Words and Photos by Monch Henares
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| View of the Sarangani Bay from Lemlunay |
Some trips simply take you places. Then some journeys make you feel alive again. Our recent Motourismo adventure to General Santos City and Sarangani Province was exactly that — a wild mix of sea breeze, mountain rivers, adrenaline, food, friendship, culture, and enough laughter to power a small city.
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| Lemlunay Beach Resort Entrance |
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| Arabelle Jimenez and Monch Henares with Paul Partridge, owner of Lemlunay Beach Resort |
And at the center of it all was our home base: the beautiful Lemlunay Resort in Maasim (just 45 mins from the General Santos City Airport). Lemlunay translates to "paradise", a perfect description.
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| Infinity Pool at Lemlunay Resort |
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| Alfresco Dining at Lemlunay Resort |
Perched dramatically along the coastline with a commanding view of Sarangani Bay, Lemlunay is not just a resort — it’s practically a kingdom by the sea. Widely regarded as the biggest and most luxurious beach resort in the province, the place instantly gives off that “vacation mode activated” vibe the moment you arrive. Massive crystal-clear infinity swimming pool? Check. Great restaurant with food choices that satisfy both hungry adventurers and picky vacationers? Double check. Family-friendly amenities? Absolutely. There’s basketball, mini golf, billiards, slides, and enough activities to keep kids and adults happily occupied. To cap it all, there is Casco Bar, which stocks the coldest, most refreshing beer in town.
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| Basketball Arcade Shooter |
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| Swing and Slide |
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| Billiards |
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| Casco Bar at Lemlunay Resort |
But what truly makes Lemlunay special is that it has become a hub for ocean adventure in Sarangani. It is home to South Point Divers — the province’s only first-class PADI-accredited dive shop. It is owned and operated by Paul Partridge. Alone, it already makes the resort a major destination for divers and underwater enthusiasts exploring the rich marine treasures of Region XII.
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| South Point Divers — the province’s only first-class PADI-accredited dive shop |
And speaking of underwater magic, the resort became the setting for one of the most colorful activities of the trip: mermaiding.
Yes, mermaiding.
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| Mermaid Arabelle with her mermaid students |
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| Introduction to Mermaiding |
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| Mermaid Arabelle with her Merman Monch |
Under the guidance of Mermaid Arabelle, a group of freedivers and aspiring “mermaid dreamers” took their first graceful splashes into the enchanting world of mermaiding. Arabelle Jimenez is a pioneering International Mermaid Swimming Instructors Association (IMSIA) mermaid instructor. The activity was sponsored by the Department of Tourism Region XII, headed by Regional Director Nelia R. Arina, whose support for experiential tourism continues to spotlight the unique adventures waiting in SOCCSKSARGEN.
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| Motourismo's Monch Henares and Arabelle Jimenez with Department of Tourism Region 12 Director, Nelia R. Arina |
Watching grown adults transform into excited sea creatures was both hilarious and heartwarming. Some glided elegantly through the water like they belonged in an underwater fantasy movie. Others looked like confused tuna doing emergency maneuvers. Either way, everyone came out smiling, laughing, and wanting another round. That’s the magic of experiences like this — they awaken the inner child while giving tourism a fresh, imaginative twist.
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| Mermaid Arabelle swims her way through the rich coral tapestry of the Lemlunay House Reef |
But if you thought our adventure stopped at mermaid tails and infinity-pool vibes, Sarangani had another surprise waiting, courtesy of our special local tour guides and good friends Gary and Lowella Perrett, together with their children Enzo, Leila, and friend Magda.
About 45 minutes west of Lemlunay lies Maitum — now slowly earning the nickname “The New La Union” because of its growing adventure tourism scene and chill coastal energy. Hidden within this laid-back paradise is the icy, crystal-clear Pangi River, where we experienced one of the most unexpectedly fun activities of the trip: white water tubing.
Our host for this adrenaline-filled escapade was GCamp, owned by the ever-welcoming Rose Castro. From the moment we arrived, you could already feel that raw outdoor-adventure energy. No fancy gimmicks. No over-commercialized setup. Just nature, excitement, and pure fun.
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| GCamp, starting point of our river adventure |
The journey itself already felt like an adventure movie.
We rode on the back of a mini pickup truck upriver toward the drop-off point, holding on while the cool Sarangani air blasted our faces. From there, we walked through a quiet barangay and trekked roughly 100 meters down a trail leading to the river. Waiting for us were giant truck-tire inner tubes rigged with netted seats and sturdy grab handles — simple, rugged, and absolutely ready for action.
Our guides geared us up with helmets and life vests before sending us floating into the refreshing current of the Pangi River.
And wow.
