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| The famous Ysalina Bridge, or commonly called the Carmen Bridge, is the first bridge in Cagayan de Oro built around the 1930s. |
There are places you visit because they are beautiful, places you return to because you had a great experience, and then there are places that will always feel like home no matter how far life takes you. For me, that place is Cagayan de Oro City. I may be based in BGC, Taguig today, surrounded by skyscrapers, busy streets, restaurants, offices, and the fast-paced lifestyle of Metro Manila, but a big part of me still belongs to CDO. I completed my schooling there, from elementary to high school and eventually college, so when I think about Cagayan de Oro, I am not simply thinking about a destination on a map. I am thinking about the place where I grew up, made memories, met people who became part of my life, and slowly became the person I am today.
So, what if someone told me, “Bench, I’m visiting Cagayan de Oro, but I only have one day. Where should I go?”
Honestly, I would probably have a hard time answering because there are so many things I would want to show them. One day is definitely not enough to experience everything Cagayan de Oro has to offer, but I think one day can still give you a glimpse of what makes this city special. I would not just bring you to the most popular tourist attractions and tell you to take photos. I would want you to experience the city the way I remember it and the way I see it now after spending time away from home. And yes, I would probably tell you a few stories along the way because for me, Cagayan de Oro is not just a travel destination—it is a huge part of my story.
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| Gaston Park and St. Augustine Cathedral |
I’d Start With the Heart of Cagayan de Oro
If I were your local guide for the day, I would probably start somewhere around downtown Cagayan de Oro. I would take you to Gaston Park and St. Augustine Cathedral because these places give you a little glimpse of the city's history and character. Gaston Park may not have the towering buildings or polished surroundings that you might see in BGC, but there is something about being there that makes you feel connected to the older Cagayan de Oro. Though I am not a Catholic, St. Augustine Cathedral, standing beside the park, is one of those familiar landmarks that helps define the heart of the city. For me, starting here would be my way of saying, “Welcome to my hometown—this is where you can begin to understand CDO.”
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| Gaston Park during the day. |
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| Gaston Park during the night with my Baby AB |
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| Gaston Park during the day. |
After that, I would probably take you around downtown and let you experience the city without rushing you from one attraction to another. Walk around, look at the streets, check out the local establishments, and observe the people going about their everyday lives. You might see nothing extraordinary at first, but that is actually the point. When you grew up in a place, the ordinary things often become the things you eventually miss the most. The streets where you used to pass by, the stores you once visited, the familiar buildings, and even the traffic can suddenly feel nostalgic when you have been living somewhere else. And believe me, after spending time in BGC, I have learned that sometimes the simplicity of home is something you don't fully appreciate until you're away from it.
Then, Let’s Talk About Food
Of course, I cannot show you Cagayan de Oro without talking about food. If you know me, you already know that food is going to be part of the itinerary because what kind of Don Byahero trip would this be without something good to eat? CDO has plenty of restaurants, cafés, bakeries, food spots, and local favorites, so I would want you to experience more than just the familiar fast-food chains you can find almost anywhere in the Philippines. I would probably take you somewhere I personally enjoy or recommend places that give you a taste of the city's food culture. And while I may not be able to guarantee that every meal will become your new favorite, I can guarantee that we will not go hungry.
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| Horikohi Cafe, Laguindingan |
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| Horikohi Cafe, Laguindingan |
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| KOHITAIMU Cafe, Carmen CDO |
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| KOHITAIMU Cafe, Carmen CDO |
There is something about eating food in your hometown that feels different when you have been away for a while. A particular taste can suddenly remind you of school days, friends, family, random afternoon hangouts, or even moments you had completely forgotten about. I think that is why food becomes a kind of time machine when you return home. You take one bite, and suddenly you remember a version of yourself that existed years ago. Living in BGC has introduced me to countless restaurants and food choices, but sometimes, nothing beats eating something familiar in the city where you grew up. It is not always about whether the food is fancy or Instagram-worthy; sometimes, it is simply about how it makes you feel.
