Post by L Roebuck on May 13, 2006 20:41:59 GMT -5
Caves, cliffs abound at K'laja Karsts
STEEPED in history, K'laja Karst in outskirt Barangay Conel here is slowly becoming popular among extreme outdoors buffs.
Its diverse environmental landscape, though threatened by fortune hunting activities for the legendary Yamashita treasure, offers weary urbanites an energizing respite from the bedlam of metropolitan existence.
K'laja (pronounced K'laha) looks like a frying pan from a distance. Actually, frying pan in the vernacular is called "kalaha." But K'laja is a B'laan term that means "a body of water."
There are a several bodies of water at K'laja: a waterfall that runs down nine steps, a pool in one of the many caves where the Japanese soldiers, according to residents, sought refuge during World War II, and a river system that snakes over rocks shaded by either shrubs or ferns.
K'laja is a favorite rock climbing venue of mountaineers from southern and central Mindanao with the presence of a challenging 50-meter cliff of karsts formation made millions of years ago.
Karst is actually limestone. Local tourism officials used karst to spark curiosity of locals and other domestic tourists to the eco-tourism site whose name is still debated whether Kalaja Karsts or K'laja Karsts.
Village councilor Rogelio Mascardo said based on a recent consultation with the B'laan residents, their elders call the area as K'laja.
The village council, he added, is bent on adopting such word in lieu of the already accepted Kalaja, which is some 13.5 kilometers from the city proper.
"There is an effort to declare K'laja (Karsts) as a protected area and a cultural heritage site. We are promoting the area to spur the local tourism industry," he said.
Based on the city tourism promotional kit, the following are some of what K'laja Karst can offer the following:
**Bunga Spring -- Smooth small flowing water from a limestone is present right at the center of the limestone territory. It has a campsite at the middle of mountains and cliffs that offers a good view of the solar system at nighttime.
**Kalaja Face -- Local mountaineers discovered this in 1995 but until this day, no known route was established. With more than 50 meters in height on the west side of the Kalaja River, the face offers three overhangs and difficult degree of challenges for rock climbing.
**Malakong Face -- Located at Malakong Gorge about 3.5 kilometers from the Kalaja Cave, the face comes with 12 meters to 25 meters height of smooth limestone walls creating good venue for beginners and novices' routes of bouldering and rock climbing. The venue also offers shaded routes and campsites.
Kalaja Cave, by the way, has a 7-meter by 22-meter wide pool of two meters to three meters deep near its entrance. The cave has three rooms with length of about 209 meters.
**Absekong Waterfalls -- It is located between the territorial boundaries of this city and Polomolok town in South Cotabato. This waterfalls flows from the mountaintop river in Camp Flores in Polomolok down to the granite boulders and limestone cliffs of Barangay Conel, creating small pools and waterfalls. Also called Kasaba Falls in Polomolok
**Nopol Hills -- Stands just beside K'laja Karsts and a good 30 minutes ride from the city proper. It towers 550 meters above sea level, making it the highest camping ground in this city. Nopol offers a wide view of the surrounding provinces and Sarangani Bay. Activities inside the hills can be a visit at Bull Mountain Ranch and witness real cowboys undertaking their everyday task, or a camping trip at the summit of the hills.
Tip: It's nice to start hiking the trail at 3pm to 4pm to have a sunset view and escape the heat of the day (the trek ranges from one to two hours of ascending hike).
K'laja Karsts belongs to the top five list of priority projects this year of the local government unit.
Plans are up to put up pathways, bridges, cottages and parking lot at K'laja.
Village chief Luciano Palma said a nursery was put up in the area as part of efforts to conserve the site threatened by treasure hunting activities for the fable Yamashita treasure.
Several operators have excavated the area for decades to also look for Japanese relics such as samurai, helmets and others, he added.
Councilor Mascardo recalled that on his younger days, he used to kick helmets left behind by the Japanese soldiers fleeing the American's assault.
"Preserving the historical perspective of the area is also important to complement the ecotourism push we are working for K'laja," Mascardo said.
He lamented that a vintage Japanese artillery canon is no longer around after broke them into pieces and sold to scrap metal buyers.
"But I believe there are still many residents holding significant Japanese relics who are just keeping silent. We want these relics gathered hopefully in a museum," he said as he showed a Japanese coin to this reporter.
Jing Velos, a city tourism coordinator, said they would be holding the third "Kalaja Festival" this August as part of efforts to promote the eco-tourism potentials of the area.
"More things are needed to be done but we're glad that tourists are slowly getting to notice K'laja," Velos said.
One cultural event the local tourism office hopes to ignite further interests of tourist is the "bamboo cooking" traditions of the B'laan natives.
Velos explained that for decades, B'laans living at K'laja have been cooking their food inside bamboo tubes, from rice to soup viands.
"It's an art they know how best to do," he said.
As to the peace and order condition at K'laja, village officials assured tourists there's nothing to worry since insurgents and other lawless elements no longer have presence in the area.
