A Glance of Glan

I was staring at my computer monitor while thinking about how to start this article. It wasn't the writer's block. No. I was actually in the middle of my Batanes article when I suddenly felt demotivated. Contrary from my previous article (A 2020 Reflection), I realized that there are so many things that causes anxiety and sadness. 

Well, this post has long been overdue. In fact, I started writing this blog last January but I stopped. Until this Weekly Content Challenge, I found myself revisiting my experience in Glan. Anyway, let me start this article again because if it weren't for this pandemic, I could have been anywhere else in Mindanao. Now, I could only reminisce my travel adventures sans traveling, itself.

"Our Glan getaway was such an unforgettable experience."

To begin, Glan, Saranggani Province is located in the Southern part of Cotabato, Mindanao. It is well-known for its agriculture. Aside from its root crops, Glan is also dubbed as the Next Boracay of the South. Other than that, it also serves as the gateway to Balut Islad, a volcanic island best for diving and snorkeling. Finally, who would have thought that Glan is just a two-hour drive away from General Santos City, the city I lived in for a year. 

Being new in Mindanao, I couldn't deny the fact that I wanted to spend most of my time exploring whilst working. As a short background, I was once an IELTS trainer for a UK-company with a partner hospital in Gensan. I willingly relocated in South Cotabato because of the tempting reason of exploring different provinces.

Glan became part of my bucket list after hearing a lot about it from my colleagues and my students. So, I dared to ask my students to explore the other side of Sarangani Province together. True to their words, we found ourselves in a secluded paradise. The long stretch of pristine white sand glistens solely for us. Although it was a private beach, I thought it was exclusive for the four of us because we were basically the only guests on a holiday. It was one of the best R&R for me, I supposed. 

The morning was painted with crashing waves of the Celebes Sea and the Sarangani Bay with the blue sky as its backdrop. The sun didn't shine too much that morning thus, it made all the more reason to enjoy the beach. I drunk at the morning bliss. I found my solitude again under a coconut shade. "Beautiful life," I uttered. The blessings I received ever since I moved in Mindanao are overwhelming. I was basking both for work and leisure. It never occurred to me to regret my decision to leave Cebu City. The peace and quiet of the place contradicts everything I have been reading from the news. Glan proved that Mindanao is truly a land of promise and stunning landscapes and seascapes.

Then I thought of things that causes anxiety and sadness while sitting on the sand. I reminded myself that the environment including people are triggering factors of these negative feelings. As a nurse, I was exposed to different emotions of my patients and they are all the same - anxious. They have fears especially of the unknown, of death and dying. Their anxiety could range from mild to severe. But I also believe that healing comes from within. Unless these negative emotions are acknowledged, then help is possible. Admittedly, there were moments that I felt unusually sad and anxious. But, I learned to accept about these emotions and accepting that I am human afterall. 

The introspection caused me to just sit around before I was called for lunch and swimming. Indeed, the beach is a natural healer. It washes away sadness and brings back happiness and calm. 

For information, we stayed at Isla de Jardin. Its entrance fee is 150 pesos only. 

Here are some of my Mindanao adventures:

1. Lake Sebu

2. Kalon Barak

3. Kablon, Tupi

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