On my quick escapade to Mindanao a month ago, I decided to stay at my Uncle's place in Oroquieta City before heading to another Province where the wedding I attended was held. This decision was due to the limited funds I had with me at that time and staying with my Uncle could save me from spending that much. I could have just hopped on an airplane to the wedding destination and just flew out of there right away but where would be the fun in that? Might as well do some sightseeing in other places even on a tight budget!
Oroquieta City is not like Cebu City or Manila where one could enjoy "city life". For me, it was like a small quiet town. It's the capital of Misamis Occidental and to get there, one must have a private vehicle, or one can opt for the bus or a van. In my case, my uncle picked me up at the port in Ozamis City, and took us 40 minutes to get there. The road leading up to Oroqueita city was all rice paddies. I should have taken photos but I was relaxing with the cool breeze and morning light at that time.
Later that day, my cousin took me out on a road trip around the city. I wasn't expecting that much from this spontaneous activity but I was open to anything. And so we rode on his motorbike and began our short adventure.
The Streets
Traffic? None. Jeepneys? Not that I could remember seeing. Taxis? Non-existent! Told you it was just like a small quiet town. There were a lot of establishments though. Restaurants and eateries were everywhere. There were some old houses that you would notice that felt like good places to go ghost hunting. One old house stood out with an architectural design that dated who knows when but it was still such a beauty to see.
Provincial Capitol & Park
I teased my cousin when he brought me here and asked if this was a tourist site. 😅 Well, it wasn't but there wasn't much to see so why not?
What I liked about their provincial capital though was how the place was so clean and the landscaping maintained. The medians leading to the building were full of healthy, colorful plants. The park fronting the capitol was spacious and clean but kind of empty although this was open to the public. Some guys were playing at the basketball court just in front of the building too. There were other small local government agencies found in the area too.
Athletic Complex
Every city must have one right? Smaller compared to what I was used to in Cebu, I still would have preferred running here. There weren't that many people jogging or walking on the track and this was a weekend! Back at my place, this would have been jam-packed. There was also a covered court and a tennis court on the side.
Hanging Bridge
This hanging bridge is a bit famous to the locals. My cousin said this got destroyed twice already by a flood! This made me think twice before crossing it. I do love the Balete tree on the side. It may be old but it probably withstood many floods in the past.
At first, the height of the bridge and stairs were too high but then they made it like that because the place was prone to flood. The deck was made of wood and was wobbly when people walked on it. Never made it to the other side. And if you notice, the height of the water was low but during high tide or rainy season, it usually reaches near the tip of the flood wall.
City Plaza & Boulevard
I think visiting the city's plaza and the boulevard was a great way to end our afternoon stroll. The walkway near the sea wall was wide and spacious. A lot of locals can be found sitting on the benches and just enjoying leisure time. The sea provided a relaxing vibe although the sand was dark and a bit dirty. This was something the local community has to work on. It was here as well that I met with some local young boys skimboarding. A father-daughter duo can be seen taking photos at a ledge. Usually, if it's high tide or was raining, water would also rise to that level.
Then we walked into the center of the plaza. There were a lot of open spaces for people to rest, play or have a picnic. This park was the go-to leisure place where the locals head to since there were no malls in the area. The park was well maintained and clean. A statue of the famous Dr. Jose Rizal was also built here. A skating rink surrounded by pine trees was situated in one corner and a few boys were enjoying their time there.
There were a lot of vendors selling food, drinks, desserts, and handmade crafts. The basketball court somehow turned into a food court where most of the vendors with food carts could be found. A lot of locals were here as well. Seemed like the food cart business was booming here! There were different street food to choose from. My cousin made me taste chicken proven! I also ordered siomai. Then we had buko juice as our drinks. All for just $4.
After our short travel at the park, we went home and rested before heading out once more that night to see if there was some "nightlife" in this far-off land.
