Poor Clare Monastery Polomolok South Cotabato |General Arze

One week before my Mountain Bike will turn into its first year anniversary I have decided once again to join with the General Santos Matutum Off-Road Bikers Association (GS-MORBA). Reading their facebook wall, they have scheduled a Sunday route at Trappestine Monastery, Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato and so I replied a comment to their status, if I could joined and without hesitation their President "Wheng Hernandez Sakuma" and my friend "Charrie Bundaon" replied with a big yes. All was set, General Arze and the GS-MORBA members were excited to pedaled in a sandy and muddy uphill and downhill terrain but suddenly the planned had changed due to time constraints, we haven't leave Jollibee National Highway on time. According to one of the bikers, who had been there already, if we are to pursue with our biking, then there's no way that we could reach the 10:00am Sunday mass on time, so they suggested to visit Poor Clare Monastery instead which is less traveled and the trail was less painful. But before leaving the meeting place, General Arze decided to take an early breakfast of Jollibee Pancakes along with other GS-MORBA members. On the table, I had ate with Gregory Dominic Velos, a well known and experienced mountaineer, caver, biker, photographer, race director of the renowned Gensan Eco Karera and one of the pillars of the Sarangani Bay Area Outdoor Club. He shared about their latest adventures at Sultan Kudarat, where they explored and mapped many caves along with foreigners who enjoyed so much the cave formations of the Province.

Later on, everyone grabbed their mountain bike and the next thing I remember; we were already pedaling the busy road of National Highway. This was the most dangerous part of biking along the road since we can't avoid reckless drivers so we have to stay closer with the group. When we reach the Mabuhay junction, we graciously make a right turn and pedaled the slight uphill cement road. As soon as we reached Habitat Community, almost everyone started to pedaled faster as if there was a competition going on. But of course it was just a part of their Sunday routine, they believe that if you want to be best in what you're doing then you have to put extra effort and that extra effort means more calories to be burned and more speed which will take the bikers breath away.

Minutes had passed, we pedaled dirt road, hmmmm most probably government funding issue, well that's not a scope of my travel journey for today. Let's leave them to the expert. We turn left towards Klinan 5 road while looking at the majestic and highest mountain in South Cotabato named as Mt. Matutum. Next to it our view shifted into community houses, we saw a lot of people enjoying their free Sunday time talking with their love ones and friends, others were dating and children playing the usual Pinoy games, we played before during elementary days. From a perspective view, it is where you could greatly differentiate how the urban children used their free time on non physical activities such as computer games and social networking.

Afterwards we passed by the Silway River, the water was not that high most probably between 6 - 9 inches. Some bikers traverse the river biking, that's when I realized in order for you to bike firmly on such terrain; you have to pedal faster, which only means that more and more water particles will get into your shoes. So the rest of the bikers, removed shoes and socks and carried their bikes gently as a baby; of course including the blogger. Naturally this scene will only happen in non competition mode. When everyone had crossed the river, we started pedaling again towards cannery road where we will meet and great with the thousand pineapples planted in acres of hills.

Shortly, we made a pit stop infront of the Dolefil gym; it is when, one of the bikers notice that a certain part was missing in my hallowtech crank, he temporarily repaired it and advice me not to put to much weight on my pedal as everyone was ready to take the long downhill cement road going to flying V. We crossed the highway and continued pedaling for a few meters then turn left on a dirt road. At its end part there was a surprise uphill and I was not able to change my gear so I pedaled it on middle chain ring, which was quite enduring.

When we reached its highest point, we were welcome by a very cold breeze while enjoying the mountainous view of Mt. Parker, Mt.Melibato and other mountains and hills. The gate was widely opened to any parishioners and visitors, who would love to listen to the word of God in their small, well lighted, well maintained and stylish architecture chapel. The silence of the place is really a wonderful place for reflection added to it was the adorned fauna surrounding the chapel makes more comforting. Giant pine trees protect and guard the nuns who profess their fate in the monastery. A grotto of the blessed Virgin Mary and an image of Saint Clare praying for divine healing to those who believe in miracles.

If you want to visit the place for a visita inglesia, personal reflection or any matter, it is located at Purok Vicente Fin, Brgy. Magsaysay, Polomolok, South Cotabato. For more details, you may contact Fr. Bobby at (083) 225-5522. Lastly the best time to visit the place is either during Christmas season or during feast day, which is celebrated annually every August 11.