Summer Safari Participants at Dolores Farm Resort

Day 2 of the Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour: Soccsksargen Summer Safari (MFAT1) started early as the participants left their comfy rooms at the Ice Castle Experience for a long day of adventure, food, and friendship.

First stop was the Dolores Farm Resort where the participants had a yummy healthy breakfast of bangus and tilapia. A serving of hot native tsokolate was also enjoyed by all.

Participants' Orientation

Another highlight of the visit was a tour of the resort’s mini-zoo. After some reminders and an orientation of the day’s activities, the group set out to go on their next adventure.

Participants Enjoying the Seven Falls in Lake Sebu

Next stop in the itinerary is the Seven Falls in Lake Sebu. The participants briefly toured the resort and vowed to return after lunch time to experience the resort’s famous zipline which traverses through six of the seven falls.

Lake Sebu

We headed to Punta Isla Lake Resort for some down time and lunch.

Before lunch was served, the participants convened led by Avel and Orman of the Soccsksargen Bloggers, Ria Jose of Davao Bloggers, and Chiq Montes of CDO Bloggers. The group decided to form Mindanao New Media (MNM). With MNM bloggers, social networking enthusiasts, digital photographers, filmmakers, and other members of new media can collaborate on projects together to present the real Mindanao to the world. (If you’re interested in joining us, you can do that at this LINK.)

Tilapia-fest at Punta Isla Lake Resort

After a productive meeting while munching on muffins from Rolee’s Bakeshop, the participants headed to the dining hall where a spread of various yummy dishes was prepared for them. There was Chicken Binakol, Kinilaw, Deep Fried Tilapia with kropek, and Grilled Tilapia. Everybody was full after the meal.

We all settled down for some rest time as some of the participants prepared to return to the Seven Falls for their zipline adventure. The CDO Bloggers had the time of their life zipping through the best view of the six falls. Check out this video that Goma made chronicling their MFAT adventures highlighting their zipline experience:

MFAT Summer Safari in Mindanao from goma on Vimeo.

The rest of us who didn’t go ziplining proceeded to Merl’s Garden Resort. There was a mini-zipline there which some of the participants also tried and enjoyed. It was the first zipline experience for some of them.

Refreshing Pandan Shake

While waiting for those who went ziplining to catch up, we had some very yummy drinks at Carlo Ebeo‘s Sa Balai Bistro where we were served freshly brewed coffee, Mulberry Iced Tea, and Pandan Shake. It was a very good way to refresh on a tiring and hot day. And Sa Balai Bistro provided a nice, cozy, comfy place for the participants to mingle and get to know each other more.

After the zipliners have caught up with us, we headed to our final destination: The Red Tent Steakhouse.

Baby Back Ribs at The Red Tent Steakhouse

Owners Dexter and Dina Dumaran with their uncle Gilbert Tan prepared awesome stuff for dinner which we didn’t know how to fit in to our tummies.

There was steak, crabs, baby back ribs, and tuna all prepared meticulously. The spread of food assaulted all our senses and we were not disappointed at how well the food tasted. The presentation was good but the taste was even much better.

Dinner was capped by a deliciously sinful tart dessert topped by meringue and delicately flavored with lemon.

Happy MFAT Participants

With our tummies full, our bodies tired and weak, and our hearts full of joy and fond memories, we said our thank yous and exchanged almost tearful goodbyes to the MFAT 1 Team.

Plus, we went home with yummy treats from Kakanin Atbp and Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki.

But it’s not the end of our adventures yet. Watch out for more adventures, fun, projects, and events as Mindanao New Media presents to you the real Mindanao.

Photos courtesy of Charles Ortiz, Chiq Montes, and Mike Abonitalla.