Journeying Pinay

Friday, October 14, 2011

San Carlos Cave: Knee-deep Mud in Wilbur-Ness

This was a Cave Day, indeed. After a hefty serving of batil-patong in a nearby barrio, we, Wilbur and Andoy, were set to visit San Carlos Cave.

The batil-patong was the best ever, most “naimas” (delicious) pansit I have ever tasted. It came with a cup of soup which was sautéed from the pan where the batil-patong was cooked. The soup tasted rich. I put off on eating meat products some years ago. So I just know right away that the soup’s base was meat or liver. It tasted good.

Then finally, served on our table is the fully-loaded (with vegetables and liver) batil-patong. Just what we needed to restore all those energy we lost in trekking the Callao Mountain. We had one big serving at P70.00 extra special, each. We did not talk to each other, we just ate. Every time I crave now for pansit, my taste buds travel back to that barrio, for fresh from the pan, Batil-Patong.

Carbo-loaded, I rode the motorcycle with the 2 explorers. In a short 10 minute-travel, we were there, jump-off point to San Carlos Cave. My thoughts: this is truly a solo adventure, with 2 strangers. Wilbur is the one who is so eager to bring me to that cave. That’s why I called this adventure to Wilbur-ness.

We trekked along grasslands. We saw sheep and children.

We reached San Carlos Cave. I was given a headlamp. I was told by Wilbur that the mud is knee deep. My thoughts: What knee-deep is he talking about?

We entered. Just like any cave, there were stalactites and stalagmites. And the most unexpected happened. My camera battery got discharged, empty. Good I had my cellphone camera.

This is what I saw.

When we reached the knee-deep mud, and it was getting darker inside the cave, I retreated.

I wished I had gloves, so that I would have not touched the super-sticky and muddy stalactites and stalagmites. The other cave explorers, who have been here, would hold on to them, thus they are packed of mud. Some stalactites are broken, maybe because of too much holding on to them by the explorers. They were hanging too low and so many of them.

I backed away also since I was told that it would take us half an hour more to reach the end. And that it will be sundown when we get back to the entrance of the cave. And I would still go back to Tuguegarao City, a 45-minute ride. And I remembered that this is not Manila. There might not be a ride for me going back. These were my bothering thoughts.

And on our way back, I looked up to appreciate the crystallized-stalactites. They were like diamonds tucked into the white rocks. They were twinkling and alive. There were some formations which were hiding from the bigger rocks.

I did not want to reach the end of the cave. I wanted to savor and capture with my eyes the growing rocks formations. So I did. And it is all in the memory card of my brain.

It was a big sigh when I finally saw the light at the entrance.

We were heading to the Lagoon. The lagoon where there is an opening of the San Carlos Cave underwater. We just cleansed our muddy sandals, legs and arms.

It was a still lagoon. It had a small narrow stream going somewhere. It was cold. I wanted to stay and just sit on the shallow water. But the sun was ready to set.

While there was still light, we trekked along the grasslands, back to where we parked the motorcycle. We had a long way to reach the point where I can ride a tricycle going to Tuguegarao City.

Where I was standing, waiting for my ride, from the bluish-gray skies, came out millions of fruit bats from the Bat Cave near Callao Cave.

In their circadian flight, I witnessed 3 groups. This was a bonus for me. They were noisily sounding off their flight to make known that it is their time to fly-out from their whole day just “hanging out” inside the caves.

With that sighting, and as darkness enveloped the entire surrounding, I had to be braver on my way back to Tuguegarao City.

And that’s the way it should be, especially when on foot, alone, in a strange wilderness: to be brave. To be faithful, that everything is going to be allright.

Derek Cave and Rock Cave: Found

Penablanca, Cagayan was believed to have more caves. There is a road which is called Penablanca Cave Road.

I was on to locate those caves. With, of course, my tour guides, Wilbur and Andoy, who suggested that I explore the Sierra Cave. However, Sierra Cave was a new cave and one will have to secure the authorization from DENR (Department of Natural Resources) to be able to walk around it. It was regrettable that I do not have the permit. And I was told that it will take days or weeks before DENR can schedule me for the Sierra Cave Spelunking.

So, Andoy, Wilbur and I decided to see the smaller caves (with Callao Cave as the reference for the comparison). From the view deck of the Callao Cave, there is a way going to the mountains of Callao. It was a root-filled ground.

Going up to see some more caves was not at all easy. It required me to climb thru rocks (or rock climb). This is the first ever real, actual rock climb experience. There are those I see in the mall or in resorts, but I never attempted. Now that I am already in this situation, to rock climb, there was no turning back. It took me so much guts and conviction. There I was, literally on top of a mountain.

