Department of Tourism - Soccsksargen Office

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦 | The Department of Tourism Regional Office 12 in partnership with the Local Government Unit of General Santos City successfully concluded the 7-day Community Guiding Seminar held on May 20-26 in General Santos City.

This initiative aimed to equip our local tour guides and community leaders within General Santos City with the knowledge in guiding and effective communication skills to better serve our tourists coming in the region.

Now, our newly trained guides are ready to welcome the world with a smile carrying a top-tier guiding standards!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗣: 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗹𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻

The inaugural SOX Wellness Tourism Summit 2026 has officially begun! Today, the misty highlands of Arakan welcomed tourism leaders, LGUs, and private stakeholders from accross SOX Region to the breathtaking Buda Vista Garden Resort for a landmark weekend of regional transformation.

Delegates arrived in crisp mountain air, warm hospitality, and an immediate sense of sanctuary. The energy shifted beautifully as night fell. With the night blanketed with crisp mountain air and immense peace, the summit opened with mindset expert Coach Cookie Aruj-Laguda leading the very first core block: the Mental-Emotional Reset. It was a profound evening of deep decompression, allowing our tourism advocates to shed the stress of the daily grind and open their hearts to the holistic journey ahead.

Swipe through the photos to see the highlights of our arrival, registration, and that powerful evening breakthrough. We are just getting started!

𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥: 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗥𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 “𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚“ 𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔

As we head into the mountains for the inaugural SOX Wellness Tourism Summit 2026, we are deeply honored to introduce the visionary guiding our signature outdoor experience. Meet our speaker and walk leader, DOT-XII Regional Director Nelia “King” Arina!

On May 30, RD King will lead us through a transformative session titled "Nature Walk: What Burden Will You Leave and What Gift Will You Take Home?" Set against the pristine, serene backdrop of Buda Vista Garden Resort in Arakan, this beyond just a physical trek you imagine. It is a mindful journey designed to help our tourism leaders, LGUs, and stakeholders disconnect from the weight of daily demands, leave behind digital fatigue, and gather the ultimate gift: a renewed spirit and a unified vision for sustainable wellness tourism in our region.

Prepare your walking shoes, pack an open heart, and get ready to experience the raw, healing power of the Cotabato Province highlands.

As we head into the mountains for the inaugural SOX Wellness Tourism Summit 2026, we are deeply honored to introduce the visionary guiding our signature outdoor experience. Meet our speaker and walk leader, DOT-XII Regional Director Nelia “King” Arina!

On May 30, RD King will lead us through a transformative session titled "Nature Walk: What Burden Will You Leave and What Gift Will You Take Home?" Set against the pristine, serene backdrop of Buda Vista Garden Resort in Arakan, this beyond just a physical trek you imagine. It is a mindful journey designed to help our tourism leaders, LGUs, and stakeholders disconnect from the weight of daily demands, leave behind digital fatigue, and gather the ultimate gift: a renewed spirit and a unified vision for sustainable wellness tourism in our region.

Prepare your walking shoes, pack an open heart, and get ready to experience the raw, healing power of the Cotabato Province highlands.

𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬! Are You Ready to Wake Up to Wellness?

The wait is almost over. Tomorrow, the journey toward redefining the tourism landscape of our region officially begins!

Final Reminders for our Participants:
✅Travel safely on your way to Arakan, Cotabato Province.
✅Aim to arrive in the afternoon for a smooth check-in and delegate registration.
✅Bring your laptops/notebooks, your high energy, and an open heart.

The inaugural SOX Wellness Tourism Summit 2026 is finally here. Let’s make history and bring the healing power of SOX to the world! See you tomorrow!

IN PHOTOS | The Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Tampakan, successfully conducted the Community Guiding Seminar last May 20–26, 2026, in Tampakan.

The seminar gathered local guides from various tourist attractions in Tampakan to strengthen their guiding skills, deepen their understanding of sustainable tourism, and enhance their ability to share the rich cultural and environmental significance of their communities with visitors. Through this initiative, participants were empowered to provide more meaningful and responsible tourism experiences while promoting the unique identity of their local attractions.

Beyond developing guiding competencies, the seminar also emphasized the importance of preserving the heritage, natural beauty, and landscapes of Tampakan for future generations. By actively involving the community in tourism development, the program continues to create opportunities for local guides while fostering sustainable and community-based tourism growth.

Dive SOX Philippines 🫶🏻🇵🇭

HAPPENING NOW: 1st DIVE Sox SEAmposium🫶🏻🇵🇭

𝟮 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢! 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹?

We are just 48 hours away from stepping into a sanctuary of rest, reflection, and regional pride. Our powerhouse lineup of world-class experts- Doc Sandra S. Montano, Dr. Rosalinda "Moon" Malagna, Coach Cookie Aruj-Laguda, and Zin Plem Dy- are all set to guide us through a profound journey of mind, body, and spiritual renewal.

To all our confirmed LGUs, private stakeholders, and tourism partners: prepare to immerse yourselves firsthand in these transformative wellness products so we can replicate the raw, healing power of our natural landscapes back in our respective localities.

Clear your minds, set your out-of-office replies, and get ready to disconnect so you can truly reconnect. Arakan, Cotabato Province awaits!

𝟯 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢! 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀!

The final countdown is officially on. In just 3 days, the misty heights of Arakan will become the epicenter of regional transformation as we kick off the inaugural SOX Wellness Tourism Summit 2026!

As you finalize your travel arrangements for Buda Vista Garden Resort, here is your quick highland packing checklist:
✅Comfortable Athleisure: For our intensive wellness masterclasses and workshops.
✅Cozy -Layers/Jackets: The mountain air gets beautifully chilly at night—perfect for Coach Cookie’s Mental-Emotional Reset under the stars!
✅Trekking/Running Shoes: For Zin Plem Dy’s high-energy Zumba masterclass and our optional nature trek to Matigol Falls.

The mountains are calling, and the future of wellness tourism in SOCCSKSARGEN is about to unfold. See you very soon!