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Haven’t you thought of flying pretty much like your favorite superheroes? Well, an adrenaline pumping experience such as that is possible as the urban city of Davao recommends some new and must-try adventures for the young, corporate and civic groups.

Branded as the home of the longest and fastest zipline in Asia (the Xcelerator Zipline) and largest ropes course facility in the Philippines, Outland Adventure is situated in a private nature haven just a few minutes away from the Davao City Proper.

With Matthew “Matt” McNeil as the Outland Adventure director, the Xclerator zipline remains to be the premium thrilling ride for everyone, aside from their two-line traverse. The Xcelerator is designed with an accident-free safety factor. Meaning to say, every component of the Xcelerator has a secured back-up system of safety gears so as to assure that every guest is free from any danger.

Excitement starts

What essentially happens is that a participant will board on a wooden raft in order to cross a deep river. A group has to stand on top of the raft while pulling their way across the lake. After which, the exhilarating uphill hike starts. It’ll be nice if one takes time and enjoy a relaxed hiking pace. Upon reaching the starting point, one will be asked to either proceed immediately to the Xcelerator or to traverse first before taking the zipline ride.

The two-line traverse is a thrill-provoking activity where one will cross a suspended horizontal cable at the top of the 70 feet off-the-ground jungle canopy. Walking sideways of about 100 meters long heightens the feeling of adventure. It’s surely a test of facing one’s fears. Welcoming the challenge through a determined and strong-willed heart will ultimately make you concentrate even more in order for you to keep your every inch of balance.

The support that you’ll get from the staff/guide will make you realize that you have to be motivated enough to go beyond the limits of your fears. Although crossing the traverse is a bit scary for some, the feeling of success after reaching the endpoint is rewarding.

Zipline and Yipeee

The zipline is estimated to be around one kilometer in length and it’s more than twice the 400-meter line of Camp Sabros in Kapatagan, Digos City. In trying the celebrated zipline of Davao, you can assume a position like a Superman and Darna or just simply a sitting position. And off you go!

Yipeee… for about 30 seconds or so, you’ll find yourself descending along a steep cliff above the lush greenery woods and suspended about 200 feet above the ground. You’ll absolutely feel the wind sweeping into your face as you catch your breath of thrill and exhilaration.

At the end of it, you’ll be in the mood for more as the experience will remain memorable, unforgettable and priceless perhaps.

The two-line traverse and The Xcelerator are open every Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The ride costs only 300 pesos, which includes the equipments, the raft ride, and the guided hike to the zipline’s launch point.

Holistic Packages

Proudly Davao, the Outland Adventure overwhelmingly creates an unparalleled buzz with their adventure-based programs designed to be deeply relevant and germane to every individual of today. There has been a craving for an outstandingly adventurous experience. The people from Outland Adventure are committed to provide a specialized team-building programs and low-level games for the active and outgoing youth, corporations, small business groups or associations, church and civic organizations.

Outland Adventure is owned and operated by Project Challenge Foundation Inc., a pure non-profit foundation where a hundred percent of all donations and/or revenue raised from clients are used to fund their day-to-day operational budget. Accordingly, the Board members of the foundation receive no financial compensation or fringe benefits from the Outland Adventure programs. Founded in the year 2000, it seeks to build a world-class ropes course to primarily offer life-impacting and innovative adventure-based programs beyond the usual seminar and corporate lectures.

The personal value that you can get from the high challenges will help you to understand deeply the significance of teamwork, trust, confidence and communication. It’s basically a sensible life-growth experience which you can practically relate to your everyday encounters at home, work, school or any human encounters.

Their track record for successful teamwork trainings and activities are unrivaled. The challenge course program compels participants to be creative and participative, likewise allowing them to look deeper into themselves and develop an authentic self-concept because it’s non-competitive.

The out-of-the-box activities draw out the reflective aspect of a human being. For this reason, their program triggers self re-discovery, critical thinking, and problem solving techniques. Equally, it aids to foster a meaningful sense of unity, camaraderie and solidarity.

Low Element exercises such as: The Wall, Spider Web, Trust Fall, TP Shuffle, the Kings Finger; and the High Element activities like the Heebie Jeebie, Trapeze Jump, The Catwalk, and Vertical Playpen are just few of the communicative and interactive activities of the Outland Adventure program.

Their team building, family and barkada programs require group reservations. That is why; they prefer accepting a group with a minimum of 20 participants. The team will coordinate and modify a program that will fit for each group.

Outland Adventure Camp is located at Carlos P. Garcia Highway (Diversion Road), Barangay Langub, Ma-a Davao City. It’s just near the “Twin Rocks” and the Davao GAP Farm. For inquiries and reservations, call them at (082) 2245855, (082) 271-6067 or (0918)6184330.

Email address: outland_adventure@hotmail.com.
Website: www.outlandadventure.org.

You may also visit their Davao office at 2nd Flr. Palacay Bldg. Circumferential Road, Marfori Heights, (Above RC Hobby Shop across from Rite Pharmacy), Davao City.

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This article is written by Julius Neil Piala. Having experienced flying the longest zipline, he felt it is worth sharing to everyone who wanted to bring out the adventurous spirit within.