Aliyah's Cafe & Restobar
After our short travel at the park, we went home and rested before heading out once more that night to see if there was some "nightlife" in this far-off land. However, I was proven wrong as my cousin repeatedly warned me that such doesn't exist there but he was happy to take me around for me to see with my very own eyes. After some 15 minutes of driving to all the drinking spots, we ended up going to Aliyah's Cafe & Restobar.
A group of ladies was occupied at one table. Besides them, it was just I and my cousin. We ordered a glass of whiskey and jack daniels and paired it with fries. A young promising DJ was playing for us. My cousin seemed to know him. His dad was the only good DJ there. We left the place after an hour.
If you do find yourself in small cities in our far-off provinces, then do expect that life there would be simple and less chaotic than in the bustling metropolitan cities you are used to. But you will surely get a treat if you visit their hidden nature spots like Isko River Resort.
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For so long mainstream media have demonized Mindanao, Thank you for sharing this, although this may not be the typical tourist destination, The place looks so peaceful and sooo clean!
Post like this will immortalize and remove the negative notion about the South side of the Philippines. Thank you for sharing this! ❤️ much !luv and the fries would good too with some 🍕 !PIZZA
Agree! There are a lot of beautiful places in mindanao still worth sharing. If only I knew how to drive, I wouls probably be backpacking Mindanao by now. 😂 Hopefully, in the future, more positive news would be shared about there.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Appreciate it. ❤️
Yung name kala ko sa ibang bansa..sa pinas pla to hehe
Nahirapan din ako mag pronounce nung simula 😂
ohooo, this is just like our Province Oriental Mindoro. Wala masyadong people and it's really quite. Nagiging maingay lang kapag sa may bandang high way ka coz of those vehicles passing by. It is a peaceful town yep. Which I prefer than the City. Mejo aanga anga ako kapag sa big City na with taller buildings. Sa Batangas palang before takot na akong tumawid coz of those cars na di na naubos huehue. Nakakatawid lang if may kasabay na ako, lelelelel.
Love those green sceneries. Ang sarap mag muni muni dyan, alone OMG - while listening to some rock sad music, lol
I think when you reach this certain age, you would somehow prefer the quietier side of life. That was in my case. Now enjoying the province life too. I easily get overwhelmed with a lot of crowd at the mall but even though the park I visited was full of people, I didn't feel that way. I was still relaxed and enjoying the scenery. I think nature helps as well.
Only if may SO na din ako 😂.. date2x nlng sa park always.
Yeah, that's it. Same with me din. Good for you di kana na ooverwhelm sa Park, coz me I still feel uncomfortable pa rin talaga. But facemask can help naman.
Ohooo, that's the best. Hope makita mo na SO mo hihi
Oh, I haven't seen any busses , jeepneys or taxis there. Truly a quiet city and I think it's perfect for a vacation or relaxation. There seem a lot of people in the city plaza. I would definitely enjoy this kind of road trip as well.
Have some !PIZZA
Trueee. Despite the simple life in small town, one would easily still fall in love with it when you immerse with the place and the locals. ❤️
I'd trade anything to be in such a cool environment. It's soooo clean😳 and what more can a person need than a free road without hearing cars honking here and there or having to get stuck in an annoying traffic jam. This place is heavenly.
Hi @teknon! I certainly agree! Nothing beats a clean and quiet environment. The bustling city no longer attracts me lately... guess it comes with age too. though I'm not that too old! 😝
Same here😩, the noise from cars and trucks honking is extra and it's mostly annoying when one wants to take a quick nap.
Haha! I think so, when I was a kid, I preferred the noises, I enjoyed watching the cars do their thing and wished to one day hit that button that'll go telling other drivers to get out of my way. Haha! But right now, I just want to go to the countryside and connect with nature and the sweet chorus of birds.
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Wowww your photos are impressive, it looks like a very quiet place, very clean and organized, for a person who wants to escape from the bustle of the city this would be a very good option even though it is not a tourist destination, very good story.