ALIW FALLS IN LUISIANA OF LAGUNA

Location: , San Salvador, Luisiana, Laguna, Philippines

Aliw Falls during summer

Aliw Falls during summer has less water. This was the time when I visited it. However, I haven't tried yet visited it during rainy season. Just the same, during my visit, its basin at the foot of the falls is not good swimming as it was murky or muddy.

The flat trail going to the falls

Still a part of the 20-minute trail to the falls

The 20-minute trek is simply consisting of very green trail and we had crossed and waded in two small streams. The banks of these streams are solid rocks but the flowing water is brown.

My friends and I enjoying a shower in the falls

Group picture with my friends

There is a swimming pool at the Dafi Resort near the water falls. Guest can stay overnight there. Our chartered van was parked here to pick us up for our next destination which was in Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon province.

This deep holes are found when you trek up to the water falls

According to our guide, the top most of the water falls has less water during summer and what you will see are deep holes filled with water. When dip on it, the water was warm because it was around 4:00 in the afternoon.

ALTERNATIVE WATER FALLS TO VISIT

If you are in Barangay San Salvador, you can also visit Hulugan and Talay Falls. Tricycles are also available in going to those destinations.

HOW TO GO THERE

1. Take a bus from either Cubao (HM Transport) or Buendia LRT (DLTB) with a sign board of Sta. Cruz (Laguna) for fare of P140 (HM Transport)P160 (DLTB). with a travel time of 3 – 4 hours but will be shorter if early in the morning.

2. From Sta. Cruz drop-off area, take a tricycle to the public market but only up to the jeepney terminal. near the old church of Saint Bartholomew.

3. Take a jeep with a route of either Lucena or Lucban and drop off at Barangay San Salvador. Then, from there, take a tricycle going the barangay captain’s house for registration of P20. Tricycle fare is P20 per person.

CROWDED BUT ACCESSIBLE MAJAYJAY/TAYTAY WATER FALLS

Location: Majayjay, Laguna, Philippines

Majayjay Falls as favorite place for family camping

Some are confused if what is really the name of Majayjay Falls. Well, it is also called Taytay Falls and at times called Imelda Falls because ex-First Lady Imelda Marcos financed the promotion of tourism of this destination when she was still in power.

Majayjay Falls with its deep basin serving as the swimming area

As early as 1998, I have been frequenting already in visiting this place along with my group in Philippine National Bank (PNB) Mountaineering Club since I had worked with the bank for 9 years. By that time, going to this place is difficult as you have to trek for almost an hour from the barangay road. Rainy season makes it even difficult because the road was not yet cemented. But we always go there as a part of our regular bonding not only with PNB Mountaineers but with some acquaintances who wanted to experience the place.

The Grotto within the vicinity

This water falls is actually 7-tier according to our guide and what you see is the bottom of all these seven. I have already navigated up to the 5th but it is very dangerous because the moss is so thick and there is no defined trail. You will be exploring a thick forest. The interval of each falls is too distant and I would never go back there because prior to the 5th falls, I lost my balance then because it was too slippery. Black and big leeches are waiting there for humans to suck their blood.

Obviously the most crowded water falls I've ever seen

Presently, the amenities of the water falls has been developed where the part around the swimming basin area has been cemented and ropes were installed so that non-swimmers who wanted to get close the water falls will be safer and easier.

Camping area is crowded with campers

BASIC AND OTHER CONCERNS

Trekking from the barangay hall where you will pay a registration fee/environmental fee of P20 per head which serves as the jump-off point to the falls is only a 15-minute walk through a cemented pathway. If you opt to stay overnight, the fee is P30. You have the option to pitch your tent in surrounding area where most of it are big boulders of rocks. The place is so crowded during weekends and holidays and you will find it difficult to find a place for you to eat and pitch tent especially if it is already late in the morning till afternoon. Usually, some campers would prefer to stay overnight because of its cold water.

On your jeepney ride from Majayjay town to the barangay hall along the national road, you will pass thru another beautiful resort of Virginia Dalitiwan. In going back to Majayjay town, you have the option to drop by here or stay overnight.

HOW TO GO THERE

1. Take a bus from either Cubao (HM Transport) or Buendia LRT (DLTB) with a sign board of Sta. Cruz (Laguna) for fare of P180. with a travel time of 3 – 4 hours but will be shorter if early in the morning.