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| VIP Hotel CDO Dinner Buffet |
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| VIP Hotel CDO Dinner Buffet |
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| VIP Hotel CDO Dinner Buffet |
And Yes, You Have to Experience the River
Now, if you want to see the adventurous side of Cagayan de Oro, then we have to talk about the Cagayan de Oro River. The river is one of the most recognizable parts of the city and plays a huge role in CDO's identity as an adventure destination. Of course, when people talk about the river, one of the first things that comes to mind is whitewater rafting. Cagayan de Oro is known as the Whitewater Rafting Capital of the Philippines, and for good reason. If you are the adventurous type, this is one experience you should seriously consider adding to your itinerary.
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| CDO River in Baungon, where the White Water Rafting descends. |
Personally, I haven't tried water rafting, too bad, but I think whitewater rafting is one of those activities that gives you a completely different way of experiencing Cagayan de Oro. You are not simply looking at the city from a street or taking a photo beside a landmark because you are actually out there experiencing the river. You get wet, you laugh, you scream, you work together, and you probably end up with stories to tell afterward. Depending on the rafting package, river conditions, and difficulty level, you can choose an experience that suits your comfort level. If you only have one day in CDO and want something memorable, I would definitely put this high on the list.
Let Me Show You the CDO I Know
After exploring the river, I would probably take you back into the city and show you another side of Cagayan de Oro. CDO has changed so much over the years, and if you haven't been here for a while, you might be surprised by how much it has developed. There are shopping malls, restaurants, cafés, entertainment spots, lifestyle establishments, and newer developments that have made the city even more vibrant. But even with all these changes, I still think Cagayan de Oro has managed to keep a personality that feels uniquely its own. It has grown into a major urban center in Northern Mindanao without completely losing the warmth and familiarity that made it home for people like me.
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| Hosting Event at Centrio Ayala Mall |
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| Ultrawinds Resort - Overlooking CDO City |
Maybe this is where I would start comparing CDO to my current home in BGC. BGC is a completely different world from the Cagayan de Oro I grew up in, and living here has taught me so much. Everything feels fast in BGC—people are always walking somewhere, working, meeting friends, going to the gym, grabbing coffee, attending events, or simply trying to keep up with the pace of Metro Manila. I enjoy that lifestyle, and I am grateful for the opportunities that brought me here, but there are days when I crave something slower and more familiar. Cagayan de Oro has its own hustle, but it does not always feel like you are racing against the clock. Maybe that is one of the reasons why the thought of going home still feels so comforting.
Don't Rush the Evening
As the sun begins to go down, I would probably tell you to stop trying to fit everything into our itinerary. Let's find somewhere comfortable to eat, grab a coffee, or simply sit down and talk about how the day went. I think this is one of the things I have learned about traveling as I got older: you don't always need to be moving. There is value in simply sitting somewhere, watching people pass by, taking photos, having conversations, and enjoying the atmosphere. If we were traveling together, this would probably be the part where I start telling you stories about my younger years and the random memories I associate with the city.
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| Intensity CDO Event at Limketkai Mall |
Because ultimately, Cagayan de Oro is about people for me. The city's nickname, City of Golden Friendship, is something I think about whenever I remember home. Friendship, community, school, family, and relationships are all intertwined with my memories of CDO. I spent so many years studying here that it became more than just the city where I lived. It became the backdrop of my childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood. So if I am showing you around, I am not just showing you tourist attractions; I am showing you pieces of my life.
This Is Where I Grew Up
Maybe this is the part where the blog becomes a little more personal. I completed my schooling in Cagayan de Oro from elementary all the way to college, which means I spent a huge portion of my life here. When you are young, you don't always realize how important a place is because you assume it will always be there. You go to school, meet your friends, complain about assignments, celebrate birthdays, laugh about stupid things, and simply live your life without thinking too much about the future. Years later, you look back and realize that those seemingly ordinary moments were actually some of the most important parts of your story.
