Dahilayan: Take a Deep Breath and Go

Dahilayan in Bukidnon, Philippines is a small area that is made up of acres of lush trees, green hills and adventure. Recently developed and marketed as an adventure tourist attraction, it is actually easy to go to and heaven to stay at.Most visitors are struck by the hour and a half drive from the city of Cagayan de Oro to Dahilayan as picturesque while others begrudge the bumpy ride through hectares of pineapples owned by Del Monte Philippines.

There is a lot to do in the area which has been made popular by the long dual zipline reputed to be Asia’s longest. Other than this particular zipline, there are also two more which are operational but only go for a shorter length but are still as thrilling. There are plans to make a longer zipline that allows the rider to take in a glorious view of a canyon as it spans about a kilometer from end to end. I hope this comes true! There are also ATV and buggy rides which can be driven on specified trails with a guide. One can also take a ride on a rough and sturdy vehicle that offer a river crossing, as it goes from one area to another. This ride can seat several people, about twenty from my estimation.Horse rides are also available as well as a Zorb Ball ride that lasts just a few seconds but with some pretty dizzying effects! A small ball pool also allows children and adults to try get inside a large plastic ball and float on the pool. A picnic grove is ready for those who may have thought to bring their own lunch or snacks while there are about three very good restaurants in the area that can whip up good food. There are also some kiosks that can serve up hot food when needed. Some local vendors also offer sweet corn to those who wish to sample the produce in the area.

What not a lot of people know is that visitors can actually stay in the area and enjoy the early morning and late night drop in temperature. Small cottages and cozy rooms are available for couples or families. A lodge has been constructed and it is beautiful and very cozy. What’s more important is that the staff is very accommodating. The sunsets are glorious despite being in the mountains and the ambience of chirping birds and buzzing insects in the morning is very inspiring.

Divorce Attorney Role

Divorce Attorney Role in a Case
A divorce attorney is the legal professional that an individual seeks out when he or she wishes to part ways with a spouse. In many countries today, this kind of permanent separation is becoming more and more common. Usually, it is amicable while other cases may be filled with hostility and bitterness. Amicable cases usually go smoothly with each party settling their affairs with one another with ease and turning out to be good friends in the end, or at least with a good relationship. Embittered cases are those in which one or both spouses believe that they have been wronged by the other and wish to get as much out of the marriage as possible. Here, the role of the lawyer is crucial because of the numerous talks and settlements that may occur due to hostilities and disagreements that happen between both parties. The professional should be qualified and licensed to practice in a court of law.
Experience
The lawyer’s experience as a divorce attorney should be considered before he or she is hired. Having considerable experience means that the legal professional is well versed with the intricacies that this kind of legal matter comes with. Initially, he or she will consult with the client in order to assess the situation and devise a way to reach the client’s goal successfully and quickly. The validity of the grounds for divorce will be discussed and the various different laws pertaining to such a case will be brought to light. The jurisdiction of the case may have different laws than other states.
The Steps
The first step after the initial consultation is the decision of what grounds to pursue. Once these are established, the divorce attorney will file the necessary paperwork in the appropriate court of law. Usually there is a complaint and a summons that is filed in order to make the other party aware of the intent to separate as filed by the lawyer’s client. The legal professional files these documents to give the other party time to file a response as well as present a defense or file claims. In either a contested or uncontested case, the lawyer will represent his client to the best of his abilities.
In an uncontested case, where both parties are in agreement with each other about this move, trial may not be necessary and only discussions for settlements, custody of children, child support and spousal support are talked about. The divorce attorney will then make a draft of the roles and responsibilities of each party and if they agree to it the settlement goes forward. In a contested case, where one party disputes the claims of the other, there is a possibility that the case will go to trial. If this happens, the lawyer will represent his client while the other party will seek another legal professional to represent him or her. During the trial, the lawyer will present evidence to show that his or her client has been wronged and does deserve what he or she is demanding.

Adventure in Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro City is a bustling city that is bordered by Opol, Bukidnon and Tagoloan. The city enjoys perennially great weather and storms seldom pass here. Heavy rains may occur during the season but basically, the weather is great here.

The food in Cagayan de Oro is great! Grilled food is common especially in the Night Cafe. The Night Cafe is a weekly event held at the heart of the city every Friday and Saturday starting at 5:30 in the afternoon until the wee hours of the morning. At one end of the long street, stalls are set up by locals and food are grilled on the spot and delivered when cooked to your table. On the other end of the street, vintage clothing and all kinds of wares are sold. Many people venture out during these times to experience the flavor of the city. Walking distance from the Night Cafe venue are some clubs for those who wish to unwind and listen to music.