2. From Sta. Cruz drop-off area, take a tricycle to the public market but only up to the jeepney terminal of Majayjay for a fare of P28. The terminal is just near the old church of Saint Bartholomew.

3. Remind the driver on the terminal to drop you off at the barangay hall along the national road for Taytay Falls. Since the actual jump-off point where you will pay for the entrance fee/environmental fee is still few kilometers away, take a tricycle to take you to that barangay hall with a fare of P30 per person. The rate may increase. After paying the required fees, trekking starts.

THE CHARM OF BUKAL FALLS IN MAJAYJAY

Location: Barangay Bukal, Majayjay, Laguna, Philippines

Bukal Falls during rainy season

Bukal Falls is just one of the water falls in Majayjay. Tour operators would normally offer a 3-Falls Day Tour plus the Kamay ni Hesus in Lukban. The first time I went there, I availed of the tour package. Yes, it was very convenient. However, on my time, where I took my friends, I organized a DIY for it.

Crop plantations along our trail to the falls

What is refreshing when you trek towards the water falls is, you see a lot of crop plantations for corn, ampalaya, cabbage, tomatoes and other crop yielding products. Thus, it follows that locals sells their produce at a lower price.

Bukal Falls during summer

The falls is more majestic during rainy season that its basin is filled with water while during hot summer, its falls gives less water. However, in both seasons, the water is still cold.

Rainy season gives the falls thicker and wider cascading falls

At a distance during summer

Still on a picture taken during summer

Taking it closer behind the raging water falls

Our group playing it cool in the falls' basin

WHAT THINGS YOU SHOULD OUGHT TO KNOW

The trekking is good for 30 – 40 minutes in a regular basis. The trail is wide and flat at the start but once you descend to the falls the trail is narrow and with sudden drops. Thus, ascending back will be cardiac assaults. There are a few stores there selling food like banana cue, coffee, cold drinks, bottled water and other snack items. Buco fruit is also available at P25 or simply the buco juice. I can even see liquor being sold there.

The depth of the basin varies during summer, it measures 2-3 meters deep and less radius of swimming area and rocks are mossy. However, during rainy season the basin has wider radius of swimming area and some rocks are submerged with its depth measuring approximately from 5 – 7 meters deep. At this time, some would even jump to the water pool basin.

HOW TO GET THERE AND RELATED CONCERNS

1. Take a bus from either Cubao (HM Transport) or Buendia LRT (DLTB) with a sign board of Sta. Cruz (Laguna) for fare of P180. with a travel time of 3 – 4 hours but will be shorter if early in the morning.

2. From Sta. Cruz drop-off area, take a tricycle to the public market but only up to the jeepney terminal of Majayjay for a fare of P28. The terminal is just near the old church of Saint Bartholomew.

3. Remind the jeepney driver on the jeepney terminal to drop you off at the tricycle terminal for Bukal Falls for a fare of P35, but sometimes you have to haggle the fare.

4. Take another tricycle for a fare of P20 going to the jump-off point where you will end at the barangay hall for registration with a fee of P20. It is also mandatory to get a tour guide with a fee of P300 per maximum of 6 persons.

WHAT CAGAYAN PROVINCE CAN OFFER AS A TOURIST DESTINATION

Location: Cagayan Province, Cagayan Valley (Region II), Philippines

Welcome Arch to Cagayan Province (Photo credit:One Cagayan Valley International)

Let's visualize the locations I will be mentioning about the province of Cagayan and its vicinity through a map below:

The Map of Cagayan Province and its vicinity map of the world/philippines/cagayan

I was amazed to know that Cagayan, Kalinga and Apayao provinces also provide the Philippines with rich culture and history. Its key city of Tuguegarao showcases a rapidly developing urban community where its commercial hubs with the two major components of SM Mall and Robinson’s Mall can be competitive with that of Metro Manila.

The vast expanse of rice fields before entering Cagayan province

Since I had a night trip, I arrived early in the morning in Cagayan province but before approaching the province, there were so much I have seen along our way which describe the beauty of the countryside.

The Cagayan River

As our bus entered the welcome arch to the province, I noticed a few vast corn plantations after Barangay Libag Norte. There were some stalls along the highway selling fruits and boiled corns.

The NK6410 Corn Plantation

Part of the NK6410 Corn Plantation

Because of this, I decided to go back at this place and explored it. This is just along the highway and it is accessible. I bought some fresh harvest of corns from the stalls along the highway.

