God can truly give us unexpected gifts 🙂
This December, my hubby and I were set to spend Christmas in our home city but surprise, surprise — we got an invitation from my sister to spend Christmas in Gen. Santos City 🙂
The city has been famous for its tuna. But it has also been placed in the international limelight, thanks to world renowned boxer, Manny Pacquiao as well as the recently crowned beauty of the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, Ms. Shamcey Supsup. Both of them come from Gensan.
I must say that the city has been transformed since the first time I visited it in 1992. (There were several visits after that since my sister and her family have settled in this part of Southern Mindanao). There have been several bombings in the past rocking this city, causing both damage in property as well as fatalities.  But despite these challenges, the city has continued to grow and expand. This part of South Cotabato is moving forward.  New businesses are opening up. The city has now three malls: KCC, Gaisano and Robinsons’ Place. SM Gensan is currently under construction (as of this writing).
We found the front facade of Robinsons’ Place (with its Magandang Gensan or Beautiful Gensan sign) too irresistible for photos :). I also took a nice walk around the city park with my hubby, my sister and my niece (see photos below). It’s  now a far cry from the park I saw in 1992 (which was then relatively unkempt).
More photos and blog posts on other parts of Gensan and South Cotabato soon. By the way, there are daily flights from Manila and Cebu to Gensan. It is also accessible by bus and vans from Davao City.
Note: Behind the camera were my nephew and niece (Kits and Shiloh) except for the plaza or city park shot which I took.Â
This is also my entry for Tuesday Travels.
Hello Deli,
It’s KCC not NCCC. The latter is Davao-based. However, there is an NCCC Convenience Store along the National Highway right across Jo’s Manokan where we dined.
Hey, we forgot to buy Tuna for Butuan haha.
🙂
Thanks for the correction 🙂 Edited na. And my apologies to KCC. We can bring tuna next time 🙂
P.S.
I like this photo of Gen. Santos.
Very well-thought.
(“,)
Shiloh took this shot of the statue of Gen. Santos 🙂
I never been there yet hope one day. Visiting from TT!
Nice! I’m from Mindanao but haven’t been to GenSan. I wish to see the place one day and explore other places of Philippines.
Visiting here from TT!
Hi! Cool shots you got here of my home city.
Thanks for dropping off a comment at lainyonline.com.
As to your query RE: Lemlunay location,. It’s at Maasim, Sarangani Province, about 30-minute ride from the City Proper.
I’m sure you had a wonderful Xmas here- dahil Kampeon ang PAsko sa Gensan 😉
i have never been to Gen San before.. it should be worth-visiting! thanks for dropping by my TT entry Lors. Yes, the Bangkok floating market is functional now. I have some friends who went there just last December.
ganda naman ng mga pichurs at nung mga taong nasa pichurs 🙂 bagay na bagay sa Gandang GenSan ^^ di pa ako nakapunta jan pero sana one day makapasyal din sa bayan ni Manny Pacquiao, at makakakain ng famous tuna from there 😀
visiting you back for TT. thanks for the visit!
hope to see you more around 🙂
PS: I like to invite you to also join a meme in my blog 🙂 it’s called HAPPINESS IS… MEME. It starts on Friday, Jan 6. Hope you can check it out:
HAPPINESS IS… MEME
Thanks and see ya there!
I have yet to visit GenSan. The only city I visited in Mindanao (eons ago) was Davao. Need to put on my traveling shoes once again…
visiting via TT:
http://www.lowfatdiaries.com/2012/01/tuesday-travel-sentosa/
beautiful and so peaceful place, never been in GenSan Sis. Returning the visit from Tuesday Travel. Thank you for the visit too.
Been there only once and so far from that visit yung beaches pa lang ang magaganda sa lugar na masasabi ko – but that was over 10 years ago. Sana one of these days ma padpad uli ako dun. 😀
Nice shots by the way… I can tell the two little ones behind the shots are savvy photographers in the making.
Wow GenSan!!! I have been to this place when I was in high school It’s been over a decade ago. I can tell that GenSan has indeed boomed and bloomed. Beautiful!
Visiting for last week’s Tuesday Travels as a host. Thanks for joining! TT for this week is now up and running! Inviting you once again! 🙂
my parents are curretly living in gensan and i look forward to see this place someday.
Visiting from TT from T3pV