Archive for the ‘Albay’ Category
TIWI, ALBAY - Situated in the northernmost part of Albay is Tiwi, a small town known for its fine ceramic products, well preserved Spanish era churches, and sumptuous halo-halo. It made the headlines two years ago along with images of the devastation brought by Typhoon “Reming.” The tragedy was a major setback to this quaint town which from the onset already suffers from a high incidence of poverty, malnutrition among children, and significant presence of makeshift houses.
The people of Tiwi, assisted by concerned partners, conceptualized a project called “Aksyon Gawang Paaralan: Galing Mamamayan” (Citizen’s Governance Schools).
The project was recognized in the recently concluded project grant competition “Panibagong Paraan 2008″ when out of the more than 500 entries, it was chosen as a finalist. It received the Panibagong Paraan sa Puerto Princesa Award from the city government of Puerto Princesa. As on eof the 11 awardees, the project proponents were invited by Mayor Edward Hagedorn to their city in order for them to share their project ideas with development practitioners.
The Aksyon Gawang Paaralan project aims to establish galing mamamayan schools in every barangay as a viable and sustainable means of organizing, capacitating, and mobilizing the critical mass of citizen-leaders who would bring about good governance in a municipal scale. The schools are governance schools for ordinary citizens. They have no walls or boundaries; they are in the workplaces, in the communities, in the hearts and minds of citizens who will be at the forefront of the struggle for good governance and development.
Through the galing mamamayan school, the project aims to generate 100 advocates or catalysts of change in the first six months of its implementation. The number will be doubled every six months. These advocates are expected to complement existing people’s councils created by law, thus ensuring greater participation by the community in effecting development changes for the community and by the community. The project forms part of Tiwi’s strategic program and is led by the Aquinas University Foundation, Inc. with support from the Tiwi local government unit, Community Building and Reform Partners (CBERP), and steam field operator Chevron Geothermal Philippine Holdings, Inc. (CGPHI).
A pioneer in geothermal operations and renewable energy in Albay and the Philippines, CGPHI’s more than 30 years of valued partnerships with the Tiwi LGU and various NGOs and POs in the conduct of community programs on capacity and institutional building have brought about development changes in the municipality.
The Panibagong Paraan 2008 competition is a World Bank-led project and is a unique bazaar of innovative ideas that provide solutions to the most pressing social and economic concerns of our country. Winners received funding from specific donor agencies.
Originally published: June 13, 2008, Philippine Daily Inquirer page B2-2
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From the start she was Dr. Francisco Dodong Nemenzo’s personal choice to replace him as UP President. After some voting deadlocks between her and Edgardo Espiritu, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Dr. Emerlinda Roman became the 19th and first woman President of the University of the Philippines by a vote of 7 -5. Rallies of support for Dr. Roman marked the election for UP President in 2004. Students, faculty members, alumni and workers of UP were all rooting for her and Dr. Roman’s victory was a triumph of the UP Community. It was also a personal triumph for Dr. Nemenzo but he would not make big thing of it, even refusing a post-election interview. She is homegrown, having started her UP life in UP high school Los Baños. She rose the ranks, holding various positions in the state university before getting elected as President. During her term as the Chancellor of UP Diliman, the chaotic enrollment that we had known became automated. Even now at the helm of the university, she retains teaching units for herself, and she would not admit this is for pure love of teaching. The reason why she still teaches, she says, is that she would not like to deprive herself of the experience to tell students what to do without being questioned. Read more
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Posted in Bicol Internet, Bicol Food & Beverages, Bicol Events, Bicol Jobs, Bicol News, Bicol Tourism, Bicol Technology, Bicol OFW, Bicol Education, Bicol Current Events, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Naga City, Caramoran, Bicol Business, Bicol Blogging, Bicol Announcement, Sorsogon | 1 Comment »
I am currently working abroad, but soon will be going home for good.
I just want to solicit support from my fellow bicolano with regards to my plan to put up my own small Construction and Engineering Consultancy business:
MALILIPOT BUILDERS
This will soon be opening in Barangay 4 Malilipot, Albay.
