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Enchanted by Surigao del Sur’s Tinuy-an Falls

When his international friends messaged him of their pending visit to Mindanao, John Ryan Mendoza recommended that they experience Surigao del Sur for the first time together, considering that not much of the province has been tackled in international travel books. When they visited, they then discovered Tinuy-An Falls, the supposed “Niagara Falls of the Philippines”.

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Tinuy-An Falls2

Tinuy-An Falls3I live and work in the northern and central part of Mindanao. What I know of the eastern side of the island was that it is always at the frontline of the Pacific Ocean typhoons and thus one of the poorer areas in the island with quite long and difficult roads. All the same, the word of mouth from fellow Mindanaoans of the less explored white beaches, enchanting rivers, and majestic waterfalls has always gone around.

And so, when my German friends messaged me of their visit to Mindanao, I just have to suggest that we experience Surigao del Sur for the first time together. As expected, not much of the province has been tackled in international travel books.

We decided to see the Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig, a city known as the “Booming City by the Bay” in Surigao del Sur.

We started our Surigao del Sur expedition from Davao City. At the Ecoland Bus Terminal, we were offered two transport options: the eight to nine hour non-airconditioned bus trip directly to Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City’s commercial and trade center (155 pesos) or the five hour airconditioned bus trip to San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and a transfer to a two to three hour non-airconditioned bus or van trip to Bislig. It was a hot and sunny day from Davao and the five hour cooler San Francisco route was the better option for us.

We arrived at Brgy. Mangagoy in Bislig in a van and were welcomed by a crowd of motorcycle drivers to take us to our lodging and were offering trip bookings to the Tinuy-an falls and the Enchanted River. We agreed to pay 1,500 pesos for each (Dolfo – 09078660659 and Glen – 09078282567) that could carry two to three passengers to both places for a whole day.

We spent the night at the Paper Country Inn at 800 pesos for a double bed airconditioned room with private CR and hot shower.

We left early the next morning on single motorcycles that took 40 minutes to arrive in Sitio Sote, Brgy. Burboanan. Locals advise to see the falls between 9 am to 11 am to see rainbows form among the white water curtains.

The Tinuy-an falls is considered as sacred by the Manobo Tribal Council of Sote because it is part of the 13,000 hectare of the ancestral domain of the Manobos and it has provided their forefathers and the present generation with a bountiful catch of fish and other freshwater necessities. The Manobos request that all guests share the same respect that they give to the grand falls.

Spanning 95 meters wide, standing at 55 meters (180 feet) high, and cascading in three tiers, Tinuy-an Falls is said to be the widest waterfall in the country and touted as the Niagara Falls of the Philippines. The surrounding century old trees, ferns and thick shrubbery give you a feel of being in a hidden paradise.

An entrance fee of 50 pesos is charged per person and if you have your own vehicle a 20 peso parking fee is also charged. Aside from the falls, the area offers other amenities for different needs. At the picnic grounds, umbrella sheds can be rented for 150 pesos, a table with four chairs for 100 pesos and 10 pesos for each additional chair, and small and big cottages can be rented out for 200 and 300 pesos respectively. A function hall can also be rented for 1,000 pesos per day.

When swimming, life jackets can be rented for 30 pesos for the whole day. For a closer view of the falls, bamboo rafts can be rented from 100 to 150 pesos.

Options are also available for those who want to spend the night. A room good for 10 persons can be rented at 1,800 pesos a night. For couples, rooms can be rented at 600 pesos a night.

We spent the whole morning swimming the cool waters, climbing the three tiers of the falls, seeing the lush surrounding forest from above, and just lounging at the waterside while enjoying the gentle mists of water from the cascades. At noontime we proceeded to the Enchanted River.

In Visayan, “Tinuy-an” means “a place you’ll keep going back.” It may be a little far for most, but these majestic falls surely lives up to its name.

A registered nurse he may be, but Cagayan de Oro City-based John Ryan Nual Mendoza is an ardent believer of holistic living - as such, he advocates, for instance and among others, the use not only of Western approaches to healing, but also of the more traditional methodologies that may be learned from the hilot, babaylan, et cetera. As he said, in life, "why be limited, when you can have a more full/complete life by embracing just about everything?"

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Destinations

Eating out in Cebu in one place via Pusô Village

Checking out #Cebu’s all-in-one dining location, the Pusô Village that may simplify eating out but seems to forget our desire to see diverse #foodie hubs.

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In the past, if you wanted to grab some of the food associated with Cebu, you headed to – among others – Larsian, this place not too far from Fuente Osmeña Circle. It wasn’t necessarily popular with the locals who saw (and still see) it as unhygienic, but it’s this easy-to-access BBQ place that’s open 24/7.

Starting 2025, however, a new place was opened to serve as the one-stop culinary and cultural hub of Cebu City: the Pusô Village.

@outragemag Checking out #Cebu's all-in-one dining location, the Pusô Village (#pusovillage) that may simplify eating out but seems to forget our desire to see diverse #foodie ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, developed by Cebu2World/Megawide as part of the Carbon Market modernization, this place’s name drew inspiration from the pusô rice cake that’s served when you have meals in Cebu. There are, therefore, design elements that’d remind you of the pusô – e.g. those octahedral shapes on the entrance. Inside, there are attempts to beautify by borrowing elements from Bahay na bato Philippine architectural style; most are fake, though, such as those painted-on verandahs you’d see when you look up.

