OLANOLOGY: Chronicling Life's Events: LAKE SEBU: The Mystical Eden of South Cotabato

LAKE SEBU: The Mystical Eden of South Cotabato

I had the great opportunity to be among the few invitees of the SoCCSKSargen Experience (SEX) Tour organized by the SoCCSKSargen Bloggers. The team is led by the award winning blogger Avel Manansala. SoCCSKSargen is comprised by four provinces and one component city in Mindanao namely South Cotabato, Cotabato (formerly known as North Cotabato), Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and General Santos City. The SEX Tour aims to promote the beauty of SoCCSKSargen and help spread news about the many wonderful tourist attractions in the region. One of the most visited towns frequented by both local and foreign tourists in the Region is the mystical town of Lake Sebu located in the Province of South Cotabato. I would say, one of the best part of this event.

It was not my first time visiting Lake Sebu. I was there way back 2001. So this recent visit I had is my second after ten long years. I was very excited during the 2 hour travel from General Santos City to Lake Sebu. It’s like reuniting myself to a long lost friend after 10 long years. The greeneries of the countryside added drama to my travel. It was surreal.

Approaching Lake Sebu, I can feel the cultural landscape and the heritage of the land. True enough, Lake Sebu is very mystical. A place isolated from the urban living yet offers an immense life communing with culture and nature.

CULTURE. Lake Sebu is home to the T’boli’s, a highland tribe that has its roots in South Cotabato. The T’bolis take pride of their very rich culture that has been preserved and practiced even to this day.

T’bolis are best known for their exceptional skills in weaving. They called their produce made out of weaving as T’nalak which has gained good reputation all over the country. Some of its great dream weavers were even invited to different places in and outside of the Philippines to showcase their excellent weaving skills.

The T’bolis are also known for exemplary works on metal crafting. Excellent metal works such as musical instruments, swords, women accessories, and other ornamental items are proofs to their admirable metal craftsmanship.

Photo Courtesy By Orman Manansala


Photo Courtesy By Orman Manansala

The T’bolis are also great wood carvers. Every single wooden collectibles ranging from bracelets, necklaces, beads and other accessories are great works of T’boli people. Without a doubt, the Tboli Tribe is rich in culture and certainly one of the most colorful in the Philippines.

Photo Courtesy By Marky Romane Go

Photo Courtesy By: Marz Fernandez Bendol

NATURE. Nature abounds the tranquil Eden of Lake Sebu. For nature loving souls, this peaceful town is a perfect retreat. The lakes themselves are considered as precious gifts to the T’bolis. But the local tribesmen consider the Lake not only God given food basket but also a miraculous body of water that never dries up.

Lake Sebu is not all about its mystic Lakes. It is the home of the Seven Waterfalls I used to call Seven Wonderfalls of Lake Sebu, a grandeur beauty of nature that will truly put every visitor at awe. There is T’daan Kini Waterfalls situated in isolated lushes of the town. Slowly, Lake Sebu has grown into a perfect haven for nature seekers. There are now plenty of resorts built to cater the rapid demand of tourism in the town but built in accordance to the specifications of Local Environment Law and Tourism Office.

T'Daan Kini Falls

One of the Seven Falls

The stream in T'daan Kini

The Green and Cool Trek

At Lake Sebu, it is noteworthy to realize that man, nature and culture blend together as perfect one. An ideal example that the three can exist together in harmony and great shape. Truly, Lake Sebu has become South Cotabato’s tourism hub. It is becoming a popular destination not just in SocCCKSarGen region but probably in the entire country but people are united there to protect and keep the culture and nature intact and well preserved in spite of tourism and the call of the modern world.