From on top, I was able to peep through the biggest skylight of Callao Cave.

Not far from it is the narrow entrance to Derek Cave. An American explorer named Derek was able to discover the said fissure. So it was named after him. I did not dare to go through the down slope opening. Because I did not know what I was expecting down under, it was better to just not go. Fear ran down my thoughts as I wondered, what is inside the Derek Cave?

Under the scourging heat of the sun, we went on walking. The leaves of the cogon grass were like sword blades that smoothly cut into the skin of my legs.

In just a few minutes, we were at the entrance of Rock Cave. Wilbur and Andoy were silent. It seemed that some “cave men” just left. And they left their equipment, sachets of coffee, used clothes, gloves, among others. It seemed that they were “caving” at night since there was lighting equipment. Some parts of the rocks were also thrown outside of the cave. I thought, were these “cave men” digging for gold? Is there gold in these white rocks? Hmmm. They were mining, I thought. Wilbur and Andoy’s faces showed disappointment. We did not anymore enter the cave.

We immediately left Rock Cave. When I looked at my watch, it was noon. Wilbur was whistling to call on for some wind. And there, a cold breeze came and rustled the cogon grass.

To motivate us to continue walking, we thought of lunch. Batil-Patong Pancit was all we thought of. We rested for a while under the shades of a tree while we looked down at Pinacaunan River and the City of Tuguegarao. That was a temporary alternative to fill in our stomachs. We shared a piece of orange that was inside my sling bag.

Then we started to think about the Batil-Patong again. So we stood and rushed to walk, headed to the riverbank, and went back to the other side through Jun’s boat.

Wilbur got his brother’s single (motorcycle). And with no much further objection, I rode the motorcycle; Wilbur as the driver, Andoy and me, as the passengers behind him.

It was a 4-hour trekking, finding Derek and Rock caves on top of the Callao Cave. We all deserved a hefty serving of Batil-Patong.

And I deserve myself a tap on the back. (I survived!) and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Claveria, Cagayan Valley: The Tip of Luzon

Have you seen the map of the Philippines? Have you everwondered what town or province is at the tip of the map?

It is Claveria, Cagayan Valley.

I am sure that you have passed by the town’s high way whenyou were travelling from your trip to Pagudpud Beaches to Tuguegarao to see thecaves or pray in Our Lady of Piat. Or you might have taken the town’s mainroad, and have passed by the town’s auditorium, municipal hall, or the town’smarket. If you took that road, you passed by my folks’ house.

As you travelled and went uphill, you might have seen thesignboard “Claveria View Deck”. You may not have stopped but I am sure that youhave seen the beach cove from the road uphill. You might have wondered wherethat place is. Then, you headed to Tuguegarao.

If you missed stopping over, you can always come back. If you have never been in Claveria, you are always welcome to visit.

From Laoag, there are several means to get to Claveria.Either by the bus lines, Claveria Tours or St. Joseph Bus. Or thru the van.Fare is P100.00 and it will take you to a very cool, windy, curvy 2.5 hourscoastal ride to the town. From Tuguegarao, you may take the van ride which willcost you P170.00. It is a 4-hour greenly, straight road trip as you pass byrice fields and corn fields. There are also several bus lines which travel fromTuguegarao, like Chona Patrick and GMW Florida, which will pass by Claveria. Ifyou are coming from Manila, Florida Bus have several buses going to JunctionLuna or Sanchez, that pass by Claveria.

I get excited when I finally see the arch of Claveria. FromLaoag, when I am on the place they call Road Side, I can see the hill in Taggat and a peek of the Lagoon.

As I touched down, I dropped by my folks’ house tochange to a more appropriate attire for the beach. I rode the tricycle andheaded to Taggat Lagoon. In my itinerary is the Lagoon, Sentinela Beach, and BayBay (Claveria Beach).

This is the tip of the map.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

My Weekend Trips to Claveria (Cagayan Valley)

Where & Why?

Every Friday, I go up north.

Where up north? At Claveria, Cagayan Valley.

I had to. Though born and raised in Manila, I consider Claveria my second home.

My folks were born and grew up there. My grandpa and grandma lived and raised my dad and his siblings there, in Claveria. and my mom's family lived in a nearby Barrio, a boundary of Apayao.

How do I start and end my trip?

