For those not in the know yet, Cagayan De Oro City Airport, IATA Code: CGY, which had been on top of a mountain, 601 meters above sea level, at Brgy. Lumbia of the same city, since opening in the 1930s, has transferred 2013JUNE to Brgy. Moog, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, 46kms to the west of CDO.
The look and feel of/at this airport is generally just like being at those other new airports.
Here's something different and should be emulated by all airports: in front of the arrival lobby, you see a good number of transport companies called "Shuttle Service" or "Airport Shuttle". They have desks.
I like this kind of conveyance. These "shuttle" services are not taxis where you are the only passenger inside a vehicle. This is very ideal for solo travelers - where the cost of a comfortable coaster gets to be somehow shared, so it is cheaper. Plus, you are not "alone and vulnerable" inside the vehicle. As many seasoned travelers would say.., it is safer to be traveling with other people in the same vehicle.
Most of them use clean and comfortable coasters (not the usually cramped L300s) for an end-to-end travel. Stops are only for those getting-off (e.g, El Salvador, Opol, Gaisano). No pick-ups along the way.
I rode on a "Magnum"! This dark-blue van is "Super 5". Those are two of the most reliable shuttles..,
Airports are "going away" from their original locations! Call it a sign of progress or something, airports in the world are moving farther and farther away from cities they've been originally built at. As of now, there are already too many examples worldwide (and still growing). Like Iloilo (ILO) Airport which was originally built in Manduriao, was moved to the town of Cabatuan. Hongkong International Airport was originally in Kai Tak and moved to Chek Lap Kok (sa dagat pa!). And, Bacolod (BCD) Airport is in Silay!
Ang lalayo na! But I like this "shuttle service" system that they have in Laguindingan. In Cebu, there is My Bus, which, I think is even better. Though for smaller airports like CDO, these coasters are the best.
Anyway, since the airport is far from the city.., it was a sightseeing opportunity for me!
Here are pics I got as we were negotiating the road out of Laguindingan Airport..,
So okay, I was finally out of the Laguindingan Airport on my way to Cagayan De Oro's Agora Market to connect to a Ceres (oops Rural) Bus going to Malaybalay, Bukidnon. I said that before, right? Rural and Bachelor buses in Mindanao are also owned and operated by Vallacar Transit, owners of Ceres Buses.
One of the first notable structures you'll see going away from the airport (as of now), is a new masjid!
Moving on..,
This is that Super 5 terminal I mentioned above. You can ride to this place and hop on the big buses..,
Now now.., this thing might not last that long. Why? Because I heard that the local government unit of Laguindingan is going to build a transport terminal somewhere around here, THAT, will do just exactly what the Super 5 company is already doing. I wonder.., do things like those have patent or IPR ek-ek?
Anyway, the surest thing that you won't be lost or stray away in the future is this intersection..,
This will soon be a rotunda, as I could see the DPWH is building a circular something, probably even a park-like installation, as I could see structures being built, that are not common for road roundabouts.
Note: whoever is in charge here should now be ridiculed for laying the foundations of a chaotic heavy traffic intersection. Mark my word my dears. Give it 7 to 10 years, this junction will be often jammed. When has it been good to traffic that a prime intersection has 3 gas stationS, and 1 coming up soon?
Oh anyway too, just about 500 meters going left from this junction is the Laguindingan Municipal Hall, right smack by the national road. And even meters before that, on the other side of the highway, is the Laguindingan Public Market. Give it a few years and traffic in this area will become metro-manila-like!
See? I saw some things new! That's the beauty of travel, we get to see and/or experience new things where many scientific or social principles can be applied to. Oh ha?! Travel is the best education! And if they did not move CGY to Laguindingan, this corner of earth wouldn't have even been in my dreams!
Let us move forward with the new learnings, plus..,
Now I know (I am aware), that westward going to Cagayan De Oro, after Laguindingan is a town called Alubijid [a-lu-bi-hid]. And now (just now) I also know there is a city named "El Salvador" in this country!
Maybe sometime soon, I should come back to know more interesting facts about El Salvador City!
Here's an interesting name, a Barangay called Luyong Bonbon in the town of Opol, next to El Salvador
Here's a welcome sign at the entry to the central area of Opol..,
Still on this naming of names thing, I took this next photo to capture the signage (left edge of pic, that is even too dark) that points to where their municipal hall is - supposedly some 77 meters to the right.
Here's another one! I did not take this photo because of the bakery name. Look at the arrow..,
Next, I took this pic just to let me know that I was getting closer to the center of Cagayan De Oro. Yey!
I remember too, behind both Fast Logistics and Gaisano, is the wide compound of Nestle Philippines. Ah, on the other side of the highway, yep, across Gaisano, is a home depot something hardware that's also enormously wide! Needless to say, I knew I was already in the CDO commercial business district, yet still far to the Limketkai Center and eventually the Agora Bus Station which was my shuttle's route!
But when you like what you are doing, you catch every reason to smile.., or chuckle!
Like this eatery whose name has been murdered by careless advertisers not just once but.., thrice?
