture and history to miss out on these relics whose amazing replicas are up on display at the museum found at the second floor of the Maitum Municipal Hall. Aside from the jars, it also boasts of a variety of relics and artifacts of the T’boli and Maguindanao tribes.

Diorama of Ayub Cave where the anthropomorphic jars were discovered

According to the museum's staff I've talked to, the original jars have been transferred to the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila and the National Museum in Butuan City. Still, the replicas I saw at the town’s museum left me so stoke when I finally laid eyes on them. It is said that the human face on each jar was etched by the artist based on the emotional state of the deceased at the time of death. So unique are the relics that they’ve been hailed by our cultural experts as National Cultural Treasures! 

About two-and-a-half hours drive from General Santos City through a generally well-paved road, Maitum is a typical Mindanaoan town that’s a melting pot of various tribes—Christians, Moros and indigenous peoples. Most of the locals are descendants of the pioneering Ilocanos who came to settle in that part of Mindanao. It is also home to many Moros and members of the T’boli tribe who populate different parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani.

When you’re in town, why not taste Maitum’s priced delicacy, what else but the marinated flying fish known as bangsi! The town is so proud of this special product that they hold an annual festival in its honor. Caught off the waters of Maitum, bangsi is a known breakfast fare, usually fried and best eaten with sinangag (fried rice), with tomatoes and itlog na maalat (salted duck egg) as side dish.

A hanging bridge connecting Maitum to its neighbor, Kiamba

All told, this is the part of Sarangani Province I’ve experienced on several occasions.  Surely, there’s so much more to this precious gem in this part of Southern Philippines than what I’ve included in this post, so much than what I can mention so I say see for yourselves the beauty of this lesser known destination in Mindanao. So, weekend warriors, when you feel the urge to run away from it all, make it to Sarangani and savor the best of the myriad treats that it offers! 😃😃😃