Rustic ambiance

BUTUAN CITY – While this capital city of the historic Agusan Del Norte and the absence of the glitter and social heartthrob of Cagayan de Oro and Davao, Butuan has its own rustic ambience that if you really want rest, this is in the category of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte's capital city.

From Davao City we passed by Tagum, capital of Davao del Norte. But it was at San Francisco town of Agusan del Sur that we had a stopover and lunch at the compound of Bachelor Express.

Of the many hundreds, nearly 2,000 buses of Ric Yanson, his Rural Tours takes care of Western Mindanao and his Bachelor Express takes care of Eastern Mindanao .

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At San Francisco town we were met by Mayor Carl Lademora. We asked him about a controversial Philippine Constabulary Commander. His father, he said, who is from Lambunao in Iloilo .

San Francisco is a town but more prosperous than the capital, Prosperidad, just a few kilometers away.

San Francisco can soon become a city, with a 90,000 population and a budget of nearly P100 million.

Mayor Lademora, on his second term now, believes he can make his town a city in a few years.

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After Mayor Lademora, we paid a courtesy call on Agusan del Sur Governor Ma. Agustina Plaza .

The boys were not able to talk to her because she had many visitors. She gave a plaque of appreciation to Ric for his help on her project.

Yesterday we left Butuan for Cagayan de Oro on a ferry to Cebu . Then a plane flight to Bacolod .

In summary, this trip to Mindanao dispels the fear it is dangerous.

But we cannot take our minds off from the beautiful roads that we passed. All international standard except in Rep. Iggy Arroyo's fifth district.

It is ironic to visit other places without visiting the Philippines. *

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