Hello Hive,
After posting about the town of Ronda seen from the sky, I'd like to share with you the town of Argao, South Cebu, Philippines. All the pictures in this article were shot during a gyrocopter flight.
This town has a special place in my heart because my family and I lived there for a bit more than 2 years. I always feel some kind of connection whenever I get to fly above it. I still have a few friends living there and they don't fail to wave at me when I pass by close to their house.
What can I say about the town?
Argao is a vast municipality composed of no less than 45 Barangays and covering an area of 191.50 km2. It is bordered to the north by the town of Sibonga, to the west are the towns of Ronda, Alcantara and Moalboal, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the town of Dalaguete.
Even though I definitely didn't get to see every corner of the municipality while living there, I want to believe that I have covered most of it.
The last census in 2015 recorded a population of 72,366. A large portion of these people live along the sea and the mountains outside of the main town.
Locally, it is well known for its torta, a spongy and sweet pastry made with tuba, a traditional coconut wine, as well as its tablea, a roasted, ground and molded nibs of fermented pure (100%) cacao beans without added ingredients and additives. The latter when added to boiling water becomes sikwate, a hot chocolate which goes well with a torta for an afternoon snack.
Argao is not necessarily a touristic town but it still has a few sights to offer, such as Mahayahay beach where you can find kids skimboarding, Balay sa agta cave and Bugasok falls. For the people into stones and Spanish colonial architecture, head to the Unity Plaza located at center of the town and you will be surrounded by Saint Michael Archangel Church, Casa Real (the Municipal hall) and the Hall of Justice.
The construction of Saint Michael Archangel Church was started in 1734 and ended in 1788. It is one of the oldest churches in the Philipines.
Argao is equipped with a wet and a dry market
as well as a supermarket.
Just outside the town center is a vast area of rice fields. These are cultivated twice a year. The main road passing in between is used by the Argawanons for their daily exercising walks or jogs.
More Pictures
At the foreground is Mahayahay Beach
The rice fields in the middle of the picture and the cemetery just below
The Saint Michael Archangel Church at the center of the picture, the Unity Plaza in front of it and the Casa Real (Municipal Hall) between the plaza and the tennis courts.
The blue building at the bottom left is the new police station.
Maayo Resort Argao
a closer view of the cemetery
The back Roads of Arago
Just outside of the main town
The Church's bell tower at the foreground, followed by the Unity plaza with the Hall of Justice building on its right and Casa Real at the back. The police station (blue building) can be seen in the background.