I chanced upon the idea of visiting the "Tamayong Prayer Mountain" when I was searching for places to visit in Davao via Trip Advisor. The beautiful and well manicured landscape hooked my interest. It is as if you are transported to a different place.

Tamayong Prayer Mountain is an eight-hectare of flawlessly landscaped compound located in Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City. Also called as the Garden of Eden Restored, this place is where the executive pastor Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, born and grew up.



Going There
Before planning a trip to and going directly toTamayong Prayer Mountain, please drop by the JMC School to secure your day tour permit. It is just a stone throne away from the airport you would not miss it.

In our case, we arrived at the Davao Airport around 9:30AM and secured our permit for a tour on the same day. There's a minmal fee of Php 125 per person, to be used for planting trees and maintenance of the garden.

The Tamayong Prayer Mountain is located in Calinan, Davao City. It's almost an hour away from the city and more than an hour from the Davao International Airport. It sits at the foot of Mount Apo, and you'll pass by scenic fruit plantations going there.

The place was built based on the belief that mountains have a significant role in God's dealing with mankind. In the old testament, God spoke the 10 commandments to Moses on a mountain.

The whole place is impressive. It's a perfect place to find serenity and a place where you appreciate God. Though a “religious and holy site” for the followers of the “Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name”, the place is open for visitors (reservations required, and a dress code is enforced), and they don’t seem to mind what religion or denomination their visitors come from. It is a place of prayer and worship so aside from proper clothing, a proper attitude must be exerted at all times in reverence to the significance of the place.



Upon arrival, we handed our authorization letter to the security guard. They already know that we were coming and a tour guide was already there waiting to usher us. We forgot to ask for his name. But he was so nice and always smiling.




We were led to a coffee house to watch a short video of what the place is all about and the guidelines we need to follow. We were also entertained by their youth members of a short song number.

The prayer mountain is not open for commercial shoot, prenups and the likes - thus a video camera and professional cameras are restricted.



The place is indeed a very beautiful and relaxing place. It's like Disneyland without the Disney characters and the rides.

The flowers are so beautiful. 60% of the plants and flowers in the entire vicinity were imported from around the world.



​A total of seven trucks of water are consumed everyday in maintaining its landscapes and gardens. Whoah! That's a lot.





Not only that! ​Leaves of pest-prone plants are soaped individually by the gardeners. Each 10-square meter of the sprawling complex has a personnel in-charge. What a spoiled bunch of flowers right there.

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MI had the privilege of visiting one of Unesco's World Heritage last June 9. When I got invited to join the first ever BBTF convention in Bali, I knew I had to make a sidetrip to Jogja. God was really gracious and allowed me to book a flight Manila-Jakarta-Yogyakarta-Bali-Manila to just around Php 10,000++ via Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. 

My tour operator in Bali arranged everything for me. When I arrived, I was greeted by my tour guide who speaks English fluently. I kept on telling him, I see him more like a professor or a historian more than being a guide. 

With just two hours sleep, having arrived on a red eye flight in Jakarta and leaving for Jogja aboard the 5:20am flight, we went to our first stop and it's Borubudur. It's about a 2 hours drive from the airport. As much as I want to sleep in the journey, I tried to listen attentively to my guide as he lectured everything about Jogja. I drank my energy drink to keep myself awake. 

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The midnight arrival in Jakarta with a connecting flight departure to Yogyakarta at 5am had me booked a room at Pop Airport hotel. I figured, a 2 hour decent sleep in a comfy bed is much needed for a loong day touring Borubudor, Prambanan and Yogyakarta city.

It was a well thought decision I am thankful I did not settle in just sleeping at the airport. 

I booked the room through Agoda using my reward points. It's about Php 1,500+ if I remember it right. 

They offer free airport transfers on a certain schedule only. Since I arrived at midnight, I had to get a taxi to get there. Blue Bird taxi is the most reliable as per my Indonesian tour operator, so that's what I took. It took me around 15 minutes to get to the hotel and I paid IDR 50,000. Hotel check in was smooth and fast. 

As soon as I got to my room, I hurriedly snapped photos for documentation then went to get a 2 hour sleep. 

