Another event to watch out for in General Santos City this marrying month of June 2009, is the launch of Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant’s TAKDOL FESTIVAL“, a series of themed-dinner parties timed every FULL MOON.

Takdol Festival Poster

Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant is the Tuna Capital and perhaps, Soccksargen’s only hilltop dining establishment to offer a view of the Sarangani Bay, Mt. Matutum and even Mt. Parker, on a clear day.   This GenSan restaurant which is located at Purok Wal, Barangay Tambler, just a few minutes drive uphill from the Gensan Fishport Development Complex and a few meters away from Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel, is one of the city’s more popular tourist destinations and a top attraction for first-time visitors.

Sarangani Highlands Fountain (photo by Lyle Santos)

Fountain at the entrance of Sarangani Highlands (foto by Lyle Santos)

Bariles even included this famous GenSan restaurant as one of the stopovers of the Mindanao Bloggers during the last day of the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit last October 2008 which the city hosted.

Mindanao Bloggers at Sarangani Highlands

Bariles with his visitors, all bloggers from Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon, Digos, Zamboanga and GenSan at Sarangani Highlands during the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit

Probably the most romantic time to go there is when there is a Full Moon, hence, management decided to capitalize on this and has come up with the Takdol Festival, “takbol” being “full moon” in the Visayan Dialect.  Each month would be featuring a different theme centering on a specific local or foreign tribe along with its traditional cuisine and matching entertainment numbers.

Sarangani Highlands at night

Sarangani Highlands dining huts from a distance (foto by Lyle Santos)

According to Dr. Annabelle Abella, Sarangani High’s congenial owner and landscape genius, “All efforts were given to the research and preparation of the menu, the decors and the entertainment to make the whole showcase as authentic as possible.  We guarantee all our guests not only an enjoyable time but an enlightening one as well.  And all these, under the full moon with the serene view of the bay to make for a romanticized experience.”

Sarangani Highlands photo by Ogie Reyes from Flickr

A guest proposing to his partner at Sarangani Highlands (photo by Ogie Reyes)

For its first in the Takdol Festival series this Sunday, June 7, the theme will be “LUMAD” highlighting the authentic cuisines of the B’laan, Muslim, Sangir and Indonesian tribes.  Topnotch entertainment will be provided by carefully handpicked Sangir, Muslim and Lerong dancers and singers accompanied by the melodious music from a Bamboo Orchestra and assorted kulintang ensemble.

The Takdol Festival series continues on the following Full Moon dates:

  • June 7, Sunday – “LUMAD”  (this Sunday)
  • July 8 2009, Wednesday – “LATIN/MEXICAN”
  • Aug. 6 2009, Thursday – “LUZON”
  • Sept. 4 2009, Friday  – “ASIAN”
  • Oct. 4 2009, Sunday – “VISAYAS”
  • Nov. 2 2009, Monday -“MIDEASTERN”

Dinner is at P 450 per person for the Takdol Festival. Buy or reserve for your tickets now!  For inquiries and reservations, please contact the following numbers – (083) 304-0752 or 0922-8590043 or you may email them at saranganihighlands@gmail.com. Don’t miss a chance to visit this famous GenSan restaurant on a Full Moon or else, my FB friend and fellow blogger Cathy Bolodo won’t talk to me anymore… 🙂