My Home, My Love, My Iligan

I was born and raised in Iligan, a city north of the province of Lanao del Norte. Though my parents are not native Iliganons, I’ve lived a huge chunk of my life here. I tell you, this place is so wonderful that to introduce you to the marvel that is Iligan City in a single blog post would be a mere impossibility. So perhaps I’ll just put in bits and pieces of my hometown based on three F's we examine in tourist destinations – food, friends, and fun. 

Food

Fact: Iliganons love good food. This is exactly why there’s a bunch of really good restaurants and cafes around the city. There’s Gazpachos, Sunburst, Chrisven, Tita Fannie’s, Tatay’s Grill, Jacko’s, Bar-B-Q Inn; and then there’s Zoey Café, Peek 'n Berry, Aruma, Coffee Works and many, many, many more. (Note: That's just a quick list off the top of my head.)

Anyways, while we’re on the subject of food, let’s talk about Philippine’s National Dish – good ol’ lechon! Last year, the first ever Indigay sa Iligan Lechon was held. It is a competition for the yummiest lechon in the city. This implies one thing:  Our lechon is of superb quality! The skin is glistening, crunchy, and flavorful; and the tender meat is sufficiently blessed with spices and taste. Lechon is a gastronomic delight in and of itself, but there’s an even better way of enjoying it – with Suka Pinakurat of course. It’s a vinegar with chilies and other spices blended to perfection. It's distributed worldwide, making it a perfect "pasalubong" in addition to the equally famous Cheding’s Peanuts. I think Toasted Peanuts is the most popular variety, but I strongly recommend you try their Sugar Coated and Banana Crispy Hot Peanuts.

Friends

Iligan may not have towering skyscrapers, but we do have the warmest welcoming people here. More importantly, Iligan is home to people of rich and diverse culture. Contrary to the belief that Iligan is a war-torn land, the Lumads, Christians, and Muslims here live a generally peaceful life. Do try immersing yourself with the culture, it's interesting.

Fun

Well there’s definitely a lot that you could do here in Iligan. Firstly, as a “City of Majestic Waterfalls,” we have more than 20 waterfalls. How awesome is that? Topping the list is of course Maria Cristina and Tinago Falls; then there’s Mimbalut, Dodiongan, and Limunsudan Falls, among others. Do visit Timoga Swimming Pool Complex too. It has flowing cold refreshing water. And if you’re into trekking and mountaineering, Mt. Agad-Agad is a must-see. 


If you ask me for the best time to visit, try last week of September, just in time for the fiesta celebration, where lots and lots of activities are stored for you.

Trust me, there’s so much more to Iligan than this single blog post. The rest is for you to explore.

*Submitted as an entry to the My Iligan Blogging Contest.