Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
Bansalan is a small town, with a total land area of only 20,770 hectares. It is subdivided into 25 barangays and is the boundary between the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. It is about 72 kilometers south of Davao City and is very accessible by land transportation. The town is sandwiched by two cities: Kidapawan and Digos.
The Municipality of Bansalan is covered with vast agricultural lands coupled with a relatively cool climate and nutrient-rich soil which is conducive for agricultural production. It is known to be the “food basket” of Davao Del Sur as it produces huge tons of different agricultural products like coconut, rice, mango, coffee, banana, sugarcane, rubber, corn, abaca, durian, root crops and vegetables.
I am from Bansalan, a first-class municipality in Davao del Sur. Most of those who grew up here are now working, if not living, in other parts of the world. Even though they have adjusted well and are already accustomed to the way of life in their adoptive countries, they still long to go home to the place where they belong.
So, every time they come home, they pay a visit to this humble yet progressive town. One of those who recently came home was Dr. Jozald C. Tuballa, a health care professional in one of the hospitals in Sydney, Australia. He has not spent Christmas in the Philippines for nine years, since he always comes home annually every March (as it is the birthday of his mother). He has barely seen his hometown since his family is now residing in General Santos City.
Thus, when he told me that he would come to Bansalan to visit the grave of his father, I immediately suggested that this was the time to visit the scenic spots of Balutakay, known to be a hotspot of encounters between the military and the rebels
Off to Balutakay
Actually, Balutakay is located at the rolling foothills of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak (whose elevation is 2,954 meters above sea level). As such, it is part of the national park.
As there are already concrete roads going to the place, which stretches to Kapatagan of Digos City, Balutakay has become a haven for tourism destinations. In fact, plenty of resorts have sprouted here like mushrooms.
Two days after the Christmas celebration, Dr. Tuballa and some members of his family came to Bansalan. After they paid homage to the grave, I met them at a nearby restaurant. With him were his mother (Anunciacion), his sister (Joy Anne T. Tablazon), and his nephew (Kurt Dwayne Josh Tablazon).
The five of us embarked on a quick tour – “resort hopping,” to quote the words of Jozald – at Balutakay.
Twin Mountain View Resort
The first place we visited was the Twin Mountain View Resort, which described itself as “your scenic retreat.” Considered to be a “hidden gem” nestled amidst the natural beauty of Davao region, it offers a serene and rejuvenating getaway.
If you stay here, you get to see a visual feast of the twin peaks when you wake up in the morning. Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak, seems so near, yet in reality it is so far.
If you love adventure, this is the place where you can start hiking, and exploring pristine forests. Or you can explore the trails around the resort, which is impeccable for nature walks and birdwatching. Don’t miss walking at its Sky Walk as you get the thrill of seeing what is below you.
Haven’s Dew Resort
From there, we went to Haven’s Dew Resort, a paradise away from home. It is just about a kilometer away from the Twin Mountains. The place provides family and couple rooms, dome tents, a swimming pool and 11,000 LED flowers that illuminate at night.
But the main attraction is still the garden planted with varied flowers and ornamentals. “We are growing more than 30 different species and varieties of flowers,” Joel Deligero, the resort owner, told us.
And don’t miss the sculptures, such as the replica of the famous Singapore landmark (Merlion), Lady Jars, the fountain, statues of peacocks and swans facing each other, and a hand (which represents “peace”). It also pays homage to indigenous people groups in the area.
If you enjoy high thrills, you may want to try riding the sky bike and zip line. Both Jozald and Joy Anne did the sky bike. “It’s my first time to ride such a thing,” Jozald said. “It was thrilling,” Joy Anne added.
Sir Ped’s Cafe
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks these days. So, for our finale, we went to Sir Ped’s Café, where we dined with much gusto. As it is a “farm-based garden café,” we ordered the signature coffee – the “Sir Ped Latte”, which tasted like Spanish Latte but with a twist. We also partook of the mouth-watering pizza.
Save the best for the last, I told Jozald – and he agreed. After all, this is the perfect place to treat yourself, your family, and friends to a much-deserved relaxing break. When we arrived, there were but a few guests in the cafe – unlike at the Haven’s Dew.
After eating and enjoying a pleasant conversation, it was getting cold already. As the temperature went down, it was the best time to tour around the place. We went to the coffee farm, and was surprised that there were coffee cherries ready for harvesting.
We also had a grand time talking with Atty. Elmer Pedregosa. He talked about the idea that came to him. At first, it was just a café, but people who came here wanted to stay, and so he added some A-house type accommodation where guests can check in for the night or two.
At 5 in the afternoon, we were ready to go back home. We bade goodbye to Atty. Pedregosa and told him that we will be back one of these days to enjoy the scenery and the amiable weather.
“It was fun,” said Jozald. The three others echoed the same opinion. – ###
