Wow, Wao!

Scenic drive to Wao

I couldn't help but exclaim a big "Wow!" while on a road trip to Wao, Lanao del Sur, in Mindanao, Philippines. Situated near the provinces of Cotobato and Bukidnon, the municipality of Wao, Lanao del Sur stood out for its outstanding natural beauty. 

Wao has vast and fertile farm lands; lush greenery and  tall trees, and picturesque hills and mountains. It has  around 19,000 hectares of forest land and a total land area of at least 34,000 hectares. Take a look at some of the photos:

 

Life seemed charmingly simple and peaceful in Wao, Lanao del Sur.  The people were very friendly and accommodating. They were quite easy to talk too, as most of them understood Tagalog and Bisaya. According to the local chief executive, around 80% of the municipality's residents are Christians, and 20% are Muslim Maranao. This was quite extraordinary considering that Wao, Lanao del Sur is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Municipal Hall of Wao

Noteworthy, too, is that Wao has won 2 Galing Pook Awards from the national government. Galing Pook is a recognition given to municipalities, cities, and provinces with excellent or  innovative practices in local governance. The local government of Wao won for their programs on watershed management and solid waste management.

Wao's Welcome Marker

To get to Wao, Lanao del Sur,  you can hire a van and take the Marilog,Davao-Maramag, Bukidnon route to get to Wao.  It would take a maximum of 3 hours. Exploring the place would also be easier as tricycles are the typical transportation in this small town. There is also a bus from Cagayan de Oro that goes to Wao. It would take around 6 hours to get there by bus. By the way,  most travel sites or blogs advise against visiting Lanao del Sur because of security concerns.  Personally, I think the rustic town of Wao, Lanao del Sur should be an exception. It deserves at least a day trip!