View:
my projects,
my work experiences
my schools
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nata ang mayor kang sto domingo dayo?nata bakong dakulon man sana ki maurag na talagang taga sto domingo?maurag baga si herbie Aguas,Si Balbin?si Dicto?maski kuta si tolin garcia…
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Learn how to embed other sites within your blog or website. View your favorite sites without leaving your own site. All you need is some Javascript codes. Visit this site for more details: WEB BASICS
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Mt. Mayon is seen all over the province of Albay. Let me share the view I get whenever I’m home in Tiwi, Albay.
A thing of beauty that I’ll never get tired of.
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Gobernadorcillo de Tiwi, Albay Philippines 1879-1884
A Biographical Sketch
By
Jay Cy Ty
FOREWORD
The idea to write this biographical sketch was inspired by some old residents of Tiwi who related the different anecdotes and outstanding achievements of the man who is the subject of this sketch. They praised him and inspired me to follow the gobernadorcillo’s way of life. I tried to imitate him though I did not presume to measure up to his ideals.
No attempt is made here to appraise his character and his achievements. It is left to the discretion of the reader. The sketch is being presented without assumptions except for some reference notes.
Majority of the materials of this work was related to me personally by witnesses of the time, notably by Cabezang Conoy (Cornelio Comboy from Cale), Cabezang Eno (also form Cale), the late Fermin Corral, Petronilo de la Cruz from Mayong, Alejandro Colina from Cararayan, Inocencia Combo (Mother in-law of Mariano Templado). Municipal President Lino Clutario related the incident with the Guardia Civil, which he heard from some elder people. Likewise, the late Mr. H.R. Berces confirmed some parts of this work to be true as he heard them many times from elder people.
The late Mariano Templado, the only son of Gobernadorcillo Higino Templado blessed with children, said that he heard all of the accounts in this work as recounted many times by people then living during the time of the gobernadorcillo.
The descendants of Mariano Templado are grateful to the old folks who transmitted this portion of the life story of the gobernadorcillo, without whom he would have been forgotten like the other revered men of his time.
Jay Cy Ty
Tiwi, Albay
January 1, 1979
The Legacy Of Higino Templado
Sr. Don Higino Templado, the sixty-sixth gobernadorcillo* of Tiwi, Albay (1879-1884) was a man of strong personality. He was of strong though slender of physique and stands at five feet and eight inches. He was good in the arts of fencing, which he learned while a student in Manila.
He had a clear and light complexion with a face too serious for his age. His speech was solemn and his voice was full and resonant. He spoke fluently and was at home in the Spanish language. He was well composed in appearance and had no racial complex. He had a high regard for his office and discharged duties with dignity and decorum.
A devout Catholic, he led the members of his household in the daily early morning rosary.
*The head of the Pueblo government (town government) was the gobernadorcillo (little governor) popularly called Capitan. In earlier times, all married men of the pueblo elected him annually. Later, he was elected by a board of 18 electors- the out-going gobernadorcillo and twelve electors selected by lot, six from the incumbent cabezas de barangay and six among the former gobernadorcillos and cabezas.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE
Higino was born in San Fernando, Pampanga on February 11, 1852. He was the eldest of three children born to Licerio Templado and Felipa Fernandez both of Filipino- Chinese descent. His father was from Bulacan while his mother was from Pampanga.
EDUCATION
Higino got his early education from the parochial school of his native town. After finishing his early education, he continued his studies in Manila’s higher institution of learning. It is not certain as to what course the young Higino pursued in the University of Santo Tomas but it is believed that he must have studied civil law.
HIS FAMILY
While a student in Manila, Higino met Crisanta San Juan, a young college girl of Manila whom he married in 1873. Crisanta was the eldest daughter of Mariano San Juan* and Macaria Maglake of Manila who migrated to Tiwi earlier than the Templados.
After marriage, the young couple stayed for a while in the house of Remigia San Juan, a sister of Crisanta’s father. With the desire to be free and independent and a resentment to undue discipline from Aunt Remigia, the young couple with their first-born child left Manila in 1875 in a pretense to visit their parents in Tiwi, Albay where they decided to stay permanently.
Higino had six children: Mariquita, Gineto, Merced, Licerio, Mariano and Higino II. Of his children, only Mariano was blessed with children to perpetuate Higino’s family, one of whom became later a Mayor of Tiwi.
*Mariano San Juan held also the position of gobernadorcillo (1877-1878).
