Bob Martin at the Del Monte Clubhouse in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon
Hi, my name is Bob Martin, and I am the owner/writer for the Mindanao Blog! Thanks for coming by for a visit, sit down for some pineapple and let’s talk about Mindanao!
Yes, I am an American, but I have been coming to Mindanao regularly since 1990. In addition, I have lived permanently in Mindanao since early 2000, and I love it here. The thing that I hear all the time when I tell people that I live in Mindanao is that I must be scared because it is so dangerous here. Actually, that is really far from the truth. Yes, there are places in Mindanao that are quite dangerous, but the majority of the island is safe. Is it perfectly safe? No, I know of no place on the earth that is perfectly safe, do you? I have lived here for a number of years now, and I have never felt that I was in danger yet. I do try to use common sense in my daily comings and goings, though. I suppose that in these days of uncertainty that would be a sensible thing to do no matter where you live.
MindanaoBob holding a live crocodile that was taken from the Davao River
I have been involved in a number of different types of businesses over the years. I guess that at the root I am a retailer. I have managed a number of different retail stores ranging from small specialty shops to huge discount stores in the past. Since the early 1990′s, though, I have been self employed. In that time I have done different things. Initially I was a writer, authoring about a dozen different books that were published. Most books that I wrote were on the subject of Amateur Radio and Shortwave Radio Listening. In recent years I have sort of mixed my passion for retailing with my passion for writing and for the Internet in general. I have a number of different blogs on the Internet, as well as e-commerce stores selling different types of items on each of my websites. It is a good life, and I enjoy it very much. The kind of business that I do allows me to have free time when I want it, and also work at whatever schedule I choose. It allows me time for my wife and kids, which I enjoy a lot as well.
Feyma Martin with our boys, Chris, Aaron and Jared
I guess that when you mix up all of my interests and my passions, there is only one thing that you could call me. An Entrepreneur. Yes, I am an Entrepreneur, and I love it!
Come back to the blog often!
Hi Mr. Bob,
Your site is very interesting and very informative. My hometown is Koronadal City and married to an American too. Currently, we are living and working in Cebu. Just visit Gensan, Koronadal and Davao last Sept. 10-12, 2010. And still amazed at Mindanao’s beauty. My husband and I planning of settling in there. You got it, Mindanao is very far from other Cities of the Philippines. Always missing Mindanao. Thank you for supporting loving Mindanao.
Hello Regina – Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate it very much. I hope you had a great trip to Mindanao this past weekend.
hi mr. bob..
mr. bob is it true that your organization needs people in on the job training in manila for 3-6 months??and is it free for accommodation??
,,thanx po…:)
Hi Aya – Truth is, I know nothing of what you are talking about. I am in no way involved with what you mention.
Bob did your mother live on the Mohawk river and have a foster daughter Linda Markowitz? .
No.
sori..uncle bob..wrong information..thnk u po..
hello Bob I’m Juliet the one who subscribe you all the time! i hope you wanna see each other and welcome
to the Mindanao!!
Hi Juliet – Sure, I’d be happy to get together if you are ever in the Davao area! Maybe we could meet for a cup of coffee or something! Just let me know if you are in the area, my cell number is (0915) 216-0300.
as a pilipino i have been told not once or twice inlove of country my duty lies to be a true pilipino this I should know i sing this poem i learnd below.\
Hi Bob And Feyma And Family-To all those who travel to Mangagoy/Bislig City and prefer not to travel the rough road.There is a different route.All smooth concrete and celfone signal all the way to Mangagoy.Instead of making the right to go through Quevis and the rough road,go straight through trento then to Barabo then around to San Fran.You come out by Forest Drive and the Bislig Bridge.Small villages all the way.For those who feel the rough road to Mangagoy is not too safe,this route surely is.Its a little longer but great scenery,celfone signal and smooth ride.
Hi Will – You are right! That is a very nice route. I have driven that route a number of times, and even written about it on this site!
Hi Bob, just saw your site on my bookmarks and thought I’d say hello. Long time no talk. I’m still here in Texas. I have a short time til I get my bachelors degree and then I can travel again.
Take care,
Mike
Hi Mike! Glad to hear that you are doing well! Good luck with your studies!