And entering city center..,
A fleeting time for nostalgia.., the Cagayan De Oro River that goes as far as Kitanglad and Talakag..,
I wondered too, how many bridges now cross the entire length of this very long river? 11? A dozen? Ah let's hope they are all as sturdy as this one, that cannot easily be swept by rampaging floods, because I think there will be more of that to come in the future, as global climate changes from worse to worst.
At this point, when the coaster crossed the bridge, for a moment I thought I was in another Asian city.
And OMG, so Ayala Center is across Gaisano City diay! Have I been away for too long? Maybe yes!
This happens to many people.., you go to a place, but you go straight to where your purpose is, most especially if work-related. So, you don't anymore see that this and that is already this that and more! The last mall I entered in CDO was SM City when the airport was still up at Lumbia. Matagal na nga!
Tuyok tuyok.., and my shuttle passed by this thing.., wha,., it's a hotel (the skyscraper I saw earlier)!
And my shuttle stopped here.., everyone got off (even hurriedly), but driver hollered for me to stay!
Look here! The coaster was already empty! Driver said "you are Agora sir, right"? I said yes hehehe
I moved to a seat near the door, and as I made this selfie (of my shoulder) and the empty coaster..,
the driver was still talking.., he was saying "I bring you there now, sit tight sir"! I was dying controlling myself not to laugh out loud hehehe! But take note my dear travelers, this was not a kind gesture on the part of the driver or the shuttle service. The Agora Bus Terminal is the last Magnun drop-off point. It just so happened that I was the only one going there, while all others got off at the Limketkai Center.
Alright.., my Airport Shuttle ride continued. It's actually just 1 to 2km more to the Agora Bus Terminal
Tsadaaan! Okay, alright.., here I was on a Rural Tours bus inside the Agora Bus Terminal...
Where does that happen? At the grills/fence, there at the entrance! Here's what your 3-pesos is for:
I am sure that is a government procedure. Because, only them are that "duh"! Ever!
Anyway, let's not ruin my wonderful travel with idiotic government procedures! Here was my bus..,
There's a WC on board! Good for travelers like me who can't contain their kidneys for long periods!
You might be wondering why is it not "CR" in the first place when we Pinoys don't say "WC"? Well, that is how it is usually called in the country where the bus was manufactured which is obviously definitely not Philippines! Our buses are not like airplanes where things can be "customized" according to buyer whims or specifications. Mahal yun. Besides, many of our buses are imported junk, iko-customize pa?
Let's be happy these buses of Vallacar transit do not look like repurposed scrap!
By the way.., did you know that all of our Asian neighbors use WC (if they have to) and that only us the Pinoys use CR? Well, most of them were either colonized by the British and/or have a leaning towards the UK English (where WC comes from), while we Pinoys were the only ones who grew up with Uncle Sam (sumablay sila sa Vietnam, diba?) that brought to us CR. But now, even Americans don't say CR!
WC = Water Closet, CR = Comfort Room! Both are far from the reality of "i-ihi" or "ta-tae", right?
Hah and eew really, I can make a discourse about those two abbreviations, but this is my travel blog, so let us proceed with my very long joyride to Malaybalay Bukidnon. We are still 90+ kilometers away!
12:26NN here we were going out of the Agora Bus Terminal of CDO for the 2-hour trip to Malaybalay!
12:35NN we were already cruising through the national highway, as if going to Butuan..,
Oh here the bus just turned right. That's Gaisano Puerto (left side of bus, I was seated on the right)..,
Today I didn't care much about these intersections as I was on a bus. But other times of my roaming life, like just sometime ago, this corner had been crucial to my sanity! But am not alone in this. I know people who also missed this intersection and gone astray! There are no big signage approaching the intersection. If there will be, it must be 500 meters before and say "Bukidnon: DON'T take the flyover"!
Anyway, as the bus zigzagged up Sayre Highway, my neck kept twisting left and right for the views!
Let's fast-forward to the town of Manolo Fortich. I eagerly waited for a glimpse of this..,
What's the significance? Well, this picture below will explain my excitement to "remember" this place..,
This is an important corner to travelers as this is the access road to Del Monte Golf & Country Club!
If there's a club house, then there must be a club, right? Yeah, the Del Monte Golf & Country Club since 1928! It's an 18-hole par-72 all weather layout golf course that one of my friends say is "a challenging course, especially hole 16". It's just about a kilometer from that corner to the lovely rustic club house.
The Del Monte Club House as it is fondly called by everyone is at a corner of the compactly-designed but vast golf course, which, sits at the edge of an OMG seemingly boundless pineapple plantation - as far as your eyes can see! They offer tours, serve good food (ohh, steaks!) and even host celebrations.
The one and only one time I 've been there, it was a late-afternoon-to-evening-event, I didn't quite see a lot of things clearly or up-close. And I wasn't even able to take pictures because I was supposedly the "guest-of-horror" (I was the one being photographed, oh ha?)! I wanna be back there a whole long day!
Trivia: Did you know that this town had some role in the life of General Douglas MacArthur? Read on..,
I was in luck the bus slowed down at this area. I quickly took a pic of this Matthew's Restobar. Why?