Part of the NK6410 Corn Plantation

Not far from the corn plantation is the famous Josie's Panciteria and Restaurant where one of their specialties is the Pancit Cabagan and my friend, Manuel Bermudez tried it for the first time and it was worth it. Its taste is authentic for a Cagayanon specialty.

Pancit Cabagan: Part of Cagayanon cuisine

My friend Manuel Bermudez with me at Josie's Panciteria and Restaurant

There is one thing I noticed as we passed after the bridge from NK6410 Corn Plantation, there are flood markers erected in some parts near Cagayan river. The driver told us that during typhoons this area along the river is being flooded.

Flood markers as high as 2.5 meters

There are so much to see in the city like cafes, dining and fastfood restaurants, nightlife, museums, banks, gymnasiums, busy public market at the centro and universities at that where these institutions give prominence to the city.

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

The city of Tuguegarao is identified to be as very hispanic as evident of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral which can tell that even at present religion is playing a major influence of its people.

St. Paul University Philippines

To support the fact that Catholicism played a major part of its people, St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP)founded by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in 1907 is also an influential institution of the city. This is not to mention that the city has also St. Louis University

Cagayan State University - Andrews Campus

In providing educational services, the Republic of the Philippines through former President Ferdinand E. Marcos established Cagayan State University on June 11, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1436 as a result of merger of 8 colleges of the province of Cagayan. This further shows how committed the province is in promoting its quality of education.

Cagayan National High School

But looking back, it can be told that the people from Cagayan valued much education not only because of the presence of St. Paul University since 1907 but public education has since started in this province when Cagayan High School was established ahead of St. Paul University in 1905 which is called at present Cagayan National High School nationalized by virtue of Presidential Decree 1050 on July 1, 1976.

The best place to buy souvenirs at The Lighthouse Cooperative

To choose for a variety of souvenir and pasalubong items, then go to the Lighthouse Cooperative at 39 Luna Street, Corner Taft Street of Tuguegarao City with landline number at (078) 373-0188. The link above is their Facebook page.

The iconic statue of DA CBS in Maguirig of Solana (Photo Credit: Manuel Bermudez)

Just around 13 kilometers away from Tuguegarao City, one can visit the Department of Agriculture's Cagayan Breeding Station (DA CBS) in Barangay Maguirig which they mainly raised there for goats.

A field of blooming flowers at DA CBS (Photo Credit: Manuel Bermudez)

The DA CBS complex has been developed already as it is the source of quality goat stocks that caters not only Cagayan farmers but raisers of Region 2 and nearby areas. In fact, as part of their fiesta celebration, a farm festival has been held to showcase integrated farming with crops, livestock, organic agriculture and fishery in small space at different affordable capital requirements.

The Calvary Hills of Cagayan Valley

At approximately 19 kilometers away from the city is another famous attraction in the name of Calvary Hills of Cagayan Valley which is located in Barangay Ajat of the municipality of Iguig. This showcases the 14 Stations of the Cross

Pottery production in Brgy. Malabbac, Iguig

Along the highway of Iguig halfway to Calvary Hills are dotted with stalls selling pots of different designs and sizes.

Mrs. Marvie Cusipag's house

While in Iguig, we had our host Marvita Labuguin Cusipag Our group had a chance to be hosted by a colleague in Mandaluyong who happened to have her vacation in their mansion-like house in Iguig in the name of Mrs. Marvie Lavide.

The facade of the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

The Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat is located in the Municipality of Piat, a 4th class municipality in the province of Cagayan. Thus, the place is known to be the Pilgrimage Center of Cagayan Valley because of the thousands of devotees and tourists who visit the place to pay their homage.

The interior of the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

Coming from Tuguegarao City, it takes 33 kilometers for a road travel via Cagayan-Apayao Road.

While at the Municipality of Kalinga Municipal Hall

Kalinga is a neighboring province of Cagayan and I just boarded a passenger jeepney going there loaded with an overloaded number of passengers together with chickens, vegetables and cargoes.

A souvenir photo at PNB Tabuk Branch

Tabuk is a 5th class city and is the capital of the province of Kalinga. Apayao is now a separate province from Kalinga. Its distance is 52.7 kilometers from Tuguegarao for a road travel of 1 hour and 20 minutes via Kalinga - Cagayan Road/Mount Province - Tabuk - Enrile - Cagayan Road and Santiago - Tuguegarao Road.