Have you ever seen a Bonsai (pygmy) forest? Well, there were only a few places where it can be found. The province of Davao Oriental is lucky enough to have been blessed with such a captivating wonder of nature. As a matter of fact, Davao Oriental is home of the country’s largest pygmy forest – The Mt. Hamiguitan. Indeed, it is mother nature’s gift to the Filipino people! Not only that, Mt. Hamiguitan offers many wonderful sites and can truly give the best destination and satisfaction to the adventurers visiting the province of Davao Oriental.

Mt. Hamiguitan has a height of 1,620 meters with a total land area of 6,834 hectares. It is located in Sitio Tumalite, Brgy. La Union, San Isidro Davao Oriental. This majestic wonder proudly stands at 5,345 feet above sea level and looks like a huge vegetable garden in the middle of the jungle. Its vicinity holds one of the most diverse wildlife population in the Philippines, a sanctuary of rare and exotic birds, such as the famous Philippine Eeagle. It is also the home of impressive flora of 878 species, such as Nepenthes which are endemic to areas like Nepenthes Peltata. It is home to eleven endangered vertebrate species.

Bonsai Forest

Not only that, Hamiguitan also has the vast of 600 hectares old century Bonsai Forest. This vast field of about two to three feet tall, century–old trees covers almost 1,000 hectares of Kapatagan Valley. From afar, the Pitcher plants and ferns as well as mossy patches will dominate the view. Unsurprisingly, it was being recognized as a heritage site.

Tinagong Dagat

And, here is more: Have you heard of the mysterious Tinagong Dagat? If not yet, that proves that it is indeed mysterious. “Tinagong Dagat” roughly translates to “Hidden Sea” in the English Language. It is actually a lake lying deep into the uninhibited mountain. The lake is reported to have high-tide and low-tide schedules. Amazing, isn’t it?

Mountain Adventurers, Welcome

Mt. Hamiguitan is also a favorite campsite of local and foreign tourists, mountaineering or plain adventure-seeking people! It has also received a lot of media attention lately. Popular TV Shows like Rated K and Magandang Gabi Bayan have already featured the Mt. Hamiguitan. It had also been reported that medicinal plants have the potential to cure cancer were discovered in the mountain.

Experience the world of paradise being on the top of the Hamiguitan. From the peak of mountain one can see the breath-taking view of the Pujada Bay, Sleeping Dinosaur, Pacific Ocean and Davao Gulf.

Leaving Hamiguitan, you’ll feel awed with the beauty of the mountain that you can treasure forever.

It is Davao Orietal’s optimistic dream to include Mt. Hamiguitan in the World Heritage list.

Mount Hamiguitan in Magandang Gabi Bayan

Here is a 3-series short video snatched from YouTube featuring the Mount Hamiguitan in ABS-CBN’s Magandang Gabi Bayang program.

If you are adventure-seeker, this video might give you an idea on what to expect climbing the Mt Hamiguitan.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

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This article is contributed by Cristine Faith Andan. Cristine hails from Mati City, Davao Oriental.

I guess I was lucky to have visited the Philippine Eagle Center some 19 years ago in 1990. Back then, we were high school students doing the usual field trip to the city. It appears to me that the Philippine Eagle Center was a favourite attraction for students doing field trips in Davao. It’s still true this time around as it was when we were in high school.

From what I can remember back then, the scientists at the Philippine Eagle Foundation were still experimenting with techniques for artificially reproducing an eagle from parent eagles in captivity. The daunting task results from the fact that a mature female eagle can only lay a single egg in a year. That is, if she’s lucky enough to have found a male eagle in the wild who is equally, madly in love with her. Having a hard time reproducing its kind coupled with the destruction of their natural habitat caused the Philippine Eagle to become endangered as a species. For someone with a curious brain of a child, that could lead to a lot research work in the library, especially during the time when Internet was as strange as the UFO.

Long story short… Finally in 1992, the first Philippine Eagle conceived by artificial method successfully saw light. The baby was named Pag-asa, a Filipino word for hope. The success of Pag-asa has inspired the scientists to perform a series of successful experiments along that line.

The Second Coming

I was finally back to the Philippine Eagle Center last December 2008. (You might say this article is a little late. Better late than never, as they say.) It’s funny how a lot of things have changed while a lot also remain the same.

The old wooden house (visitors’ lounge) where we had a video film of the Philippine Eagle was not there any longer.

The lonely crocodile is still lonely in his cage surrounded by seemingly centuries-old trees. I’m not sure if I am older than the croc, but I believe both of us cannot be trusted. Has grandma ever told you not to trust anyone above 30? I maybe in my early 30’s and the croc… I don’t know. But a croc is always a croc regardless of the age. You just don’t wait for grandma’s advice to not touch its sensitive skin.

There are monkeys, eagles from other countries plus a host of other Philippine Eagles raised in captivity… But, hey, don’t you think they should be freed in the wild? Hmmm… I guess, they are there for a reason other than just for you and me to view.

The Third Coming?

I really missed the place. I don’t know when I am going back again nor do I know what to expect in my Third Coming. But for those who haven’t been to the site yet, I would personally invite you to come and visit the place, which is located in Malagos, Calinan, Davao City.

Here some of the recent photos taken during my last trip to the Philippine Eagle Center:

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This article is written by Carlos Velasco. He is responsible for running this website and most of its contents. Carlos runs a web development company in Davao.