Dao Dao Island

The Dao Dao Islands are two small islets within the Illana Bay. Dao Dao Dako (big) is the bigger island which covers 1.10 hectares and is a 7 to 10‑minute ride by motorboat from the seaport. It’s popular with locals for swimming and picnics because of its proximity to the mainland.

Dao Dao Gamay or Dumagok Islet is technically not an island Located in Dumagok Pagadian City, but another small islet that partially submerges during high tide. A set of green cottages and walkways have been constructed on the small island for visitors, making it another popular spot for locals. 

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Kendis Cave

Kendis Cave about 14 kilometer from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, and 5 kilometer from barangay Ditoray. Kendis Cave is an open end cave with plants and vegetation. It has large overhead crevices with interior chambers. Can be reached on horseback or on foot.

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Rotonda Pagadian City

Rotonda Park, nesteld on the summit of BULATOC HILL. Here, you have the option to go horseback for a cheap as Php 50 for 5 rounds. A viewing deck nearby offers a  scenic view of Pajares Avenue

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GoPro Hero5 Black

The New GoPro HERO5 Black action camera records stunning 4K videos and features a 2 inches touchscreen that able to capture 12MP photos at 30 fps. The HERO5 Black is waterproof that allows to be taken to depths of 33ft (10m) without the need for an external waterproof housing.

• 4K Video
• 12MP Photo
• 2" Touch Screen
• Image Stabilizer
• Waterproof Design
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Built-in GPS
• Voice Control

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Canon EOS 1300D 18MP

Camera sales saw a spike in light of this generation obsessed with taking photos. Whether it’s everyone’s selfie past time or a view from your last out of town trip, everyone seems to be trying to play photographer. While it takes more than just a click to be a real photographer, you can practice all you want with the Canon EOS 1300D 18MP with EF-S 18-55mm Non-IS III Lens Kit.

You can never go wrong with the EOS 1300D DSLR as it packs in all the fun of photography, which is why it’s recommended for users looking for their very first DSLR camera. It also has abundant auto shooting features and is compatible with over 70 EF/EF-S lenses, allowing you to take beautiful photos like a pro regardless of subject and genre. Wi-Fi and NFC compatibility allows easy file transfer to other devices.

Focusing your subject can be quite tricky, but getting the right focus for your shot is nevertheless essential. This Canon EOS 1300D DSLR Camera has nine focusing points, making it easier for you to focus as you can put your subject just about anywhere on the viewfinder and still get the right composition. Learning photography cannot be done overnight, but the Canon EOS makes it easier for you with its ergonomic design that makes it easier to carry and hold.

Inside the 1300D is everything you need to learn photography. The 18MP APS-C size sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor allow you to shoot photos and videos with great detail. With ISOs as high as 12,800, you can easily set up night or low-light shots without the noise. The Canon 1300D boosts its sensitivity to light so pictures can stay sharp without the need for flash.

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional photographer, having the right tools helps greatly in taking the perfect shot. At Lazada, you can find your next favorite camera to use and more. Lazada offers camera accessories, bags, and other equipment for your shoot. Visit the Camera section of Lazada and feast your eyes on the wide selection like you’ve never seen before.

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Five Tips for Safe Travel

By Howard Culbertson

The excitement of going to new places may tempt you to let down your guard. Then you become easy prey for thieves or worse. As you prepare to hit the road on that mission trip, impress these safe travel tips in your memory:

1. Keep your luggage nearby and within your view.

If traveling by air, check your baggage in as soon as you arrive at the airport. Only allow airline personnel and uniformed sky caps to handle your baggage.

2. Don’t flash cash in public.

When buying something at a store, don’t pull out a huge wad of money (even if it seems like “play” money to you). When you travel, wear a money belt or sack under your clothes to carry your cash and small valuables. Don’t leave valuables in a car or hotel room when you’re not there.

