It had been a long time since my family last got together for a fun trip, and spending Sunday at the MOAP was well worth the short ride from Ozamiz. Except for a couple of aunts and my tatay, who always manages to give some flimsy reason not to go when such occasions come (be it outings, parties, weddings, etc), everybody who went had something to be happy about. I have always loved the beach, but the experience moved it several notches up my “most memorable” and “best holidays” lists.
The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park is the province’s best bet for eco-tourism, and boasts of a mangrove forest, a mini zoo, an ostrich farm, fish hatcheries, marine reserve, boat rides, fresh seafood, and beach frolic.
The best part of it was Dolphin Island, a short boat ride away, where the real fun is at. There’s a sanctuary for dolphins open for public viewing, and which the kids loved. I counted ten, and of different species. I was told these were bottlenose and pantropical spotted dolphins, and a single false killer whale.
There’s a pristine white sand beach that goes with the tide, where one can either just stroll, get a tan, take a dip, or go kayaking. We opted to snorkel and feed the fish. What joy it was to be that close to so much colorful fish and coral! Having swarms of fish eating right out of your hand is a one-of-a-kind encounter I won’t soon forget. I wish I had a camera I could take underwater.
I was hoping to go on a vacation before the summer ends, but then I guess this short break was enough to refresh and rejuvenate. Friends have been inviting me to Boracay, and even Dakak, but I would definitely suggest this new discovery. Besides being enjoyable for the whole family, it is nearer, there is no heavy traffic and crowds to deal with, and all these come at a fraction of the cost of the traditional getaways.
Here are links to get you interested. 
43 Comments
May 22, 2007 at 4:16 pm
oh goodness! that place is heaven!
May 22, 2007 at 4:24 pm
yes, at least for now. it’s not “tourist-y” just yet.
May 22, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Ive heard about this… and i want to go. but my dad can’t drive long like he used too.. before. but we will sure visit this if there’s a chance. hehe
thanks for sharing this with us.
i’d love to see the Dolphins… yay!
May 22, 2007 at 5:53 pm
i love the ocean…i was born in the mountains but belong in the sea
this place looks amazing. found you thru fruityoaty.com. will definitely be back for more.
May 23, 2007 at 12:06 am
angelblush: yeah, mahaba-habang drive nga from Davao(where you’re at?). pero sulit talaga. and there’s cheap but decent lodging.
kubi: i wish i can be in Baguio like you, these days. the heat is driving me nuts! but if i can be in the beach, i won’t mind even if i have to look like i’ve been pit roasted.
your blog is charming, it’s in my roll.
May 23, 2007 at 4:19 am
Wow! Ang cool naman nun! Inggit mode ako. Hehe.
May 23, 2007 at 11:44 am
Looks like a place I will visit in the future
Kainggit nga!
May 23, 2007 at 1:17 pm
it never crossed my mind that i’d be feeding fish, and enjoy it so much. i’m not a good swimmer. i thought it was only possible in the movies and on Discovery channel.
May 24, 2007 at 10:51 am
buti naman nakahabol ka for a break before the summer ends.
tanong ko lang un bang misamis, nasa ozamiz?
May 24, 2007 at 11:30 am
Ozamiz City is within the province of Misamis Occidental. i suppose most people get confused with this, as Ozamiz used to be called Misamis.
May 24, 2007 at 8:26 pm
hey, I have to go there one of these days. My family and friends always go out of town every summer. That would be a very good option. Thanks for the info and yes, thanks for visiting my blog and commenting.
May 24, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Now am definitely envious…
Can you send me a list of good places to visit around June-July? I need a break! BAD.
May 25, 2007 at 4:23 pm
hi jun, thanx for commenting. it seems you had great fun! well, I really haven’t gone around Ozamiz and nearby towns that much even if we have a farm in Tangub (on the selling block). But memories there, especially during my highschool days with my cousin, hunting around the ricefields and orchards for tukmo and other birds and, at night, those flying foxes (fruit bats) will always be treasured.
By the way, request lang, basi maka kuha ka photo sa Hoyohoy, up there in Malindang via the Tangub route. Nice view overlooking the southern province, bay and Lanao. Missed this place when I was there collecting beetles many many years ago.
May 25, 2007 at 4:26 pm
What an amazing spot! I’d love to go there.
May 27, 2007 at 10:43 am
Wow, I’d kill to experience all those! I’ve heard Northern Mindanao beaches are splendid. I would also kill for the bronzed glow. Too bad my dermatologist robbed me of the funds and freedom to do so.
I’m also intrigued sa ostrich farm. I was hoping for a ride when I went to Davao late last year kasi my friend built up tourists can. Charlene Gonzales was shown daw on TV doing it. When I got there, di raw pwede. Bummer.
May 27, 2007 at 12:47 pm
hello! thanks for commenting, guys!
rolly: i’ll be hitting your blogs from time to time, it’s interesting. specially the poetry blog.
an2net: are you planning to come down south for a vacation? i’ll ask around for interesting places to go. for now i can only think of MOAP, Camiguin, and white water fun in Cagayan de Oro. maybe other readers from the area can give suggestions, too.
estan: yes, nothing much has changed in Tangub. it still is the atypical city you know, rather sleepy and green.
i haven’t been to Hoyohoy, i have yet to find someone else interested in taking a hike up.
Island Girl: welcome! maybe you’ll consider coming to the Philippines for your next holiday.
lornadahl: we forgot to see the ostrich! i’m not sure if they’d allow ostrich rides, too risky, IMHO.
