Lake Apo: The Plan and the Visit

The first time I saw Lake Apo in the Facebook account of the owner, Dr. Almer Alfonso, I said to myself, I am going there.  So I clicked Like on the photo and then later ask Dr. Almer how to get there.  Summer was over and first semester started and I still can't put into my schedule a trip to Bukidnon.  I desired to see the place alone.  But then thinking it would be more fun to have company, I tagged the photo to my fellow Iligan blogger, Pinay Travelista.  I am betting she got a mole on her foot thus her travel blog.   Indeed she agreed to make me realize my wish without a second thought.  We thought we could make it last August during the last weekend where Iligan enjoyed a long weekend.   But Dr. Almer was on vacation in the US.  September made us really busy for the planning of the coming MBS5 so the plan was put aside to an unknown schedule.

Before September ended, I know I am going to make the plan a reality.  I shared the plan with fellow Iligan bloggers and invited everyone.  Everyone wants to go but more important business bars them from making the trip.  So it was only Alex, Lai, and Me!

We met Saturday noontime at Jollibee Valencia City.  They had an early start from Iligan City while I left Mountain View College around 9 am.   We were so excited.  I wanted to catch sunset that day, but things did not happen as planned.  We arrived in the vicinity of Lake Apo in Barangay Guinoyoran already pitched dark.  The three of us were so honored of the availability of Dr. Almer as he acted as our host, our driver, and tour guide.  While approaching their rest house, Dr. Almber described to us a daytime scene that we almost can't wait for the sun to come up to really see the beauty of the Lake.  I tried opening my eyes wide to catch a glimpse of the lake but amidst the humping of our vehicle in deep mud, I can't see a thing.

We arrived at the rest house and tried to settle down while Ate Belen prepared our dinner.  The three of us take turns asking Dr. Almer basic questions regarding the Lake Apo.

Lake Apo, got its nickname from Sitio Lake Apo (Apo, a local term  referred to kinship) is located 12 kilometers from Valencia City.    The lake  sprawled its beauty in a 24 hectares land with a depth of 85 ft.  Dr. Almer and family, who obviously loved nature and the simple country life - Lake Apo is tagged as the cleanest landlocked body of water in Northern Mindanao.  Ain't I lucky to have really seen the place for real?

This post has been delayed long yet as of this writing, I am not yet over with my Lake Apo fever. ^^

Unforgetable moments:

 The sunrise: just as we woke up

My companions getting immersed into the beautiful early morning beauty of the lake:

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I caught this!

The seconds when the gentle sunrays kissed the verdant greens

The view reminds me of Autumn.

I made more than five hundred photos that day.  The place is just so picturesque.  I cannot share all the shots in this post so am going to share it in the upcoming posts.

The place is a great destination to get away from the busy and noisy life in the city.    Great place to just relax with a great book.  If you love adventure one can do:

• Kayaking


• Canoeing


• Jet Skiing

 

To quench your love for nature, you can :

• Hike/Climb the nearby hills


• Swim in the lake or in the spring pool


• Have your meals at the floating cottage


• Take photographs to your hearts content

The original plan was to leave after lunch.  But the night before, we decided to wait for the beauty of sunset.  The weather is so unpredictable at this time of the year so I prayed for a beautiful morning to see the sunrise and then the sunset.  God gave us the sunrise as proven by our photos but for the sunset, God gave us rain.

The rain gave the lake a beauty that you cannot ordinarily see in other places.  If we were not packed up to go, I would have loved us to be with the rain at the floating house. Dr. Almer said that there are times when it is raining the lake is being enveloped with a fog and it would be nice to experience it via the floating cottage in the middle of the lake.

I am going back!  That's a firm statement and am gonna do that soon.  For what? To see the sunset and to spend time sitting on the wooden seats in the lanai with a good book.

Allow me to express my gratitude of thanks to Dr. Almer Alfonso and family for the accommodation, Ate Belen for ever ready preparing our meals, to Lai and Alex for the superb company.  I will never forget the experience.

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Note:

I received several emails regarding price and cabin accommodation inquiries so I am leaving here a contact number of the one who is in charge now:

jane @ travel2discover

0917 721 8195 (Globe)

088 828 2138 (Landline #)