The Backpack Adventures

Driving your car or riding a bus would be your typical mode of transportation when moving about in Mindanao. However, I was lucky enough to experience a unique (and more adventurous) way of traveling in the southern region of the country. The title says it all, It's my 10 Wheeler Truck Mindanao Road Trip . The 10-wheeler truck that would bring me around three provinces in northern Mindanao I got the privilege of riding a 10 wheeler truck for the first time during my latest visit to Mindanao during my summer vacation. It was my wife who suggested that I should try to write about something unique. She told me to join my father-in-law on one of his trips. I found the idea very tempting because I know that very blogger experienced this kind of adventure and aside from that I was also eager to know the "how to" in the logging business in Mindanao. The Backpack Adventure goes trucker mode This is where I'll be for the next two days. Check out our loa

Located in the outskirts of Butuan City in the province of Agusan Del Norte, Diosdado Macapagal Bridge is the longest bridge in Mindanao. Diosdado Macapagal Bridge Diosdado Macapagal Bridge was completed in May 2007. The bridge is three kilometers long and connects the Butuan-Cagayan-Iligan Road and the Philippine-Japan Friendship Bridge. Diosdado Macapagal Bridge - Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte The bridge on a nice day! We first crossed the bridge during the night. Thanks Japan! Heading to Butuan City from Cagayan De Oro The bridge was a project funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the people of Butuan. However, it took several years before the project started (three presidential terms to be exact). It was lobbied to former President Ramos, then was approved by former President Estrada, and finally implemented during the time of former President Arroyo. (Talk about a very charitable neighbor country. Thank you Japan!) The bridge a

Located in Maharlika Highway, Libertad in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, Sto. Niño Diocesan Shrine is unlike most of the churches that I usually blog about. Why? Simply because the church is a Post-Spanish Era church or let us say modern church. Sto Niño Diocesan Shrine Sto Niño Diocesan Shrine is also known as Sto Niño Parish or Sto Niño Shrine. The church was founded in 1986 and was declared as a Diocesan Shrine in 2000. The image of the Sto Niño or Holy Child that was brought to Butuan City by Ferdinand Magellan can be found in the church. Church facade I visited (actually passed by) the church after we drove my brother-in-law to Bancasi Airport for his flight to Manila. My visit was actually unplanned because originally, my goal was to visit the Balanghai Museum which sadly, was closed for renovation during our visit. Church interior Church altar a very nice painting inside the church one of the several beautiful stained windows the left si