Cagayan de Oro City EXTREME ADVENTURES

There were three challenges we wanted to take when we accepted an invitation of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to visit Cagayan de Oro City last weekend. These are:

* To spend a night or two in a hanging cottage implanted at the edge of a ravine at the PTA-operated Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village;

* To walk on a swinging 51-meter long foot-bridge spanning over a canyon and then take a Zip Line ride back on a cable wire moving at an average of 20 kph.

* To do white water rafting along the wild Cagayan de Oro City river with 12 rapids or waterfalls to conquer.

But before elaborating on this, as a backgrounder, it may interest the readers to know a little about the place it would happen. The word Cagayan is derived from the root word "kagay" which means river. "Kagay-am," the place where the gold is panned owing to three rich tributaries that abound with gold. With the arrival of the Spaniards, however, "Kagay-am" was changed to "Cagayan." Later on, when gold was found in the river traversing the village, the phrase "de Oro" was added. The signing of the charter creating the City of Cagayan de Oro on June 15, 1950 by then President Quirino marked its birth as a Charter City.

PTA General Manager Robert Dean Barbers is selling to tourists these extreme adventures and other city attractions in the hope that they will visit or stay also at the PTA-run Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, a mountaintop hotel-resort situated in Sitio Malasag, Cugman, a rolling terrain in the slopes of a 6.2-hectare reforestation area, 20 minutes from the city center.

As our van ascended through the zigzag road between the mountains and the cliff leading to the resort up in the sky we became apprehensive at the sight of wooden crosses planted at every blind bend. Our slight fear dissipated as we were greeted by breathtaking sceneries above and below us. The climate became cooler and breezy as we went higher.

When we reached the top of the mountain, clusters of handsome cottages and nipa huts that lined the mountain side around the village greeted us.

At the entrance of the village, members of cultural minorities in colorful costumes welcomed us with their native dances at the tune of their musical instruments. It was followed by a lunch at the village’s restaurant overlooking Macajalar Bay and the highway leading to Davao provinces farther below. Here Cerelina A. Chan, the resort’s general manager received us with a short welcome remarks which was responded to by Bing Francisco, PTA sales executive and head of the media delegation.

The site, a wooded area of 6.2 hectares, is crossed by several tracks along which you will find numerous traditional dwelling houses made of bamboo and nipa of the major tribes of the region exhibiting instruments of music, costumes, farming tools and traditional crafts.

A cultural village in a botanical garden setting, showcases the tribal practices and crafts of Mindanao tribes. The village also serves as the learning center for Ecotourism, ethnic arts, flora and fauna endemic to Northern Mindanao while at the same time generate revenues and livelihood for the tribal groups. The village has a souvenir shop of ethnic products; Ethnic Museum; Tribal houses of the Talaandigs, Higaonon, Subanon, Maranaos and Ifugaos. It features rows of cozy guest cottages, campground, swimming pool, picnic shed, orchidarium, mini-garden, mini-plaza, native restaurant, butterfly garden, and multi-purpose hall. It offers the view of hills of Malasag.

Our group occupied the aircon cottages whose two front posts are buried on the shoulder of the village road, while the two back posts are implanted beside the mountain, prompting one of us to wonder: "Wala kayang landslide dito?"

The single room cottages, ideal for honeymooners, are spacious inside. It has two beds, small ref, hot water and a veranda at the back that gives the best view of the surroundings and the bay. Tall trees grow under the hanging cottages so much so that you can touch its tops.

Conceptualized in 1991, this ecology-friendly cultural habitat was inspired by the gardens of Granada in Spain and the Vouchart Gardens of Canada.

Like the other PTA-owned or developed properties, the Gardens of Malasag Eco-tourism Village is open to privatization either through a management contract or joint venture agreement.

After checking in, we drove to Macahambus Cave and Gorge. The nature park was the site of the famous Battle of Macahambus Hill which took place on June 14, 1900, the first Filipino victory against the Americans. The cave itself is a picturesque spot. Today, its short cavern leads to a veranda that overlooks the meandering Cagayan River below, 200 meters away is the Macahambus Gorge. This is actually the steep precipice where the enemy forces fell to their deaths.

Today, 47 meters (154 feet) high above this gorge or ravine was a three-part hanging foot-bridge, measuring 51 meters, 18 meters and 54 meters clasped on towering trees. Wearing helmet and other protective gadgets (similar to what Meralco linemen are wearing), we volunteered to be the first to cross this swinging span. The most thrilling part of the skywalk was at the halfway when the earth’s magnetic energy was the strongest that gave us the feeling of being swallowed down the 130-ft pit. Upon reaching its end, we then took a thrilling Zip Line ride back to where we started the skywalk on a cable wire moving at an average speed of 20 kph, depending on the weight of the participant. After this orgasmic experience that lasted by more than a minute, we took a flight of over 150 steps that leads us down to the floor of the gorge where there is an underground river that comes out from one cave to another. We scooped with our hand its crystal clear cool water and tasted it. It was good. The gorge is covered with a lush tropical harbor of forest growths. It is actually a "miniparadise’’ of ferns, wild trees and gigantic rocks. The most difficult part of this exercise was the climb back to surface through the steep flight of about 150 stairs.

The next day we did the White Water Rafting or shooting the rapids along the Cagayan de Oro river that provides a strikingly beautiful panoramic view of the river’s rocky walls, untouched vegetation and the sight of the resting haven of monkeys. It has breathtaking rapids that provide the more adventurous with thrills and challenges of rapid intervals not less than 10 min. from each other. (NEXT: Shooting the rapids and other Cagayan de Oro City attractions)