Things to see and do San Francisco

Located fifteen minutes from San Francisco, Mount Magdiwata, or Diwata, nicknamed the "mystical mountain", rises to 600 meters. Legend has it that a pregnant fairy(diwata) died here, hence the shape of a reclining pregnant woman. At its foot, a spring provides drinking water for the local inhabitants. The mountain is home to a lush forest and many tropical plants and animals, including wild orchids and rare birds. The peak offers a beautiful view of the Agusan valley. The ascent requires little effort and can be completed in a day.

On the way to Mount Diwata, it's worth stopping off at Gold Processing. The gold is processed into jewelry for sale on the San Francisco market at reasonable prices. Around a hundred bags of stones arrive every day to extract the gold. The stone is crushed and then mixed with water. It takes six hours before the mercury is visible. the mercury contains 30% gold, which is transported to the refinery and then to San Francisco to the Davao Central Bank.

This tree is one of the last of the giants that once populated Mindanao, and can be found in San Francisco's neighboring village of Alegria, fifteen minutes away. Toog Tree, whose scientific name is Petersianthus quadrialathus, stands 80 metres tall and is the largest and oldest (300 years) of its kind in the Philippines. It's a curious sight, standing alone and naked in the middle of the village. It is frequently the subject of debate between locals who want it cut down for their own safety, and associations who want to preserve it.