Sultan Kudarat is a place where Christians and Muslims live peacefully; Sultan Kudarat for me is friendship. It is in this province where I knew and loved people. It is in Sultan Kudarat where my best friend, Agnes came from.
We’ve known each other since college in UP Visayas in Miag-ao. The southern region of Mindanao is a mixed community of Ilonggos, Pampangenos, Ilocanos and Cebuanos to name and few. Agnes is Ilongga and I am 100% Cebuana. When I moved to Iloilo from Cebu to study, she was my interpreter when my Hiligaynon lexicon was only composed of “piyak“, “bakal” and “agi“.
Agnes + Valerie team!
The capital of Sultan Kudarat is Isulan, derived from the word “Isusilan“. The word “isul” in Hiligaynon means to move forward, locals cut “Isusilan” into “Isulan” which is now its present name. For more than 13 years that Agnes and I have been friends, it was just last week that I traveled down south and see for myself her beloved homeland.
Like most of my travels this month, I came for her wedding. I still have to ask for her wedding photo but here she is the night before her big day. Revealing her wedding gown which is as brilliant and as exquisite as she is. Agnes is a lawyer by the way. Future governess of Sultan Kudarat.
And my trip was my first solo voyage in 6-7 years. From Iloilo, took a flight to General Santos City, took some bus rides passing along Polomolok, Marbel and Tacurong City. It was so enjoyable I never felt the hours.
Because I make a living as a freelance writer, “work” was still on my list. Right after I arrived in Isulan while Agnes and Glenn were rehearsing, I interviewed the owner of a local coffee brand ( will blog). FYI Sultan Kudarat is the biggest coffee producer in the Philippines.
This is Isulan’s Municipal Hall
Met Agnes for dinner and final inspection for their reception
It was their Wedding Eve but they still showed me around. Sultan Kudarat’s Capitol Building. Very majestic you will look for Alladin. I love the design.
Statue of Sultan Kudarat
After the wedding and after dozing to sleep with my friends waiting outside my hotel room for 10 minutes ( hahaha!), my day tour around Isulan started. I appreciate the hospitality, felt so VIP. hehe.
Buko halo with Nelry, Nelly and her boyfriend, Atty. Norlyn. Lovebirds are wearing shades of Grey. 🙂
I love the roads especially compared to Capiz’s
After the refreshment, we drove to the old capitol compound housing the legal offices of Agnes, Nelry and Norlyn.
Then we drove to the Capitol ( will blog)
VIP mode, roam around its rooms up to its rooftop with this view
African palm plantation…breathtaking along with some wishful thinking that I am an heiress. hahaha!
There are many developments within the complex, making Isulan and the rest of Sultan Kudarat a progressive province. Too bad it’s a victim of media’s wrong light. Its tennis court with clay flooring..
This is where they house REAL VIPs. I will stay here next time I visit Isulan. hehee
Local crafts is one of my favorite niche as a freelance writer so we stop at locals making “kalakat” which is used as a wall material. It is made of the African palm leaves and stems ( part of it).
It was drizzling and dinner time. Touring around the Capitol literally melted our halo-halo snack so off we went for some pork bbq and pantat
I don’t eat pantat even if it’s my sweet love’s favorite. I don’t like the smell and the face but guess what, I ate it. Just a nibble and it was not bad after all. Maybe it’s the smell I hate. 🙂
After dinner, I stayed at Bayoy’s Hookah Bar and Grill, owned by Nelry’s family. Nice music.
More college friends came over! Dardar and Joelyn. Stayed beyond Cinderella’s time. hehe
Some things never change. My first roommate at Balay Kanlaon, Dardar preferred to climb over their gate. Hahaha! Funny to watch.
And then I was dropped to my hotel room. Hope you felt the joy I had, till my next post 🙂
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