ENTERED PUBLIC SERVICE
Being knowledgeable in law, Higino was appointed Fiscal Promotor* of Tiwi (1876-1878). Due to his growing influence in the town, at the age of twenty- seven, he was elected gobernadorcillo of his adopted town to succeed his father in-law on January 1, 1879. He was re-elected in1881 and in 1883 occupying the position until his death in 1884. His administration heralded liberalism in Tiwi and was characterized by peace and prosperity.
*Fiscal Promotors were provided for in every municipality. They were given to persons who are lawyers or had some academic or professional title, or to those whose positions and circumstances warrant it. Cayetano S. Arellano, “Concession to Public Opinion”. The Judiciary (Vol. 1, 1903)
A LIBERAL AND A REFORMER
The liberal ideas brought to the Philippines by Spanish Governor-General Carlos Maria de la Torre (1869-1871) as a consequence of liberalism in Spain, had greatly influenced the character of Higino while a student in Manila. As a student at that time, Higino had the opportunity of attending both Liberty Serenade and Parade in July and September 1869 participated by prominent Filipinos and students of the University of Santo Tomas to express their gratitude for the liberal policies of Governor-General Carlos Maria de la Torre. These demonstrations had imbibed in the young Higino the spirit of nationalism and liberalism. The new ideas spreading in Manila’s young people were brought to Tiwi by the young gobernadorcillo.
In the past, the gobernadorcillo was generally, as Jose Rizal said in his Noli Me Tangere, “only an unhappy mortal commanded not, but obeyed; who ordered not, but was ordered; who drove not, but was driven”. When Higino assumed his position, he inaugurated a new concept of administration. He chose to inspire and drive his people to action. He initiated reforms and took measures for the development of his town.
SUPPRESSED FLOGGING
Though Higino would not compromise with criminality, he detested the infliction of bodily harm to criminals as a form of punishment. To him, punishment has for its purpose the reformation of the criminal. With this belief, he immediately suppressed flogging, the subjection of offenders to the bite of ants and other physical forms of punishments.
PROMOTED PEACE AND ORDER
Higino believed that peace and order is necessary for the progress of the community. However, he said, peace and order cannot be achieved if those who are charged with the responsibility of maintaining peace and orders are undisciplined and oppressive.
Knowing that the cuadrilleros, the local police force during the Spanish regime, were illiterates and untrained for police work, he took immediate steps in reorganizing the cuadrilleros. They were required to learn the native martial arts and to attend a short course in police work. He issued them instructions to govern their actuations and charged them the duty of preventing crimes and the apprehension of criminals. Erring cuadrilleros were confined in jail without visitors for several days depending on the degree of their errors. Cuadrilleros, he said, must be models and that they could only correct themselves if they are made to taste the dose of their own medicine.
CORRECTED THE ABUSE OF THE GUARDIA CIVIL
An incident with a Guardia Civil caused an unwholesome relationship between him and the organization of the Guardia Civil. In those days, the guardia civil were powerful and arrogant. Nobody dared disobey them. For no cause at all, they would beat anybody (not excluding the gobernadorcillo) who happened to cross their ways.
On one occasion, a guardia civil came knocking at Higino’s bedroom while enjoying his noon siesta, with the intention of humiliating the gobernadorcillo. Irked by this arrogance, Higino opened the door abruptly and in a surprise move, he grabbed the guardia civil’s pistol and held him up. “Cuadrase en el nombre del Rey”, (Pay respect or honor in the name of the King) the gobernadorcillo commanded. Caught unaware, the guardia civil humbled himself before Higino. He arrested him and locked him in jail. He was only released upon a pledge that the guardia civil will not repeat the incident nor molest his people. From then on, no guardia civil ever dared slight Higino nor would any guardia civil go to any place in Tiwi without his knowledge and authority.
PACIFIED THE AETAS
The forest areas of what is now the Binisitahan of San Bernardo and the mountains of Barangay Mayong were earlier inhabited by roaming Agta (Aeta). These people were nomadic and warlike in nature and were constantly molesting the Christian natives. Higino decided to pacify these Aetas. He befriended their chiefs and summoned them to gather in San Bernardo and the lowlands of Mayong. When Higino arrived at the gathering of the Aetas in San Bernardo, he noted an unfriendly atmosphere among the Aetas. Their Chief, seated on a bench like a king, did not rise nor demonstrate any act of welcoming the gobernadorcillo. As Higino stood unwelcome and embarrassed, the Chief Aeta, brandishing a bolo signaled to one of his men to throw a coconut to him, which he struck in two. Higino, however, was not impressed by the show. He surprised everybody by disarming him with his bolo. Everybody was tense! The slightest signal from their Chief would throw them into action. Tension, however was eased when the Aeta Chief, in an act of surrender smiled apologetically and explained that what he did was nothing but a mere gesture of welcome. He warned them not to molest the Christian natives and advised them to live peacefully. Later, he arranged for a lay mission, which he accompanied for the conversion of the Aetas to Christianity. For a while they settled peacefully but some of them wandered into the forests.
