Cagayan de Oro

The night cafe in CDO

It was a marketing plan hatched by the city government of Cagayan de Oro that the night cafe sprung to life in 2004, probably a first in Mindanao. Located in the open air plaza in Divisoria, the roads leading to this area are blocked off as early as 5 o’clock in the afternoon every Friday and Saturday. With this novel idea, it became an instant hit that it seems, the entire population of this city and nearby environs descended, partly curious, partly excited at this new gimik venue where families and friends gather.

Square monobloc tables and chairs are set in the open spaces along with rectangular tables laden with various food ranging from pasta, grilled items, native dishes as well as international cuisine and sandwiches. Coolers filled with refreshments and bottles of beer. Most vendors cook on the spot. As for the food, its really hit and miss.

LKK Mall in CDO

Limketkai Mall (LKK) is a landmark in Cagayan de Oro not because that it is now modern and huge but it has always been identified as a homegrown commercial destination in the city. Before the major facelift a few years ago, it is open air and has that certain regional charm in it: not too boxed up and alienating compared with the mega mall structures in most urban cities. Or like its counterpart, Gaisano City located just a few hundred meters away from it or Ororama which is just a stone’s throw and seems to have long lost its luster, it has retained its own grace.

LKK Mall then was inviting. Never mind if it doesn’t offer all the things that you need but I just liked it. Until Henry Sy’s SM empire reached this part of Mindanao.

Chaotic bus terminal in CDO

The jeepney from Ketkai pulled to a stop as I signaled the driver to when I reached Agora, more specifically known as the old bus terminal just beside the market in the fast growing city of Cagayan de Oro in the northern-central part of Mindanao.

Yellow buses of Bachelor Lines located at the left side lined the first few rows. Some are airconditioned, comfy and spankingly new while some are just plain ordinary, waiting for passengers to ferry to the distant northeast that is Butuan and Surigao along the winding coastal roads.

A few more rows ahead, the red buses of Rural Bus occupied the rest of the slots, waiting for people bound to the southern and central part of this huge island tracing the ridges and spines of the cordilleras.

Bus terminals. How I delight in entering one. Looking through each and every vehicle’s wooden or plastic karatula (signboards) for my specific destination and choosing what to take depending on the level of comfort or availability of the bus that I have to ride.