Things to do in General Santos

General Santos or popularly called "Gen San" is truly a gem. Among with its peers Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Gen San is definitely underrated. The city is clean! I did not spot a single pile of trash and the air is fresh akin to the old days of Manila. The seafood is to die for too! My trip to Gensan made me crave for the simple life reminiscent of the olden times. 

Things to do in General Santos:

•  Fish Port

If you will just be in town for a day or two, I strongly recommend you visit the fish port. You'll see hundreds of HUGE tuna being unloaded from boats, weighed, classified, and sold. It is a very unique experience and you can even see men with small body built carrying tuna bigger than they are. When we went, we spotted a tuna that weighed 133 kg. That's almost 300 lbs! The fishermen claimed that the catch weren't that big for that day as they would sometimes catch tuna as heavy a 300 kg or 660 lbs! The heaviest catch they had was actually 500 kg or 1,100 lbs! 

Fishermen are actually more entertained to see tourists being amused with what they do. They're really accommodating and would gamely pose for pictures. I find it rather amusing that they do not despise tourists as if I were them, I wouldn't want anyone getting in my way when I'm carrying a tuna heavier than myself. 

Tip: They usually don't allow visitors to come in before 8 am unless you know someone inside. Older info would tell you to come as early as 5 am but now they are more strict. Also, don't wear shorts or sleeveless tops. They will also let you wear boots as a requirement. The place is actually clean for a fish port and thank goodness!

 Yellowfin tuna

The tuna fish is as tall as I am!

 After evaluating, they then load them in containers to be shipped to Manila or different parts of the world

The view of the port in the morning is actually really nice and serene

• Gumasa Beach

Gumasa is often described as the Boracay of the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotobato, Cotobato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, & General Santos). The sand here is white and the sand is quite fine. In my opinion though, the white sand in Boracay is a lot finer (in contrast to what other bloggers say) but the beach itself is beautiful. 

Head on to Isla Jardin Resort for a meal and you can use the beach huts and swim its clear waters. The clarity of the water is amazing and the beachfront is clean. Food is also delicious and prices are very reasonable (P150-P300). Surprisingly, the breeze is a bit cool and not at all humid and sticky. 

Try to hit Gumasa on a weekday if possible, as it tends to get packed on weekends. Luckily for us, I was the only person to swim on its entire stretch. I felt like I was in my own peaceful beautiful island.

 White sand at Gumasa

The water is so clear!

•  Lake Sebu

I've heard of this place years back and it certainly did not disappoint! Go here to satisfy your cultural craving with the help of T'boli culture and dance. Apart it being a sprawling lake, it is actually a community. At first glance, it may look ordinary but do take the boat around the lake and you'll see that it is far from ordinary. They have a lot of  islands, fish pens, and even a school. They have no electricity so they usually ride the traditional boat to and from the main land for access to modern civilization. It's actually eye opening to see them live simply with such rich traditions.

We went to Punta Isla Resort and had lunch. We ordered the Chicharon Tilapia which is fried crunchy tilapia belly with kropek. It was actually really good but the food arrived after an hour so I suggest you bring some snacks to munch on first if you plan to eat here. They also offer lunch on a boat but service is also really slow. The boat only left the dock after we went around the lake via boat (30 mins) and waited for our food for another hour. 

There is also a zipline along the main road and you'll get to see the 7 majestic falls. The zipline was under maintenance when we went but it is priced at P250 on weekdays and P300 on weekends. You can pay P20 for entrance and you will see the 2 of the 7 falls. 

These are just 2 of the 7 falls

• Tiongson Food Arcade

Classic place for turo-turo and "paluto". They mostly serve the freshest seafood but Peet's also serves meat. Try asking them to cook "pinaputok" style with any fish. The fish is cooked inside foil with various spices, vegetables, and butter (!!!). Also try the tuna belly, panga, and grilled squid. 

• Paragliding

Paragliding uses a chute to lift you up and fly. You run off a cliff at 1,000ft above sea level and glide. The chute is actually maneuverable and the flight takes around 10-15 minutes before landing. I contacted Titoy of Sarangani Paragliding and was scheduled to fly on June 12. Incidentally, the media was present to shoot and interview the pilots (and me!) for Independence day. The interviewer asked me several questions and told me that it will be aired on National TV! #Nadiscover

 Kidding aside, the entire experience was amazing! I just didn't think and just ran. They say first timers usually get dizzy but I guess I was so immersed in the moment that I didn't have time to get sick haha! 

 Flags were attached to our equipment in lieu of Independence day

My 15 seconds of fame! Haha! The reporter told me the footage would show on national TV

You can contact Titoy at 09173270113 or like their fb page at www.facebook.com/sarangani.paraglide. Their rate is P3,000/ person and comes with a free gopro video. Make sure to bring your USB for easy saving.

Overall, I enjoyed our trip. The people are very friendly and nice. It's a common misconception that Gen San is not that safe due to its proximity to Maguindanao but locals claim that it is very safe. This place is definitely underrated and deserves to be frequented! 

Transportation:
Most of the attractions require a car as they are far from the city. Call/text Tonga's at 09177151790 to rent a car/van or Jing at 09173738588. Rate is usually P3,000/day + gas. For nearby destinations, you can hail a tricycle for P8-P10/ person depending on the distance.