"TOP 10 TOURIST ATTRACTION IN AGUSAN DEL SUR"
1. Agusan Marsh
Purple Herons, storks and sea eagles… these are
only few of the migratory birds from all over southeast Asia is best seen
during the months of Nov. to Jan. in Agusan Marsh. The largest Marshland
in the Philippines.
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the
most significant wetlands in the Philippines. It is a protected area covering
more thanh 14,000 hectares, in the heart of the Agusan River. During the rainy
season extensive flooding is a natural and unique phenomenon, which is vital
for the survival of flora and fauna. Interfacing between land and water
systems, it is highly productive and biological rich ecosystem.
Agusan Marsh was formally included in the Ramsar
List Wetlands of International Importance in 1999. The Sanctuary is a home to
several globally endangered animals, such as the Golden-crown flying fox
(Acerodon Jubatos), Silvery Kingfisher crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus). It is a
once in a lifetime experience to observe the thousands of blooming water lilies
floating in shallow marsh lakes.
Here one can see the ethnic Manobo tribe
clustered in floating bamboo houses, enjoying the abundance of fresh water
beneath the weight upto 30 kls. The sight has undisturbed exotic flora and
fauna like giant water lilies length over a meter high. The endangered “dinata”
a soft shelled giant turtle and sailfin lizard are only some of 1332 species of
birds, 112 species of flowering plants and ferns, 2 crocodile species and 65
types of butterflies features that exists in this wildlife sanctuary.
San Francisco is the best gateway to Agusan
Marsh considering its strategic location for inbound travel from Davao, Butuan
and Surigao del Sur. The jump off point of barangay Caimpugan via Gibung River
to Agusan Marsh has proven to be safe, comfortable, adventurous and more
enjoyable for every tourist. A 30 minute travel will bring you from town proper
to the jump off point, barangay Caimpugan and A Two hour travel by boat will
bring you to the Agusan Marsh proper.
The birds at flight in Agusan Marsh are
definitely a view that will take one’s breath away!
2.Bega Falls
Situated at Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del
Sur. According to legend, Bega falls is a haven of beautiful women. It has an
ambiance of irresistible forest breeze that refreshes tired visitors after an
hour’s hike from the access road. Exotic hanging plants can also be seen along
the way.
3. Los Arcos Hot Spring
Popular for physical therapy, it is located in
Los Arcos, Prosperidad. Accesible via Awa-Los Arcos Road going to LIanga,
Surigao del Sur.
4. Tugonan Falls
The name is derived from the word “tugon”
meaning “remind”. The falls located in Sna Lorenzo, Prosperidad with a towering
trees and rare orchids, tempts the promise of a return.
5. Binaba Falls
A 10-minute motorboat ride from the mini-wharf
to the Gibong Recreation Center where the crystal clear water displays nature’s
naked beauty can be found at Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur.
6. Mt. Magdiwata
Nature lovers, adventurers and Mountain enthusiast alike will
certainly love Mt. Magdiwata. A lushfull virgin forest, with 14 series of water
falls one can enjoy after another, the beautiful and endemic flora & fauna,
the natural swimming holes and cold springs and also the biggest Bagrass tree
can be found only here. . At almost sunset, Mt. Magdiwata has the semblance of
a pregnant woman and during midnight looks like a crocodile eager to catch a
prey. Mt. Magdiwata is sacred among the Manobo Tribes due to its legend and
belief that the soul of Giant Magdiwata might punish those who cause
destruction to its natural resources. The mountain is characterized by
prominent ranges and the towering heights of an elevation approximately 592
meters above sea level reflect the pride of the Manobos.
Today, this natural tropical rainforest reserve provides a
life-sustaining water source for the residents of San Francisco. With the proclamation
of the area as a watershed through Presidential Proclamation No. 282, Mt.
Magdiwata now preserves its natural aura. The fresh mountain breeze soothes the
town and its alluring forests are a sanctuary of the most endangered wildlife
like the Philippine deer, monkeys and Philippine tarsiers.
