SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari- Day 1
7 Jun
I never thought we’d do it in so short a preparation. In less than a month, we were able to gather bloggers from Cagayan de Oro, SoCCSKSarGen, and Davao for the grandest meet-up yet– The Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour.
A flurry of email exchanges ensued between the key persons of the Davao , SoCCSKSargen, and CDO bloggers and before we knew it, ChiQ and 7 other bloggers from Cagayan de Oro City were on their way to Davao City via the Davao-Bukidnon Highway last May 29.
The Davao leg of the Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour was highlighted by a meet-up between Davao and CDO Bloggers at Ranchero Grill. What happened during the meet-up? We introduced ourselves and our blogs. We also enjoyed a hearty lunch consisting of the restaurant’s bestsellers such as Seafood Vegetables, Isda sa Miso (Tiyan ng Bangus), Karagatan, Pinapugon na Liempo, Ranchero Ribs, Garlic Chicken, Seafood Kare-Kare, Seafood Platter, and Pancit Canton.
(photo by Lyle R. Santos)
We would have wanted to stay at Ranchero Grill longer and enjoy the food a little bit more but we had a strict schedule so after thanking our hosts, our group proceeded to the bus terminal for our 3-hour trip to General Santos City.
In GenSan, special arrangements have been made for the SoCCSKSarGen leg of our food appreciation tour. Aptly called the SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari, our humble food appreciation tour evolved into something grander and adventurous, thanks to the marketing muscles of Avel Manansala and the persuasive charms of Orman Manansala and the strong support of the Sox Bloggers.
We arrived in General Santos around 6pm and immediately proceeded to our hotel, thanks to the van provided by Mayor Jun Acharon. We had a few minutes to spare before the start of a very busy night so we checked in at our official residence for the weekend, Ice Castle Experience, a themed hotel which will open its doors to the public next month.
After depositing our things at the hotel, we proceeded to Pacman Sports Bar, the newest addition to GenSan’s bar scene. At Manny Pacquiao’s sports bar, we relaxed and enjoyed the welcome drinks and very generous servings of appetizers. The appetizers, by the way, are to die for. I really went crazy over the huge cheese sticks and tasty garlic chicken while my blogger friends swear by Pacman Sports Bar’s mean sizzling sisig.
(photo by Lyle R. Santos)
Soon, it was time for us to have dinner at Le Jardin Arnevel, a sprawling garden resort which is home to GenSan’s biggest catering business. The owner,Tita Nitz, was waiting for us at the resort’s poolside and my eyes widened when I saw the huge feast she prepared for us. There were more or less 20 people in our group that time but the whole spread was big enough to feed 50! Seafood and other Filipino dishes were in abundance and oh, did I mention the lechon? 
(photo by Lyle R. Santos)
After the awesome feast at Le Jardin Arnevel, we hurried to Donna Mae Congson’s Piyesta KTV and Resto Bar for the grand bloggers’ meet-up. In full force were the Sox Bloggers and I was so happy to see lots of familiar friendly faces.
At Piyesta, my companions loved the bar’s signature drinks, the Jell-O Shots and Gayuma. They also immensely enjoyed the platefuls of kurasticks, sizzling ubol-ubol, and lechon ( sent by Mayor Jun Acharon and yes, our 2nd lechon for the night!) while I gave my undivided attention to the glorious Crispy Tuna Buntot.
(photo by Lyle R. Santos)
After the best availability of coats and jackets, you can buy here ski jackets along with black handbags by our handpicked global community. Our fancy dress uk along with women’s handbags also available with latest variety.
Reading this makes me want to go back to GenSan. =)
The SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari is definitely one for the books. Congratulations, Avel.
We love GenSan and the Generals so much, yes?
loveeeeetttt, GF! napaka-vivid ng memory mo… reading this is like redoing everything all over again… hehehehehe….
Thanks, GF. Sobrang nakaka-miss na kaagad ang mga bonding moments natin.
what a night that was!
i suddenly miss the jell-o shots. babalik din ako hehehe.
it’s a pity you guys weren’t able to stay longer. i hope you will be back for the Tuna Festival….ang saya-saya ng mga festivals sa GenSan.
Weeee!!! Tara kain tayo! aheheheh gutumon jud ko everytime I think about the SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari. Parang walang katapusang kainan yun.
hehe..sinabi mo pa….the Summer Safari rocks! sana nagbaon tayo ng lechon…lols…
I’m very thankful to be part of the summer safari. Looking forward to go back to Soccsksargen for more food trips and adventures! I’m glad to meet Sox and Davao bloggers, too!