Maramag, Bukidnon

THE first time I saw Maramag, Bukidnon was over two decades ago during my drive from Manila to Davao. After about three hours of driving from Cagayan de Oro, we were greeted by the breathtaking view of Mount Kalatungan, the fifth highest mountain in the Philippines, and enchanting mountain lakes when we stopped at a junction where many roads crisscross.

This was during the pre-Waze days, and the only way to know our location was to ask the locals. «You are in Maramag, and from here you can go to Davao, Tagum, Cotabato, and even General Santos,» said a man standing by the roadside after pointing us to the road going to Davao. I looked around Maramag, captivated by its natural beauty, and made a mental note to stay longer the next time I passed by this beautiful place.

Cleanest wet market Maramag Municipal Hall Lake Pinamaloy in Don Carlos Bukidnon Milk Co. in Maramag Corn, banana and pineapple plantations Lake Pinamaloy in Don Carlos Maramag bus terminal Sugar cane plantation Mount Kalatungan Cleanest wet market Musuan Peak Maramag public plaza Marang by the roadside Lake Pinamaloy in Don Carlos Maramag Municipal Hall

Maramag's charm has always enthralled travelers. It sits at the center of Bukidnon, home to three of the five highest mountains in the Philippines. Long ago, when this place was still uninhabited, the native Manobos would stop by the bank of the Pulangi River to rest and have their meals after trekking and hunting. «Ag Ramag Ki Dini,» which translates to «Let us have our meals here,» soon became the origin of the name Maramag. It officially became a municipality in 1956.

Maramag is now a major stopover point for travelers in Mindanao, serving as a nodal point of major national roads to different places: the Bukidnon-Lanao del Sur road; Bukidnon-North Cotabato road; Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro road; and the Bukidnon-Davao road. But for those who wish to stay longer, Maramag has plenty of interesting attractions to offer.

Getting there

Maramag is located 158 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro, 152 kilometers from Davao City, and 281 kilometers from General Santos City. Driving time from either Davao or Cagayan de Oro is about three hours.

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