3. Keep your address somewhat private.

If you’re staying in a hotel, don’t disclose your room number when strangers are within earshot. Be reluctant about opening your door for unexpected visitors or deliveries without calling the front desk to verify the visitor’s identity.

4. Be alert for deliberate mishaps.

Thieves and pickpockets distract people with ploys like bumping into someone or spilling a drink on people in a crowd.

5. Keep hotel room doors and windows locked.

Don’t leave a hotel room door ajar while you go down the hall for an errand. If you find your room door open after you had left it closed, return to the hotel lobby and ask that someone go with you back to the room.

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How to Travel Alone Safely

Traveling alone can be a fun and rewarding experience.  Without the distractions of a group or other travelers, you are able to completely focus your energy and attention on where you are and what you are seeing, which can intensify your experience.

If you plan to travel alone, do as much advance preparation as you can. Prepare for a fun, safe trip with some of the tips below:

·         Travel Plans –Leave a copy of your entire itinerary with a friend or family member. Make sure you include all flight and hotel information along with the phone number of a friend in case of an emergency at home while you are away.

·         Hotel Safety –
o Request an inside room that is not near a stairwell, exit or hotel elevator.  Not only will you sleep better (the room will be less noisy), others are not likely to notice you entering or exiting your room alone.
o Check your room the first time you enter and leave the door open during the process.
o Make sure that all door locks work properly and there is a lock on the window if it opens.
o Make sure the telephone is turned on, working and that you can dial 0 if you need to reach the front desk or hotel operator.

·         Communication – Verify that your mobile phone operates where you are going.  Call home to check in with a friend or relative at least every other day.

·      Valuables - Keep your license and a card from the hotel (with address and phone number) on you at all times.

·      Blend In – Try not to look like a tourist. This will protect you from being singled out for scams. Avoid looking like a tourist by:
o Storing your camera on you rather than wearing it around your neck
o  Mapping out your destination in advance.  Avoid carrying a large map, and try to walk in a group even though you aren’t necessarily with them.

·    Learn the Language - Learn a few choice phrases in your destination country so you can communicate easier should you need assistance from a local.

Children
Is your child traveling alone in the near future? Good communication is the main key to having your child travel safely and smoothly. Here are a few things you can do pre-flight that will make your child’s flight experience a good one:

·         Discuss the trip with your child. Address concerns and answer travel safety questions. Make sure your child understands the travel itinerary and any plane changes to be made. 

·         Review with your child what a uniformed staff member looks like. Discuss how to locate and contact someone who can be trusted in case of separation from the flight attendant or travel guide.

Arrange for a reliable person to meet your child at his or her destination. Nothing goes further to help your child feel safe than a familiar face at the gate waiting to greet him or her. Before departure, make sure your child’s escort has a complete copy of the itinerary and knows where to expect to meet your child at the airport.

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Too much sitting - A health hazard

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Dunstan, D.W.; Howard, B.; Healy, G.N.; Owen, N.

In contemporary society, prolonged sitting has been engineered into our lives across many settings, including transportation, the workplace, and the home. There is new evidence that too much sitting (also known as sedentary behavior – which involves very low energy expenditure, such as television viewing and desk-bound work) is adversely associated with health outcomes, including cardio-metabolic risk biomarkers, type 2 diabetes and premature mortality. Importantly, these detrimental associations remain even after accounting for time spent in leisure time physical activity. We describe recent evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies that makes a persuasive case that too much sitting should now be considered an important stand-alone component of the physical activity and health equation, particularly in relation to diabetes and cardiovascular risk. We highlight directions for further research and consider some of the practical implications of focusing on too much sitting as a modifiable health risk.

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Pulacan Falls

Pulacan Falls is located in Barangay Upper Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga Del Sur, more or less 30-minute travel from Pagadian City, the capital city of the province.

The location of Pulacan Falls is very close to the 1st Infantry "Tabak Division" in Barangay Pulacan. The waterfall is very accessible and just a short trek from the national highway. Actually, it can easily be found as you can hear the sound of its falling waters from the national highway.

