december-2011

trip journal
PHILIPPINES
COTABATO
AREA CODE (64)
CURRENCY Philippine Peso (PHP1 = US$0.02)
TOUCHDOWN You can hire a taxi at the airport
for PHP100–200. When in the city, you can get
around by tricycle or jeepney. Try hailing a cab —
although there are only a few taxis that make the
rounds about town.
BY DAY Visit the majestic Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah
Masjid, the largest mosque in the Philippines.
Go to the top of the PC Hill, the highest point in
Cotabato City, for an expansive view of the city
and its surrounding areas.
BY NIGHT Eat a sumptuous barbecue dinner for a
very reasonable price in the heart of the city. Grab
a cup of native coffee afterwards at Datu’s Brew.
They serve delicious coffee made from the fi nest
100% Arabica beans.
SLEEP Stay at the newly built Alnor Hotel and
Convention Center — it’s clean and located in
Sinsuat Ave, at the heart of the Al-nor Commercial
Complex. alnorhotel@yahoo.com
BEST SOUVENIRS Shop at
the Barter Trade Center for colorful
native souvenirs.
LOCAL SPEAK Say “sukran”
when thanking the Cotabato City
locals.
BEST FESTIVAL Witness the
culturally grand Shariff Kabunsuan
Festival in December. There will be a
lot of events and good food.
{ 214 }
Bai
Ashrafia
Biruar
lawyer
DID D YOU
KKNOW?
PHILIPPINES
OZAMIZ
AREA CODE (88)
CURRENCY Philippine Peso (PHP1 = US$0.02)
TOUCHDOWN The Ozamiz City Airport is in
Gango. You will need to take a taxi; the ride will
set you back PHP60. Within the city, you can get
around town by sikad (bicycle with a sidecar) for
PHP4–6 only.
BY DAY Quality Beach Resort in Lupagan Clarin
has private villas with two huge rooms — perfect
for big groups. It has a swimming pool, a jacuzzi
and a lagoon for kayaking. Shop at Centrum
Ozamiz, and have a foot spa at Quality Spa.
BY NIGHT Botoy’s serves sizzling seafood and
tasty lechon manok (grilled chicken). Don’t miss
their balbacua (stewed beef skin) too. The Moon
Café is a popular hangout and home to hearty
Mexican cuisine.
SLEEP The newly renovated Royal Garden Hotel
is located right in the heart of the city, where you
can get fi rst-class comfort at reasonable rates.
www.royalgardenozamiz.com
Cheryl O.
Lim
interior
designer
MUST-TRY Craving for Mexican
food? Make a food stop at Moon
Café!
BEST DINNER La Veranda
Restaurant’s sizzling lechon sisig is
absolutely worth every calorie.
BEST BREAKFAST The Royal
King’s Breakfast at the La Veranda
Restaurant, paired with hot choco
and salted egg with tomatoes.
Plan ahead for Cotabato’s Shariff
Kabunsuan Festival in December!
LESTER LEDESMA