BALAYUNGAN (PANTIHAN) WATER FALLS

Location: Brgy. Pantihan I, Maragondon, Cavite, Philippines

I never knew this place until such time when I climbed Mount Marami in Maragondon, Cavite on March 12, 2016 and this served to be our side trip. This is 30 minutes drive from the Mount Marami barangay registration site in Barangay Talipusngo of Maragondon. Good enough that its route is somewhat near the highway as we head back to Manila.

Balayungan Falls as captured at 4:30 P.M.

The river along the water falls is very deep but according to the locals there is no danger for daring cliff diving from atop the water falls. In fact, when we were there, our companions as well as some guests there were alternating for the cliff diving.

So close to Balayungan Falls

This water falls is not yet known to some tourists as I did a lot of searches, I found no blog with such a comprehensive information of it. According to the local that I've chat with, this falls has really Balayungan for its name since its area occupies more in Barangay Balayungan than it does in Brgy. Pantihan I though the entry point is in Brgy. Pantihan.

Listening to the rythym of the cascading water falls

While its location is open, going there other than early morning and late afternoon will really be hot. There are no trees where one can take cover. So, the time we went there at around 4:30 P.M. was just a perfect time where we maximized our enjoyment as well as best results in photography.

Balayungan Falls as captured at almost 6:00 P.M.

Though we stayed there for barely two hours, we really maximized our enjoyment. Besides, this was the time when some guests were already leaving. But I find the time so much perfect since there was no crowding though the river where we swam was wide enough to accommodate more guests.

The make-shift resort cottages in the vicinity of the falls

There were make-shift cogon cottages near the falls where guests can take cover and leave their things while having a splash in the river. I have no idea as to its rental as our guide arranged everything.

HOW TO GO THERE

Take a bus from Coastal Mall at a fare rate of P66 with travel duration of 2 hours. From Naic, take a jeepney with a signboard of Magallanes at a fare of P29 for a 30-minute drive but tell the driver to drop you at the crossing heading to the water falls. From the corner is still far and you have to take a motor cab

For worry-free visit to the falls, particularly to mountain climbers who wanted to have a side trip, take the "All-In Services" of the tour organizer Christian Seracon with mobile number at 09066921264 or through his Facebook account at Christian Seracon for only P800 inclusive of round trip van transport from Coastal Mall to Maragondon of Mount Marami, guide and registration fee as well as the jeep from Mount Marami's registration site to the jump-off point in Barangay Bangkaan of Brgy. Talipusngo.

MOUNT MARAMI

Location: Maragondon, Cavite, Philippines

Jump-off point: Sitio Bangkaan, Brgy. Talipusngo, Maragondon, Cavite
Alternate jumpoff: Brgy.Ramirez, Magallanes, Cavite
LLA: 405 MASL (1,328 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-3 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Rocky outcrops, scenic views of Cavite including bird's eye view of Pico de Loro or Mount Palay-Palay

Note: The Barangay Ramirez alternative jumpoff point requires 4-6 hours to summit according to Dr. Gideon of Pinoy Mountaineer.

While at the summit's Silyang Bato

It is my first time to scale Mount Marami which I did it on March 12, 2016. I have heard a lot of stories about the mountain and have seen its awesome pictures most particularly its daring "Silyang Bato" and since then, I have been dreaming. I was with Christian Seracon and the rest of 12 mountaineers who wanted to be challenged by Silyang Bato summit.

Extremely dusty road heading to Sitio Bangkaan jumpoff point

Our group started this trip when we met at the Coastal Mall at 4:00 A.M. and from there, we had a refreshing drive passing through the Cavitex where we left the Coastal Mall at 4:55 A.M. We arrived 7:40 A.M. at the Talipusngo Barangay Hall for registration which we paid P20 per head.

Sitio Bangkaan jumpoff point

After the registration, we boarded a jeepney and headed to a nearby restaurant where a few of us took our breakfast and buy for packed lunch. We need to transfer to a jeepney since, the road going to Sitio Bangkaan was really a tough one considering that it was bumpy with big boulders, extremely dusty and at some point there are sudden drops which will give a hard time for the vehicle to maneuver. The travel took barely 40 minutes. Along our way, we passed through climbers who were trekking because their vans drop them somewhere as the road is no longer passable for their vehicle type.

Mount Palay-Palay or Pico de Loro as seen from the summit

According to our guide, there are two options where we can take for our ascent to the summit coming from the jumpoff point. The first one is a short cut heading to the summit and the second one is cutting through the trail passing thru Camps 1, 2 and 3 and finally the summit. The first option is only an hour and a half while the second option will take around three hours. But since some of our companions were newbies in climbing, our guide opted to take the first option.

This is the photo of the massive summit stone wall which I captured from my guide's fb account

The alternative which we took was such an easy trail with gradual assaults cutting through a canopy of bamboos. Most of the trail were covered with bamboos and other kinds of trees. However, with the option we took, we have no chance to capture the picture above as it is only visible when one is at Camp 1.

Chasing the clouds at the summit

Being at the summit of Mount Marami is like being on top of the world where neighboring lowlands and mountains can be see and it includes Pico de Loro where like Mount Marami, it also has the massive monolith.

A closer photo at the summit's Silyang Bato

I noticed that there are so many climbers who wanted to scale Mount Marami. We were lucky to be the first to arrive at the summit since some other groups trek from the registration to the jumpoff point. Had it not for that, we might have been waiting in queue trying to have a picture in Silyang Bato.

Still a part of the summit

We have not stayed long at the summit since it was hot. Our ascent to the summit was barely 1 and a half hours and descending the mountain only took us a hour to the jumpoff point.

