FOR MY Christmas article, let me regale you with the story of our trip from General Santos City to Cagayan de Oro City on Dec. 17th for our much-anticipated Christmas break in Bohol. We were supposed to take the boat on Dec. 18 en route to Bohol.
It was very unfortunate that on the evening of Dec. 16, 2021, Typhoon âOdetteâ devastated Bohol. The massive destruction affected several island provinces in the Visayas region and portions of Mindanao, and as a result, while we traveled from General Santos City via Davao City, cruising along the Francis Bowes Sayre â the 192-kilometer-long highway that cuts across Bukidnon Province â to Valencia City, there was no working ATM all the way! Thatâs right, all the way! Each ATM was covered with a bond paper that said, âOffline.â Thank God we have gassed up the night before.
With that, we decided to pool our resources together â which was not much anyway haha! for our meals and some short stops on the road. After all, we decided right from the start that we will have a fun trip.
I have missed long trips especially after having been stuck in General Santos City for nearly two years. This trip is truly bliss!
Our first stop was a resto that offered a pleasant view of Sarangani. The ubiquitous photo session followed. From there, we proceeded with the leisurely excursion and after a couple of hours, rested by an area in Marilog District to dine. At the boundary of Davao City and the first municipality of Bukidnon, we halted by the road and photographed with the sculptures. Local tourists always look for landmarks.
For our afternoon refreshment, we had sikwate and puto maya at Seagull Mountain Resort. I think itâs my best sikwate so far! I also like the ambience of the place. Itâs rustic and reminds me of a museum in faraway Aklan. The feel is like a mini museum owing to its antique doors, windows, and furniture. Kudos to the owner for preserving the atmosphere of the place.
After that, we drove again and paused at another view deck that I didnât get the name â apologies to the establishment. We photographed again!
We decided to rest overnight at Valencia City where along the way, we were awed by the Christmas lights that decked the different municipalities of Bukidnon.
Funny thing. While checking in at Pet Perry Suites, the staff required advance payment but like I said, we were unable to withdraw on the trip, no thanks to the impact of Odette on our telecommunications system. So, what do you do when you donât have cash, and credit card isnât working? You rely on your face value, haha!
The hotel personnel were pleasantly reasonable and only asked for my Identification Card. I gave my Media Card and that was about it. Then, we had dinner complete with acoustic music in a barbecue area.
The following morning, the daughter and I drove out and found Robinsonâs Place Valencia. I was impressed. Itâs brand new, clean, spacious, and just the right size. You wonât get exhausted roaming the whole expanse of the place. So far, this is the Robinsonâs Place I like the most!
That morning, I was also informed about the aftermath of Odette in Bohol: no water and power. Itâs a repeat of what happened after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol in 2013. It was traumatic for me. Two months without power right after the earthquake was severe and stressful. Thus, I decided not to proceed to Bohol anymore. Everybody else also cancelled their plans.
We proceeded to Cagayan de Oro City where we visited Camp Evangelista and met my good friend, Col Adolfo B. Espuelas Jr. We had a fun time playing mini golf, haha!
Our day ended with a sumptuous dinner at Shelseyâs Sweet Things Resto in Kauswagan hosted by owners, Engr. Luis Ytol and Emma Ingking. It was also a mini reunion among college friends.
After the sumptuous dinner, everybody had to go our separate ways, but Shiloh Ruthie and I stayed behind to spend our Christmas with our hosts since we could not proceed to Bohol as planned.
(To be continued)
***
On heartache and heartbreak, I have written âGood riddance to bad rubbishâ last week. I donât think another article can top that. However, it is important for most people to flush out whatever toxins are left in our system before the year ends. Itâs like cleansing. Who doesnât want a better new year 2022? Everybody does. Hence, whatever needs flushing out, do so. If a ritual is needed in whatever form to help you, do it, for as long as it will not physically harm you.
Letâs make our 2022 a better year for us and pray that after the betrayal of 2021, the God of the universe will vindicate us.
***
Merry Christmas to our vacation hosts: Childhood friends Luisito Ytol and Emma Ingking and children Bea and Shelsey; Rachel Ingking and kids Nicole and Robert Rafael; Jhino Jhorelle Maquiling; matriarch Lucia Ingking; the indefatigable Warlita Pacional, and household support staff Nora and Ruffa.
***
Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
