This year marked my 5th visit to Iligan City, something I had looked forward to since my last visit about a year ago. One of the highlights of this years visit was to attend part of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit which just happened to coincide with the dates I had planned on visiting. As I am from the other side of the world, I did not think I would have anything to say or comment on at this affair which had the theme of a " Green Mindanao " in which " Green " is a popular and trendy topic in many parts of the world these days. Not usually being short of something to say, I did give a brief talk about the importance of keeping the filters in air conditioners clean. In some of the hotels I have statyed at it looks like this is something that is frequently overlooked and could greatly add to electrical power demands that are not necessary.
I only attended the Mindanao Bloggers Summit, hosted by Iligan Bloggers Society Inc., for a few hours mid-day on Saturday, it was great to meet the members of this group as well as a few bloggers I had known in other parts of Mindanao for the past few years. I have also been awarded an honorary membership in this prestegious group which really enhanced my visit to Iligan City this year.
As I regularly monitor many things in Iligan via internet between my visits, this gives me ideas on new things that are happening and gives me the ideas and interest of things I would like to see and do on future visits. Some times prior arrangements have to be made for certain things but I have never been denied anything within reason of course, that I have wanted to see or attend in Iligan.
Amoung this years places and events that I had not had the chance to do on prior visits included:
A guided tour of the Iligan Seaport
Attending Culmination Day of Project Angel tree
Participating in " Hataw " early Saturday morning at City Plaza
Iligans Night Market on Saturday evening
Dinner with some of the IBS members
Monday Morning Flag raising Ceremony at the Anahaw Amphetheater
Timoga Spring Fed Swimming Pools where for the first time I actually went swimming there. I had been reluctant to do this on prior visits but this time I just couldn't hold back any more. It was really great.
A visit to the Iligan City " Award Winning Jail " in celebration of National Correctional Consciousness week
Another visit to DXMA 95.9 FM " The Edge " to say hello to those that I listen to regularly on their worldwide webstream.
I had recieved an invitation to attend the culmination dinner event of Iligan Business Month where I saw some familiar faces from past visits and met some in attendance that I had not had the pleasure of meeting on privious visits.
I had a chance to try a few places left over from previous visits where I just ran out of time, including Madelicious Native Foods ( restaurant ) and Gazpacho's Restaurant. I had seen many pictures of these Restaurants and now I have had the opportunity of dining in them.
I enjoy hearing the advertisements on DXMA 95.9 FM's webstream which are primarily in English Language. I often hear of new places that are opening in addition to existing places. This is what lead me to getting a haircut at Reyes haircutters and visiting Bodega Site electronics store where I purchased my first ever Cell Phone. I don't have one here in the USA as I don't need another monthly bill comming in. The Cell Phone I bought at Bodega Site and with the help of Iligan Friends teaching me how to use it really helped out in coordinating plans with others. That Cell Phone will not work for me here in the USA so it is back in its box waiting for my next visit to Iligan.
Some of the places and events I have mentioned here may not seem like typical tourist attractions but to me they are. I look forward to visit number 6 some time in the comming months. I had a great time.
