South Cotabato Eco-tourism destination in Southeast Asia

SOUTH COTABATO (PNA) – South Cotabato used to be one united province with North Cotabato. The term Cotabato means "stone fort" from "kuta", Tagalog for fort and "bato" for stone.

Cotabato, in general has fine topographical features; deep, land-locked harbors assuring good anchorage, very fertile soil, natural basins, lakes teeming with the rarest choices of fish, and mineral and sulphur springs.

The province was earlier known as Mindanao or "Maguindanao". The word was derived from the root "danao," which means inundation by a river, lake or sea. The derivative "Maguindanao" meant "that which has been inundated."

The early attempts of the Spaniards to bring Mindanao under control were failures and soon abandoned. But in 1862, a Spanish military base was established in the area. Immediately thereafter, Cotabato was founded. Other interior towns and more military establishments were soon set up.

By 1872, Cotabato has advanced farther than any other region, it was soon made the temporary capital of the whole of Mindanao for a period of three years. In 1902 when the Moro province was organized, Cotabato became one of its districts.

South Cotabato is located in the southernmost portion of the island of Mindanao. Its main access is through the Sarangani Bay were General Santos City, the capital is located.

Sohura Dimaampao, Regional Director of Region XII said that the province offers a string of surprises to each visitor – hot spring resorts and beaches with varying classes of accommodation, picturesque parks, agricultural track of land, the biggest of which is the Dole plantation in Polomolok.

Dimaampao said there are guided tours to the top of Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano and the country’s highest peak. One route is via bus to Kidapawan, North Cotabato or Digos in Davao del Sur. Both pass through hot springs, magnificent lakes, verdant forests lush with wild orchids and home of the rarely seen "haribon" or monkey-eating eagle.

Another point of interest apart from the Tasaday is another group of people, the T’boli at Lake Sebu of Surallah. A non-Muslim ethnic tribe, it is among the most-highly costumed and colorful.

The T’bolis are admired for the wealth of their crafts, elaborate ethnic costumes and vivacious dance and music. They create an unusual tie-dyed cloth called "tinalak" from abaca and use this for blankets and ceremonial dress. The intricate process includes dyeing the loose bark fibers from the abaca plant using vegetable or natural stains. Then they painstakingly weave in fine designs on backstrip looms.

They are also noted for their body ornamentation and beadwork. T’boli brasswork using the ancient process of wax molds find their way into popular figure statuary, into heavy belts and chains and into noisy round anklets worn by the much beaded and embroidery-bedecked woman.

The T’boli tribe lives within the 356hectare sprawl of the Lake Sebu area. Rolling hills and mountain some reaching 900 feet above sea level and mountains surround the area. A fall coming from the lake irrigates Allah Valley.

Also located in South Cotabato are seven waterfalls. The falls are frequented by the natives as well as students and local tourists. Other waterfall sites are in Koronadal, Gian. Kiambia and Malungon towns.

Just recently, the New Zealand government granted Lake Sebu the amount of $600,000 (approximately R21.6 million) fund in order to help improve the economic situation of their locality.

Lake Sebu mayor Basilio Salif said the fund grant "would be a big help in developing eco-tourism sites in the town which ultimately would spur the town’s economy.

[ Lake Sebu Wiki ]