7. Giant To-og Tree
To-og, scientifically known as Combretodenton quadrialatum is a
tree specie that thrives only in Mindanao. In the early 1970’s, one of
its species was identified and proclaimed as the biggest and most majestic tree
and it was found in Barangay Alegria, San Francisco.
This To-og Tree measures 360 centimeters in diameter, standards 65 meter and
estimated to be 300 years old. (DENR - Caraga Region)
Today, To-og remains a prominent specie because kaingeros and
loggers have difficulty in cutting this tree.
In 1940, San Francisco Municipality, still a Vast forest with trees luxuriantly
like giants standing majestically. The manobos only occupied small patches of
lands scattered in this vast forest lands. In 1942, a super strong typhoon blew
down these century trees with a diameter from 3 to 4 meters. Eight moths after
a long drought the fallen trees become dry. A forest fire burnt out all the
fallen tree to the ground. In 1975, PICOP agro-forestry officers like Mr.
Froilan Montero,( Asst. agro-forestry), supt. & former vice mayor Teofilo
Gelacio Sr. discovered one To-og tree, at alegria, San francisco, Agusan del
Sur. They reported it to the forestry department of PICOP and a thorough
research was made data gathering and interviews about the To-og tree. An old
man named Micomedes Lagulao, alias datu sangka-on was interviewed. He was
already ninety yrs. Old in 1975, he died in 1985. He told the group that this
was the only To-og tree that survived the strong typhoon in 1942. it is already
almost of the same size and height when he was still a little boy. This tree
was fortunate because it grow at the center of a camote farm and sorounded by
tall big trees. However, the sorounding big tree succumbed to the strong
typhoon. This To-og tree was spared from the ravage of the forest fire for it
grow about 50 to 60 meters of sumugbong river. Due to its size, wood cutter did
not care to cut it down with axes alone. Few years after its discovery, a book
was published financed by PICOP. ”The tallest To-og tree in the phils”. A
concrete marker was constructed and a fence at the base of the said tree.
8. Puting Buhangin
It is located in Poblacion, Prosperidad. It
consents of three sections of different characteristic. One of the challenging
characters is the unending running stream inside the cave and nature proofs of
varied depths. Accesible infront of the Prosperidad Municpal Hall.
9. Datu Anawa Kalipay Cave
This cave is also known as Inepan Cave, came
from a manobo term “Inepan” which means subterranean cave where creek submerge
inside the cave. Located at Brgy. Lucac,San Francisco. this cave is generally a
wet cave.
For the Lumads, this is a ritual place of the
“Baylan” (priest) and only a “Baylan” can enter this cave. This cave was
claimed by Faustino Espana Sr., known as Datu Anawa Kalipay who was married to
a Maguinda Clan. Datu Anwa Kalipay died sometime in 1999 at the age of 120 but
his remains mysteriously did not decomposed up to the present. His dead body
can be found at the top of the hill, at Sitio Durian, Lucac inside a nipa hut,
Kilometer away from the cave. Upon request of the Espana family, the cave was
named Datu Anawa Kalipay in honor of Faustino Espana Sr.
10. The City Cave
To the Lumads, this is known as Aningaw Cave,
from Manobo term “Aningaw” which means echo because when somebody talks, the
voice will echo due to the high-rise rocks that surrounds the cave. The
external view of this cave is characterized by big and high-rise rocks of
gothic design, while the inside is characterized by big chambers reinforced by
century old adjoining stalactites and stalagmites. These chambers are so
spacious that can be developed into function rooms. One chamber portrayed the
image of Virgin Mary and the other is the chamber of thousands of Bats while
the ground is carpeted with thick guano (Bats manure) and a good natural
fertilizer. The ceiling of the cave is a solid rock that can be compared to a
special panel due to its artistic holes that serves as incubator of baby Bats
and imaginative view of the cave. Few meters away from this cave is the giant
and mysterious rock, sinking cave (Beto) and numerous unexplored caves. The
area of the cave is about 5,000 sqms and generally a dry cave.
This cave is known to be the sacred place for
the manobos and can be found at Brgy. Bitan-agan. During holy week, the
“Lumads” went to the cave to conduct rituals. They believe that their power
(Agimat) will be renewed by visiting this cave during Lenten season.
