Suicidal flies, a bird sanctuary, and Tubod Flowing Water Resort

By Cebu Network
Published October 23rd, 2006

When you come up for air in one of the swimming pools of Tubod Flowing Water Resort, don’t open your mouth to breathe. Its pools are littered with flies that dive into the water every few minutes. What’s even more curious is that the flies don’t die, they lie motionless on the pool’s sides after being scooped out of the water by resort workers but after a few minutes they stir and then fly away, only to dive back again in a few minutes.

With the way the flies continue diving into the water, you’d think they’re committing suicide in the hope of being reincarnated in better resorts in Mactan Island. I can understand them.

SPRING WATER. Tubod Flowing Water Resort gets its water from natural springs that gave the area its name. Tubod is Cebuano for spring. Click to enlarge.

Tubod Flowing Water Resort in Minglanilla, Cebu is not a destination you’d go to if you’re from Metro Cebu. You’re better off going to any of the beach resorts in Lapu-Lapu City.

I’ve long wanted to visit the spring water resort in Barangay Tubod in Minglanilla town after an acquaintance who visited the place described it in glowing terms. Maybe my expectations were unrealistically ramped up but the place under-whelmed me and I couldn’t imagine spending more than an hour traveling to the place and, while there, could barely gather strength for the trip home.

The place isn’t horrible. Far from it. It’s a good place to unwind. Its waters are cool and refreshing, its bird sanctuary enjoyable. But that’s about it. It doesn’t offer anything that makes your hour-long (if you take the South Coastal Road) travel from Metro Cebu worthwhile. It is a great place to go to if it’s nearer to you than any of the resorts in Lapu-Lapu City. It’s a great place to hold a seminar or conference and you demand absolute attention from participants, short of cloistering them.

BIRD SANCTUARY. Tubod’s bird sanctuary is the resort’s best attraction, apart from its pools of spring water. Click to enlarge.

Tubod Flowing Water Resort, however, is a mountain-side resort that tries to be something else.

On its entrance is a huge mural of fake dolphins with the notice “It’s amazing, even dolphins go to Tubod.” I was intrigued and so I asked the guard where the dolphins were and was told there weren’t any live ones, just the three replicas on the wall. In its fish pond is a concrete alligator that managed to fool a few visitors while I was there.

ONE of the birds inside Tubod’s bird sanctuary.

Littered around the resort are concrete statues of a gorilla, giraffe, a clown and mascot-like statues of elephants, rats and a chicken.

All this “fakeness” got me into thinking that the resort obliterated whatever it was that made the place unique in the first place–a rural paradise with a spring–in an effort to look like a beach resort. Before I went there I had visions of a mountain-side paradise. I was like Bilbo explaining to Gandalf why he wanted to leave: “I want to see mountains Gandalf. Mountains!”

Sadly, a mountain-side paradise it wasn’t. Had I brought a hammock with me I would have left the resort, crossed the street and find trees to hitch the hammock to in the hill fronting Tubod.

What makes it worse is that the resort is expensive when compared to medium-range beaches in Lapu-Lapu City. Entrance fee is 80 pesos for adults and 40 pesos for kids eight years old and below. Its cottages are small for its daily rental fees: 250 pesos for one that packs in six people like sardines and 350 pesos for more roomy shelters with 4 chairs and a lounging “bed.”

READY FOR THE PLUNGE. The waters of Tubod Flowing Water Resort’s pools are cool and relaxing. They come from one many natural sprints in the area.

The resort does offer a grilling area that surpasses any other grilling area I’ve seen in Lapu-Lapu beaches. It’s comfortable and clean. You just pay 25 pesos for every kilo of meat or fish you want to grill and they provide free charcoal.

My whole time after lunch was occupied with regrets for not bringing my own marinated meat to barbecue. You see, I never thought of preparing and instead looked forward to eating the resort’s food. I ordered grilled pork belly and salivated as I did so: the photo in the menu looked so appetizing.

I waited in my cottage for the food to arrive and when it did my jaw dropped–it was served on a styrofoam box for Lapu-Lapu’s sake. The grilled pork was dry, not juicy as I imagined it to be based on the menu photos, and it was served cold, apparently so as not to melt the box it was in. For 95 pesos, the dish sure tasted like those 50-peso meals in some carenderias in downtown Cebu City.

