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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Life and love in Lake Sebu

Life and love in Lake Sebu

Published Jul 2, 2023 08:26 pm

#MINDANAO


During the Independence Day weekend, we took a pleasant road trip to enchanting Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Driving from Davao, we traversed the four-lane highway through Davao del Sur, passing through Sarangani province and the cities of General Santos and Koronadal before hitting the towns of Norala and Surallah from which you enter Lake Sebu. The road trip between Davao and Lake Sebu is pleasing to the eye, gentle on the nerves, and light on the vehicle. The many stops at popular convenience stores along the way gave us the chance to see new local products and highlights. Lake Sebu, a first-class municipality of about 80,000 residents, is known for its serene lakes and lush surroundings populated mainly by the T’boli and other indigenous peoples and settlers. The centuries-old relationship between the water and its people makes Lake Sebu and nearby towns a vital part of the culturally-rich Allah Valley, forming the southern portion of the vast Mindanao River basin. Today it is a culture and nature tourism hub, and a key aquaculture zone famous for freshwater fish. The indigenous T’boli youths who were our guides for the lake boat trip explained their history and culture, and also how the entire community practices waste management at the household level to protect the lake. Proof of this culture is the trash-free waters of all the water bodies that make up the lake. During the lunch of locally raised freshwater fish and well-prepared vegetables at a popular lakeside resort, other local youths showed us indigenous dance forms - a glimpse of life in their community. Along the road that surrounds the lake, you will find specialty shops selling souvenirs and T’boli-inspired clothing,. Some of the stores are active on social media, accepting online payments and offering to ship made-to- order garments and souvenirs to you. Driving back to Davao in the mid-afternoon, we were treated to the sight of a golden sun gently bathing the crop-filled SOCKSARGEN valleys with light, and turning the blue sky into a blazoned orange. Just recalling this experience made me reflect on life and love. More specifically, how nature gives life and how the tapestry of culture nurtures a deep love of this life, its traditions, and other intangibles that give the people of Lake Sebu a unique character. This makes the town one of Southern Mindanao’s best attractions – its full culture nurtured by nature which is a source of local pride, with the food, art, and clothing asserting themselves gracefully on the visitor. We will return.

Governor Corazon Malanyaon

It is with profound sadness that many if us in the Mindanao community responded to the recent passing of incumbent Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Nunez Malanyaon. She will be best remembered for helping bring about the growth of Davao Oriental into a cultural and tourism hub in eastern Mindanao. A visit to Davao Oriental is a wonderful, scenic and exhilarating trip, which is something I will also write about. As chairperson of the Regional Development Council, Governor Cora’s leadership helped shepherd the Davao Regional Development Plan for 2023-2028, a roadmap for regional development.

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John Tria
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