When someone utters the word Phillipines, places like Manila, Cebu, Palawan jumbles in their head like fireworks. You ask a tourist where is he/she headed, believe me or not, answers that you may get will be any of the 3 that I mentioned. However, as time flies, as tourists are more curious and eager to venture on new local and international destinations, on top of that, more and more tourists are also looking for more exotic, raw adventures, major cities are really merely just a drop off, kick off so to speak prior to the main adventure to the farthest local destination someone can find. Hence, in this article, I would like to intoduce to you SARANGANI-Your Next Adventure!

But where really is Sarangani? The province is really unheard of until Manny Pacquiao, our National Punch brought it to the limelight-to the international arena. Other than that, everyone just knew it as a province in Mindanao where the government troops fights the local rebels every day. This is a complete myth. Now let me take you down there.

First off, it is 1 hour and 45 minutes air flight from the Philippines capital Manila via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). As of the moment, we only have 2 local flight carriers down there; Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. Air fare varies depending on the season and travel dates. If are you on an urge for a hard rock adventure, you can travel via RO-RO, an inter island transportation. This is a hard rock adventure as you will be crossing islands, travel lands across the island of Visayas and Mindanao. This will take you minimum of 3-4 days. Tavelling by air, you will first land and be welcomed at the General Santos City International Airport. Yes, you heard it right, we have an international airport, meaning our airport facility can receive flights from international carriers. GenSan as the city is commonly called, is the business capital of SOCSKSARGEN also known as Region XII; South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos.

The name Sarangani is given to the created province because of its proximity to Sarangani Bay. The bay got its name from the two major islands that lie directly off the southern tip of the Sarangani Peninsula which borders the bay on its east side. Based on traditional recall, it has become the common understanding that the B’laan, T’boli and Sarangani Manobo were established in the Sarangani Bay region before any of the other tribal peoples. This, however, would ignore that along the coast, the Sangir also had a very early presence. As perhaps first applied to the islands near the southern tip of Mindanao, the name Sarangani reportedly was derived from the Sangir phrase ‘saranganeng’, dating from pre-Islamic times. Some take ‘saranganeng’ to be cognate to a later dialectical phrase ‘sarang ene’, meaning something like “this is our stopover and place of sojourn”. The Sangir use this second phrase in the sense of “these coasts are ours to habitually come to, stay at, or depart from as at any time we may choose”. Supposedly, this phrase was corrupted and produced the name Sarangani. The name continued to convey to the Sangir the idea that the southern coasts of Mindanao always belonged to them. Historically, these coasts presented to them the aged old northern frontier of their world which they occupied as it suited them. As a current geographic name Sarangani refers to all of coastal southern Mindanao. Now, that is a little too much of a history, kidding.

Sarangani have seven (7) municipalities (Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum) with 141 barangays. About 66 percent of the province’s total land area is a forest land. Half of this is highly cultivated for corn. These are in Malungon, Maasim, Malapatan, and Glan.

The common mode of transportation in Sarangani were Bus and other Public Utility Vehicles but most of the people were riding motorcycles to reached the barangays but to reach the Indigenous People farmers you have to walk for an hour; nowadays most of the Sarangani pushed their children not to imitate them on not going to school because most of the native in Sarangani was not engaged in school so, the local migrators easily scammed them to sell their land in exchange with can goods. On the other hand, With mountains still teeming with lush forest cover, pristine beaches and biodiversity dive sites, and exotic cultures of Islamic communities and indigenous peoples, it is your qucik escape away from the crazy city lights.

Sarangani is also a land of eco-cultural wonders. Its ridge to reef landscape teems with off-beaten destinations that will surely satisfy your craving for thrill and adventure. You’ll also learn a lot about the different indigenous peoples who have been protecting the rich resources of Sarangani for centuries. Now, since you are hungry adventure explorer like me, let me introduce you to the top places to visit in the province. 

Again, as promised, you can include this this on your list of your ultimate getaway for laid-back destinations as Sarangani is gradually hitting a mark as one of the rising eco-tourism destinations in the Philippines.

1. Gumasa Beach - Gumasa Beach is one of the top Sarangani tourist spots. It boasts of a long stretch of powdery white sand beaches. Vast coconut plantations line the beach and there is open grassland where you can play with your kids. It is known as the Boracay of the the South. This magnificent laid back spot is located in the town of Glan. From GenSan, you can take a local Van and travel the long strech of coconut plantation alongthe coast line of Sarangani Bay. Normally, from the city to Glan may take 1-2 hours of travel. This is located in the town of Glan.

2. South Point Dive Spots - If you’re into scuba diving, you should definitely check out South Point Dive Spot. Its deepest point is around 200 feet and for kilometers, you’ll find stunning rows of coral reefs that harbor an incredible marine species. As you explore the depths, you’ll catch sight of manta rays, stingrays, wrasses, and breathtaking schools of tuna and barracuda. It is one of the most pristine Sarangani tourist spots. This diving spot is located in the town of Maasim.