Hi Sir Bod. How are you? Hope you are doing great as well as your family. Anyways, I”m isidro ” Sid” Lauron, a 3rd year BS Nursing student here in Mindanao State University, Marawi City. My hometown is in Aglayan Malaybalay City Bukidnon. I visited your blog accidentally and i find it very informative. You’re a great traveler and I enjoyed your travel photos. I have a ginormous interests on traveling and geography. through your blog, somehow, I was able to know what’s happening in Mindanao right now. It’s been seven months that i was not able to go home and I really missed it. Nevertheless, I only have a week here in MSU campus and I’m going home. Wew. Anyways, if you want to know more about me, you can check my facebook account or text me @ 09059682363. My pleasure to be ur friend. Until here Sir Bob. take care and God Bless you and your family always!
two thumbs up to your blog!
Yours truly,
Sid
Thank you, Sid! I am happy that you enjoyed visiting my site! I have been to MSU Marawi, and it is a beautiful campus!
Hello,i’m a french,and i like going in Tawi-Tawi,it is possible without danger ?What’s the better plan
to go there,boat,plane? Thank you for the answer ! And so long !Kiss to your kind family!
Hi Raphael – Tawi Tawi is a dangerous journey, I would recommend that you think twice about it. If you do go, travel by air, no doubt.
Hi Bob,is the arrest and detainment of a norwegian man and his filippina fiancee for murder of a 6 year old girl in the news there in Davao?The guy and his girlfriend are so innocent it’s crazy.The NBI proved without a doubt of there alibi is sound but the cebu police are relying on the witnesses that are 6 and 10 years old and a proven alibi is not good enough in Philippine law to override witnesses say the police.So,On another website forum in cebu-you can see that many are considering davao for relocation and I mean many and many others are considering other countrys.The cebu government is also talking about a foreigner ID card and curfew for foreigners.Thank God the Norwegian embassy is right on top of this.
Hi Will – I have not heard about the incident, but I don’t follow Cebu news all that closely. Sorry to hear of the problems. I must say that I am surprised about the ID card for foreigners, because we already have an ID card, the ACR I-Card.
Good luck with the incident, I hope it all gets worked out.
Hello Bob!
I have a question you probably have heard before.
The thing is that i met a girl from General Santos City over a year ago in Manila.
I really like her, but i have been unsure of the safety in mindanao.
However, when i went to meet her, last january, i was scared to go to General santos City, and ask her to
meet me in davao, wich i have heard was a great place, and yes it really was a nice place, and safe.
She want me to come and visit me in General Santos city, so i can understand who she really is.
So my question now is, is General Santos City a safe place to be in for a foreigner like me?
I really want to visit there, but would like to hear your opinion before i decide
Thanks from Tobias a Swedish citizen
You should have no qualms about visiting GenSan. It’s quite safe.
Hi Bob..im sugar from Mangagoy….i would like to know your opinion since i have no idea in what to do….me and my special friend whom I know from chat for almost 4 months now, we seemed to understand each other well thats why we wanna know each other if things work well too in personal meetings. We like each other and give ourselves chances to fall in love personally, before goin to the next level which is marriage.. I was very happy upon knowing his planning to visit me here in mangagoy sometime this year. Thats why i need your opinion what are things that we will go in mangagoy so that he will enjoy, and i’m asking you this because i wanna know the feelings and expectations of a foreigner like you who visited a filipina? hoping for your reply….God Bless…and more power to your blog…
Hello Bob, I am looking forward to reading your blog, I just found it tonight as I surf the web. I am an American who lives in Wisconsin. I recently met a young lady who is going to school in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. We met on a website for dating and I want to know more about where she grew up and the lifestyles there. If things go well I plan on visiting the Philippines this summer to meet her in person. Who knows what the future holds but she is on my mind all the time.
Hi Ron – Thanks for visiting! I’m glad that you enjoyed my site. To get a better understanding of the Philippines and the culture of Filipinos, I recommend that you also check my other site: Live in the Philippines Web Magazine.