May 27, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Unfortunately, that kind of vacation (involving water) is wasted on me… since I don’t know how to swim. Yeah, I know… I’m missing out on a lot of “sun and surf” experiences. Oh well… maybe this year, I’ll get over my fear of drowning and learn to swim.
I had this bad experience… almost drowning in a pool while learning to swim… when I was a kid… sort of never got over it.
May 27, 2007 at 1:27 pm
same here, Massa P. i can’t really “swim”. that’s why snorkeling was the only option for me. you get to put on this orange vest which keeps you buoyed up. learning to breathe through a snorkel wasn’t comfy at first, but it didn’t take much time. it was all worth it.
May 27, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I like the pics – they’re very inviting. How does one get there from Manila?
May 27, 2007 at 9:07 pm
good job man
that’s nice post
continue
Tourism
May 27, 2007 at 10:51 pm
hi, Juan Ariel!
thanks for the comment on the pics. check out this “my personal photos” link for more.
there are daily flights from Manila to Dipolog City and back. from Dipolog, there are buses passing by Tudela/Sinacaban, where the MOAP is. travel time from Dipolog is about 2 -3 hours, i believe.
there is also a port in Ozamiz City which offers sea trips from Manila-Ozamiz, and Manila-Cebu-Ozamiz and back. from Ozamiz, it will take only about 30 minutes to get to the site.
you might also like to take the Manila-Cagayan de Oro route, but the bus trip from CDO to Ozamiz alone will take 4 hours.
accomodations at the MOAP isn’t a problem, too.
May 29, 2007 at 8:17 am
ei… thanks for visiting… hehehe… sarap siguro mag-site seeing dito no… at mag-swimming kasama ang mga dolphins ba iyan? hehehe… i’ll be leaving with my other blog link… just click on my my name… hehehe… and again, thanks for visiting http://randomtotsofme.blogspot.com/ Ü
May 29, 2007 at 12:16 pm
welcome, yatot! masaya din ang mga blogs mo.
sight-seeing, beach fun… but we can’t swim with the dolphins. they have a separate enclosure, pero adjacent lang sa kung saan pwede lumangoy.
May 29, 2007 at 1:03 pm
ei… thanks for subscribing to filipiniana.net… hehehe… i also write there… in its blog section… hehehe… you just have to guess which of them is me… hahaha Ü
May 31, 2007 at 8:30 am
http://pressposts.com/Blogging/I-Am-Sunburned-But-I-Had-Fun/
Submited post on PressPosts.com – “I Am Sunburned, But I Had Fun”
June 5, 2007 at 8:15 am
wow! that place is gorgeous!! i love the philippines!!!
June 8, 2007 at 7:36 am
Hi Jun
Nice to see a local blogger.
Could you please recommend other interesting places not far from Oz that we could explore.
Was wondering if the airport has already been open? Pastilan dugay na kaau na nga issue until when its going to end :
June 8, 2007 at 8:53 am
welcome, carbuzz76! are you from Oz as well?
yes, i’d like to blog about interesting, but lesser known places in and near this city… but i haven’t had much chance to explore. i could name places but i prefer to recommend only after i get to experience them first hand. so we’ll have to wait and see…
i heard they’re opening the airport later this year, but it’s all hearsay until we actually see ‘em planes flying over this end.
June 8, 2007 at 8:59 am
reyna elena!
how silly of me for not noticing, i got a visit from the queen!
…much delighted by your presence. and your comment. yes, it’s WOW! Philippines!
June 9, 2007 at 4:39 am
Looks like a very nice place!!
June 9, 2007 at 6:42 pm
welcome, Thomas! i know you’d take better pictures than these, if you were here.
June 12, 2007 at 5:45 pm
kanindot ani uy…….
naa pod ni sa bais….unsa to….delphine watching….
thnaks for sharing……….
diay, membro ko sa bisdak…..welcome diay sa bisdak group………
June 29, 2007 at 1:53 pm
di pa ko nakakrating dyan sa parteng yan ng mundo
someday I will
I love the sea
August 6, 2007 at 6:28 pm
That was quite an adventure. You’ve got nice photos too to illustrate the mood. I might as well visit the place in the near future. Thanx for sharing your experience to us…
August 6, 2007 at 7:16 pm
thanks, vk-bonbon, tutubi and dodongflores, for your comments. sorry it took me a while to reply.
you should try visit this part of Mindanao, it’s lovely.
vk-bonbon: thanks sa pag-welcome nako sa Bisdak Planet. nag post na ko didto.
August 7, 2007 at 7:23 am
musta diha dong, wa pa ko kaanha diha, sa pag-uli nako, ako ng adtoon, duol raman pod na gikan sa amoa
August 7, 2007 at 9:01 am
ok ra gihapon, Rolly. good to see you here.
yes, bring your family. mas alegre kung daghan!
August 23, 2007 at 10:35 am
hala manganha mig dolphin island sa december… gwapo jud didto?
naa pod agutayan island diha dapit sa jasaan. nakakita man gani ko sa documentary ag sa moonrise filmfest, na-feature man. hala oi! i miss beach life.
August 23, 2007 at 10:46 am
nah! you will enjoy Dolphin Island jud, garantisado… paputol ko’g kuan, buhok (waaaah!) kung dili.
i’m not familiar with Agutayan, though.
thanks for dropping by. magbalik-balik unya ko sa imong blog…
November 7, 2007 at 3:13 pm
How much ang expenses?
March 28, 2008 at 4:17 pm
gotcha
October 6, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I visit this place also..ang ganda-ganda talaga… Na feature ko din to sa Travels and Tours na blog ko…aehheh..Sobrang nag enjoy ako sa place na too…
August 9, 2009 at 12:15 pm
wow… ka nice sa imong feature