What was rewarding for this climb was our side trip to Pantihan (Balayungan) Water Falls

Bamboo canopies: the common sight of the trail

OTHER CONCERNS

For tour guide rates, P500 for day climb for a ratio of 1 is to 10 climbers or P1,000 for overnight with the same ratio of climbers. For the round trip jeepney rental from the barangay hall registration to Sitio Bangkaan for day cimb has a rate of P1,000 and P2,000 for overnight. Guides can be contacted at 09369682387/09065079694 for Aldrin Paiton and 09066921264 for Christian Seracon. Both of them can booked the jeepney for the guests convenience.

HOW TO GO THERE

DIY Option

Take a bus from Coastal Mall at a fare rate of P66 with travel duration of 2 hours. From Naic, take a jeepney with a signboard of Magallanes at a fare of P35 for an hour drive but tell the driver to drop you at the Barangay Hall of Talipusngo of Maragondon, Cavite for the Registration for P20.

From the Barangay Hall Registration to Sitio Bangkaan, a chartered jeepney is needed for it is quite far and vans or cars can’t get into its dusty and bad road condition.

Taking Tour Package Option

For worry-free visit to the falls, particularly to mountain climbers who wanted to have a side trip, take the "All-In Services" of the tour organizer Christian Seracon with mobile number at 09066921264 or through his Facebook account at Christian Seracon for only P800 inclusive of round trip van transport from Coastal Mall to Maragondon of Mount Marami, guide and registration fee as well as the jeep from Mount Marami's registration site to the jump-off point in Barangay Bangkaan of Brgy. Talipusngo.

47TH PENITENTIAL WALKING

This is my third time to join this penitential walking sponsored by the Mission De Colores founded by the late Juaning Reyes. The last time I attended was on April 5, 2007, its 38th Penitential Walking then. It is usually held every Maundy Thursday.

The Basilica Menore de San Sebastian

This penitential walking has a double purpose, namely: "Visita Iglesia" the usual term used when the Philippines was under the Spanish regime as one of its colonized country for 377 years covering the period from 1521 when European explorer, Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines and ended in 1898 with with the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. The visitation of churches totals to 14 where each church visited represents as one of the Stations of the Cross. It started from 6:00 A.M. and ended at 3:30 P.M.

Station 1: San Roque De Manila Parish

Address: Rizal Avenue (near Blumentritt Street), Sta. Cruz, Manila

Facade of San Roque De Manila Parish

The interior of San Roque De Manila Parish

Station 2: Immaculate Conception Parish

Address: 287 Tayuman Street, Tondo,Manila

The facade of the Immaculate Conception Parish

The interior of Immaculate Conception Parish

Leaving the 2nd Station to the 3rd Station

A mother carrying her baby in a crib

Station 3: Archdiocesan Shrine of Espiritu Santo (Espiritu Santo Parish Church)

Address: 1912 Rizal Avenue (near Tayuman Street) 344 Zone 35, Sta Cruz, Metro Manila

The facade of Espiritu Santo Parish

The interior of Espiritu Santo Parish

Walking along Tayuman Street heading to the Fourth Station

Station 4: Santissimo Rosario Parish Church (known as UST Chapel)

Address: Ceferino Gonzales Drive, Sampaloc, Manila, Metro Manila

The facade of the UST Chapel

A closer look of the UST Chapel

The interior of the USA Chapel

Devotees leaving UST Chapel

skyscrapers at the background of the UST spacious quadrangle

Crossing the busy street of Espana heading to the 5th Station

Station 5: Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish

Address: Jose Figueras (formerly Bustillos) Street, Sampaloc, Manila, Metro Manila

The facade of Our Lady of Loreto Parish

The interior of Our Lady of Loreto Parish

Devotees leaving for the 6th Station

Station 6: San Antonio de Padua Shrine

Address: Jose Figueras (formerly Bustillos) Street, Sampaloc, Manila, Metro Manila

The facade of San Antonio de Padua Shrine

The interior of San Antonio de Padua Shrine

Station 7: Basilica Minore de San Sebastian

Address: Plaza del Carmen, Abenida Claro M. Recto, Quiapo, Manila

The facade of San Sebastian Church

The interior of San Sebastian Church

Station 8: Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat (San Beda College Chapel)

Address: 638 Mendiola St., San Miguel, Manila

The facade of San Beda College Chapel

The interior of San Beda College Chapel

Peeping thru the concrete fence of Malacanang Palace

Walking along Laurel Street fronting Malacanang Palace

Passing by San Miguel Parish Church of the Malacanang Palace

Station 9: Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (canonically known as Saint John the Baptist Parish/Quiapo Church)

Address: 910 Plaza Miranda and Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila

The facade of Quiapo Church

The interior of Quiapo Church

Station 10: Sta. Cruz Church

Address: Carriedo, Sta. Cruz, Manila

The facade of Sta. Cruz Church

The interior of Sta. Cruz

Approaching Jones Bridge heading for Intramuros

Entering the gate of Intramuros

Station 11: Immaculate Conception Parish Church of San Agustin

Address: General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila

The facade of San Agustin Church

The interior of San Agustin Church

Station 12: Cathedral – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral)

Sto. Tomas, Intramuros, Manila

The facade of the Manila Cathedral

The interior of the Manila Cathedral

Back to Binondo financial district

Station 13: Manila Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz or Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Binondo Church)

Address: Paredes Street corner Ongpin Streets, Plaza Calderon de la Barca, Binondo, Manila

The facade of Binondo Church

The interior of Binondo Church

Passing thru the busy street of Manila China Town's Ongpin Street

Vegetable stalls along Benavidez Street of Chinatown

Fruit stalls along Benavidez Street of Chinatown

Station 14:San Jose de Trozo Parish

Address: 1340- G Masangkay Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Facade of San Jose de Trozo Parish Church

The interior of San Jose de Trozo Parish Church