Hi Bob,
I just encounter your site from reading about the White House of Moncadista. I’m one of his follower, exactly my parents & grandparents. My mother have even live in that house, unfortunately she died last May 2010. Together with her and my sister we visited the White House in 2009, she was so happy to go up to the balcony and saw the beautiful view, at her age of 91 years old. I was born in Samal (Tandawan), presently living in Switrzerland. I will be in Samal by May this year. If you have time, maybe you can bring your family to our small beach at Catagman. Please look for Rocky Beach. Hope to hear from you…
Hi Oscarlita – Thank you for the invitation! I will see if we can make it. You know, I bet that I knew your mother, because I knew most of the people who stayed at the White House, I used to go there often. You are right, the view from the balcony there is really first class!
Hi Bob,
I’m afraid you didn’t meet my mother since she was only living there during the time of Master Moncado and Papa Lorenzo delos Reyes. She was staying with my sister at rocky beach until her last year. Nice visiting your site specially when we are far away from home. Thanks and Mabuhay!
Ah, I misunderstood, as I thought you meant that she lived there until 2009. There are still people who stay there, but only from time to time. The time when Hilario Moncado was there was long, long ago! My wife and I own some land just a few meters away from the White House. It’s a beautiful area.
Hi Bob,
It’s good to hear from an American living in Mindanao. I myself hailed from Zamboanga City and I hope you’ve been there too. It’s been a while since I last came home working as a OFW, I currently hold dual citizenship but the thought of coming to my real home eventually, doesn’t escape my mind. Like other filipinos, the thought of no job opportunities is what worries me but I am so glad and thankful of you and your family being there and doing well. I also thank your fellow compatriot for training our military and helping them out logistically and with intelligence not to mention during calamities. Hope your presence there wil encourage other foreigners to come and invest in Mondanao although personally I guess the best investor should be coming from someone like me and OFW, if someone would only tap our potential. Last time I heard there’s 8 million of us out here. Take care and God bless.
Hi Jay – Yeah, I’ve been to Zamboanga City before! I like it, nice place. Good luck on your quest to return home!
how’s life going on there in mindanao?
Life here is great.
Hi there Mindanao Bob,,I appreciate you are doing excellent servicer to a lot of people with your Mindanao Magazine. I am from Malaysia. I am planning to visit Gov Generoso from 30th to 2nd May..I suppose there is no hotel there..Any Do’s or Don’ts you think I should know apart from the normal things travellers should or should not do (such as not litter, to respect the peace and harmony of the place etc..)
I have friends by valancia city and uper lilygian stayed up in the mountians for 20 days. Coming to the end of some medicial things, would like to check on trip back to include some fly fishing, looking for a place or info thanks.
.
hi Bob.. i am very interested to travel from gensan to pagadian,dipolog and dapitan city and im planning to drive it by car passing maguindanao any idea how’s the road on this places? is it possible to drive here and safe for a woman driver??… hoping for your reply..thank you very much for your time..God bless you and your family..
The road is fine, but I personally cannot recommend you drive through that area. There are big risks. I have driven that route many times myself, but it is a personal choice, and not something I will recommend for anybody to do.
Hi Mr.Bob,
You really had a passion for photography..and for us college students we are very glad if you will allow us to see some tourist attraction you’ve been in Basilan..especially in Lamitan..it’s one of the requirements in one of our subject..
Thank you!
Dear Bob: Greetings from Philadelphia! We stumbled upon your site and we are happy that through it we see a positive and encouraging side of Mindanao. Thank you and we will “explore” more you site and also tell our friends. I have bookmarked your site so it will be one click away! God bless your family. Thanks for loving the Philippines!
Freddy and Sherry Panes
Philadelphia
Thank you Freddy!
Hi Bob,
Your site is so great! are you the owner of the first site of General Santos City?
Can you add my site as one of your link affiliates?
Thank you bob
-Erwin
Thank you Erwin, I’m glad that you like my site. Yes, back in 1995 I made the first website about General Santos City, and the City Council and Mayor recognized it as the official site of the city at that time.
I will be happy to add your site on my list of links, please add my site to yours, and let me know when you have it!
Hi Bob,
My american classmate is coming to visit Philippines and we planned to go to Cebu then Gensan and from Gen San to Davao and so on. last night when I told my Cebuana friend about this, she said it’s risky to tarvel on the road from Gensan to Davao with a foreigner. She advised me to either take a plane (meaning we go bakc to Manila or Cebu first beofre gg back to Davao) or scratch the Gen San trip altogether…she thinks Gen San could be dangerous bec it’s part of Mindanao. She and her friends have traveled around provinces in Philippines including Mindanao bec of work and this is her impression. She even said that a bus or private vehicle could be stopped on the road and men would pretend to be military or something but just looking for foreigners to victimized. Is there any truth to this?
