MORE than a hundred participants in their 4x4 off-road vehicles took part in the fifth series of the Mindanao Overland Expedition hosted by the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental on January 10 to 12.
The Mindanao Overland Expedition is a three-day activity in line with the recently concluded 7th Kuyamis Festival wherein participants from all over the Philippines and one from Malaysia explored the province riding their off-road vehicles.
Among the participating teams from Mindanao were from Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Davao de Oro, Davao City, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, Malita, General Santos, among others.
“Ang mission nako is to promote the deepest tourist in the hinterlands in Midnanao. So this is a part of Misamis Oriental nga atong i-explore sa mga area sa lugar sa Higaonon,” Mali Zordi, the founder of the Mindanao Overland Expedition, said during the activity’s opening program last January 10.
Zordi also expressed his gratitude to the Higaonon tribes who welcomes the off-roaders to their areas.
“My vision is to create 4x4 destination capital in the Philippines in the island of Mindanao. That’s my vision. Dili ni para sa ko, kun dili para sa tanan, teams from other places in Mindanao,” Zordi said.
Meanwhile, Luis Wee of the Rainforest Trophy announced that the 2020 Rainforest Trophy International Expedition will be happening in Mindanao in October, with the starting point in Misamis Oriental.
“The whole series is a tourism expedition event, which is very fitting to what your governor envision for Misamis Oriental and for whole of Mindanao,” Wee, who got to hear Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano’s speech on how he started his tourism flagship program, said.
“I see a lot of passion here, off-roaders. I can see that Mindanao off-roaders are second to none when it comes to passion. I can see the passion, I can see the vehicles, I can see all come together to create this event, to celebrate this event of this Kuyamis Festival,” he added.
Wee said he was honored to be invited to participate in the Mindanao Overland Expedition, further saying that Mindanao will now be a part of the Rainforest Trophy World Series.
“I would tell my people and the rest of the world, Mindanao is safe, let’s enjoy the treasures and expedition jungle of Mindanao. With all the hospitality, the food, I think the Mindanao is the place,” Wee said.