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Eriberta Spring Resort

This cold water spring can be located on the backside of Mount Malingdang.

To get there from Ozamiz City, take the National Highway south toward Molave / Pagadian City (approximately a 2-hour drive, depending upon how fast you drive). Stop in Molave and get directions from the local Filipino Population that know of this unique cold water spring and where it's actually located.

My friends and I have traveled to Eriberta / Tuboran Cold Water Spring during summer vacation and over the years, the owners of this unique cold water springs resort has only made it better than the previous visit. Our first trip to Eriberta was in December 30, 2015 and it was kind of hard to get there, with large boulders / rocks blocking our travel up a dirt-packed / filled road. However, now it's much easier to get to, as the road has been paved and, cleaned up with the rocks and boulders having been removed. I personally drive a Motor Cycle Honda XRM125 and we have traveled with others that have used a 2-Wheel Drive Russe Rango125 Motorcycle as well, and have no problems traveling up the winding mountainous roads to these cold water springs.

Fast forward to October 2016, and we noticed that the owners have really made this park into a nice place to visit with adequate parking and more places to sit down and relax while the grand-kids are having fun. There are man-made waterfalls to sit under and relax, slides for the children and young adults to slide down into cold and sometimes deep (10-foot / 3-meter) man-made pools and a man-made lake with a row boat too! They have increased the overall amount of cottages from 5- to as much as 20- or more.

So, if you are looking for a nice place to get away from it all on a warm / hot sunny day, this is truly the place to have a good time, with family members and friends alike.

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Panikian Island

This island is a home to "pawikan" or universally known as tortoise. They come here to lay eggs and they come back after several weeks for their hatchlings. Ironically, the term "panikian" is not in any way associated with "pawikan." The former refers to bats. The islet on the picture is not the island itself, but it is within the bounds of Panikian Island. Not too many people come here because the government is trying to allow tortoises to lay their eggs without human intervention. In line with that, there are "bantay-dagat" authorities assigned here to guard the vicinity from intruders and from people who illegally catch tortoises.  

This is just another side of the island. I am standing on top of the amazing rock formations and from here, I can see the goodness of nature. It's truly a home a way from home. It relaxes the the mind, body, heart and soul.

This island is almost perfect, white sand, crystal clear water, perfect corals for snorkeling .Let this video show how beautiful this island is. It is truly a paradise in Mindanao.

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Alindahaw Lakeview Resort

Getting to Lakewood or Alindahaw Lakeview Resort is easy. You can take a “van” commuter from Pagadian City. Lakewood is about 42 kilometers from Pagadian City where you can take a van commuter. An alternative is that you can take any bus that passes by Tubod and get off there. From Tubod, you can take a van or a motorbike for hire (called ‘habal-habal’) to Lakewood. It is 12 kilometers far from Tubod to Lakewood or Alindahaw, Biswangan (or Bisuangan).. 

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Triton Island

The Diving Paradise of the Province of Zamboanga Del Sur a Natural Resource Management (NRM) Fish sanctuary project under MRDP-GEF (Global Environment Facility)

A 20-minute ride on a motorized banca from Barangay Danan, Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur takes you to beautiful Triton Island, with its white sand and cool waters, the pride of this serene and peaceful town.

A three-hectare expanse on the island is lush with greenery. ‘‘Balite’’ trees abound in the area, old trees preserved through time and thick vines reminiscent of the days of ‘‘Tarzan’’ jumping from one tree to another.

Triton Island is unspoiled, its flawless beauty adding to its mystic existence. It has not been tarnished by modernization nor ruined by time.

Nature lovers would find a haven in this place, great for bonding and relaxing with family and friends. With a minimal cost of P25.00, you can reach this island paradise on a motorized banca. Entrance is so affordable, only P10 which is for the upkeep of the place. One must only coordinate with the MPDC or the local government unit to visit the place.

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