I asked for a glass of ice for my Pepsi (there aren’t Cokes in the resort) and was told there wasn’t any available for me. The counter girl asked me “isn’t the drink cold” in a tone that made me felt I was being a diva in asking for it. Apparently, they’ll just give you ice left over from bulk orders of conferences and weddings. I would have wanted to go out of the resort to look for a sari-sari store that sells ice if not for the fact that I was already very hungry.

GRILL IT YOURSELF. The resort’s grilling area is the cleanest and best I’ve seen so far in Cebu. To enjoy your stay in Tubod, just bring along with you marinated meat for grilling.

I tried eating lunch beside the pool but flies swarmed over me and my grilled pork belly, forcing me inside the resort’s cafe, which was protected by wraparound nets.

After lunch, I went to the resort’s butterfly sanctuary, which, I was told, is now a bird sanctuary. The only butterflies left are framed and displayed on the walls. Although the brochures say you have to pay to enter the sanctuary, people were just allowed in by the guard and resort staff. Maybe they’ve stopped charging when they turned the sanctuary into a huge cage for about a dozen birds.

I spent half an hour inside the bird sanctuary. Watching the birds fly around can be refreshing. For a while you find yourself transported into a forest, serenaded by different birds. The experience can be relaxing and I spent more than 30 minutes inside the sanctuary.

I tried to look for the spring that is said to be the source of the resort’s water but couldn’t find it. One of the resort workers said it was “down there,” pointing with his lips (as many Cebuanos do) to the path toward a small cave. I went in to find only various pipes and a contraption that appeared to be a pump. A pity. If this was indeed the spring, I couldn’t tell.

CAVE, SPRING. One of the resort’s staff said this is the spring that provides Tubod its water. Click to enlarge.

In a few more minutes I was again bored. I followed the flies and dove into the deeper part of the pool hoping, by some Tolkienesque magic, to emerge in one of the resorts of Mactan. No such luck.

I spent the drive home thinking about the chances of not melting your styrofoam container while serving grilled meat. The first thing I did upon reaching home was to order barbecued chicken breast (served in a generous slice) and pork from a neighborhood eatery. I bought enough to feed three people and I spent less than the 95 pesos I paid for my Tubod lunch. And the cheap barbecue was infinitely more enjoyable than my meal in Tubod Flowing Water Resort.

How to get there
The easiest way to get to Tubod Flowing Water Resort, save by driving there yourself, is to take a taxi. From downtown Cebu City, is just a 200-peso taxi ride away if you use the South Coastal Road.

If you feel adventurous, you can either take a jeepney to Minglanilla or ride one of the Metro buses that go there and back. If you take public transport, though, you need to keep an eye for the Tubod Flowing Water Resort billboard at the right side of the road, on the junction that leads to the place. The billboard is rather small and easy to miss. At the road leading to the resort are tricycles, which you can ride for P6 per passenger.

Resort accommodations
Standard single rooms at the resort are 1,200 pesos a day, standard family rooms at 2,000 pesos a day. Deluxe single rooms are at 1,600 daily, deluxe family rooms are at 2,100 pesos daily up to 4,000 pesos daily, depending on the number of occupants that stay.

The resort also has dormitories for conferences.

To contact the resort, you can check its website here or call (06332)272-3467, (06332) 272-8717, or (063)917-624-5550.

9 Responses to “Suicidal flies, a bird sanctuary, and Tubod Flowing Water Resort”

1. Mina says:
   1March 27th, 2007 at 10:52 pm

   Hey,
   The place is very very nice & very opposite from what you’ve written. I’ve been there many many times. I even held my b-day party over there & the food was delicious & properly served well. Great for family retreat , parties, school camping & vacation stay. And their pool is always clean. They change water every week. As for the spring pool, that’s a real fresh water spring, that’s why it’s called Tubod (meaning Spring). You must be an ignorant person to know the difference between chlorinated pool & fresh water (unchlorinated pool). As for the serving tray for grilling, using styrofoam is acceptable since that’s not a restaurant where you should expect a silverware or chinaware. Also the place decor is nice, kid friendly-welcoming atmosphere. The price is satisfactory & affordable for middle-income people.

