Our habal-habal motorcycle slowly climbed the steep uphill drive towards our lodging. Riding at the back with my travel buddy—and with our big-ass backpacks on—we tightly prayed that we don’t fall off and crash. After what seemed like an eternity, which really must have been less than a minute, we stopped in front of the inn and gladly jumped off the bike. We took in the scenery below, our sigh of relief coming at the same moment as our breath being taken away—a panorama of Lake Sebu opened below.

LAKE SEBU DIY DAY TOUR GOING AROUND LAKE SEBU ON A HABAL-HABAL • Lake Sebu Municipal Tourism Lodge • Punta Isla Lake Cruise • Seven Waterfalls of Lake Sebu • Lang Dulay Weaving Center • Lake Sebu Sunset

MUNICIPAL TOURISM LODGE / LEMOBUNG LODGE & RESTO

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ADDRESS: SURALLAH-LAKE SEBU ROAD, POBLACION, LAKE SEBU | CONTACT NO: (0918) 603-3354 | GPS MAP: 6.214966, 124.701919

SECOND FLOOR OF THE MUNICIPAL TOURISM LODGE IN LAKE SEBU

Our day started early. From the Sunrise Garden Lake Resort in Lake Seloton, we were fetched by our trusted guide, Eric Aguilar (0905-9701986, PHP 500.00 per day), and roared through the cold, winding, and empty roads of Lake Sebu en route to the Municipal Tourism Lodge (Lemobung), our home for the second half of our Lake Sebu tour.

PRIVATE ROOM WITH EN SUITE TOILET & BATH, PRICED AT PHP 300.00 FOR TWO PERSONS

We were initially hesitant on sleeping at this government-operated inn, an old squat wooden structure perched on a high point overlooking Lake Sebu, not believing that they really have a 60-peso room. But indeed, it was true. They do have one but it isn’t air-conditioned, has no electric fan, and looks quite creepy at night. But since we’d only be staying here to sleep and the weather is quite cold in the area, we went ahead and booked a night’s stay.

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PUNTA ISLA LAKE CRUISE

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ADDRESS: SITIO TOKU-FUL, BARANGAY POBLACION, LAKE SEBU | CONTACT NO: (0905) 289-5134 | GPS MAP: 6.217589, 124.704849

PUNTA ISLA LAKE RESORT LAKE SEBU LUNCH CRUISE

With our bags safely locked behind, we made our way to Punta Isla Lake Resort for a lunch cruise along Lake Sebu. With the number of tourists along its lake-view gazebos, I think it would be safe to surmise that this is the most popular resort this side of town.

WAITING FOR OUR CRUISE AT PUNTA ISLA

While waiting for our cruise we sat ourselves down on one of the huts protected from the sun by a copse of trees, we ordered a litro of Red Horse beer; the view called for a relaxing drink. Halfway through the bottle, a staff told us that it was time to go down the lake.

KIDS PLAYING ON THE WATERS OF LAKE SEBU

The roofed raft, which can seat about 50 people, was set with simple table and chairs. I watched a few local kids doing somersaults by the water as guests trickled into the boat.

CHICHARON TILAPIA FOR LUNCH

A minimum food order of PHP 500.00 per table must be made to avail of the cruise and we decided to spend it on Punta Isla’s chicharon tilapia, crispy pata, and their specialty, sinanglay na tilapia; a gata (coconut milk)-based dish similar to Bicol’s laing, only instead of the fish being wrapped in taro leaves, they use cabbage instead.

T’BOLI WOMAN PLAYING KUBING

ENJOYING THE LAKE CRUISE  |  SINANGLAY NA TILAPIA

The food was alright, my favorite being the crispy chicharon tilapia, but the view was even better. The huge raft slowly made its way across the 354-hectare lake as T’boli (pronounced taboli, according to them) women, garbed in their traditional dream-woven patterned dresses, played local instruments and performed their indigenous dances. We finished our food and beer as the cruise docked back on Punta Isla.

SEVEN WATERFALLS OF LAKE SEBU

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ADDRESS: BRGY. LAKE LAHIT, LAKE SEBU | CONTACT NO: (065) 8281-176 | ENTRANCE FEE: PHP20.00 | GPS MAP: 6.245779, 124.727996

HIKONG BENTE, THE SECOND FALLS OF LAKE SEBU’S SEVEN WATERFALLS

With our tummies filled to brimming, we boarded our motorbike and zipped through the empty roads of Lake Sebu once more, the zipline at the famed Seven Falls of Lake Sebu was next on our list. The series of waterfalls is one of the main attractions of Lake Sebu besides its lakes. I wrote about it in detail here: Seven Falls of Lake Sebu.

► BOOK A PARAGLIDING EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH COTABATO

LANG DULAY WEAVING CENTER

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ADDRESS: SITIO T’BONG, BRGY. LAMDALAG, LAKE SEBU | GPS MAP: 6.217198, 124.732840

LAKE LAHIT, ONE OF THE THREE LAKES OF LAKE SEBU

Passing Lake Lahit, the smallest of the three lakes in Lake Sebu, we proceeded towards Barangay Lamdalag where the house of Lang Dulay stands. The village is located on a relatively remote part of town and the roads we took were unpaved and very dusty. We were caked with a thin layer of dirt as we wended our way up the hill leading to our final destination of the day.

INSIDE LANG DULA’S HOUSE IN LAKE SEBU

Lang Dulay was a T’boli native famous for her T’nalak, a type of manually woven tapestry using abaca fiber. Her unique designs, which were said to be inspired by dreams, won her a National Folk Artist recognition. Sadly, we didn’t get to see her weave her dreams into hypnotic red and black patterns in person as she passed away short of a year before we visited. Her tomb can be accessed on a humble plot of land, right beside her house.

T’NALAK WEAVING IN PROGRESS

T’BOLI TRINKETS AND WEAVING BEING SOLD INSIDE LANG DULA’S HOUSE

Even so, her presence and influence still lives at the weaving center as her close relatives take on the T’boli tradition of T’nalak weaving. Inside the center, numerous intricately patterned hand-made tapestries decorate each corner. These are available for sale to visitors too, a meter of which would set you back around a thousand pesos.

LAKE SEBU SUNSET

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SUNSET AT LAKE SEBU

As our day drew to an end, we were at a quandary as to where best finish it. We asked our guide if he knew a place serving beer overlooking the lake. He told us not to worry, he knew the perfect place for us. A few minutes later, our motorcycle slowed down and stopped on a simple hut named Aguilar Eatery along the highway. Perched on a cliff, it has a commanding view of Lake Sebu. They serve crispy tilapia, they serve beer, they have a videoke, and we have the whole place all to ourselves. There can’t be a more perfect ending to our Lake Sebu day tour.

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