The interior of Callao Cavas (Model: Manuel Bermudez)

Another exciting tourist destination to visit is the Callao Caves which is 41 kilometers away from Tuguegarao via Larion-Cabbo-Cabasan-Bical-Baliaug Road. It is situated in the municipality of Peñablanca, a first class municipality of the province of Cagayan.

The entry point to Callao Caves

The municipality is home to the Protected Landscape and Seascape which contains the Callao Cave (part of the Callao Limestone Formation Paleolithic Archeological Site). It is also home to the charcoal-drawn Peñablanca petrographs. Both the Peñablanca petrographs and the Callao Limestone Formation are included as tentative sites of the Philippines for future inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Callao Limstone Formation has at least 93 archaeological sites that yielded stone tools of Paleolithic industry and bones and shells of animals still living in the vicinity. (Wikipedia)

Upon entry to the municipality of Tuao

Tuao is a landlocked first class municipality in the coastal province of Cagayan with a land area of 215.50 square kilometers which is 31.8 kilometers from Tuguegarao for 50 minutes land travel via Cagayan – Apayao Road.

PNB Sanchez Mira Branch: A stopover in my Laoag City-Aparri trip

Sanchez Mira is the third municipality of Cagayan province which separates Ilocos Norte province which I passed of my Laoag City - Aparri Trip.

Magapit Bridge of Lal-lo, Cagayan Province Cagayan Province Facebook Page

I visited Aparri in September 2003 as it served as the jump-off point for my trip to Camiguin de Babuyanes island. I just came from my 8-day Batanes trip then. The trip was quite a long road travel as I came from Laoag City for 112 kilometers or 6 hours travel. The bus is going to Tuguegarao and I lifted in Lal-lo where I took a mini bus going to Aparri.

As per my diary, my bus travel from Laoag City had passed the following municipalities, namely: Bacarra, Pasuquin, Burgos, Bangui, Pagudpud, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Allacapan, Lallo and finally reached the Magapit suspension bridge dubbed as the Golden Gate of Cagayan. It connects the east and west sides of the Cagayan River.

The municipal hall of Aparri

Aparri served as the jump-off point for my trip to Camiguin de Babuyanes Island trip. I just came from my 8-day Batanes trip then. The trip was quite a long road travel as I came from Laoag City

Anguib Beach of Sta. Ana of Cagayan Province (Reddit)

Anguib Beach of the municipality of Sta. Ana which is dubbed as the Boracay of the North rivals its title with Saud Beach of Pagudpud of Ilocos Norte.

Palaui Island at a distance (Photo credit: Manuel Bermudez)

Sta. Ana is on the north-easternmost point or the right horn of the island of Luzon and includes Palaui Island. I first visited the place in 2003 after my Camiguin de Babuyanes and Batanes trip. From Tuguegarao City, one has to take either a bus or van to Sta. Ana for approximately 3 hours for 152 kilometers. However, when I visited Sta. Ana, I came from Aparri. By that time, Anguib beach was simply nothing but white sand beach without no modern resorts but just nipa huts.

Overlooking picture from Cape Engano (Photo credit: Manuel Bermudez)

When I visited Palaui, I just had my 43-day forced vacation from Camiguin de Babuyanes Island. For one to reach Palaui Island, take a tricycle from Sta. Ana proper to San Vicente Port with a travel time of 15-20 minutes. Then, there is a passenger boat going to the inhabited island of Palaui which will take 20-25 minutes depending upon the calmness of the sea.

Cape Engano Lighthouse(Photo credit: Manuel Bermudez)

By that time, there was not even a single place to stay in the island. There was no even single homestay there. The boatman just referred us to stay in a vacation house of an engineer which I forgot the name already.

While at Pinon Islet of Camiguin de Babuyanes Island

Camiguin de Babuyanes is just one of the five islands of Babuyan Group of Islands. The other islands are: Babuyan Claro, Fuga, Dalupiri, and its capital Calayan. I went there boarding a boat from Aparri for a boat travel of 7 hours. I stayed there for 43 days because when I went there, I was the only passenger of the boat and they did not tell me that between the months of September and October, the waves are too high and it is dangerous to travel. Only then I knew that there are no trips going back to Aparri when I was already in the island. Thus, I was forced to stay there until November 2, 2003.