“An evergreen large tree of the Araucariaceae family, almaciga grows up to 65 meters in most Philippine forests and mountain ridges. Almaciga resin from the Hamiguitan mountain range was a major product of the Mandaya-Manobo Lumad of the place with the Dutch East India Company in its East Indies trade. The priest also pointed out the jackpot in trading was the tiger or amber colored resin, which is the fossilized exude buried underneath the roots of dead almaciga trees. That foreign traders came to buy almaciga resin wasn’t surprising because it serves as a raw material for varnish, paint, sealing wax, caulking boats, shoe polish, floor wax, linoleum and other finished products.”
It’s so interesting that something as ancient as almaciga resin can represent so much of a place’s culture - their beliefs, their economy and the way they take care of the environment. This is what struck me when I heard about almaciga resin’s importance to the people of Governor Generoso. I’m quite amazed that they value their resources really well. What made my interest even bigger is by the fact that they continue to open up new developments that allow tourists to experience the richness of their natural resources. One of which is this new tourist destination in Davao Oriental called Camp Bernardino de Lavigan. It just opened its doors to the public and if you’re wondering where to stay in Governor Gneroso, then this is the place to experience local and be local. The place just offers authentic island living experience, all of which shows you the richness of Governor Generoso’s culture. Their menu for example is inspired by traditional dishes of Governor Generoso. Then they have activities that make you experience the rich marine life of the region. Another thing is their staff. Their staff are all from the local community, which makes you feel the warmth and welcoming vibe of the Mandaya people. They also have a spa with treatments that are all inspired by traditional hilot and combined with modern practices, which gives us a glimpse of Governor Generoso’s healing practices. Check out www.campbernardino.com now and get to know more about Governor Generoso!
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