The province of Maguindanao and the independent city of Cotabato hold the gigantic and the stunning mosques in the Philippines. These structures were built as place of worship but its breathtaking beauty and spectacular architectural design captured the eyes of the travelers, regardless of religion. With that in mind, these two mosques are on top of the list of the tourist destinations in the province.
1. The Pink Mosque
HOW TO GET HERE: I thought traveling to this province is difficult because of the transportation but I didn't expect that Mindanao has a lot of integrated terminals connecting the provinces making it easier for the locals and tourists to travel to the different spots in different regions. Like my solo-backpacking, it was smooth and hard to forget.
My first destination was the Pink Mosque or the Masjid Dimaukom situated by the highway of Datu Saudi Ampatuan. It's available on Google Maps, so traveling to this spot will not be difficult. The mosque is painted with a stunning pink to symbolize peace and love. Also, this color symbolizes unity and brotherhood. To fulfill its meaning, the structure was built by the combined hands of Muslims and Christians. Very unusual because mosques are usually built solely by the Muslims.
2. The Grand Mosque
My next destination was the enormous Grand Mosque or the Masjid Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Cotabato City - the biggest mosque in the Philippines. The towering minarets are 43 meters, which is equivalent to a 15-storey building, topped with pilot's light to avoid aerial accidents. The walls are painted with white while the gigantic domes are covered with gold with crescent moons on top. Though I was just outside the compound, I still felt the Arabian ambiance in the area.
HOW TO GET TO MAGUINDANAO: From Isulan terminal, in Sultan Kudarat, I rode in a Husky Bus and alighted the crossing near the Pink Mosque. Same highway, rode in a van bound for Cotabato City and alighted at the crossing to the Grand Mosque. Then, rode in trike to the mosque. Remember, always use your Google Maps. Using the mobile map, you can monitor your current location and distance to your destinations. The Pink and the Grand Mosques are available on Google Maps, just search it.
CLICK TO VIEW AFFORDABLE PLACES TO STAY IN COTABATO CITY
WHERE I STAYED: I consider the established hotels in the city a bit expensive, ranging from 700 pesos and up. What happened, while eating at Jollibee, I noticed the signboard "INN - THIS WAY." I judged the signboard, no name, very plain and looks new. I thought that it's a new establishment hidden in a private subdivision. Since there's trike beside the signboard, I asked the driver to bring me to the "INN - THIS WAY." And I discovered Carta de Amor - a new and hidden establishment. For an overnight stay, I spent 500 pesos for a room with single bed, AC, TV and CR. I added it on Google Maps, just search Carta de Amor. READ: 9 Days Solo-Backpacking in Sarangani Province, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Provinces, North Cotabato, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, and Davao City.