2. Emanuel lim says:
   2March 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am

   May we have your landline number? We would like to make a call with regards to your comments.

3. Emanuel lim says:
   3March 29th, 2007 at 8:52 am

   Pls Do not ignore our request. We would just like to have your landline number and may we call.

4. Cebu Network says:
   4April 4th, 2007 at 1:28 am

   Hi Mina,
   Sorry for the late reply. As I said in the post, I had high expectations when I went to the place because of the good reviews of someone I know who went there. You’re right, their pool is clean, I didn’t say it was dirty.

   Please read the entire post again. I even said: It’s a good place to unwind. Its waters are cool and refreshing. I just wondered why the flies were diving into it and I didn’t mind because a pool attendant was on standby to scoop them up, although you do have to make sure you don’t open your mouth too wide.

   You must be an ignorant person to know the difference between chlorinated pool & fresh water (unchlorinated pool).
   I didn’t say the pool was chlorinated, I just said I tried looking for the spring but couldn’t find it amidst the pipes and pumps.

   As for the serving tray for grilling, using styrofoam is acceptable since that’s not a restaurant where you should expect a silverware or chinaware.
   Sorry but I don’t think serving grilled meat on styrofoam is acceptable. I have a fear it’s even a health risk, plastic can harm your body and heat from the meat can melt it. It may only be acceptable if you cool the meat first, which I think is what happened there. I’m not expecting silverware and chinaware to be used in a P90 meal, but I do expect at least a plate you know won’t melt when hot food is served on it.

   Also the place decor is nice, kid friendly-welcoming atmosphere.
   No doubt, my kids enjoyed the statues. But my point is kiddie statues are things you see in almost all parks. I said the resort is a mountain spring hideaway that tries to be something else instead of highlighting the attractions already in the place.

   For instance, the spring should be highlighted. It’s a spring resort and the first thing that comes to your mind is to ask where’s the spring?

   The price is satisfactory & affordable for middle-income people.
   Yes it might be the case but other beaches in Cebu offer cheaper rates.

5. ann says:
   5May 26th, 2007 at 10:20 pm

   hi.. ask lng ta naba corcage?.. ang single room,pla ang maxmum person mka stay?… abot sa room overnyt nana? hw much ang overnyt room rates?hoping 4ur rply sooner…thnx…

6. benben says:
   6September 11th, 2007 at 6:04 pm

   Hello,

   We’ve been to Tubod last July. We stayed overnight and we all enjoyed there. It’s a far better pool resort compared to Intosan in Danao. We also went to Intosan last month and it’s horrible. All the pool were so dirty and the cottages stinks. There was BIG “KAKA” (tai/igit in cebuano) at the side of our cottage. Intosan is the worst waterpark in the whole planet.
   Based only on experience, Tubod is OK.

7. tony says:
   7September 24th, 2007 at 6:23 am

   about tubod
   my self and eleven other peoples recently stayed at tubod for ten days and found the accomadations very satisfactory.
   We ate our meals there and slept there in one of there dorm rooms and two private rooms .We did this while working on an bible college just about one mile down the road. As i have said the accomodations were very nice as was the food ,the service as well as the personell.
   the fact that there was fresh spring water pools to swim in was also exceptional.
   I am looking forward to my return visit (at the end of october )to this resort and am anxious to see again the workers there.
   thankyou and see you soon.

8. Chef Bj Valdez Of Chez Andre Pizza Corporation says:
   8March 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

   This year On march 20-21 2008 will be my first time to visit tubod flowing water resort. it was only recomended to me by the GM of chez Andre Corporation. I hope it cud Meet my expectations as what i have heard.but most of all i believe it cud. i will be there to relax and have fun with my parents and brother and sister.i can’t wait. hehehehhehehe this kind of ambiance which the resort provides brings out the kid in me….. very happy and excited……………………………….tubod here i come!

9. Panache Tremblant says:
   9June 10th, 2008 at 6:31 am

   I really like the look of those pools. Never really been in a natural spring pool before. Would like to check it out.

Leave a Reply