Cagayan de Oro saw many versions of me. It saw me as a student, a friend, a son, a dreamer, and someone trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. It was there through the awkward stages, the good decisions, the bad decisions, the wins, and the disappointments. Some memories are crystal clear, while others have become blurry with time, but they are all part of the same story. That is why when people ask me about Cagayan de Oro, I cannot simply answer with a list of tourist spots. I think about the people, the experiences, the places, and the person I was when I was there.
Then Life Took Me to BGC
Today, I am based in BGC, Taguig, and my life looks very different from the one I had in Cagayan de Oro. BGC is exciting, modern, convenient, and full of opportunities, and I have learned a lot from living here. It has pushed me to grow, become more independent, experience a different kind of work and lifestyle, and understand what it means to navigate life in Metro Manila. There are days when I genuinely enjoy the energy of the city and everything that comes with it. But there are also days when the constant movement, traffic, deadlines, noise, and pressure make me want to pause and ask myself, “What if I were home right now?”
I think that is what happens when you leave a place that shaped you. You start seeing it differently from a distance. When I was still living in Cagayan de Oro, I probably did not think about how much I would miss the little things once I was somewhere else. Now, being based in BGC, I sometimes catch myself comparing the two cities—not necessarily to decide which one is better, but to understand what each place gives me. BGC gives me a different kind of growth, while CDO gives me a different kind of comfort. And sometimes, especially when life gets overwhelming, comfort is exactly what you find yourself looking for.
If I Had the Choice to Go Home, I Would
If I had a choice to go home, I would love to. I want to make that very clear because there is a difference between wanting to go home and wanting to run away from the life you have built somewhere else. I am grateful for my life in BGC and for everything that living in Metro Manila has taught me, but being grateful for where you are does not mean you stop missing where you came from. There are moments when I simply want to be back in Cagayan de Oro, surrounded by familiar places, familiar faces, and the kind of comfort that you cannot really explain to someone who did not grow up there. Sometimes, you just want to go home because you know that a part of you belongs there. And of course, to be with my babies below:
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| 'Cooper' |
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| 'Lexus' |
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| 'Porsche, Harley & Bumble' |
Maybe home is not always about the house where you currently live. Maybe home is the city where your memories live, where your story began, and where you can still remember who you were before life became complicated. For me, Cagayan de Oro represents that kind of home. It reminds me of my school years, the people I met, the lessons I learned, and the many experiences that helped shape me. Even though I have moved forward and built a different life in BGC, I don't think moving away means leaving everything behind. Some places stay with you, and Cagayan de Oro is one of those places for me.
My City. My Memories. My Home.
If I were to show someone Cagayan de Oro for one day, I would not try to make the itinerary perfect. I would show them the city I know and love, including the places that may not necessarily appear on a tourist's top-ten list. I would tell them stories about growing up there, going to school, meeting people, and experiencing life before eventually moving to Metro Manila. I would let them see why CDO is more than just a city to me. And somewhere between all those stories, food trips, walks, adventures, and conversations, I would probably realize once again just how much I miss it.
Today, my life is in BGC, Taguig, but my roots are in Cagayan de Oro City. I can build a life somewhere else, discover new places, meet new people, and continue chasing new dreams, but that does not erase where I came from. CDO will always be the city where I spent my formative years, completed my education, and created memories that became part of the person I am today. If I ever get the opportunity to go home, I would gladly take it, because there is a certain kind of peace that comes from returning to the place that knows your story.
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| Kagayan River in the morning |
Cagayan de Oro is not just my city—it is a part of me, and no matter how far my journey takes me, I think a part of me will always be looking for a way back home.
And maybe that's what being a Don Byahero is really about. Traveling, discovering new places, moving forward, and experiencing everything life has to offer—but never forgetting where the journey started. I may be living in BGC today, have lived in Davao for almost 10 years before, and whenever someone asks me where home is, I know exactly what I will say. Cagayan de Oro City. My city. My memories. My home.
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