HIS ENGINEERING WORKS
Town Planning
The only road existing at the time he became the gobernadorcillo was the road from Malinao. The town was no more than a settlement of scattered houses. The only building of permanent construction was the church and convent. Having seen the orderly arrangement of the city of Manila and some other towns near Manila, he made a plan for Tiwi.
Built Municipal Streets
The existing systems of the municipal streets in Tiwi were laid out during the term of Gobernadorcillo Higino Templado. Higino believed in the importance of good roads. He soon started the construction of the Cararayan- Cale road, which was then only a trail to make it passable for Carabao-drawn carts. To provide the barrio of Cararayan with a street through which the religious procession or aurora may pass, he also caused the construction of the back street of Cararayan named Eduardo Comot Street.
The maintenance of the Tiwi- Malinao road always concerned him. It was while supervising the repair of this road during heavy rain that caused his sickness resulting to his death.
Constructed The Tribunal
Tiwi did not have a building to house its local government offices. In 1880, he built a town hall, which was then called the Tribunal. It was built of stone and its architecture was of the Corinthian style. Its construction was partly financed from his personal funds due to the inadequacy of the funds of the Pueblo. This building was unfortunately burned in the later part of the Spanish regime due to the fireworks fired by one Directorcillo* Tomas Gonzalez.
*Directorcillo was the municipal secretary.
The Town Plaza
To provide the community a wholesome place where people could gather and meet on Sundays and holidays, Higino constructed a town plaza in front of the Tribunal building on the very site of the present town plaza. Ornamental trees and plants were planted around the plaza and lampposts were installed and lighted at night. In this place people gathered to see the Comedia or local plays.
This plaza was named Plaza Templado during the time of Municipal President Mateo Clidoro (1925- 1931) in honor of Gobernadorcillo Higino Templado. The name however was soon forgotten. Only former President Lino Clutario (1931-1934), then Secretary to President Clidoro, remembers it to this day.
Irrigation and River Control
Realizing the importance of the lowlands between Cararayan and Naga for agricultural purposes, he saw the need of an irrigation canal. He called the people of the barrio and explained to them the necessity of constructing an irrigation system. Supplementing the Polo or forced labor system of the time with voluntary or cooperative labor the irrigation system from the barrio of Cale was constructed.
It was during the construction of this irrigation system that an anecdote was told about Higino. Early one morning, the continuous beating of a drum annoyed him. He went out of his house and looked for the source of the sound and found the Cabeza de Barangay still beating the drum. “I am calling the men to work in the community dam but not one has come”, the Cabeza explained.
“Give me the drum!” the gobernadorcillo commanded. With a bolo, he struck the drum and left the Cabeza dumbfounded.
Struck with fear, the Cabeza went around spreading the news that the gobernadorcillo was angry. Sooner than was expected, men were hurrying to the community dam.
“An sobrang tanog nacaca bognog. Sarong pokpok na malumbay nacacabuhay,” Higino was later heard to have said.
The Nagas River Control Project
The Nagas River has been a constant threat to the road connecting Malinao and Tiwi and to the rice fields of Tiwi. It was once reported to Higino that in Taki* was a lake whose water was shut off by a big rock held in place by a vine. It was feared that if the vine was cut, the rock would roll to cause a big flood. To allay the fears of the people, Higino taking with him the image of Nuestra Senora del Rosario (Patron Saint of Cararayan), and leading a party of cuadrilleros and local officials, visited the alleged lake. The report however was found to be false. The trip was not at all futile for it enabled him to map out plan to control Nagas River. The plan did not materialize on account of his untimely death.
