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| photo: taken by Rheva Cid |
Lake Agco Mountain Resort is a place that offers variety of springs: from warm to hot, and unbelievably a cold spring. I really wonder why there's a cold stream where in fact the place is located at the foot of Mt. Apo.
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| photo: taken by Rheva Cid |
It was on a September 28 this year when my friend Aubrey celebrated her 20th birthday, she invited us to come with their family to celebrate her birthday in Lake Agco Mountain Resort. Upon hearing it, I was so excited because it would be my first time to go there. I was never hesitant to come with them because I really like to visit places like this. Everything was shouldered by Aubrey's family, from fare to food and even the house for us to stay. I was amazed with the cool breeze that I felt when we arrived at the place. It was a pretty long ride by the way from Digos City.
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| photo: taken by Rheva Cid |
As i see the place, it doesn't surprise me why a lot of people was there considering the place was very secluded, i guess it's because of the strategic location being at the foot of Mt. Apo – the country’s highest peak. It offers vast tourism potentials and attractions for both local and foreign tourists who wish to embrace nature at its best. Scenic scenes of Mt. Apo’s twin peaks, breathtaking and thundering waterfalls, lakes and lagoons, endemic but exotic flora and fauna growing and thriving in its environment are just a few attractions that drive visitors to explore and visit it whole year round. It is considered a sacred place among native inhabitants as it continues to bless and provide them food, water and medicine necessary for their survival.
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| photo:taken by Rheva Cid |
Of the four major lakes comprising Mt. Apo, most popular are Lakes Agco and Venado. Thrill seekers hiking towards Mt. Apo’s summit will first take Lake Agco.
Adjacent to the lake is the Lake Agco Mahomanoy Mountain Resort in Ilomavis, Kidapawan City. It features a 25 meter outdoor swimming pool as well as children’s pools, hot mineral tubs, natural spa, mini forest, camping grounds, native cottages, hiking trails, and boiling mud pools.
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| photo: taken by Rheva Cid |
The Mountain Resort is located in a dense forest surrounded by Mt. Apo’s lush greeneries. Its water source comes from Lake Agco where hot and cold water converge at an elevation of 1,250 meters above sea level. Just how hot the water is, is that it bubbles up the lake’s shore and hot enough to boil and cook an egg! It is heated by an underground volcanic vent near boiling point and enriched with minerals such as Sulphur – known for its medicinal value. As the rain waters penetrate the Earth’s soil fissure, the magma heats it up. Then the water rises to the surface carrying with it minerals coming from the rock’s stratus.
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| photo: taken by Rheva Cid |
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| photo: taken by Rheva Cid |
Both the Lake and the Mountain Resort remain secluded and have retained their paradise like ambiance which attracts travelers to embrace the Earth’s beauty. Visitors will surely enjoy its atmosphere of serenity once they visit the place.
Lake Agco Mountain Resort as noted by those who experience its uniqueness, is where Fire, Air, Water and Earth converged as one.
The resort is accessible from Kidapawan City through a well maintained 24 kilometer road passing through Barangay Ilomavis. Public transports such as jeeps and vans are available and usually take 45 minutes travel time. “Habal-habal” or single motorcycles used for public transport can be hired for P70 per person.
