Tubajon Aquamarine Park

 Tubajon Aquamarine Park is a 22-hectare government protected area in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental. Its terrain features include a vast mangrove forest and coral reefs along the shore.   

Protecting natural resources such as those in Tubajon is important for our environment because mangrove forest and coral reefs serve as breeding and feeding grounds and sanctuary for fishes, sea turtles and invertebrates. Coral reefs and mangrove forest can also mitigate damage to offshore area inhabited by people by cushioning the impact of big waves caused by natural calamities such as tsunami and typhoon.  Without wave brakes, the impact of said natural phenomenon could be catastrophic.

Since 2002 local government units have made the place not only a nature park but also a tourist destination for local and other visitors. One must pay 50 pesos for an entrance to the park. Its attractions include a walk through the mangrove forest via the bamboo bridges that lead to the makeshift bamboo dock for boats. The dock also serves as a platform for visitors who wish to swim in the water. Along the bamboo bridges are cottages for a fee ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos if they wish to stay at the forest for several hours.

For visitors from other places, his stay at the park is somewhat not complete without a short trip to the waters where the coral reefs are located. To do it, he must hire a boat for the tour. The fee is about 700 per hour. It should be desirable if the boat is a glass bottom one to see what is under the water. On board he can see the corals and fishes, and if he is lucky enough the sea turtles. Sometimes, sea turtles are not on sight during a ride on a motorized boat.

It is best to go there on a private car or a public utility van. The reference point is a road junction with a wet market on the corner in Mauswagon, Laguindingan. Just follow that road going north or toward the sea and it will lead you to your destination.

Agutayan Island, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental

One of the least known tourist destinations of Misamis Oriental and Region 10 is Agutayan Island in the town of Jasaan which is about 28 kilometers from the capital city Cagayan de Oro. The island which is about 5 kilometers off the town’s coast is within a government protected marine area that also includes underwater coral reefs that are sanctuary and breeding place of different sea creatures such as giant clams, giant sea turtles, and species of small and big fish. The marine protected area is about 3 hectares which is delineated with buoys that are connected with lines.

The sandbar island is the most prominent scene within the surface of the marine sanctuary. It is crescent shape and is about 5,000 square meters in area. The cream-colored sand surrounding it and beyond creates clear and turquoise water in its vicinity. The island is ideal for people who take pleasure to bask or swim in the sea water during the hot summer days or in any season of the year when the weather is calm. Visitors of the island should bring along with them foods, water, tents, umbrellas or towels or clothes to protect themselves from the hot sun because the island has no vegetation and is uninhabited.    

           

Because of the diversity of marine life in it, the government protected marine sanctuary has become the Mecca of scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers. Fishing however is prohibited in the protected marine sanctuary. And there is a maritime post a few meters from the island to watch over the reefs from poachers and illegal fishers. The post also serves as a lighthouse during the evening.

From Liyang Beach or the fishing village of Bobuntugan in Jasaan the island can be reached within 20 minutes by local motorized boats which can be hired at a reasonable price.