*Taki- the upper portion of Nagas River
HIS AGRICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The Abaca Industry
The Abaca as the people’s money crop concerned him much. In fact he was a big abaca plantation owner. His plantations were located at Mayong, Dapdap and in Cale. He was an advocate of quality fibers. He was proud to claim that the best abaca fibers came from Tiwi. To attain his objectives, he required all strippers to use only knives without teeth. He ordered his cuadrilleros to inspect abaca strippers and to confiscate knives with teeth.
Higino was a jealous economist. In 1881, the central government required him to ship to Manila a large quantity of abaca rootstocks. Sensing that the propagation of abaca in other places would later threaten the town’s abaca industry, Gobernadorcillo Templado ordered the abaca rootstocks soaked in Naglagbong boiling springs before its shipment to prevent its germination.
Established Experimental Plots
In his desire to improve the economic condition of his people, the gobernadorcillo established a demonstration or experimental plot in Cararayan. He experimented and introduced such plants as legumes or beans, indigo, tobacco, garlic, sugarcane from Central Luzon, and such fruit trees as ates, seneguelas, and mulberry trees for the raising of silkworms.
FOUNDED AND RENAMED BARRIOS
Founding Of Cararayan
In searching for a place to establish his home, Higino selected a place, which he called Cararayhan (most ideal place). In later times people simplified it to Cararayan. He induced his friends and other people to settle down in this place, which he intended earlier to make it the poblacion of Tiwi.
With the cooperation of his neighbors they built a chapel. He ordered a painted image of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario from Manila and since then it has been the patron saint of the barrio. It seems that he chose this image in honor of the patron saint of Santo Domingo Church where he usually heard mass when still in Manila.
Renamed Gentilan*
Mayong was originally known as Cagintilan as Aetas and a haven then inhabited it for bad and troublesome people. After its pacification Gobernadorcillo Templado renamed Cagintilan to Mayong. The head of the Aetas was commissioned as Capitan de Mayong.
* Gentilan- derived from the word Gentil or Gentiles. The word gentil in Bicol refers to lawless people.
Chapel for San Bernardo
In the conversion of the Aetas in San Bernardo to Christianity, a chapel was also established where lay missions held meetings.
HIS CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS
No one knows the introduction of the Comedia or Moro-moro dramas in Tiwi. It is certain, however, that Higino was patron of this cultural practice. He encouraged and promoted the holding of the Comedia in Cararayan as well as in the town.
The Comedia is a must during the celebration of fiestas and during the catapusan of the aurora. He is said to have enjoyed the comedia very much especially the awkward gestures of the actors. He found much pleasure in the company of one known only as Pando from Nagas. He was his personal jester. For Pando’s pranks and jokes, the gobernadorcillo excused him from the usual polo or forced labor.
Higino appreciated music. He encouraged his brother Dionisio*, a talented musician to organize an orchestra using both native and foreign instruments. During fiestas and other occasions, this orchestra presented musical renditions.
*Grandfather of Kagawad Artemio Auste
New Year’s Day Celebration
On New Year’s Day, Higino would gather the children for a celebration. He would coax them to sing and to recite prayers and extracts from Christ’s passion plays. To each participant he gave them prizes. At the end of the celebration, he would shower them with coins to his full enjoyment as he saw them scramble for the showered coins.
RECIPIENT OF A MEDAL OF MERIT
The Superior government in Manila took cognizance of the Gobernadorcillo’s unusual achievements in public improvements, in the promotion of peace and order and in the development of local agriculture. He was therefore awarded a silver medal* wherein the following was inscribed: “GOBIERNO SUPERIOR DE FILIPINAS- AL MERITO CIVIL”.
*The heirs of the late Mayor Jose Clutario Templado preserve the medal.
HIS DEATH
In the later part of his incumbency as gobernadorcillo, Don Higino Templado contracted a certain fever. He was confined for a week in bed. Recovering from the illness, he was again in his job supervising the repair of the road in Nagas after a heavy flood. He got a relapse and finally died in 1884 at the prime age of 32. His office vacated, his Teniente Mayor, Ramon Zepeda assumed his office.
*Jay Cy Ty is the pen name of the author, the late Mayor Jose Clutario Templado.
Email: Tiwitemplado@yahoo.com
<li><a href=”http://www.bms70.blogspot.com”target=”_blank”>Bill Blahs</a></li>
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In 1814, Mayon Volcano erupted, with lava cascading down its slopes. The townspeople fled to the Cagsawa church, in hopes that they would be out of harm’s way.
