Boracay And Vigan Of The South

by Kirsten Rose Concon

Glan, Sarangani Province (May 10, 2014) — Summer is almost here! And by that, tourists are already planning their vacations. Since Glan, Sarangani Province is now making its name, it is definitely on the list.

Glan is located on the west by Sarangani Bay, on the north by Davao del Sur, and on the south by the Celebes Sea. 

An approximate one-hour travel from General Santos City, you will end up in Glan Poblacion where you will be amazed by its golden municipal hall. It is also comparable to Vigan but smaller because of the ancestral houses that can be found there. The oldest ancestral house belonged to the Alegado family that was built in 1927.

Another ancestral house belonged to the Ruiz family, the home of Don Tranquilino Ruiz of Alegria, Cebu.

“Don Tranquilino Ruiz was the founder of Glan. It started out as Colony No. 9 of the colonization project of the government. Glan, founded in 1914, will turn 100 years this coming October 8,” Former Sarangani Board Member Benedicto L. Ruiz II said in vernacular.

Glan’s main source of livelihood is the agriculture with high-level production of copra. And because it is a coastal municipality, aquaculture is the second biggest income earner.

Glan also takes pride in their mouth-watering delicacies such as kakanin and their famous Pan De Bisaya and other seafood dishes.

Just a 10-minute ride from the Poblacion, there is another pride of Glan which boasts its pristine beaches and considered by the locals as the Boracay of the South. If you want to experience Boracay before the commercial development, then, this is the way to go. With a long stretch of powdery-white sand and clear turquoise water, Gumasa is definitely the best way to escape the busy life of the city.

One of the best resorts in Gumasa is the Isla Jardin Del Mar owned by fishing magnate, Marfin Tan. It offers endless adventures for the tourists. Guests can rent Jet-Skis, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and banana boat. It also has an open volleyball court for beach sports enthusiasts.

The 34-hectare white-sand beach resort has a variety of room types at reasonable prices for guests planning for an overnight stay while there are also open cottages available for guests just visiting for a day. There is also a restaurant which offers scrumptious seafood dishes such as milkfish and shrimps.

At the beach, a coral garden can be found about 25 meters from the shoreline which can be enjoyed by snorkelers and divers due to this thriving school of colourful coral fish. By the end of the day, if the weather’s not bad, a beautiful sunset can be seen from the beach.

Glan, Sarangani Province is truly a top tourism destination of SocSKSarGen. It would surely be a treat to everyone. So what are you waiting for?  Choose Glan, Sarangani Province for an ultimate summer experience.

The Golden Municipal Hall of Glan

One of the Ancestral Houses in Glan Poblacion

Isla Jardin Del Mar resort in Gumasa