As an adventure lover, I know sooner or later I was bound to try paragliding. My thrill-seeker friend, David, the man behind the CaptainHabalHabal page, who always looks for new things to do, pushed me to finally give it a try. When I went home for the holidays, opportunity came knocking on my door. And guess what, I couldn’t resist. I know that it was already time! I did not even know about the SOX Paragliding Experience in Lake Sebu in South Cotabato before, not till David invited me to try it. Having no experience at all, I was very excited at the thought of paragliding. This post is LONG overdue, forgive me for that. Today, I’m excited to share my SOX Paragliding Experience with friends when we were in Lake Sebu early this month.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

This 2021, why not push yourselves to the limit by trying out something new and exciting? Face your fears of height and feel the freedom of flying! Take the #captainhabalhabalchallenge and take the SOX paragliding experience like we did!

What is Tandem Paragliding?

Paragliding is an adventure sport where a person glides through the air using a wide canopy, a fabric wing that’s made up of a large number of interconnected cells.

In paragliding, the take off should be from an elevated position, usually the top of a hill or mountain, then uses wind forces to help maintain flight and gain altitudes! The wind needs to be strong before you can take off. Flying time in SOX is around 8 am to 12 noon. We went there around 9 am, and we are lucky enough because the wind gods agree with us.

What you should not forget…

Wear appropriate footwear

You need a good pair of shoes for a good grip while taking off and landing. I’ve heard stories of friends stepping on toes while taking off, and that led to nails to bleed and break. Also, it’s recommended to wear a good pair of shoes to support your ankle in case you have to land on uneven ground.

Bring extra clothes.

It is recommended to bring extra clothes in case you have to land on muds or wet areas. Tested and proven. Unfortunately, my friends didn’t bring extra. It was really a funny experience seeing them with soaked butts!

Have an action camera!

I know that we have to live the moment to the fullest, but memories will always remain. You have to capture every moment! and make sure that the video camera is turned on before take off! You wouldn’t want to miss the moment.

SOX Paragliding Experience

It had always been a dream to fly in the sky like a bird leaving the grounds below. SOX Paragliding Experience made the dream come true. I’m lucky enough to have an enjoyable flight experience with the most beautiful views of Lake Sebu and Mt. Matutum! Below is a short clip showing highlights of the flight!

The Take-Off Point

After a very bumpy drive to the top, we completed our forms and signed our waiver. The bumpy drive to the take-off point was not less than an adventure.

Preparing for the Flight

Standing at the edge of the mountain overlooking the beautiful Lake Sebu was an experience hard to explain in words. I was a little bit nervous at first while the pilots were giving us the instructions. The thought of stumbling while running even appeared. Though taking off was much easier than I thought! It was just a few steps running down the hill and voila, I was now up in the air!

The Flight

We started flying after the short run, riding with the force of the wind. I found myself admiring the mountains and the lake. It was a breathtaking experience and I was in awe to be so high up in the sky, and the world felt so small up there.

It wasn’t a scary experience after all as I was very busy being mesmerized by the majestic views. During the flight, I had a chit chat with Kuya Titoi, the pilot, about his experience in flying. I asked him if he is also doing skydiving, and he said that paragliding is much more enjoyable than it. He told me that skydiving only lasts for a few minutes since you’re free-falling. But, with paragliding, it relies solely on wind forces and he can stay in flight for hours as long as he can and the wind permits. He can cover hundreds of kilometers. But, I’d still like to try skydiving someday! The idea excites me.

Safe Landing

I’ve heard that there are lots of landing techniques, which depend on the expertise of the pilot. After flying up in the air, I realized that I was already on the ground with a butt landing. Yes, I safely landed on my butt with my legs straight. It wasn’t painful at all. I had a great tandem paragliding flight with Sir Titoi!

How much does tandem paragliding cost?

The cost for a fifiteen-minute tandem flight in Lake Sebu is Php 3,000 although it might be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on the season. Although it’s not cheap, tandem paragliding is considered to be an affordable once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s really worth it.

If paragliding is not your thing…

Well, if it is not your thing, there are still lots of things to do in Lake Sebu. You can go around the top attractions in the place such as the Seven Falls and T’boli Museum. Or you can go on a food trip trying the tilapia dishes below!

Final Thoughts

I can understand why people like David would fall in love with paragliding, and I’m thankful to our pilots like Sir Titoi for this amazing SOX paragliding experience. Without them, we would never have gotten to fly at all. So, a huge thanks to them for making this possible!

For more information, you can follow their Facebook Page SOX Paragliding Adventure, your go-to-place for sky escapades in the SOCSKSARGEN region.

Explore more the wonders of South Cotabato!

If thinking about it makes you excited, imagine actually doing it!

Cha Esper

Cha of Little Misadvencha is a Filipino Civil Engineer, researcher and a fur mom. She came from General Santos City and finds that everything in life teaches her a lesson. She is inspired to write about and out of her experiences, but later found out that it was her experiences that actually inspire her.