At that time lava flows buried the town of Cagsawa and 1,200 people perished. Only the bell tower of the town’s church remained above the new surface and now stands as a memorial.
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An electric generation project with geothermal energy as source. It is designed to generate more than 227 megawatts, operated jointly by NPC/NEA and Union Oil (USA).
Located in Tiwi, Albay mostly visited for its high educational values.
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A site which serves as a strong reminder of the rich Manila to Acapulco (Mexico) trade routes during the Spanish era. Found along the shores of Buhatan beach at Sto. Domingo, Albay, this galleon relic was wrought by a strong typhoon on its way to Acapulco and crushed on the reefs of Albay Gulf.
This historical remains lie at five fathoms under the sea with green transparent water. It is an ideal place for scuba diving, fishing or boating.
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It nestles on the eastern slopes of Mt. Mayon at an altitude of 2,700 ft. An excellent summer resort with almost similar temperature with Baguio at 28 degrees Celsius. It is popularly known as “heaven on earth” because of the hanging clouds and the pleasant climate where cool and invigorating air could be experienced.
From this height, visitors, see the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the different towns, lakes, villages, fields and other mountains. Accessible through Tabaco, motor vehicles of any type could be used to reach it.
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Another breathtaking scenic beauty the Philippines could offer its tourists is the Mayon Volcano. It is an active volcano and popularly called as the world’s most perfect cone located in Legaspi, Albay, Philippines. Mayon Volcano never failed to attract visitors as it measures 8,189 feet with a base of 10 kilometers with its perfect cone whether seen from a distance or up close. When the volcano erupted, it left wonderful sceneries around it such as natural springs, caves, hills and lakes that have access to the panoramic view of the famous volcano.
Photos from SXC.HU, by DxPsycho
Known as the “Heaven on Earth”, Mayon Skyline nestles at the eastern slopes of the volcano with the altitude of 2,700 feet. Every visitor enjoys the hanging cloud and the pleasant climate as they view the Pacific Ocean and different places around Mayon Volcano National Park where the Mayon Volcano is located. There is also the Cagsawa Ruins, which is a lavish church during the Spanish era and was buried when the volcano erupted on February 1, 1814. The remains of the church serve as a mute testimony of the volcano’s destructive strength and volatile fury. The Cagsawa Ruins Park always gives tourists an unhampered view of Mayon Volcano.
WowParadisePhilippines
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It was a cold sunday. The plan was to meet at chowking muñoz at 3am. The establishment which is usually open 24 hours was closed that morning, for the holidays i think, so i texted everyone that mercury drug is the new meeting place. i got there some 20 minutes before 3. after 5 or 10 minutes angela showed up. daren, bryan and macky arrived some 30 minutes later. we took the extra time of waiting for mark to buy some stuff like lighter fluids and chips. he arrived with his pops trailing on another car. We had some chit-chats with his dad and after a few fatherly reminders and a tank full of gas, we were on our way to bicol.
i was thinking that it’ll be one hell of a long trip… i was sure i heard mark’s honda odessey saying the same thing. hehe.
we picked up alex and his gf, grace, in the corner of quezon ave and edsa. They were sitting beside ronald mcdonald in a darkened mcdo store. it was already 4:30 and they were already there some 2 hours ago. well the early bird catches the porn, thats what they say. And then we continue on our way. We had an early breakfast at a shell station along the south express way.
After long hours of playing rugby with giant trucks and buses (and having some close calls, whew!) we got to our first pitstop, Naga City. It was around 12 in the afternoon. We were all very ready for a bicol food fest by that time, so we looked for a place called Robertsons, Naga’s version of Robinsons, and got our bellies full with tinolmok and the best of the bicolandia cuisine. After we bought a box of sanmig lights, we were on the road again.
Next stop was the Cagsawa Ruins. It was around 3pm, it rained so after just a couple of photos, we decided to resume our trip to matnog which was our destination that day. I think Mark was already starving that he was driving like we were a friggin ambulance. We were halfway to matnog in less than an hour. We knew we found the X spot when we saw the huge words “You Are Now Leaving The Island Of Luzon”. After a very nice diner, we geared up for Subic Island.
