Butuan is known as the home of the Balangay boats. They even celebrate a festival based on these. Balangay is the first ever excavated boat in Southeast Asia. The word "balangay" came from the Austronesian word for "sailboat".
I currently live in Manila and it still requires me to grab a plane ticket in order to land my foot over the historical land of Butuan. I may not even discover and study its history without the help of my girlfriend's father. My girlfriend is the reason why I came there in the first place. However, I will share information about my Butuan journey experience in order to give you some ideas about the place what-so-ever.
1. Cebu Pacific
I traveled from Manila to Butuan with Cebu Pacific Promo Flight that costs only around P3000.00 for a round-trip. Cebu Pacific is the most famous domestic airlines in the Philippines. The flight only takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Butuan from Manila. The whole flight will never bore you. Once the plane flies up-steady, Cebu Pacific offers a wide range of food that will fill your tummy up. They also offer beers, but I would not recommend it because it might just bloat you and make a blood pressure imbalance caused by the increase in temperature as you travel high along the skies. The stewardesses also present a game while on flight and the lucky winner will receive a Cebu Pacific Merchandise. Click here to BOOK A FLIGHT!
There, my plane arrived the Bancasi Airport and went out as soon as I can to meet my love and hug her tight. We met and rode a multi-cab jeepney to reach my next destination - Go Hotels.
2. Go Hotels
Go Hotels is just beside the Robinson's Mall. It even has a direct entrance to the mall from the hotel and vice-versa. We came there and ta-da! - I had the room 426. With such a large queen-sized bed and a modern-style interior design, it seems to be a bit unbelievable to know how much I've paid for it. They offer promos for sometime and guess how much I had per night - P588.00 ONLY! They also have hot showers, quality towels, classic toilet, comfy pillows, clean blankets, and a flat-screen TV. The hotel also offers a massage ranging from P250 - P600 depending on the service. Click here to BOOK A STAY
Things To Remember:
Washing a poo-poo can be a bit of a problem. I recommend you to carry a large bottle with you as a temporary dipper to wash your butt-hole for your whole stay.
They also change towels and give you toiletries when requested at the front-desk. Just dial 0 at the telephone.
Night-owls must always stock food and drink in the room. All restaurants and convenience stores will be closed by around 10:00 pm - 12:00 mn. Don't forget to bring your own garbage bags too.
3. Bood Promontory Eco Park
I don't think you will ever believe what lies behind this Eco park - the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines! Most people claim that it was located in Limasawa, but Antonio Pigafetta's description of the environment in Magellan's Voyage fits Butuan's Mazaua even more. Although Butuan claims that people disregarded the error of Pigafetta because both words sound similar "Mazaua" and "Limasawa". Bood is located in Mazaua, and here even lies a monument of the mass and the large cross of Roman Catholicism.
The first mass was held near the shores of the island on the Easter Sunday of 1521. It was officiated by Friar Pedro Valderrama.
"Antonio Pigafetta who wrote an eyewitness account of Magellan's voyage described in text and in map a Butuan that stretched from today's Surigao up to the top edge of Zamboanga del Norte." -Wikipedia
Although, this is also a good place to bring a date and just chill the dusk away.
4. Uncle Sam's Burger
©Madonna Avenido
After the Bood Eco Park, there is a five-star restaurant standing nearby. Uncle Sam's has one of the best burgers I've ever tasted. I also highly recommend you to try their Beef Ribs and Chili Dog. I assure that you will never regret it. Every bite is worth every penny spent. Click here to CHECK THEIR MENU.
5. Butuan National Museum
After a full tummy and a sweet rest, it's time to travel to a nearby destination spot, which is the Butuan National Museum. The ancient Butuan civilization was already engaged in trade and commerce before anywhere else on the Philippines did. In this museum, you can see displayed foreign products like housewares, cookwares, glassware, jewelries, etc. that were traded to the island of Butuan hundreds of years ago. There are also local ancient products of Butuan displayed along the museum like weapons, armors, glassware, and balangay boats.
There is only one problem in the museum. As of 06/18/17, the museum is still unimproved and dull. However, practically speaking, if you are more of a knowledge person than an architectural critique, then you have nothing to worry about. You can learn so much about the ancient Butuan here. Visit the place for more historical information.
Afterwards, I went back to the hotel and just relaxed along with the remaining hours of the day by watching TV and roaming around the Robinson's Mall.
6. (Mazaua) Masao Beach "Magellan's Landing Site"
The next day, I woke up and took a hot shower to shoo away my stinky armpit. Furthermore, I had my sausage-y breakfast with a cup of Joe at Bo's Coffee just beside the Go Hotels' front entrance. I finished the meal and rode the public transport in order to get to my next destination - Masao Beach.
This place is said to be where Ferdinand Magellan first anchored his ship in the Philippines. You can bring your food and rent one of the cottages (ranging from P200 - 500 depending on the size) so you can go swim at the beach and have a kamayan or eat with your hands at the cottage.
7. Bequibel Shell Midden
The Bequibel Shell Midden was my next destination and this is personally my favorite destination. I do not like the place for its looks, but for its content. This shell midden is located 10 kilometers away from the seashore and a townsmen said that there are two speculations over why millions shells exist in such a small space.
The first theory states that this place might be the garbage bin of the ancient locals in Butuan City. The second theory states that the body of water thousands of years ago reached as far as this place. Imagine how much it is for the water level to decrease in such theory (which is theoretically possible).
The midden is located in Barangay Bonbon, which already existed around 7000 years ago.
In 2001, specialists recovered old shells, stone tools, deer bones, and human skeletons from the shell midden.
8. Banza Church Ruins
Banza is the ancient Poblacion of Butuan City and here lies its church ruins. Beside the ruins is the banyan tree. There is a church belfry buried inside the tree as banyan ate it up across the ages. Fortunately, a part of the tree was cut up in order to show the belfry that sits inside it.
Butuan is, over-all, one of the most historical places in the Philippines besides Intramuros, EDSA, Laguna, and Cavite. Butuan is an underrated historical destination spot and we hope further touristic renovation and wide advertisement soon. This place has a very great potential as a historical tourist attraction.
Before returning home, don't forget to bring a favorite delicacy of mine from Butuan! Suman Moron Chocolate Bar is my all-time favorite. I order it specifically from the friend of my girlfriend's father. Below is a further information.
Contact them 2 days before you bring them home so that they will prepare a freshly made moron for you. Don't forget to refrigerate them.
Futhermore, I went back to the airport and traveled my way back to Manila. On my side of experience, I find it a fun and a painful experience. It's fun to have learned about the history of Butuan, but I find it difficult to be separated from the love of my life again. There, I kissed her forehead and waved goodbye as I stop my tears to fall from my eyes. I shall wait another 5 months to be with her again. Welcome back reality.
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