For around an hour, we bounced, spun, drifted, and laughed our way through a thrilling 1.6-kilometer river run surrounded by giant boulders and lush jungle scenery. Some stretches were calm and relaxing. Others had playful rapids that sent our tubes ricocheting off rocks while everyone screamed and laughed like overgrown children escaping office deadlines. The water was unbelievably cold, crystal-clear, and clean enough to make you want to bottle it and sell it as luxury mountain spring water. After gulping several mouthfuls of it, trust me, it's safe and potable. Look, I'm still alive.
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| It was a lot of fun and thrilling, but not scary at all. |
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| The mermaid enjoyed every drop of cool rushing water. |
It was a raw, authentic adventure at its finest. No filters needed. No fake thrills. Just nature doing what nature does best.
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| Motourismo survivors Monch and Arabelle with Pangi River Tubing experts Enzo, Leila, and friend Magda. |
The finale was equally unforgettable. After ending our tubing ride beneath a small bridge downstream, we hopped onto motorcycles piggyback-style for the ride back to GCamp — tired, soaked, slightly bruised, but ridiculously happy.
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| Picnic cottage at Yabes Beach Resort |
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| More cottages |
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With Gary and Lowella Perrett at Yabes Beach Resort
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And because every great adventure needs a little relaxation afterward, we also spent time at Yabes Beach Resort, another gem in Maitum, perfect for barkada outings, large family reunions, beach parties, and overnight escapes. With available cottages and a laid-back beachfront atmosphere, it’s the kind of place where stories get longer as the evening gets deeper and the grilled seafood keeps coming.
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| We stopped for lunch at the Perret hilltop residence in Maitum municipality, and we were welcomed to a few beautiful and elaborate ethnic dances performed by members of the indigenous T'boli tribe. |
Our last day in paradise
Before heading to the airport in GenSan for our evening flight back to Manila, the trip gave us one final knockout combination of history and gastronomy.
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Manny Paquiao Mansion, GenSan City
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| The Champs Reception Room |
Our group was treated to a guided tour of the legendary Pacquiao Mansion — the lavish home of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Built during the height of Pacquiao’s meteoric rise to global fame, the sprawling mansion reportedly sits on a massive property in General Santos City. It reflects both luxury and the champ’s larger-than-life personality.
The place is packed with stories.
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Paquiao Mansion's Boxing-glove-shaped swimming pool
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One of the most talked-about features is the massive boxing glove-shaped swimming pool — probably the most “Pacman-inspired” swimming pool ever created on Philippine soil. It’s bold, flashy, and unapologetically Manny. But perhaps the most intriguing part of the mansion tour was discovering the hidden secret room where Manny reportedly kept firearms and stacks of cash during the peak of his boxing career. Walking through the mansion felt like stepping into the private world of a real-life action movie superstar who rose from poverty to international legend.
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The mansions secret room
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From there, we shifted gears from boxing power to culinary power.
Our final gastronomic stop was at the cozy and culturally immersive Tribu Kefi Cafe located inside Bila Boutique Hotel. The café instantly charms guests with its warm atmosphere, artistic interiors, and décor inspired by the rich culture of the T’boli tribe.
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| Tribu Kefi Cafe in GenSan City |
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| The artistic interiors and décor are inspired by the rich culture of the T’boli tribe |
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| Motourismo Team X Bila Team X DOT Team |
Game over for our diets
We kicked things off with their addictive Tribu Nachos before warming the soul with Onuk Nelut, a comforting T’boli-inspired chicken soup that tasted like heritage in a bowl. Then came the heavy hitters: flavorful Tuna Salpicao showcasing GenSan’s world-famous tuna, the rich and satisfying Ubi Lontok, the intriguingly dark and delicious Hitem Seafood Pasta, and the beautifully cooked Shrimp Tostado.
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| Tribu Nachos |
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| Onuk Nelut |
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| Ubi Lontok |
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| Shrimp Tostado |
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| Tuna Salpicao |
Every dish felt thoughtfully crafted — blending local culture, modern presentation, and bold Mindanao flavors into one memorable dining experience.
What made this entire Motourismo journey special wasn’t just the destinations. It was the realization that Sarangani and GenSan still feel wonderfully authentic and safe. The experiences feel genuine. The people are warm. The adventures are real. And unlike overcrowded tourist hotspots, this side of Mindanao still lets you breathe, explore, eat, laugh, and connect without the chaos.
From mermaid dreams in Lemlunay to icy river thrills in Maitum, secret rooms in Pacquiao’s mansion, and unforgettable T’boli-inspired cuisine in GenSan, SOCCSKSARGEN proved that some of the country’s best adventures are still hiding in plain sight — waiting for travelers willing to go beyond the usual postcards.
And trust the Monchster on this one… this trip delivered a championship-level experience from start to finish.
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| Welcome to the General Santos International Airport |
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