Yes, Pagadian is lucky to be endowed with great natural beauty. I have traveled to many parts of the country and abroad and I’m happy to conclude that Pagadian can compete, especially on ecotourism/off-the-beaten-track travel. One good model to adapt is that of Batanes. What they lack in malls, commercial establishments, and beach resorts, they make up plenty with their raw, unspoiled hills and rolling terrains. Their road network is limited and patchy but gets one to the most scenic spots. There is no night life but tourists don’t mind. They come for the beauty of the place.

I personally think that Pagadian and Zamsur (I’ve seen this in Pagadian airport and I like it better than the old Zambosur monicker) have more to offer: rolling hills, coastlines, dive spots, lakes, etc. The only thing missing are brave local entrepreneurs to set up a tour operator business in Pagadian. I think that’s the catalyst. If somebody can set it up, the rest will follow. But it takes more than one individual to pull this off. It takes the entire Pagadian/Zamsur community.

For those of you willing to exchange ideas on this subject, I’m very much willing to correspond. Just drop me an email. Thanks again, Jerome, for this rough-and-ready guide.

And, of course, the seasonal fruits you can find in Pagadian at its cheapest – lanzones, marang, durian, avocado, tambis, macopa, water melon, mangoes (it once was the mango bastion of Western Mindanao)… and many more! Pomelos, bananas, duhat (lomboy or native grapes), papayas are sold the whole year round.

And you failed to mention the one-stop-shop Agora – where you can buy anything from ukay-ukay to dry goods (clothing, shoes, bags, accessories) to groceries as well as wet goods (fresh sea foods, meat, vegetables…) in one big and well-organized market complex!

Of course, one can enjoy the view of the Illana Bay at the Provincial Capitol, too…

Well, the “unique” tricycle is a product of an intensive study of how to make it fit to the rolling terrain. The trike is inclined upward because, normally, a passenger will always take the front seat first (there’s always a back seat), so it gets its balance. And even without a passenger, the trike levels itself when going down to the commercial district. This “uniqueness” prevents the vehicle from careening down and colliding with the boats at the wharf area (it happened many times before this “unique” style was adapted), or sliding backward if it goes uphill without a passenger.

And here’s something very inspiring … a son of Pagadian City has just joined P-Noy’s cabinet, Sec. Enrique Ona of the Department of Health (DOH). He’s the son of the late Mayor Ona of Pagadian City and brother of Councilor Gil Ona. Before him, Undersecretary Romeo (Boy) Ebarle was PGMA’s Chief-of-Staff. He’s the son of the late Governor Ben Ebarle of Zamboanga del Sur (and father of the late Victor Ebarle, the one who was slain by Jason Ivler). There was a time when the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) was chaired by Atty. Reuben Lingating, a Subanen, who had served as Provincial Administrator of Zamboanga del Sur.

I’ve been in your “Asia’s First Latin City” many times, too. In fact, I stayed at Santa Maria when I worked with Napocor … and my uncle married Mayor Lobregat’s sister…

Again, thanks for the wonderful effort!