So ano na nga, bakit me memorial in these mountains? Relaaaks, teka laaang..!
This area here was the "Del Monte Airfield". When the Japs were like getting successful at Corregidor, he made layas to Cagayan De Oro via torpedo boats, drove on the real/orig jeeps to this place, stayed here for four days, and escaflew to Australia (with his staff and family no less) on two B-17 bombers.
According to reliable sources.., da tsismis pa nga daw is.., those B17 bomber planes daw were really kakarag-karag na! But they made it. And there in Oz, sa riles ng tren nya sinabi yung.., "I Shall Return"!
Yun.., ganun nga daw ang blow-by-blow account ng flight-of-the-bumblebee ni Gen Dougie!
O sya tama na, let's move-on na, Malaybalay is far pa! Aha, hihirit ka pa ha? Eto trivia pa more.., after exactly 9 days, somebody prominent and very important too at that time, also flew the same route to Down Under kasama pa si dayunyor! Unfortunately for him and sadly for the Filipinos, it was the last time that his feet touched on Philippine soil.., yeah, at Del Monte Airfield. O ano, knows nyo? Isip-isip!
Onwards, probably just a little more than a hundred meters on the right side is this interesting gate..,
About a kilometer on from that Industrial Zone, I did not quite catch on my camera the Manolo Fortich Municipal Hall as it was on the left side of the road and on a busier part of town. I did see it as the bus drove along - a new, modern-looking building. Anyway and however, another kilometer on, I saw this..,
Hey, the inner area at right still has the monument of Jose Rizal nobly standing on his old monument. Was he not part of the "lipat-bahay" to the new municipal hall? Why? Me bago na bang national hero?
Okay okay, let's leave Manolo Fortich... But not without giving you more trivia:
Maluko was the original name of this town before it was changed to Manolo Fortich in 1957. Maluko is still the name of a barangay of Manolo Fortich. Manolo Fortich is/was a true-blue Bisdak. He hailed from the town of San Nicolas (before it was dissolved to become part of Cebu City). Now, ambot lang if taga Basak, Proper, Pahina o Suba ni siya kaniadto. I forgot to ask him man gud bai, hehehe!
Camp Philips and Camp JMC are not barangay names! So is Kawayanon where the clubhouse is!
"Agusan Canyon" is a barangay of Manolo Fortich, therefore very far from Agusan Del Norte or Agusan Del Sur provinces. The Agusan River at Agusan Canyon is the same river that empties out at Barangay Agusan of Cagayan De Oro, which is, therefore not, the Agusan River in Butuan City, that traverses all of Agusan Del Norte and Agusan Del Sur, even all the way down to Davao De Oro and Davao Oriental.
But Bukidnon Province where Manolo Fortich belongs to, was originally part of the old whole Agusan Province, before it was divided into Agusan Del Norte and Agusan Del Sur, and Bukidnon provinces.
Makabuang 'no?! Anyway..,
And so the bus continued on.., this time going out towards the less busy parts of town. Ah the church and the new building (gym?) were on the left, so I couldn't see much of them, all the more that I could not take any pictures. And the bus started careening down to another zigzag portion of the highway!
I was excited to see those lovely mountains reveal themselves even at that distance..,
And I saw a resort with swimming pools - yes, plural! But Mr. Driver was like making a takeoff run!
Wheh, di ba? In fact.., we passed by this sign, it says "CAUTION ACCIDENT PRONE AREA"..,
Hahaha! Sadista!
Look, I had to press the camera hard on the window glass to avoid the sway since we were "flying"!
I know.., I knew it was dangerous, but.., sometimes we get a kick out of danger! Hesumalusep hehe!
Look at the arrows and look at the road.., that's where we were going at roller coaster speeds!
Well, there are "moments" in our lives we are thankful there's traffic. This scene was one for me!
But we were traversing mountains.., there were cool inviting scenes that make you forget everything,
And OMG this sitio is even named after the kind of road that they have here in the mountains..,
Look! Road repairs make all vehicles run slowly. And we get to see the fantastic highland views!
But I saw this thing.., and I said "oh Lord Of Mercy, I hope it did not fly off its body just now"!
And in no time, we were already entering the town of Impasug-ong. Whoa! Wasn't that fast? Not really!
I thought Kaamulan Festival was moved to August/September since 2014. Apparently not anymore!
Anyway, here's proof how cool is Bukidnon.., construction workers sleeping on a roadside at noon!
When I saw this beautiful "ranch-style" building, I knew I was already in Malaybalay City..,
I saw some white-colored big fat cattle roaming the grounds but I could not catch them on camera as the bus sped its way to city center. Oh, sometime ago, I heard people here talking about a "communal stock farm". That's almost a "nose-bleed" for me, but I guess folks make use of the science offered by government experts. There are various (and varied) research centers in that compound and across it.
After the animal things.., here came to my view the pineapple thing, again! There's too many of them!
Hey the bee says his Malaybalay store is just 3 kilometers away.., therefore I have arrived!
And then I saw this big and beautiful barangay hall. It looks like a munisipyo, right?
Oh well, I was back in Malaybalay Bukidnon. Let's talk about it next!
0 Comments