I arrived at the hotel around 1:30am. Slept and woke up at 3:30am as I need to go back to the airport for my 5:20am flight. I have to take another taxi and paid IDR 50,000 again. The hotel have a stand by airport cars and taxis so no need to worry you'll have a hard time catching for your early morning flight. Everyone was friendly. Some had a hard time talking in English, but they have a ready smile on their face you know they are willing to help despite of the language barrier.

It was a short pleasant stay. I would stay again. :)

Here's the airport shuttle schedule

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It is almost the same with how you pay through BDO Online Banking.

But with the new website, you just have to choose Payment Centers, as seen below. You will be taken onto the next page with your confirmation or booking number.

Take note of this booking number.

 Go to your Metrobank Direct website. If you do not have one yet, please go to your branch of account to sign up. Online activation may take up to 3-5 banking days. Please call your bank for more details.

From your online banking, just select Pay Bills from the menu. Under Special Biller, select Others, then select Cebu Pacific as shown below. Fill up the necessary details. Please make sure you have your correct booking number.

After you hit the button "Continue", you will be taken to the confirmation page already. And voila, you're done. Just wait for the confirmed flight e-ticket in your registered email after 24 hours.

Below is a sample confirmation page taken from a previous booking. Once you hit confirm, you will be asked to input your transaction password, and you're done.

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If you are looking for an awesome beach getaway without having to wait for seat sales and PISO fares, don't fret, CALAGUAS won't bring you down.

How to get there: (This is the route we chose when we visited last May 30, 2014 for a 2D1N Trip)

Via Paracale
Our group rode a Philtranco bus 9PM trip to Daet, got off at Barangay Talobatib and rode a tricycle to get us to Paracale fish port. There's a small carinderia where you can get a quick breakfast at Barangay Talobatib. You can also use their small bathroom to freshen yourself up as the ride from Manila to Daet is a grueling 8 hours.

Alternatively, you can ride Superlines bus as they have direct Paracale trips. We just didn't like how fast they drive. Our Philtranco ride was smooth and felt safe, so kudos to Philtranco.

That's our uber nice boatman, Kuya Ricky.

Contact Person
Our main contact at Paracale is Kuya Ricky. We hired his boat for Php 5,000, good for 10 pax, for an overnight trip in Calaguas. The amount paid includes the gas, use of lifevest, use of cooking wares and utensils, water gallon, coolers, plus a guided trek in Calaguas and an island hopping sidetrip. You may contact him at 0912.736.5717. Kuya Ricky is the man! He kept an eye to each one of us, even encouraging us to do cliff jumping.

View of Mahabang Buhangin at the top

What to Bring
Upon arrival in Paracale, it is best that you shop your food at the nearby market or you can bring your own. There are limited supplies in the island so it's best that you buy everything that you need in Paracale. Whether it may be your food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, ice packs, your drinking water, etc. etc.

Our quaint little cottage

Where to Stay in the island
We stayed in the middle part of the island which is owned by the Local Government Unit of Camarines Norte. There are a lot of cottages for rent and near the toilets as well. The cottage rental is Php 500, small light bulb for our evening light at Php 50.

Happiness overload!

Where to cook your food
We just opted to have our food cooked by the local villagers. No standard pricing. Just be generous enough to help them make a living. They are good cooks as well.

the other end of the island

What activities to do
There are a lot of activities besides swimming, beach bumming and taking a lot of pictures

White Sand and Cool blue waters

Cliff Diving

Kuya Ricky on guard and ready to swim and save us if something happens

Island Hopping

Island hopping - 1 of the 3 islands we visited

Appreciating Sunset

I love sunsets, do you?

Trekking

Nature at its best. Appreciating the Creator and His creation

Why choose Calaguas on your next summer trip?
Because, it is unbelievably cheap. Check our expenses below.

Calaguas 2014
Philtranco bus Manila - Daet	750
CR (Stopover)	10
Breakfast - Paracale	40
Trike to Paracale Port (300/4)	75
Food - Market (2250/9)	250
Calaguas Boat (5000/9)	556
Environmental Fee	20
Cottage Light	50
Cottage Rental (500/9)	56
Van rental - Sidetrip Bagasbas (1500/9)	167
Food - Late Lunch/Dinner	240
Surf	400
Pasalubong	250
Superlines Daet - Manila	580
Miscellaneous (cooking fee, tip etc.)	350
	3794

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