If ever we go through with Gen San, our primary interest will be to visit Lake Sebu, 7 waterfalls and T’boli tribe…will this be safe destinations for us having a foreigner companion?
Hope to hear from you soon as I’m already booking flights and accom for our trip by end of Oct
Thanks a lot!!!
Hi Natalie – I am sorry to say, but I suspect that your Cebuana friend has never traveled that road before. She does not know what she is talking about. I have lived in Davao for 9+ years, and I lived in GenSan for 2 years before Davao. My wife is from GenSan. We have driven that route hundreds of times in the time we’ve lived here. There is nothing dangerous about that route.
If you are worried about the road from Davao to GenSan, you really should avoid Lake Sebu, because that is an NPA area, and it is somewhat dangerous at times. For me, I go there without worry, but being worried about the Davao to GenSan road… when it is much safer than the area around Lake Sebu? That doesn’t make sense.
Take care.
Follow-up question: If it’s safe to do land transportation from Gen San to davao, would you advise a bus or rent a van? Which one is safer? Is it comfortable to ride the bus? Thanks!
The route is safe. Bus, van, walk, ride a carabao. Whatever means of transportation you use, it is safe. The bus is comfortable, they even have aircon deluxe buses with movies and everything.
Thank you soooo much!!! Your reply is VERY helpful!
Oh No!!!! Really???? Lake Sebu is NOT SAFE?
That’s the reason why we’re going there bec we would like to see the 7 waterfalls and t’boli tribe 
How come I read some foreigners even do homestay with T’bolis? Which i think is actually riskier than to stay in Punta Isla Lake Resort, which we plan to do. You would really advise us against this? 
If we cant go to the waterfalls and Tboli tribe…we dont need to go to Gensan 
It’s supposed to be one highlight of our trip…sooo sad
Oh my goodness, Natalie. Please read more carefully. I did not say that Lake Sebu is not safe! I said that it is less safe than the drive from GenSan to Davao. The road between GSC and DVO is very, very safe, no problems. Lake Sebu is marginally safe. There is, at times, NPA activity in the area. The NPA generally does not bother foreigners because they do not want to be included on the US Terrorist list. It is safer for your foreign friend than for Filipinos. But… Lake Sebu, I would classify as generally being safe. At times it is less safe. But the highway from Davao to GenSan is very, very safe.
Please, don’t jump to conclusions on what I write. Read it thoroughly, because I never said that Lake Sebu is unsafe.
Sorry for misinterpreting your words. Understand you now
Guess I’m still bit of paranoid mode after last night’s warning 
Cheers
And thanks again very much!!! I feel very much relieved now…was really worried since last night.
Natalie – Enjoy your trip. No matter where in the world you go you should always be aware of what is going on around you, and take precautions. But, visiting the areas where you are going is really no more dangerous than traveling in the US or other first world countries.
Have a nice trip.
Hi Bob,
Would you know car for hire? We are thinking of being picked up from Gensan airport on Nov 6 then brought to Lake Sebu and on Nov 8 from Lake Sebu go to Davao (Samal port) and if it’s not expensive also hire it from Davao on 10 until Nov 12 to CDO.
Hi Natalie – I have arranged to have somebody contact you via e-mail to assist with your car rental options.
Hi Paul and Feyma and Family,
We arrived in Davao Sept 2,2011,found a house rental within 3 days.Living in lanang and loving being back in the Philippines.We drove to mangagoy/bislig a few weeks ago taking the trento,barabo,san fran route.Trip was great.Will be doing it again in the near future.We have been to Samal twice,the kids/we love blue jazz for swimming and the water slides,zipline and just meeting the folks as we travel around the island.Hope to meet you and the family Bob.Will
Sorry Bob,I said hi paul in my last post.
I’m gonna have to talk to Feyma.. who is this Paul guy she is hanging out with! Ha ha…
Glad you found a place to live! Enjoy your time in Davao!
