Kaamulan Festival Ethnic Street Dancing

The 2015 Kaamulan Festival Street Dancing Competition will be held tomorrow, October 24 in Malaybalay City. Participated by genuine lumads of the province of Bukidnon, Kaamulan Festival is dubbed as the only authentic ethnic festival in the Philippines. This photo was taken during the Street Dancing Competition last year. More posts on Kaamulan Festival in this LINK. 

Mount Capistrano's Peak

Trekkers enjoy the sweeping view at the rocky peak of Mount Capistrano, a popular climbing destination situated in the barangays of Managok and Simaya, Malaybalay City. This photo won 1st Place in the Landscape Category of Malaybalay City Charter Day Photo Contest last March 2015. Visit this LINK to read more about Mount Capistrano.

Dumagongdong Falls in Kibalabag, Malaybalay City

The tall and slender Dumagongdong Falls in Kibalabag, Malaybalay City. This falls can be seen from the road going to Barangay Manalog but getting near its base requires an upward river trek of less than 30 minutes. Click this LINK to read more about Dumagongdong Falls.

Katihan Falls in Kibalabag, Malaybalay City

The hidden beauty of Katihan Falls in Kibalabag, Malaybalay City. Click this LINK to read more about this waterfall.

Sitio Tigbawan Rice Fields

Overlooking view of the vast rice fields in Sitio Tigbawan, Can-ayan, Malaybalay City. This photo was taken during our descent from the peak of Bukidnon Provincial Tree Park more commonly known as Two Trees. The narrow trail we passed through is often used by Tigbawan residents in going to Malaybalay City proper. 

Fluffy Clouds Over Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park

Fluffy clouds linger over Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park in this late afternoon photo taken at the Monastery of Transfiguration in San Jose, Malaybalay City.

137th Araw ng Malaybalay Schedule of Activites

The Malaybalay City LGU will be celebrating the 137th Araw ng Malaybalay during this month of June. Here are the Schedule of Activities as released by LGU Malaybalay AdmInfo FB Page.

(Click the image to enlarge)

Morning View at Sitio Kiucab

Fog enveloped the mountains as seen from Sitio Kiucab, Aglayan, Malaybalay City

Sitio Bag-on, Dalwangan, Malaybalay City

Another beautiful view of Bukidnon mountains and pines. Photo taken at a poultry farm in Sitio Bag-on, Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, about 5 kilometers from the national highway.

Mount Kitanglad Billboards in Patpat, Malaybalay City

These billboards put up along the highway of Patpat, Malaybalay City promote awareness and conservation of the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park and its flora and fauna. Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park is a protected area and an ASEAN Heritage Park. It is known to be the home of the endangered Philippine Eagle.

Visit this LINK to read my personal experience in climbing to the peak of Mount Kitanglad.

Malaybalay Bus Terminal Closed for Renovation

The Malaybalay Integrated Bus Terminal is presently closed for renovation. These photos are taken last Friday, July 12, 2013 using the phone camera of Cherry Mobile Flare.

Kaamulan 2013 Street Dancing Photos

These are photos taken during the Kaamulan Festival 2013 Ethnic Street Dancing Competition held last Saturday, March 3, 2013, in Malaybalay City. Kaamulan Festival is held annually to celebrate the gathering of the seven hill tribes who are the original inhabitants of the province: the Bukidnon, Higaoonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahonon and Mauyamnon. The competition was participated by six municipalities and two cities of Bukidnon: Pangantucan, Talakag, Dangcagan, Damulog, Kitaotao, Don Carlos, Valencia and Malaybalay. 

These photos are taken before the competition proper started.

Inside Gaisano Mall Malaybalay

The renovated Gaisano branch in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon is now bigger and better than ever. More than just a department store, it is now a mall and is officially called as Gaisano Mall Malaybalay.  Aside from its bigger department stores, the grocery now has a wet market section. Steven's Gourmet, Gaisano's own bakeshop also recently opened.

Commercial spaces of Gaisano Mall Malaybalay are now occupied by various retail shops, food stalls, courier and remittance services, optical shop and a pharmacy. The occupants include RRJ, Penshoppe, The Look, Gibi Shoes, LBC, Western Union, Master Siomai, Mister Donut, Rose Pharmacy among others. Escalators and elevator are also installed for customers' convenience.

