Summer is here! So where will you spend your summer this year?
If you have no plan yet, we suggest the Forest Park in barangay Dahilayan of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. As one visitor who came to the place last year’s summer explained:
“With cool mountain breeze and ever green pine trees surrounding the area, the park is definitely worth the visit if you’re planning to enjoy the summer with your family and friends. The adventure park also has other exciting activities for their visitors.”
Dahilayan is located at the foot of the Mount Kitanglad. The national government declared the mountain range as a national park of nature.
It was also declared as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Heritage Park in 2009. Just recently, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Culture Organization cited it as a World Heritage Site.
Being situated 4,700 feet above sea level, it makes your day a foggy disposition especially during the afternoon. “Due to sudden weather and temperature change, we advise our visitors to bring their coats or jackets,” says Mark Lawrence Plaza, the park’s superintendent officer.
The lush greenery of pine trees and bushes reminds you of Baguio City in the olden days. “Instead of going to the summer capital of the Philippines, I think those from Davao and other parts of Mindanao should come to this place,” suggests Armando A. Mortejo, who recently came to the park.
The Forest Park, which was featured in the movie, Forever and A Day (starring KC Concepcion and Sam Milby), encompasses 10 hectares and it was open to the public in 2010. Entrance fee is 50 pesos per person on weekdays and 100 pesos on weekends. After paying, the first thing you will see is the playground.
There are several kinds of farm livestock: chickens, sheep, cattle, rabbits, and horse, among others. The animals are not real but they are exact replicas of the real thing: in size, in figure, and in colors.
One striking feature is the so-called “picture frame” of an American Indian and a wild pig. You can have your picture taken at the center of the two “creatures.” On top is the name of the park and below is the address where it is located.
If you have kids, or you’re a kid at heart, you can enjoy the seesaw, the monkey bars, and the swings. Or you can have fun at the tree top adventure, with 21 obstacles to beat. It is actually created for children but adults weighing not more than 65 kilograms can also try the adventure. Doing this will cost you P250.
At the lower portion of the playground is the “zoo.” Cool and clean, there are plenty of picnic tables to choose form. As it is located under the pine trees, the air is fresh and chilly in the afternoon.
Why is it called “zoo”? Because there are concrete replica of wild animals like gorillas, giraffes, bears, kangaroos, tigers, lions, snakes, crocodiles, and zebras. You can have your picture taken with any of these animals.
That’s for the kids. What about the adults who want some adventures? First, there’s the zorbit, an inflatable bouncing ball which can accommodate two persons inside.
After the two riders are securely fastened inside the ball, the ball is allowed to roll freely on a slope where ropes await to catch the ball. The cost: P250 per person.
There are several other choices: all terrain vehicle (at P500 per person), buggy rides (P800 per person), bungee trampoline (P150 per person for five minutes), net trampoline (P50 per person for five minutes) and Jacuzzi (P300 per person).
The newest addition to its activities is the 18-hole mini golf course called forest putt. “This has a weather proof artificial turf imported from Korea and is playable day and night,” Plaza informs.
“Although very short, it is very challenging and its picturesque layout overlooks the valley. An added obstacle is the presence of life-size replicas of animals along the ‘fairway’ of each hole.”
Playing golf on day time is P250 per person. At night, the cost goes up to P350 per person.
Outside the Forest Park, you can go horse-back riding too for a minimal fee.
Don’t worry about food. There’s a café inside the park, where you can order foods which the owners themselves created.
For those who want to stay longer at the park, it has rooms which can accommodate from two to four persons, which prices ranging from as low as P2,800 to as high as P5,000.
There is a barkada room (double-decked beds) which can accommodate a minimum of 10 persons to a maximum of 30 persons (P400 per person).
“We built the Forest Park because we want to help develop the tourism industry in our province,” Nena Paras says.
The good thing about Forest Park is that it is very near the Zip Zone, home of Asia’s longest zipline. Actually, the zipline consists of dual carrying cables each 840 meters long from point to point.
The safety cable is also 840 meters long. Total length of cables is 2,460 meters. Elevation drop is 100 meters with estimated speed ranging from 60-100 kilometers per hour.
If you’re planning to go to Dahilayan, the only way to get there is if you have your own car or you rent a van or a jeep.
In Cagayan de Oro, there are vans (normal seating capacity of 10 adults) that can be rented for 3,500 for 8 to 12 hours with driver. Then you have to pay for the gas. A jeepney (which can accommodate 21 passengers) can be hired from P1,500 or above.
Those with private vehicles, they can take the BuDa (Bukidnon-Davao) Highway then turn right on the Alae Junction (as it is tricky try asking for directions from locals).
About 45 minutes travel from the main road to Forest Park, you will pass the Del Monte Pineapple Plantation in Camp Phillips.
