Off the Northern Mindanao region can be found the island “Born of Fire”, named maybe because seven volcanoes paints its landscape and is said to be unmatched anywhere else in Southeast Asia. This island is called Camiguin, situated in the Northern Mindanao region, in the Bohol Sea about 10 kilometers north of Misamis Oriental. Its volcanoes have caused some volcanic eruptions and land movements, giving birth to an island full of natural wonders and historical riches. Lush forests cover some parts of the island, and natural springs provide refreshment to the soul. Its shorelines were blessed with white sand beaches and exotic marine life exists beneath its waters. Blue ridge-mountains lined up its horizon, with majestic waterfalls cascading down from its mountains.

With Mambajao as its capital, it is the second smallest province both in population and land area. The local people of Camiguin are called “Camiguingnons”. The population is of Visayan descent and “Cebuano” and “Hiligaynon” are the main dialects. Cebuano is the main language while a few speak Kinamigin, an ancient dialect. Nearly everyone speaks English fairly well.

The people’s livelihood depends largely on its agricultural lands and its vast waters surrounding the island. Fishing is a very much common source of livelihood, while its lands were tilled to produce some of the best fruits in the country. They’re mangoes and lanzones are famous for their sweetness. Their land farms also produces abaca and rice and other fruit trees.

The people of Camiguin are called “Camiguingnons”. The main occupation of the people is fishing and farming, with copra providing the greatest income contribution. Other plantations are abaca, rice, mangoes, lanzones and other fruit trees, while small cottage industries are increasing in number to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Getting to Camiguin

Camiguin is accessible by air and sea from Cebu City, but the trips are limited. Most fly in to Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province, the gateway to Northern Mindanao. One would then take a 1.5 hours bus or hired van from Cagayan de Oro City to the port of Balingoan. Ferries leave Balingoan to Camiguin Island every four hours from 6:00 am until 5:00 pm.

The island of Mindanao has always been the fortress of Muslim faith in Philippine history. Being separated some thousand miles from the Luzon and Visayas Islands, Mindanao was able to develop its own culture and identity. Since the 5^th Century, the region has been the traditional homeland of Muslim Filipinos. Pagan beliefs were replaced my Muslim faith when Arab missionaries arrived in Tawi-Tawi in 1380. From then on, the native population received and embraced Islam. Even the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in 1521 had not weakened their defenses to convert into the colonizer’s faith, which is Christianity.

In 1457, the Sultanate of Sulu was founded and not long after were the sultanates of Maguindanao and Buayan were also established. At the time when most of the Philippines was under Spanish rule, these sultanates maintained their independence and regularly challenged Spanish domination of the Philippines by conducting raids on Spanish coastal towns in the north and repulsing repeated Spanish incursions in their territory. It was not until the last quarter of the 19th century that the Sultanate of Sulu formally recognized Spanish sovereignty. However, these areas remained loosely controlled by the Spanish as sovereignty was only limited to military stations and garrisons and pockets of civilian settlements in Zamboanga and Cotabato, until they had to abandon the region as a consequence of their defeat in the Spanish-American War.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed and entered the five provinces in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

In 1945, Beginning the liberation of five provinces in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, the United States and Filipino troops with the other Filipino guerillas attacked the Japanese forces during the Second World War.

Establishment of the ARMM

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao region was first created on August 1, 1989 through Republic Act No. 6734 otherwise known as the Organic Act in pursuance with a constitutional mandate to provide for an autonomous area in Muslim Mindanao. A plebiscite was held in the provinces of Basilan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Palawan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur; and in the cities of Cotabato, Dapitan, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga to determine if the residents would want to be part of the ARMM.

Of the areas where the plebiscites were held, only Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi voted favorably for inclusion in the new autonomous region. The ARMM was officially inaugurated on November 6, 1990 in Cotabato City, which was designated as its provisional capital.

In 2001 a new law was passed for the expansion of the ARMM to include the areas which initially rejected inclusion and the provinces which were carved from them, however only Marawi City and Basilan with the exception of Isabela City opted to be integrated in the region.

Zamboanga is endowed with vast natural attractions such as hills, mountains and beaches. This part of the Philippine archipelago comes blessed with an impressive range of excellent tourist destinations – interesting mountain formations, picture-perfect waterfalls, hot springs and white sand beaches. Caves were also abundant brimming with thousands of bat species and interesting stone formation of stalactites.

Getting to Zamboaga

By air >> Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, and Cebu Pacific Airways have daily flight schedules that can whisk you away to the City of Flowers in about an hour and a half from Manila.
By Sea >> Major shipping and passenger lines such as WG&A Super Ferry, Sulpicio Lines and others include Zamboanga as a major stop on their sea routes.

Beaches of Zamboanga

Review and find Zamboanga’s pristine beaches that is undoubtedly one of the most sought after vacation spots in the country. The famous Dakak, Greater Santa Cruz Island’s rare “Pink Sand Beach”, Bolong Beach, Pitas Island Beach, Visa Island Beach, Baong Island Beach, Bobo Island Beach, Caragasan Beach, Cawa-Cawa Beach, Golf Course’s Yellow Beach, La Vista del Mar Beach Resort, Malanipa Island & Little Malanipa Island Beaches, Sacol Island Beach, Talisayan Beach and Tictabon Island Beaches…

Down the southern tip of Mindanao, expanding from the basin of Sarangani Bay, lies the City of General Santos - a fortress of modern amenities that is endowed with the beauty of nature and diverse cultures abound. Is a gateway in discovering the boundless beauty of SOCCSKSARGEN Growth Region.

Formerly (1954) Buayan, City, southern Mindanao, Philippines. The city is named for General Paulino Santos, who directed the pioneer settlement (mostly by Christian Filipino migrants) and development of the Koronadal Valley that began in the mid-1930s. General Santos city is located at the head of Sarangani Bay of the Celebes Sea along the southern shore of Mindanao.

Davao City wherein the highest peak (10,311 feet) in the Philippines is located – Mt. Apo, where only the brave dare climb. The City of Davao is known for it boasting natural beauty and resources. The Asiaweek ranked Davao City among the 20 most livable cities in Asia, and the number one as the most livable city in the country.

Davao is a typhoon-free zone. Its international airport and seaport is one of the busiest cargo hubs in the southern Philippines. With a dynamic, able support from the local government and harmonious synergy of a multi-cultural and multi-lingual peoples from different indigenous tribes, communities, migrant settlers and a large expatriate community, make this cosmopolitan city conducive for business, investments and tourism. With the most number of hotels and hotel rooms in the island, the city also held hundreds of exhibit, trade, and convention.