Constant travel

Netnet Camomot

TRAVEL is a constant in one’s life. That’s how he learns about the number of hours one has to travel before he can reach his destination. Hehe. If he doesn’t even try to make that first step, he will never learn how many hours that is.

Thus, on Wednesday morning, there we were, leaving Cagayan de Oro for the Rotary International District 3870’s district conference (Discon) in Cotabato City. If I were not president of our Rotary club, I would not have, uh, dared.

Cotabato has been getting loads of bad press lately, no thanks to events happening within or near its environs. But there was not a single doubt in my mind and heart about coming here. I considered this as an opportunity to see the place for the very first time.

I and three other co-Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Kalayaan CDO registered for the Cotabato Discon way back last year during the Discon in CDO which was then hosted by the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro. I already knew then that I was going to be RC Kalayaan’s next president, so, it was a given that I should be joining the Discon wherever that might be.

We left CDO at 7:30 am and arrived in Cotabato City at past 4 pm. I couldn’t tell the exact time of our arrival because I was looking at the view.

Cotabato City is like any other city that’s about to be developed into something more. More malls, more hotels, more tourist spots.

But people who have never been here are still weary of the peace-and-order situation. Which is of course understandable if you’ve never been here.

On Wednesday night, we were dining and shopping at Alnor and left the place at 9 pm, which would be a no-no to the tourist who’s not familiar in a place that’s getting question marks on its peace-and-order situation. But we were hungry and wanted to go out of the hotel. And would have watched “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” again if we were not too tired and were ready to have our beauty rest for the next day’s activities.

This is the city that some people were not so keen on visiting. I remember one night at Zamboanga when a cop approached us to ask where we’re from. When we told him we were from CDO, he advised us to return to the hotel, brought us to the jeepney station, and asked the jeepney driver to bring us safely to the hotel. And that was before 6 pm when the sun had not set yet.

That’s how it is in some parts of Mindanao. And may always be there for as long as people want more. More land, more power, more, uh, money?

For now, it’s still advisable for the Mindanaoan to discover Mindanao first before moving on to Visayas and Luzon because, like Mount Everest, it’s, uh, there.