Sun Star
STEEPED in history, K'laja Karst in outskirt Barangay Conel here is slowly becoming popular among extreme outdoors buffs.
Its diverse environmental landscape, though threatened by fortune hunting activities for the legendary Yamashita treasure, offers weary urbanites an energizing respite from the bedlam of metropolitan existence.
K'laja (pronounced K'laha) looks like a frying pan from a distance. Actually, frying pan in the vernacular is called "kalaha." But K'laja is a B'laan term that means "a body of water."
There are a several bodies of water at K'laja: a waterfall that runs down nine steps, a pool in one of the many caves where the Japanese soldiers, according to residents, sought refuge during World War II, and a river system that snakes over rocks shaded by either shrubs or ferns.
K'laja is a favorite rock climbing venue of mountaineers from southern and central Mindanao with the presence of a challenging 50-meter cliff of karsts formation made millions of years ago.
Karst is actually limestone. Local tourism officials used karst to spark curiosity of locals and other domestic tourists to the eco-tourism site whose name is still debated whether Kalaja Karsts or K'laja Karsts.
Village councilor Rogelio Mascardo said based on a recent consultation with the B'laan residents, their elders call the area as K'laja.
The village council, he added, is bent on adopting such word in lieu of the already accepted Kalaja, which is some 13.5 kilometers from the city proper.
"There is an effort to declare K'laja (Karsts) as a protected area and a cultural heritage site. We are promoting the area to spur the local tourism industry," he said.
Based on the city tourism promotional kit, the following are some of what K'laja Karst can offer the following:
**Bunga Spring -- Smooth small flowing water from a limestone is present right at the center of the limestone territory. It has a campsite at the middle of mountains and cliffs that offers a good view of the solar system at nighttime.
**Kalaja Face -- Local mountaineers discovered this in 1995 but until this day, no known route was established. With more than 50 meters in height on the west side of the Kalaja River, the face offers three overhangs and difficult degree of challenges for rock climbing.
**Malakong Face -- Located at Malakong Gorge about 3.5 kilometers from the Kalaja Cave, the face comes with 12 meters to 25 meters height of smooth limestone walls creating good venue for beginners and novices' routes of bouldering and rock climbing. The venue also offers shaded routes and campsites.
Kalaja Cave, by the way, has a 7-meter by 22-meter wide pool of two meters to three meters deep near its entrance. The cave has three rooms with length of about 209 meters.
**Absekong Waterfalls -- It is located between the territorial boundaries of this city and Polomolok town in South Cotabato. This waterfalls flows from the mountaintop river in Camp Flores in Polomolok down to the granite boulders and limestone cliffs of Barangay Conel, creating small pools and waterfalls. Also called Kasaba Falls in Polomolok
**Nopol Hills -- Stands just beside K'laja Karsts and a good 30 minutes ride from the city proper. It towers 550 meters above sea level, making it the highest camping ground in this city. Nopol offers a wide view of the surrounding provinces and Sarangani Bay. Activities inside the hills can be a visit at Bull Mountain Ranch and witness real cowboys undertaking their everyday task, or a camping trip at the summit of the hills.
Tip: It's nice to start hiking the trail at 3pm to 4pm to have a sunset view and escape the heat of the day (the trek ranges from one to two hours of ascending hike).
K'laja Karsts belongs to the top five list of priority projects this year of the local government unit.
Plans are up to put up pathways, bridges, cottages and parking lot at K'laja.
Village chief Luciano Palma said a nursery was put up in the area as part of efforts to conserve the site threatened by treasure hunting activities for the fable Yamashita treasure.
Several operators have excavated the area for decades to also look for Japanese relics such as samurai, helmets and others, he added.
Councilor Mascardo recalled that on his younger days, he used to kick helmets left behind by the Japanese soldiers fleeing the American's assault.
"Preserving the historical perspective of the area is also important to complement the ecotourism push we are working for K'laja," Mascardo said.
He lamented that a vintage Japanese artillery canon is no longer around after broke them into pieces and sold to scrap metal buyers.
"But I believe there are still many residents holding significant Japanese relics who are just keeping silent. We want these relics gathered hopefully in a museum," he said as he showed a Japanese coin to this reporter.
Jing Velos, a city tourism coordinator, said they would be holding the third "Kalaja Festival" this August as part of efforts to promote the eco-tourism potentials of the area.
"More things are needed to be done but we're glad that tourists are slowly getting to notice K'laja," Velos said.
One cultural event the local tourism office hopes to ignite further interests of tourist is the "bamboo cooking" traditions of the B'laan natives.
Velos explained that for decades, B'laans living at K'laja have been cooking their food inside bamboo tubes, from rice to soup viands.
"It's an art they know how best to do," he said.
As to the peace and order condition at K'laja, village officials assured tourists there's nothing to worry since insurgents and other lawless elements no longer have presence in the area.
Sun Star