3. Sarangani Bay- This magnificient coast line covers a vast area of more than 215,950 hectares, making it one of the largest protected marine sites in the Philippines. Part of it is a massive coral reef expanse covering more than 2,293 hectares. It hosts more than 411 reef species, 60 live hard coral genera, and 11 species of seagrass. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources declared it as a Key Marine Biodiversity Area.

4. Kapatagan-Lago Dive Spot - It is one of the most accessible diving spots in the province as it is near the shoreline. After relishing the sights of the deep waters, you might also want to visit a nearby aquaculture farm for Sergeant fish species. This is also located in Glan

5. Pangi River - if you are into whitewater tubing, Pangil River should be added on you rlist. The tour package here involves a 2-kilometer bumpy and exciting whitewater tube ride. The ride typically takes more than 30 minutes. An experienced guide will ensure you a fun and memorable ride. Aside from the adventure, local groups will showcase their rich culture in the form of songs and dances. This is located in the farthest town of Maitum.

6. Lamlifew Village Museum - amlifew Village Museum is the first of its kind in the Philippines. It showcases the rich culture of the local tribes aimed for appreciation and preservation. Here, you will get a first hand view about the lives of the Blaan ethnic tribe (I am one) as it contains remnants of their traditional heritage, traditional weaving, and organic farming practices. The museum will also showcase various styles of colorful beads, headdresses, and hand-woven textiles.This is located in the town of Malungon.

7.  Tampat Shrine - It is a majestic shrine dedicated to the subordinate ruling Sultanates of Maguindanao. One of the tombs here dates back to ancient times. This makes Tampat Shrine one of the most recognized historical Sarangani tourist spots. This is located in the town of Maasim.

8. Nalus Falls -  Want to explore more of Sarangani’s beauty aside from beaches, visit Nalus Falls. It is a multi-layered beauty that will surely leave you feeling blissful and adventurous. The waterfalls cascade towards huge boulders of granite. Among the ideal activities, you can do here are rappelling, swimming, scrambling, and bouldering. This is located in thew town of Kiamba.

9. Pinol Cave - also known as Ayub Cave, Pinol Cave showcases various archaeological findings that will make you wonder about the roots of the province. There are earthenware medium depicting human faces and figures. According to researches, these were made by the earliest inhabitants of Sarangani. It was excavated only in 1991. Also one one of the most recognized cultural  tourist spots in Sarangani. This is located in Maitum town.

10. Tuka Marine Park - I remembered visiting this beautiful spot in 2015. Breathtaking so to speak. The view of Sarangani Bay is just mind blowing. Tuka Marine Park is another marine sanctuary you should visit especially if you’re into underwater exploration. It is also one of the protected Sarangani tourist spots. This is located in Kiamba.

11. Maitum Bat Sanctuary - I am not a big fan of bats, but to see hundreds of them will bring you chills. Sarangani is home to some of the country’s endangered wildlife species such as the giant golden-crowned flying fox bats. You’ll find hundreds of thousands of them at Maitum’s Bat Sanctuary.Every time you come here, you help promote their protection and preservation.

12. Mlangen Falls - Also known as Kamlayaman Falls, Mlangen Falls is one of the newly-discovered Sarangani tourist spots. It cascades on picturesque rock formations in a terraced manner. From the base, you can actually climb your way to the top of the falls because of the rough texture of the limestone. Do that and enjoy the waters caressing touch at every stage of your rappel.

13. Cabnot Falls - Cabnot Falls is one of the off-beaten Sarangani tourist spots. It consists of at least three waterfalls which you can all explore and enjoy in a daytime hike. Because of its secluded location, you’ll feel like time is standing still when you come here. This is located in Glan.

14. Glan Heritage Village - Glan Heritage Village showcases American-era art deco homes. These will give you a glimpse of how the town looks like during the American regime. One of the attractions here is Ruiz Residence, a living museum that houses antiques and local items. Then there is the Hacienda Don Juan Beach Resort which features a Victorian-themed old house with driftwood gardens and antediluvian materials. This is also located in Glan

15. Kiambing Pawikan Sanctuary - Founded in 2003, the sanctuary breeds Philippine turtles and release them into the wild. Your visit here can help spur the conservation of these iconic species. This is located in the town of Kiamba.

On the runner ups, you may also wanna check out the following:

- Kalon Barak Skyline Ridge in Malungon that has  a stunning view of Sarangani province.

- BOCAY-EL Falls in Kiamba for a refreshing dip.

- Paragliding site in Maasim is about 95-feet above sea level.

With the abundance of natural wonders in its arsenal, a well-timed visit to Sarangani is like a southern punch which will knock out a travel-starved tourist knocked down by the unending quarantine lockdowns.

https://sarangani.gov.ph/index.php/sarangani-profile/sarangani-history#:~:text=Origin%20and%20Etymology%20of%20the,bay%20on%20its%20east%20side.

https://danielsecotravels.com/sarangani-tourist-spots/

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/10/02/that-southern-punch-straight-to-sarangani/#:~:text=A%20seven%2Dtown%20province%20in,nature%20as%20its%20counter%2Dpunches.

https://sarangani.gov.ph/index.php/sarangani-profile/sarangani-history#:~:text=Origin%20and%20Etymology%20of%20the,bay%20on%20its%20east%20side.