Hi Bob,
i hope that you still remember me, i am Aurecel’s nephew. you went into our house once in montevista with your wife.. you have a very nice and informative site . good work.
Hi Jhinggoy – Yes indeed, i remember you! I hope you are doing well. I am still in touch with Au from time to time.
Hi! Bob
I am marrying my sweetheart early next year and we are moving to Gen Santos, building a house and hoping to melt in….LOL
Do you know of any bloggers in Gen Santos…even though Pauline is from there just want a bit of ground info (I’m an Aussie).
Like your site, have to set my blog up…probably put a private blog on our online shop when I get down there.
Pauline is a teacher and we are going back so she can do her PhD…
Hi Desmond – Good luck with your move, I hope all goes well for you. Yes, I know many bloggers in GenSan, and I used to live there myself. Probably the most well known blogger in that part of the country is Avel at http://gensantos.com
Good luck.
Dear Mr. Martin,
I just happened to click on this site and I found it very interesting and honored in the sense that Mindanao
is written on your blog.
As you know, I am very keen in finding more informations about Mindanao as I am a born-Mindanaoeans.Your site would be a good start to talk about some places in Mindanao like my home town Libungan in the northern part of Cotabato. I will be coming home soon after my short stay in Turkey and London.Then I would be interested to see Bukidnon city again.I was there last year and I had just passed by the lovely city of yours.
Let me have the chance to meet you by this time and share some experiences may it be private or not and share it on your blog.
By the way, I am a naturalized German citizen and it might be a good idea if I can write about Pinoys in my second home country which will be included in your blog.I don’t know if this is an attraction to the cause.
Thanks a lot.
Yours sincerely,
Perl
Hi Bob…I find blog site very intriguing and I am quite hooked to it I was trying to read Faith Based Organizations and Basilan. I first came across first of Rico Valmonte instantly I found myself reading through his accounts about Basilan. Even about his works as an NGO. I am NGO myself for a short time. I am a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga. As an NGO I worked in for the Diocese of Ipil in their Community Based Health Program with that I have travelled through out the Sibugay Province and some of Zamboanga del Sur. The thing is for now I am a volunteer for an organization that advocates disaster preparedness in Basilan,Sulu and Tawi tawi. I’m trying to find any organizations or contact persons that may be able to help me in laying the ground work for project proposals, coordination and networking. Also I could use tips in maintaining blogs or sites. The coming year would be a tough time for us. I really you could share some tips and ideas regarding this things.Thank you so much for reading this..Advance merry xmas and happy holidays.
Good Day Sir Bob. I like the way you viewed Mindanao. I am a blogger based in Bayugan, Agusan del sur and Iligan City. I like your blog especially knowing that you’re an American and you love this island of Mindanao. I love Mindanao and I want to change the way people judge Mindanao.
Thank you ian. I have been to Bayugan, and I really like the place, very nice little town! I know what you mean about Mindanao, it really bothers me with all the bad press and attitudes that people have for the place!
Hi Bob and friends, Been awhile since I dropped you a line. I’m still here in Texas and it’s been nearly 5 years since we went to the Philippines so my wife went for a couple of weeks here the last part of December. I didn’t go because I have some things going on. It’s been pretty cool lately and I would have loved to have spent a few days in the tropics but I couldn’t justify it right now.
I’m about to turn 64 this next week and I just now after 45 years of intermittent work on it finished my bachelors degree. Now I need to go back to work for a few years. So I’ll be sending my updated resume around before long.
Anyway, I just thought I’d drop you a note and see how things are going in the land of summer.
Take care,
Mike
Hi Mike – Nice to hear from you, it has been some time! Congratulations on your upcoming birthday, and also on that bachelor’s degree! It shows that you are never too old to learn! I will be celebrating a milestone birthday next month – I’ll be hitting 50. Not sure if I am looking forward to that or dreading it!
Take care, Mike!
Do you have any idea how late the buses depart Ecoland for GenSan? I am flying in from Singapore and arrive at 2:45pm so I assume I could be to the bus terminal by 4pm or so. However, if the flight is delayed, I’m worried I’ll miss the last bus.
Or is this a situation where the buses run late into the evening?
btw …keep up the good work on “debunking” the myth of “dangerous” places. I was in Davao last year and found it to be friendly and TOTALLY safe (as opposed to Manila where I felt more “guarded”).
