No Disease Outbreak in South Cotabato

With Allen V. Estabillo, MindaNews

I must confess, I feel better. Most all places in South Cotabato belong to my favourite destinations, since I am living in Mindanao for good.

Efforts to free this province of major animals diseases have continued to gain ground after the area sustained its clean record during the first six months of the year in terms of animal disease outbreaks.

Dr. Lorna Lamorena, South Cotabato provincial veterinarian , said last week they have not recorded a single animal disease outbreak from January to June this year in any part of the province's ten towns and lone city. The area was spared of disease outbreaks in the entire 2012.

Surra disease, for example, which is a parasitic disease that affects various farm animals, emerged within areas bordering South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces, is a hemorrhagic disease transmitted by a bloodsucking fly and caused by a protozoan parasite. This terrible disease affects horses, dogs, cattle, caraboes and swine.

In terms of deadly rabies virus, Lamorena said they recorded just three cases of confirmed dog infections but none of them involved humans... .

Rats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw them many times during my last stay in South Cotabato. Rats!!!!!

One could learn from MindaNews (here Allen V. Estabillo, thank you very much Allen!), that agriculture personnel in South Cotabato province will launch in September an intensified campaign against the continuing rodent or rat infestation in the area that already devastated some 36,9 million Pesos worth of palay and corn crops.

Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato provincial agriculture officer, said they have declared the month of September as rodent control month in the entire province to give more focus on their continuing efforts to effectively reduce the pest's population and the impact of its infestation on farm crops.

Good luck to you and your staff, Sir!

Church Group Accepts Donations for Flood Victims

Since my first stay in Cotabato City and North as well South Cotabato I am honoured and glad to get many friends in these areas.

Filipinos wish to help the devastating fllod victims especially in North Cotabato. 

Check out the GMA-News-report here:


Church group accepts donations for flood victims

Lake Sebu - Simply Beyond Your Expectation!

South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines with its capital Korondal City and borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east. To the southeast lies Sarangani Bay, the finish of this journey.

South Cotabato is subdivided into ten municipalities and two cities, Genera Santos City (before Dadiangas), Koronadal City, Banga, Lake Sebu (my overnight stay and the first photo shot above), Norala, Polomok, Santa Nino, Surallah (nice town also), Tampakan, Tantangan, T'Boli (watch my photos) and Tupi.

Before the turn of the 20th century the area to which South Cotabato would be carved was sparsely inhabited. The inhabitants were Muslims, B'laans, Manobos, Tagabilis, and other ethnic groups who migrate to this part of Mindanao perhaps even before the birth of Christ. 

These Malayan pioneers led a peaceful existence and were isolated from other developing civilizations of the world after their migration. They remained isolated until the 15th century when Shariff Kabunsuan of Arabia arrived in Cotabato with his religious teachers to introduce the Mohammedan religion. He converted most of the Malayan settlers who occupied the lower and upper Cotabato Valley along both sides of the Maguindanao River.

On May 11, 1992 South Cotabato gave birth to a new province, Sarangani, signalling its coming of age. It is a new challenge, and South Cotabatenos, with their indomitable spirit, will prove more than able to keep up with the demands of the times.

 Lake Sebu is home to the T'bolis, a highland tribe that has it roots in South Cotabato. The local tribesmen consider the lake not only a God-given food basket (the Tilapia is really mouth-watering), but also a miraculous body of water that never dries up.

 Lake Sebu, a place where life indeed blends with nature... .

Don't miss the H'Gelobong Festival at the second week of November. A festival show casting the different arts, culture, sports, and other tribal activities of the T'boli.

The province is known for its collection of ground and serial orchids as well as indigenous flowers which can be found in Abiera Farms. The T'boli products are also worth buying and one should check out their colourful costumes, intricate beadwork, beautifully woven baskets and traditional brass ornaments. Fresh pineapples from the DOLE pineapple farms are also available.

Off to South Cotabato/Mindanao/Philippines

Yes, I am off to another trip in Mindanao - to South Cotabato being a province of the Philippines located in the southern region of Mindanao. Its capital is Korondal City and borders to Sultan Kudarat to he north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east. To the southeast lies Sarangani Bay. 

One of my destinations shall be the Lake Sebu, the home to the T'bolis, a highland tribe, that has his roots in South Cotabato. The local tribesmen consider the lake not only a God-given food basket  but also a miraculous body of water  that never dries up.

Expect more here and especially more photos... .