Every Friday, after an 8-5 office work, I run to the bus station. I take the pink bus, Florida, in Sampaloc (near Lacson) or in Cubao (Kamias); it is the only way I can go straight to my destination, which will cost me P750.00. Or another option is, I board a pink bus bound to Laoag which will cost me P800.00 on a sleeper bus with clean comfort room or P550.00 for the 2X2 ordinary aircon bus; choose the ones with comfort rooms. The bus ride from Manila is my sleeping time. As it will take maximum 12 hours. If I happen to drop off at Laoag City, that would be 9-10 hour-ride then have the other two and a half hour if i choose a van ride for P100.00 going to Claveria. The van terminal is near PLDT Laoag, Near Jollibee Bacarra Road. Or a cheaper chance is: I just transfer in Laoag to another Florida bus bound to my destination, at no cost, since I choose the bus I transfer to. It would be an additional P150.00 if I had not negotiated well, that I already paid much in a sleeper bus. The driver and conductor, who by the way, have the same name, "Rey", usually recognize me, as the frequent traveler. So I just hop in, smile, choose the front seat, sit comfortably, and enjoy the free ride.

The Stop Overs.
The Florida Bus from Manila has stop overs. In Dau, Pampanga, sometimes. Or they go straight to SCTEX via Tarlac. And the drivers have dinner in Tarlac. There is another stop in La Union, but I am usually sound asleep.

But I only ask the bus conductor to wake me up in Vigan, at Marsha’s Delicacies. I buy bibingka, “balikucha” or muscuvado candies, and cassava for my breakfast to early morning snacks and hot chocolate, to warm my cooled soul in that supercool bus. I return to my bus, remembering which one, as there are a lot of pink buses parked.

I sit sipping my hot chocolate. And I tell myself "the sight-seeing begins".

This is the beginning of the breathtaking-sightseeing bonus to my trip.

The Sunrise.

At around 5 o’clock in the morning, I awake by the brightening sky as I approach Laoag. That dark to becoming orange horizon thrills me as I wait for the sun to rise from those greeny mountains on my right.

photo taken by my digicam, while inside the bus. simply wow.

I witness what they call, “the breaking of dawn” – from darkness, a spark of light dawns in my eyes; cracks my sleepiness and tiredness into excitement and pleasure. It is the most intense feeling of renewing oneself, one’s soul.

As I watch the sun goes up on my right, the left side of the road has another view of no other than, the ocean.

The Ocean View.

Those rock formations near the shore connect with the waves in splashing sounds. Sometimes I wish the bus driver would step on the break, and have a moment to watch the spectacular sight. That is just the start of the ocean view. It was just a sneaky quick look.

The Mountain View.

Along the way, when I look up to my right, I see the light house, a.k.a Cape Bojeador, along the road of Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

My eyes would see left and right to capture every single landmark, may it be big, or small, like the yellow bell flowers in a garden. Or a simple house landscape.

Hills & Windmills.

As I get nearer to where I am going, after some curves and turns, to my left, are the Windmills in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. I see it from afar. Sometimes I imagine that if I had a house near those white whirling enormously built windmills, I would have a veranda and a “butaka” or rattan rocking chair facing it. That would truly be peacefully invigorating. Imagine, there's a gigantic windmill in right in your backyard!

The airy combination of the waves and the greenfields.
I pass by Pagudpud area, but not the beach side. I go by the mountain road side which is breezy.

We take that turn through a quick curve, and there, a different kind of gust, an amazingly breathtaking air gently blows in my cheeks and air goes into my nostrils, and brushes my hair.

It is a cold fresh air. That is the reason I would cut my trips until Laoag City so that I can ride the non-aircon van and enjoy the windy ride. Up there, you can see white sandy beaches in the cove of Mira-Ira. And I try to peep through trees to see the cove of Pagudpud.

And not so far away, is a very long bridge, the Patapat Viaduct. I can see the aquabluish waters with some serene waves. The feeling is so restful and gentle.

I approach more peaks, hills and never ending fields along the road.

Finally. Claveria,
There is one more sight I look forward to. And that is after the Claveria Arch. There is a place called Roadside, already near Taggat ( a barangay of Claveria). The roadside had a view of the hill in Taggat where there is a Lagoon. I always stare and glue my eyes to that spot, before the bus or the van goes downslope. There, in my memory, is a glance of Claveria Beach.

Just a few minutes more, I touchdown in Claveria; a peaceful, simple town, with a silvery-sandy beach, a cove, a rocky beach, a lagoon, gigantic legendary rock formations, and a lot more.

After a green leafy camote tops lunch and an afternoon nap, I walk to the beach called "BayBay". And watch the awesome sunset, listen to the waves, watch some white birds, and I whisper to myself:
"Thanks God, I am home."