Ikalawa, there are over 100 food stalls and retail outlets here… though more of the former than the latter. They’ve been “properly” structured, so that the lechon vendors are on one side, seafood sellers on another side, and so on.

Ikatlo, we tried some of the offerings to ascertain how good they are.

The unlimited lechon is popular, providing an opportunity particularly for non-locals to cheaply enjoy this Cebuano treat. Taste-wise, the lechons vary little, some saltier than the others. The “approach” in serving is similar, though. You get an okay portion when first served, and the portion gets smaller the more you return. Noticeably, by the third refill, the vendors become grumpier when serving you, some even ignoring you, or stuffing fatty parts on your plate. Business greed in action.

Though cooked the same way (i.e. buttered), the seafood platters are inconsistent. You could get some shrimps or crabs now and then, though most times, you’d just get mussels.

Then there’s the tuslob-buwa, pig’s brain cooked under maximum heat to then become dip for pusô. We’d say this is acquired taste… but there’s not much to taste. So this is a costly to-try food.

Only open until 10.00PM, Pusô Village offers those in Cebu a venue to try as many of the local goods as possible. For that, alone, this is a must-check. You are sure to find a few stuffs you’d like.

But the city still has a lot of venues offering local culinary and cultural goods, and they deserve to be also checked. And so off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa

Pusô Village is located at M.L Quezon Blvd., Sto. Nino, Cebu City.

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Destinations

Going Chinese in Pulilan, Bulacan

Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan, and we’re on the fence here (yes if no choice, no if you can go elsewhere).

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We happened to be in Pulilan in Bulacan, and I had pancit craving. As if on cue, we passed by Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan, which – after we Google-checked – is supposedly one of the more frequently-visited Chinese restos in these parts of the province, so… of course we checked.

@outragemag Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, this place is really, REALLY easy to find. Located along the Pulilan Regional Road in Barangay Cut-cot in Pulilan, this is right in the middle of the municipality.

Ikalawa, the resto is actually divided into three parts: one side is for those with reservations, another part is for walk-in diners, and another part is for events. If/when the resto isn’t full, only the main part (middle one) is kept open.

No, this isn’t some fancy resto. More like an airconditioned karinderya, complete with wooden tables and plastic chairs. Look-wise, it wasn’t dirty naman when we were there, so that’s a plus.

Ikatlo, the workers were friendly naman… and they moved fast – e.g. while waiting for our orders, we were given must-check peanuts, and since we finished what we got fast, our waitress was more than happy to accommodate us.

Ika-apat, now… how was the food?

The house specialty, the Lee Foo Chicken (₱265 for half, ₱495 for whole), looked like fried chicken with ketchup. Okay… the breading was okay since it didn’t overpower the meat. The chicken, too, was properly cooked, and it wasn’t dry. But it was tasteless overall; so the ketchup taste is what stays with you.

The Pancit Canton Bihon (₱255) had thin pancit noodles, almost as thin as the bihon. It didn’t have lots of sahog; instead, you’d notice the extenders (like kikiam, and so on). I like good pancit, I swear… but this isn’t one of them, sorry.

The weirdly-wrapped Hakaw (₱155) was small, so it was bitin.

And then there’s the Siomai Steam (₱155), which was, in a word, weird. The size was good, similar to those ₱10 siomais. But the way this was prepared was weird for us – e.g. like the meat was overwatered, and having a hard time staying solid, so that it was smudgy, and disintegrated in the mouth even without chewing. I suppose that, at least, it wasn’t disgusting taste-wise.

Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is, we believe, popular. Like President in Chinatown, or a branch of David’s in some mall. To each his or her own nga naman. But for us, we’re off to look for other Chinese restos na muna as we head out in search of more lafangan venues.

Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is located at 159 Barangay Cut-cot, Pulilan, 3005 Bulacan Province. For more information, contact 0925 800 0168, or email leefoopanciteria@yahoo.com.

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Travel

Treacherous beauty: Hiking at South Stack Lighthouse in Wales

#Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales.

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Yes, tech has made many lighthouses redundant. Not that they’re no longer relevant. But navigation-wise, we know we have more advanced solutions. Which, perhaps not surprisingly, led to the reconfiguration of many of them.

In Holyhead, Anglesey in Wales, introducing the South Stack Lighthouse.

@outragemag #Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, you’d need a ride to be there. Some use private cars, as we did; others join tours; and others cycle to the place.

Ikalawa, what’s there?

The lighthouse itself is located on a small, rocky island off Holyhead. From afar, it looks like someone’s grand home; mansion-like. Accessible siya after you descend down 400 steep steps. 

What will you see while there?

  • the former lighthouse engine room
  • the top of the lighthouse
  • South Stack is also home to breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins

Here’s an FYI: seasonal lang siya bukas.

This is a must-check for lighthouse lovers, of course. Historic, it was built in 1809 by Trinity House from the design of Daniel Alexander. 91-foot tall, it used to allow safe passage for ships on the Dublin–Holyhead–Liverpool sea route. 

Another FYI: It is  allegedly haunted, and has been visited by a team from “Most Haunted”.

The area housing the lighthouse is, itself, worth checking. There are trails for hikers or joggers or cyclists; though the same could be enjoyed by those who are there only to look for good shots.

Check when you’re in the area… even if you just pass by. Nice siya, promise.

But off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa

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