The city also has many different delicacies which are uniquely from Cagayan de Oro. These range from thespecial puto to ham and chicharon. There are many choices to eat at Cagayan de Oro and you can choose from formal dining to eating with your hands at many different chicken inasal. Ostrich is another fare that can be found in the city, cheaper than other places in the Philippines because the city is the locale of an ostrich farm.

Whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro is amazing yet relatively safe. It is best to go rafting during the months June to November because these are the rainy months. That means the river is swollen and there is more thrill and excitement. You have a choice of the safer route and the stomach churning one. There are several different whitewater rafting operators in the city to choose from. You can even arrange to be met at the airport to immediately start your rafting experience because the launch pad for the trip is just a few kilometers from the city airport.

There are also some adventure parks in the city that offer zip lines, rappelling, canopy walks, horse backridingand many others. The city is teeming with adventure seekers during the summer months since you can actually access many different adventure sports here. Mountain bikers can go up a rough mountain in less than fifteen minutes from any location within the city. The beaches are some ten to fifteen kilometers drive from the city center on a good day but traffic can delay you at times. At the beach you can catch some locals surf skimming on a good day.

The locals are relatively nice and very accommodating. Hotels abound in the city as well as international fast foods for the more conscientious visitor. There are also several flights to and from the capital Manila daily.

Mountain Biking in The Philippines (Cagayan de Oro Trails)

Mountain biking is a sport that entails dirt, risk and exhilaration as well as sweat and some spills. In the Philippines, mountain biking is a very popular sport. All over the archipelago, locals and visitors alike can see mountain bikers in their bike duds toiling up some hill or whizzing down one.

In Cagayan deOro City, mountain biking has no boundaries. The city is surrounded by mountains and hills on almost all sides, except for the bay. You can ride from your door to a mountain with rough road in less than ten minutes unless you are picky with which mountain you want to ride up to. No wonder, when I go out for a drive, I almost always see a mountain biker, even in the city proper. The trails in Cagayan de Oro are world class but needs developing. Malasag is one of the trails that is short but full of technical and up hill trails. Downhill is also availbale in Malasag but be careful for the drops. The basic trail in Malasag may last up to an hour or so but most bikers take it as it is because of the exhausting uphill. Indahag is one of the favorite trails of most bikers in the city. It features rolling trails and some adventurous downhills. You can go as long as two hours in the trails in Indahag or longer. Bukidnon also offer great trails but many bikers prefer to carry their bikes on vehicles when biking the off road trails of Bukidnon due to vehicular traffic on the highway. The risk of being swept off the road is high. Trails in Opol are also available and is just a little under twenty minutes pedalling from the city.

There are many different kinds of mountain bikers here ranging from the bikers who bike for the sake of biking and those who take this sport as a means of earning money to those who bike to keep fit (socially and physically). There are many other kinds of bikers who fit in between the main categories. The latter group is usually composed of those who can afford high end bikes and high end after market parts or upgrades. These people can afford to visits races in other parts of the country and not mind if they do not win first place. Some individuals in this group may also be bikers who bike at least three times a week and for at least an hour.  These guys live for the exhilaration of biking and combine mountain biking with other sports.

 

Kaamulan Festival of Malaybalay

I had just gone up Malaybalay, Bukidnon and I was greetd by the sight of banners announcing the Kaamulan Festival. For those who have no idea what it is, the Kaamulan Festival is a celebration of the areas ethnic roots. The entire region celebrates this lengthy festival but most of the activities started just last week. The Kaamulan festival will be highlighted in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

A mountain bike race is going on this weekend, both cross country and downhill. It is no wonder that the organizers included a mountain bike race because the area is mountainous and there are many people who bike there. The Festival has been well advertised and many people from all over the Philippines will be joining the mountain bike race.

Four wheel vehicle competition is another highlight of the Kaamulan Festival. Locals and visitors will enjoy watching these big vehicles clamber over steep mounds of dirt and plunge into waist high puddles. Most of the events that will happen during the Kaamulan festival will be televised for the benefit of those who can not come and also to promote the event next year.

The Kaamulan Grounds as well as the Provincial Grounds are the main sites of he festivities.  A horse fight and rodeo are the annual events that happen during the festival. This year, there are more horses up for horse rides for those who wish to experience horse riding and there is also a set of zip lines in the Kaamulan Grounds for the thrill of speed.

There are also numerous stalls and booths erected all over the provincial Grounds for the benefit of visitors to see and buy the localproducts of the region. Plants and tree seedlings are for sale as well as very beautiful orchids. Fruits and vegetables are also available for purchase at teh Kaamulan Festival.