Oklahoma Island | Baliangao, Misamis Occidental

It was a sunny morning when I decided to visit the town of Baliangao in the province of Misamis Occidental. I was staying in Dapitan and I already explored the city twice so I decided to visit another province instead. I didn't have any idea what to see in Misamis Occidental so I asked some friends and most of them told me to visit the town of Baliangao.

I left Dapitan early in the morning and took a bus going bound for Ozamis. I alighted at the Calamba Bus Terminal then took a habal-habal going to Baliangao. I was curious what to see in the town so I visited the municipal hall and asked for their tourism officer. They don't have a tourism office yet at the time of my visit but I was referred to the person in-charge and he gladly assisted me with my concerns. There's really nothing much to do in Baliangao so I was advised to pay a visit to Oklahoma Island, which I did.

I chartered a motorcycle going to the jump-off point. It was a private residence. I had to take a boat going to the island. It was roughly a 20-minute ride. The place where the boat was docked was picturesque. I like the green surrounding and the laid-back feel of the place. I was alone that time so I am not really sure how much I paid for the boat. 

How to go to Oklahoma Island

From Dipolog/Dapitan, take an Ozamis bound bus or if you are coming from Ozamis, take a Dipolog bound bus and alight at Calamba Bus Terminal. Ask around, there are tricycles going to Baliangao but the schedule is infrequent. The best thing to do is charter a habal-habal to bring you to Baliangao. You can either stop at the municipal hall or go straight to the jump-off point. 

Christmas Symbols Festival in Tangub City Winners Announced

After a series of judging (three to be exact), the winners of this year's Christmas Symbols Festival in Tangub City has been announced. 

It was another successful year for the organizers of the yearly Christmas Symbols Festival in Tangub City where local and national agencies in the city participated to bring the audience a feel of Christmas around the world.

Here's the list of the winners in the Category A contest:

Top 8 Winners

1st Place: Cerro Santa Lucia in Santiago, Chile / NMSC

2nd Place: Trevi Fountain in Italy / GADTC

3rd Place: Solfar Sunboat in Iceland / TCNHS

4th Place: Castle Rock of Norway / CEO

5th Place: Gardens by the Bay of Singapore / DPWH

6th Place: Osaka Castle if Japan / Unified High Schools

7th Place: Statue of Liberty of USA / CPDO CWSDO CAO TCWD

8th Place: Mount Temple of Jerusalem / DMDTMH

Ranking of the rest of the contingents:

9th: Arabic Incense Burner Monument of Doha Quatar / Central District

10th: Dun in Malaysia / Southwest District

11th: Legoland Billund Denmark / CAGO DAR

12th: Port Arthur Church if Australia / South District

13th: Wat Phra Singh in Thailand / National Agencies

14th: Magellans Cross in Philippines / North District

15th: Pura Ulun Dano Ball Indonesia / CTO Accounting

16th: Taj Mahal in Agra India / CHO POPCOM PNRC

Celebrate Christmas Around The World in Tangub City

One of the must-see destinations in the Philippines during Christmas season, Tangub City offers an amazing display of Christmas symbols during the most celebrated holiday in the country.

Dr. Jennifer Tan, Chairperson of Tangub Tourism Council and the wife of Mayor Philip Tan narrated that it all started in 1992 with a very simple Christmas Tree made of indigenous materials and over the years it has become more and more festive and colorful. It was during the Christmas season of 1995 when the local officials of Tangub decided to make it big. It was then named the Christmas Symbols Festival which became a hit to both locals and visitors alike. 

Mayor Philip Tan and Dr. Jennifer Tan

Tangub's Christmas Symbols Festival started with a free theme where participants are allowed to make their own interpretation of the Christmas symbols. In the year 2012, the organizers have decided to introduce a theme to make it more appealing. Now on its third year, the Christmas Around the World theme has been gaining attention from both locals, Mindanaoans from nearby towns and cities and even Filipinos from all over the Philippines. There are even foreigners who visit Tangub just to see the amazing display of Christmas symbols. I must say, I am very impressed by the ingenuity and creativity of the Tangubanons.

Replica of the soon to be constructed Panguil Bay Bridge displayed at the Christmas Symbols Festival in Tangub City. Also known as the Bridge of Peace, Panguil Bay Bridge will connect Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte provinces

The Christmas Symbols Festival is participated by different local and national agencies in the city. The most interesting part of the festival is the display of booths in the plaza replicating popular tourist destinations in a certain country, the Giant Lanterns displayed at the Tangub Cathedral and the Christmas Arches erected in different locations within the city welcoming guests to Tangub.

Here's a glimpse of the participating entries to this year's Christmas Around the World in Tangub City.

Statue of Liberty, USA 

Pura Ulun Dano Ball, Indonesia 

Magellans Cross, Philippines 

Solfar, Iceland 

Trevi Fountain, Italy 

Osaka Castle, Japan 

Cerro Santa Lucia, Chile 

Castle Rock, Norway 

Dun, Malaysia 

Mount Temple, Jerusalem 

Legoland Billund England 

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore 

Arabic Incense Monument, Qatar 

Port Arthur Church, Australia 

Taj Mahal, India 

What are you waiting for? Visit Tangub now and be amazed of the colorful Christmas Symbols Festival. It will run until January 10, 2015.

Thank you...

My visit to Tangub will not be possible without the help of Enrico Dee of www.byahilo.com, Mayor Philip Tan and his wife Dr. Jennifer Tan, Vice Mayor Edemar Alota, Mr. Jojin Pascual, Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe's choreographer, Tourism Officers Ms. Wipa Kilat and Ms. Nadie Agot, the friendly and hospitable people of Tangub and of course to my travel buddy for this trip, Claire Madarang.

With Claire, Dr. Jen and Vice Mayor Edemar