Gingoog is a Manobo word for good luck. Thus Gingoog City means the city of Good Luck. Gingoog is also known as one of the cleanest cities in Northern Mindanao. It has been awarded by the “Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran” (GPK) as the greenest and cleanest city in Region 10.
“Cleaning and Greening” of the environment has become a lifestyle of the Gingoognons. Gingoog is also known as the vacation city of Misamis Oriental, not only because of the beautiful places to visit but also because of hospitality of its people.
These are the places that you should check out when you come to Gingoog:
1. Tiklas Falls
This natural wonder is located at Barangay Lawit. Upon arriving in the city, you have to travel 9 kilometers to reach the falls. If you do not have your own car or if you want to be adventurous, you can ride the habal-habal to reach the Entrance of the Tiklas Falls. The habal-habal is a motorcycle modified to seat more than two persons. It is in use in provinces in the Philippines especially in rough, steep terrain and narrow roads.
Fare is around 100-150 pesos (about 3-4 USD) for the habal-habal ride .But you still have to walk the 350 meters path from the entrance going to the falls. But the good news is you can spend hours unwinding at pools on the way, with the view of the spectacular falls and the natural surroundings as your backdrop. Caretakers of the area say tourists must bring their own food and drinks since there are no business establishments near the area. You have also to pay for the entrance fee. 10 pesos (less than a dollar) for children 12 years and below, and 20 pesos (less than a dollar) for adults. There are also cottages for rent for 50 to 100 pesos (about 1-4 USD).

2. Badiangon
A fine stretch of gray-sand beach where most of the people in Gingoog go to for a dip. It has a cold spring that is formed by a stream flowing towards the sea thus giving you a unique experience as you swim. You will feel the cold temperature on the surface of the water while beneath it is a warm one. It is located in Barangay San Juan, about 3 kilometers from the city proper.
3. Mt. Lumot
If you are a mountain climber or you just want to try a different adventure then try to go to Mt. Lumot (also referred to as part of Mt. Sumagaya mountain range). It is also known as the crash site of Cebu Pacific Flight 387 in 1998. There are still remnants from the crash such as clothes and accessories which can still be seen along the trail; the impact site is also preserved. A shrine has also been erected there in memory of Flight 387, its passengers and the flight crew. Mt. Lumot belongs to Balatucan Range, Misamis Oriental. It can be accessed at Sitio Harrohay, Brgy. Lunotan, Gingoog City. By the way, there is also a local mountaineers group in Gingoog called “KAPLAG”.
4. Pahayahay sa Pantalan
Pantalan is an old pier turned into a park in the city. Many locals come here to just chill by the sea or catch a fish. Couples usually come here to enjoy beautiful sunset and the cool breeze from the sea. You can also see a lot of food stalls nearby. You can enjoy different kinds of street food such as kwek-kwek, fish ball, and barbecue. Kwek-kwek is made up of hard-boiled chicken eggs individually wrapped in orange-tinted batter, which are then fried until golden brown.
5. Tatak/Plaza
Gingoog is also known for its giant fruit statues. These statues are located at the Rizal park in front of St. Rita Parish. Visitors would often come and take photos with them.
Getting There. If you are coming from Cebu or Manila, you can fly to Cagayan de Oro City or Butuan City. There are also ships sailing to Cagayan de Oro and to Nasipit (Agusan del Norte). From Cagayan, it is about a three-hour bus ride and from Butuan it is about a two-hour bus ride. But due to the reconstruction of the road you might experience light to medium traffic on the highway and spend 2 to 3 hours travel from Butuan to Gingoog, which is usually 2 hours in ordinary time.
What are you waiting for? plan your trip to Gingoog City. Choose Philippines, choose Gingoog City!
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Text and Photo by Mari Gold Elmido