Hi Matthew – I don’t know the exact time, but they run late into the evening. And, they start very early in the morning! It’s not quite, but almost 24 hours that they run!
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoy the site!
Hi Bob,
I’M an American living in North Carolina with my filipina wife of 12 years now.I will retire from my job here in June this year,so after we get our house sold here we will be moving to the philippines wow can”t wait.we have already bought a house there in mindanao,just needs a little fixing up and will be good as new,we will be at Leon Postigo,Zamboanga Del Norte ever heard of this place ?I have been to Dipolog,Sindangan and a couple other places close by,and have always felt safe,and have always met very nice people,hope we can meet some day after me and the wife are living there.really like your blog.
cheers scott
Hi Scott – Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I really appreciate it. Sure, I am familiar with the area where Leon Postigo is. I hope you have a wonderful retirement there!
If you are ever in the Davao area, please give me a shout!
thanks Bob i will be glad to give you a shout,i wanted to ask if you may know where i could purchase a book or cd on the bisayan language,this is my wife:s language and because of our work she hasn’t got the time to help me learn it,i would like to learn it,never will know it as good as she does but a little is better than none ,
Thanks again Scott
Hi Scott – I sure do! Not sure if you know or not, but I am fluent in Bisaya. I offer some Bisaya learning materials on my website here. Also, I will soon be coming out with a complete Bisaya course too.
wow thanks Bob,i guess this is my lucky day lol,i have looked on line and even went to a very large book store here but all they had here was tagalog
thanks
Hi Scott – That’s exactly why I came out with the Bisaya materials!
Hi, there Bob! thank you for this very informative site. I really appreciate that there are some people like you who write good things about our country. Been to different places there in Mindanao and I really admire the beauty of those places. Far-fetched from my city life here in Metro Manila. God bless you always and your family!
Thank you phenny, I appreciate your thoughts. Thanks also for visiting my site.
Nice website Kuya. I like how you have a list of current wifi-hotspots.
Thank you Chris. I’m glad you like it!
Hi Bob,
Thank you for your very nice websites, it is a big help for all the travellers to mindanao especially for foreigners. My husband is a canadian citizen and we are planning to visit my family in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat this coming dec.2012, and it is his first time to visit Phil. and I would like to ask your opinion or suggestion base in some experience or information, if it is safe for foreigner that area? coz i am not sure if there is any foreigner in that area, and I dont want his family to worry about his safety . I want to enjoy our vacation while were in mindanao.
Any advice or suggestion are highly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time, and for your positive point of view of Mindanao, I really appreciate.
May God bless you more…
Personally, I would feel safe in that part of Mindanao, but it can be a bit marginal.
I was thinking about visiting mindanao for the first time in november, probably flying in to gensan (general santos) and travelling overland to Korondal (Marbel) for a couple of weeks to visit a friend. I am from UK and have read the fco advice…which is dont even think about it! their advice is the majority of mindanao is dangerous, with the north eastern coastal part and davao slightly less so. my filippina friend says its absolutley fine, so are the fco overcautious or is it really dangerous enough to warrant not going there and meeting up in davao instead?? I want to visit, speak no filippino at all so would nt feel comfortable if any confrontation existed to talk it out… Honest advice pls…im a 35 year old male looking for adventure, but not looking to be kidnapped! Thanks for your advice,
and i wish you good luck in mindanao,
you seem to be doing the natives proud with your filippino spirit!
dave
You have no worries. The area you are speaking of visiting is quite safe.
Hi Bob,
I am amaze by your commitment in writing about Mindanao. Mindanao is my homeland, I am originally from Looc Villanueva Misamis Oriental, currently residing in Cleveland Ohio. Reading here in your site makes me feel at home, looking through the views of your photos wanna make me go home:) I can still remember back in the day when mother nature comes, I used to see houses floating, and animals,etc..As I can remember growing up was tough, but all the hard worked and patient was all worth it. One thing I missed the most is our food visayan style is the best!
Hope you get to visit my barangay one day, Its a very small town.It has been 10 years the last time I was there. I also thank you for having a website like this one…
Thank you Mj! I appreciate your kind words. Good luck on making it home one day soon!
Nicely named site & great content bob!
Thanks, Mike!