Strawberries and ‘Baguio feels’ in South Cotabato? Yes, follow the road to SG Farm


Written by TERENCE L. RANIS

Do you know that there is a place that looks and feels like Baguio in South Cotabato? The cool weather is present and there are strawberry farms all around plus more, including magnificent views and guyabano juice.  

This place is called the Strawberry Guyabano Farm, or popularly known as SG Farm, located in Tupi, South Cotabato. It is just a 35-minute drive away from Koronadal City. 

View of the morning sun with Mt. Matutum enveloping the farm. (Photos from official FB page of SG Farm)
Cottages of different sizes and design can be rented for the night.

If you are from Manila, board a flight from NAIA to GenSan International Airport. Once in GenSan, go to the Bulaong bus terminal, and ride a bus heading to the Municipality of Tupi. It will take you almost an hour (depends also on the traffic) just to visit this beautiful farm of the far south!  This place is also accessible by any vehicle. 

With its cold weather, the breeze will surely make you feel like you are in Baguio. Being a farm tourist site, enjoy the relaxing ambience filled with flowers. When I was there, I felt refreshed and enjoyed the majestic view of Mt. Matutum and the trees surrounding it. It is truly a place of peace and joy! 

Want to stay at the place overnight? The place has huts for glamping. The vibe is very Pinoy with designs utilizing the cool breeze and the morning sun. At night, this is the ideal place for stargazing because it is located at a high elevation. There are also camping sites for the visitors. 

Worried about food? The SG Farm will be happy to serve you full meals from breakfast to dinner. You can also enjoy its desserts made from strawberry and guyabano. 

This is an Instagram haven. Its corners are perfect for your selfies with friends and family members. There are also cultural performances at the venue, where the performers showcase the B’laan culture via their dance and attire.  

Different flowers of all shapes and sizes are all over the SG Farm.
Visitors can walk inside the strawberry farm.

The pandemic lockdown affected the place but it is now open to visitors who must follow strict health protocols. The Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Museum (ACTM) Unit of the South Cotabato province cited that the SG Farm had the most tourist visitors, garnering 41,164 from January to March 2021.

So if you want to feel the cool Christmas spirit in this southernmost part of the country, visit the SG Farm. It is easy to reach this place as the roads are mostly cemented and surrounding the area are hectares of banana and pineapple plantations. I hope that in the coming months, as tourism strives back to normal, may places like this be part of the tourism “joys” of Mindanao.