Fallen Trees in The Provincial Tree Park

In one of my previous posts, I reported how Super Typhoon Pablo blew down of the famous Two Trees inside the Bukidno Provincial Tree Park in Malaybalay City. Little did I know that a number of trees along the trail in going up to the Two Trees also fell down due to the strength of the recent super typhoon.

Christmas Lights in the Bukidnon Provincial Capitol Grounds

For this Christmas Season, the tree lining up one stretch of the road surrounding the Capitol Grounds in Malaybalay city are decorated with lights. The Christmas Tree Lighting was participated by various private and government agencies. During the onset of Typhoon Pablo, some of the branches fell down. Fortunately, it did not damage the Christmas lights in this portion of the Capitol Grounds.

 

Christmas Lights in Plaza Rizal, Malaybalay City

I went to Plaza Rizal in Malaybalay City last night to check out its Christmas lights and decors. Just like the previous years, the giant Christmas Tree which stood in the skating rink is still its main attraction. However, I observed that this year's display of lights and decors are not as grand as the previous years'. 

Last year, various commercial establishments, private and government agencies and Malaybalay City barangays were tasked to decorate their assigned area. This year, I guess the City Government of Malaybalay took full charge of lighting up the plaza since I noticed that no company and barangay logos are on display.

Two Trees No More

 Photo showing the Two Trees taken earlier this year

Two Trees, the most famous peak of the Bukidnon Provincial Tree Park, is now down to one. 

The strong winds of Typhoon Pablo last December 4 uprooted one of the two trees which stood on top of the hill overlooking Malaybalay City.

My friend James, whose house in Capitol Village has an unobstructed view of the Two Trees, took these photos during the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo.

This first photo showed the two trees still standing amidst the rain and fierce wind:

 Photo by Nathaniel James Paulican (used with permission)

On this second photo, the tree on the right side is already gone:

 

Photo by Nathaniel James Paulican (used with permission)

The Two Trees is a popular hiking destination located within the Bukidnon Provincial Tree Park  in Malaybalay City. It can be reach through a short hike of about 30 minutes (or more for newbies) starting from the Capitol Village (the former Gawad Kalinga site at the back of the Provincial Jail). On its peak, the awesome views of Malaybalay City proper, Mount Kitangald range, Can-ayan rice fields and other distant mountains can be seen. It is also a favorite route of elite runners for their uphill and high altitude training.

Read my previous post on the Two Trees HERE.

Photos of devastation caused by Typhoon Pablo in Malaybalay City can be seen HERE.

Typhoon Pablo Aftermath in Malaybalay City

Typhoon Pablo passed by Malaybalay City yesterday, December 4, 2012 and brought heavy rain and strong winds with reported strength of 170 km/hour. It was a super typhoon local residents never ever experienced before. Signal # 3 was raised all over Bukidnon and classes and work were suspended. I stayed home the whole time, fearful of the strong winds which might topple the trees nearby. Thankfully, it did not happen and we were all safe and dry throughout the storm.

Football Action in the National Club Championship

I was able to watch the second half of the football match between Bukidnon and Iligan this morning, the second day of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-SMART National Club Championship Northern Mindanao Eliminations at the Capitol Grounds in Malaybalay City. The tourney is participated by football clubs from Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Bukidnon and Surigao. 

PFF SMART National Club Championship-Northern Mindanao Eliminations Kicks Off In Malaybalay

The PFF Smart National Club Championship Northern Mindanao Eliminations started this morning, October 17, 2012 at the Capitol Grounds in Malaybalay City. It was launched via a press conference held in Green Ridge Hotel last night. I was able to attend the said press conference together with fellow members of the Bukidnon Photographers and Bloggers Society.   

Five teams from Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Surigao and Bukidnon are competing in the tournament. It will run for five days, from October 17 to 21. The top two teams will represent the region in the Mindanao eliminations where the top two winners will be sent to compete in the National Championship.  

During the press conference, Bukidnon Football Association President Ramon Manlunas also relayed that FIFA, the international governing body of football associations is currently building a world-class football training center in Hagkol, Valencia City. Accordingly, FIFA donated around $500,000 (or 21.7 million pesos) to finance the construction and development of the said football center in a 5-hectare lot donated by the Gamboa Family. It is expected to to be completed in the summer of 2013. Its operation will then be handled by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) through its local counterpart, the Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA).

*Special thanks to Dr. Rachito Abellanosa and Maam Maite Abellanosa for inviting BPBS to the press conference.