In the early years of the twentieth century, tourism continued to expand as a consequence of increasing wealth, interest and outgoing attitudes, and improvements in people's transport. Advances in transport allowed people to travel in masses. In addition, the influx of cash, coupled with advancements in technology, led to new patterns of leisure (time spent having fun) and consumption (buying products).

People travel for various reasons. Reasons may include personal and work related. What I noticed is, recently, people prefers to travel to local destinations more than to those well established and well visited locations.

For example, in the Philippines, Boracay is beautiful but there are other beaches in the Philippines that can surpass Boracay. Let me share with you the " Boracay of the South-Glan."

Glan, officially the Municipality of Glan is a 1st class municipality in the province of Sarangani, Philippines. It is located west of Sarangani Bay, north of Davao Occidental, and south of the Celebes Sea. It is largely based on agriculture with a high level production of copra. Aquaculture is the second biggest income earner, notably milkfish and shrimps culture. Other agricultural products are coconuts, maize, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef, and fish.

The municipality is classified by members of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as a heritage town. However, no ordinance or law has yet to be legislated for protection of Glan's heritage structures and colonial roads. A Vigan-type ordinance has been suggested by the Heritage Conservation Society, so that the town may be added to the Philippines UNESCO Tentative List in the future.

How to get here?

From Manila, the capital of the Philippines, faster option will be to hop on a plane and fly into General Santos City. From here, hop on a cab for 500 pesos into KCC Mall of Gensan where the terminal going to Glan is located. From there, it will be  a 2 hour van ride until you reach the town proper.

 
Top Spots to Visit

Considered as oldest town in Southern and Central Mindanao,the town is Sarangani's top producer of coconut. That being said, from GenSan to Glan, for the entire duration of the travel, feed your eyes with thousands and acres of coconut trees along the way with the magnificient Sarangani Bay on the other side.

1. Top of the list to visit  is the paradise of Gumasa Beach. Gumasa boasts of a six-kilometer white beach on a crescent-shaped cove in the eastern shore of Sarangani, facing the Celebes Sea. Because of its fine, powdery sand resembling that of Boracay’s White Beach, it has earned the name “Small Boracay of Mindanao”.

Blessed with a beautiful palm-fringed shore made up of white sand and crystal-clear blue waters, Gumasa has been compared to the country’s top beach destination Boracay Island. 

This paradise is still considered quiet compared to the other beach destinations in the country which are already overrated. It rustic, laidback vibe is perfect for clearing your head and just chill. Gumasa as it is commonly called also has pockets of beaches, coves, and spots that are perfect for diving, snorkeling, and other activities such as volleyball, frisbee, and kayaking.

2. Hacienda Don Juan Beach Resort- this is a CENTURY-OLD HOUSE built mostly in the early part of the 1900s, with high balconies and walls of ‘kalados’. Some of these old houses still preserve good collections of antique furniture.

3. Isla Jardin del Mar Beach Resort
4. Coco Beach Resort
5 Rosal Beach Resort
6. White Haven Beach Resort

A short side note, I was raised in Glan and putting up this article just flashes me back into memory lane.

For additional list of connected beaches and placess to stay feel free to check out this link:

https://thehappytrip.com/2017/11/glan-sarangani-travel-guide/

Additional related articles: https://guidetothephilippines.ph/destinations-and-attractions/gumasa-beach