General Santos City, located south of Manila, has long been known as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines” due to its bountiful fishing industry, which contributes more than 50% to the city’s economy. However, it is becoming better known worldwide as the hometown of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, the unprecedented holder of 7 title belts in 7 different weight divisions. Pacquiao has made it to the cover of Time Magazine and maybe declared Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. What kind of city can produce the best boxer in the entire world?

Gensan, as locals lovingly call their city, is located in the country’s second-largest island of Mindanao, a typhoon-free zone near the equator. Sitting on the coast of Saranggani Bay, this highly urbanized metropolis saw the rise of a young prizefighter as he struggled in daily life, selling bread along the city streets at an early age. Today, Gensan slows down every time its hero has a match, and thousands watch the live broadcasts free from giant screens in municipal gyms for free.

While visiting Pacquiao’s hometown, here are some of the attractions you can check out:

Kalaha Karst Area - a natural reserve blessed with waterfalls and caves, making it a delight among outdoor-lovers. Bunga Springs is one such camping ground, it smooth –flowing waters right in the middle of the Karst lands adds to an already perfect site for stargazing during clear nights. 30 minutes away from Kalaha is Kopol Hills, the city’s highest camping ground which offer a great view of Saranggani Bay and nearby towns. Finally, Malokong Gorge, 3.5 kilometers from Kalaha Cave, is excellent for boulder- and rock-climbing enthusiasts.

Absekong Waterfalls – located between the border of General Santos City and Polomok, the waters from the mountaintop river of Camp Flores flow past the granite boulders and limestone-rimmed cliffs of Conel.

Fishport Complex - The center of the tuna industry and the most modern facility of its kind in the country, this dock is at its busiest just before dawn. With some of the catch reaching up to 80 kilos, visitors can witness their weighing, classification, categorization and sale at this location. The tuna from this complex are then sent to local sashimi restaurants as well as those in Japan and the United States.

Sarangani Bay – the main dive area in the region has all type and levels of scuba diving except for wrecks. Tampuan Wall, Maharlika Cliff and Tinoto Village are some of the  dive spots to be explored here. The best time to dive is during mornings and past 2 pm in the afternoons. There is also a Sarangani Bay Festival during the last days of May every year which is declared the biggest beach party in Mindanao. Boat races, underwater photography contests and scuba fests are all part of this celebration.

The Tuna Festival - a 3-day celebration held every September in thanks for the bounty from the sea. Activities during this thanksgiving event include culinary competitions, parades, ceremonial awards, float contests and street parties. Tuna is served all year round in the city’s dining establishments, served charcoal-broiled in special sauce, raw in vinegar, shallots, cucumber and pepper (kinilaw), or souped up in ginger, onion, lemon grass lettuce and tomatoes.

Kalilangan Festival – celebrated every February, “kalilangan” means jubilee; it is a social gathering among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates as they exchange amenities. A pageantry of unique ethnic rites, rituals and traditions, this festival is marked with contests, dancing, and instrumental renditions of classic songs.

There are daily direct flights from Manila to Gensan via Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific, with a flight time of 1 hour 45 minutes. A voyage by sea, on the other hand, will take 3 days. Of course, the weeks following a Pacquiao match turns the city into a triumph.

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Posted in Asia, Attractions

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