Rommels place is situated just some 30 yards from the beach. Two small bancas were waiting for us, both were still off shore and all of us helped to push ‘em out to sea. That shit was not an easy thing to do, with those huge waves, its like crazy, man. Even boarding the outriggers proved to be a challenge. I remember some locals even warned us that the waves are already dangerous and getting stronger and bigger by the minute. They were right. The pacific ocean waves is really something to be reckoned with. There were no life jackets available and had our banca flipped or something, it could have been one hell of a fight for life. It was “the ride” im telling you. Pretty scary and very thrilling at the same time. We even had a banca race hehe. After some 25 minutes, we got to Subic Island, a secluded speck of land between Sorsogon and Samar. After dinner, cans of beer, bottles of brandy and manong telling us stories about aswangs and stuff, we all dozed off under the bicolana moon.
It was now monday. We spent the morning swimming and riding the huge waves, exploring the island and frustratingly climbing a rock wall for pictures. After tons of photos, we set off for matnog again. The waves were still strong so the ride was still a thriller. We took quick showers and after a nice breakfast courtesy of Rommel’s wonderful grandma, we packed our things up. We said thanks and goodbye to Rommels granny and pretty cousins and we were off. Next, Mt. Bulusan!
We hired a van to take us to Mt. Bulusan jump-off point. When we got there, locals, even the kagawad, advised us not to continue with the planned climb since the weather is really bad and limatiks with surely eat us alive (as how one local had exaggeratedly put it). We all agreed to listen to the local peeps and decided that we will just do a day hike the next morning. But the plan was changed when four mountaineers which have just came down from the mountain arrived. We talked to them and asked them about the situation up there. They suggested we go on with the climb but warned us that its raining very hard and showed us some fresh limatik bites. They said they didnt went to the summit because its really foggy and its raining, no view will ever be seen in that condition. So we changed our game plan.
We’ll go on with the climb and set camp on angingay. And if in the following morning the weather is good, we’ll trek up to the summit. We reached angingay campsite at about 5pm. It was still raining the following day (Tuesday) so we decided to descend rather than to continue up. We took a different route on the way down, leading to Bulusan Lake. We rested a lil in bulusan lake, picture takings, snack and had a chitchat with a french mountaineer. Had our lunch in the town of irosin and the we headed back to rommels place in matnog.
After packing our things and thanking Rommels grandma, we left matnog. We were in the mood for some ice cold beer and a couple of microphones so Rommel took us to New Port beach resort and busted our pipes with cheezy videoke songs haha. Our body needed some rejuvenating from the climb so after the videoke raid and snorkeling in New Port Beach, we blazed the road again and went to San Binon Hot Spring. Bodies were healed but bellies were still aching so after a couple of hours in the hot spring, we were back on the road.
Next stop, Daren’s place in Prieto Diaz for the seafood galore! We arrived there around 9pm. His parents were very warm and generous. We were treated with giant crabs and prawns, laing and octopus dinuguan. God i think we spent almost an hour over the dinner table. hehe. at 12 midnight, we left for Rizal beach, carrying 8 grandes and more giant crabs and prawns. We arrived at Gubat town after some 20 minutes later. Now i understand why rizal beach is one of the most famous beaches of bicol, its fine white sand and very wide shoreline. We coundnt find a nice place to stay at so after some hours we decided to head back to Daren’s place and finish our drinking spree there. And then there was darkness. A lot of snoring.
The next day. We all got up early for there are still lots of adventures to do. We went to Sto. Domingo for the Nagsurok and Pinanaan caves exploration. We explored Nagsurok first. Its entrace was a lil narrow but its one huge cave, man. And it has hundreds of bats living inside along with huge scorpions and spiders. Then it was the Pinanaan cave, a very large cave, its like standing inside a cathedral. On our way back to Darens house, we took a detour and went to one of the largest mangrove forest in the country, the Prieto Diaz Mangrove Forest & Coastal Management. Then we went back to Darens, had a great lunch and packed our stuff.
On our way home, we stopped by Cagsawa Ruins again, to take photos and shop for some pasalubongs. Good thing it wasnt raining anymore. The next stop over was in Naga City, we had a quick dinner at Bryans place. And thats it, we got back here at manila the following morning.
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Posted in Naga City, Bicol Destinations, Bicol Tourism, Bicol Travel, Legazpi City, Sorsogon City, Prieto Diaz, Bulusan, Gubat, Matnog, Sorsogon | No Comments »
