Amidst all the travel advisories about Mindanao, the island is a splendid place to visit. It is still safe to travel to Mindanao. Just don’t go to conflict-stricken areas, and you would be alright. So when you’ve got a chance to travel, put Northern Mindanao on your itinerary.
Region 10 or Northern Mindanao, is composed of 5 provinces: Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin and Lanao del Norte. Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, El Salvador, Ozamiz, Tangub, Oroquieta, Malaybalay, Valencia, and Iligan are the cities in the Northern Mindanao Region.
Geologically, this region is characterized by plains, rolling hills, and mountains. Rich soil, abundant minerals, and agricultural resources are found in the coastal areas.
Northern Mindanao has a strategic location which is why it serves as the gateway to and from the rest of Mindanao. Its modern port facilities and extensive road networks linking it to various parts of the Mindanao region makes it an ideal destination for tourism all year round.
Moreover, it also has abundant water resources which led to the development of hydroelectric power plants in the area. These plants generate the bulk of power available in the Mindanao grid.
Dialect
Everywhere in the Philippines, you would find people who know English so you can get around easily. However, the primary ethnic languages spoken in Northern Mindanao are Bisaya, Boholano, and Cebuano. You can meet people speaking native dialects in some areas like Higaonon in Misamis Oriental, Subanen in Misamis Occidental, Binukid in Bukidnon, and Kinamiging in Camiguin.
Festivals
Northern Mindanao is definitely rich in culture. This can be seen in their numerous festivals. Regularly celebrating these different festivals shows that the citizens of Region 10 value camaraderie and friendship.
One of the most popular festivals in the region is the Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City. The festival is to celebrate the feast day of St. Augustine. It occurs every 28th day of August.
Another festival is Kaamulan festival in Bukidnon. It is an ethnic cultural festival wherein people allocate a relative amount of their time to remember the culture and traditions of the seven ethnic tribes in their area. It is also considered as a thanksgiving festival to celebrate their bountiful harvest.
Yet another famous festival in the region is the Lanzones festival in Camiguin, which is a 4-day celebration of this fruit. It is held every 3rd week of October. It is essential to note that the sweetest Lanzones can be found in the islands of Camiguin.
Places to go
There are so many caves, islands, waterfalls, lakes, and mountains in Northern Mindanao. Keep posted on our updates for some travel destinations in Northern Mindanao.