Bonsai Fields of Mt. Hamiguitan

Truly one of Mother Nature's gifts to the Filipino people, the Bonsai fields of Mt. Hamiguitan, which is situated no less than 5,345 feet above sea level, consists of more than 1,000 hectares of forest life filled with wild and exciting flora and fauna. As the name suggests, Bonsai trees span most of the given area.

These century-old trees stand 2-3 feet tall, with the tallest reaching only 5 feet in height, and are so sturdy that one can literally carry the weight of a man on its branches. It is like finding oneself suddenly in a veritable enchanted garden right in the middle of the jungle. Also located at Barangay La Union, this wonder has already been featured in Magandang Gabi Bayan for its uniqueness and mystical quality.

The area is also a sanctuary of rare and exotic birds and animals, including the world famous Philippine Eagle. Because of its beauty and charm, the mountain has become a favorite camping site of many local and foreign tourists, mountaineers, enthusiasts, biologists, ornithologists, and adventure loving people.

Bags Ready for Distribution, Free School Supplies for Grade-I Pupils in Lupon

Mayor Domingo A. Lim today said that free school supplies and bags regularly provided by the Local Government to the Grade - I public schoolchildren are all set for distribution upon the start of this school year.

Lim said his Staff has already started to deliver the free education materials to the public elementary schools, located in the barangays, in time for distribution during the opening of classes on June 8.

The mayor said the deliveries also cover the 21 barangay schools including the 3 hinterland barangays of DONCAMAR (Don Mariano Marcos, Calapagan and Marayag).

The distribution of free school supplies and bags is an annual undertaking of the local government that began in his term, in line with the LGU's commitment to help parents cope with the rising costs of education materials.

Mang Inasal is Now in Lupon!

MANG INASAL, the famous barbeque fast-food chain and one of the fastest growing food companies in the Philippines, which has become a modern icon of the Ilonggo culinary culture is finally in LUPON with its authentic, chicken inasal specialty at Central Warehouse Club Lupon Branch.

The management and staff of Mang Inasal Lupon branch were overwhelmed by the warm reception accorded by the public. Mang Inasal’s marketing manager also credits the country’s leading barbecue foodchain’s phenomenal growth and expansion on its product consistency wherein its food offerings such as chicken and pork barbecue, Sisig, grilled boneless Bangus, Sinigang, short orders such as Spaghetti and Halo-halo are strictly subjected under quality control to make sure that these conform with the highest quality standards possible.

On June 6, 2009, Mang Inasal are having a grand opening, coupled with a motorcade around Lupon’s main thoroughfares, Ati-Atihan dancers and Inauguration.

Mang Inasal is proud to do its share in alleviating the unemployment burden of Lupon. It is effectively stimulating economic activities in our community. Local suppliers of calamansi, charcoal, banana leaves, vegetables, fish, bamboo sticks, and other ingredients, as well as LGU’s, trisikad (pedicab) drivers, and a host of other enterprises are benefited by the presence of Mang Inasal here.

Davao Oriental Farm Villages Protest Small-Scale Mining

Residents of Banaybanay and Lupon town have joined hands with environmentalists in raising alarm over the proliferation of small-scale mining operations in a mountain village near the Compostela Valley boundary.

The Save Sumlog River Alliance (Sasura) called on Gov. Corazon Malanyaon to stop mining operations in the sitios of Anogkot and Tabon in Barangay Marayag, a hinterland village in Lupon town.

Sasura chair Felix Mejos said here Thursday his group was also asking Malanyaon to declare over 44,000 hectares of land near the Sumlog watershed as a protected area.

“Mine wastes from tunnels are dumped into the river, making the water level shallow and lacing it with mine toxic wastes,” Mejos said.
Mejos, who is also head of a farmers’ association in the town, led a party of environment advocates, local officials and journalists on a fact-finding mission to the area.

“It was an appalling sight,” he said. Logs were strewn all over and mine wastes had turned the river brown.

Mejos said at least 50 small-scale operators formed a cooperative to mine the area, but unregistered miners also thrive there.

Mejos said concerns about the dangers of mining in the area had been raised since last year, prompting the towns of Lupon and Banaybanay to pass resolutions asking the provincial government of Davao Oriental to ban mining.

Local officials also feared that continued mining in the area would destroy the Sumlog watershed and cause an environment calamity.
“We need to act together now,” town councilor Liezel Teves said.

Edwin Tagara, a 47-year-old farmer from Barangay Rang-ay here, said his yield fell to 80 sacks per hectare in the last cropping season compared to his previous harvest of 120 bags because chemical wastes like cyanide and mercury, which are being dumped on the river from the mining site, found their way into his farm.

Am I Going to be Rich?

Since child, I’ve always heard the place of Buringot in Pantukan (now part of Compostela Valley Province). It seems to be a nicest place for me then that someday I could visit the place because all our neighbors who’ve been there brings a lot of money when they come back in our village. The place is said to be the mountain of gold, many men work in the mining and panning they are very happy to have this gold mining area and many people migrate in that place

But this morning I saw in the television a mudslide tumbled down burying dozens of shanties in a gold mining village and kills 26 people, it reminds me to a place I wanted to visit and to live for that someday I could grab a piece of gold to become rich. I can’t imagine the dark side that occurs in these natural calamities.

In this situation I have found the answer to my ambition in life “Am I going to be rich?” That depends on you, if you work hard and save your money, invest it in the right things then you will find yourself there, and don't forget those who told you that you would.

Davao-Lupon fastcraft set for maiden voyage

IF SCHEDULES permit, the 2009 Caracoles Festival will feature the maiden voyage of the 150-seater fastcraft that will service the Santa Ana wharf to Lupon route.

According to Araceli Ayuste, Caracoles festival chair, she was able to talk last week to Dante Sipalo, the franchisee of the Fastcraft service, who is a Lupon-born and Manila-based businessman.

Sipalo has informed her that the fastcraft has just left its shipyard in Japan en route to Cebu for defouling and could possibly be in Davao during the Caracoles.

Ayuste hopes that the ship will be in Davao, in time for the Caracoles festival, which is a regional event that celebrates the beauty and the bounty of Davao Gulf. It is the culminating event of the Dive the Gulf festival and will highlight a sundown-to-sunrise party to be held at the Santa Ana wharf.

Ayuste expressed hopes they can promote the fastcraft in the festival. The sea-borne transportation hopes to entice commuters who wish to avail of a much faster one-hour trip to Lupon, which normally takes two hours by bus. Fastcraft fare is three hundred pesos for every trip.

She also said that there are actually two fastcrafts: the bigger fastcraft will be the one utilized for public utility transport while the smaller craft will be available for chartered tours. The fastcraft service, she said, can help in tapping the tourist potentials of Davao Gulf. (PIA)

Attending the Lupon Fiesta

If you are visitor in Davao Oriental this April, you would be missing a lot on your vacation if you fail to include in your travel schedule, attending the local fiesta in Lupon.

Even if you've been to a local fiesta before, but have been away from the Philippines for so long, then it's time to rekindle old memories again.

The Patron Saint of Lupon is San Vicente Ferrer. The town's fiesta is celebrated every April 27. Lupon residents also hold an annual Naluponan Festival in celebration of Araw ng Lupon on August 8, similar to what they have in nearby towns.

The opportunity to experience the traditional celebration complete with Filipino native food delicacies like the lechon is once-in-a-lifetime experience that is not to be missed!