Trekking Mt. Kalawitan

Sabangan, Mountain Province

25 to 27 February 2012

On board Victory Liner, we head up North to trek the majestic Mt. Kalawitan. We reached the summer capital of the Philippines early in the morning of February 25. We were delayed by an hour due to the volume of tourists and travelers going to Baguio to witness the Panagbenga Festival. 

Jump-Off Point

We departed for Halsema Road past 6AM after buying our supplies at a nearby 7-11 store. Our first itinerary was to scale Mt. Timbak. 

Top Ride

Travelling atop a passenger Jeepney, we enjoyed the 2.5 hrs road trip on a winding road going up to Halsema Road. We reached Halsema Road almost 9AM and due to tight schedule, we were advised to summit Mt. Timbak in just 45 minutes.

Atop Mt. Timbak is a very nice view of cascading ridges of the Cordillera Mountains and the surrounding Rice Terraces.

Mt. Timbak

We left the Halsema Road heading towards the Municipality of Sabangan at about 10AM. By 12Noon, we were all at the Panorama View Point in Sabangan, the jump-off point to Mt. Kalawitan. We had a nice lunch at the coffee Shop.

At the jump-off point, we met our local guides and we also had last minute reminders from them. According to them, we were the third group to scale the mountain. We started trekking Mt. Kalawitan at around 1PM towards Apa Campsite. The weather was great. We passed by Chico River and then Dagiwdiw Rice Terraces.

We reached Apa Campsite just in time before dinner. Just beside the Campsite is the Kapangdanan River. At the Camp Site there are three cottages, namely the Hunters Hut, Kanog Hut and the Martel Hut. We stayed at the Martel Hut and Kanog Hut.

Hunters Dance

The locals at the campsite were very friendly and accommodating. After having dinner, the locals played their gongs as a way of welcoming us. We all enjoyed listening to the sound of gongs and watched the locals dance gracefully around the bonfire. We had nice socials at that night. Before retreating to our respective Huts, we were told that the hike going to the summit of Mt. Kalawitan in the next day is going to be challenging.

We woke up early the following day and prepared to summit Mt. Kalawitan. We started trekking at 6AM. The trail was very good and so does the weather. Similar but shorter in length than the trail of Mt. Pulag - Akiki trail, Mt. Kalawitan trail is generally steep. We passed through pine trees at the beginning of the trail. We entered the mossy forest next and then reached the Last Panoramic Viewpoint.

Mt. Kalawitan Summit

Our cut-off time to reach the summit was 12PM and so we had to adjust our pacing as we ascent. We reached the summit past 11PM. Mt. Kalawitan's peak is quite plain compared to the peak of Mt. Pulag but nevertheless, the view is still awesome.

We stayed at the peak for 45 minutes, had lots of picture taking and enjoyed our lunch. We started our descent to Apa Campsite past 12PM.

We were all back to Apa Campsite by 5PM.

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Video: Mt. Timbak
Video: Hunters Dance

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Road Trip Ilocos Norte 2012: Paoay Church, Paoay Sand Dunes, Malacanang Ti Amianan, Paoay Lake and Bacarra Church

Town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte

17 February 2012

Paoay Church Renovation

The Paoay Church also know as San Agustin Church in Paoay Ilocos Norte is one of the only 4 ancient catholic churches in the Philippines listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. 

Church Facade with Scaffolding

This church, according to the experts, was constructed in 1694 and made of massive coral blocks. Standing through war and earthquake for more than 300 years, the church finally require renovation. 

According to Paoay officials, the renovation will restore the designs on the massive walls of the church. For the past hundreds of years since the colonial period, for many times many churches and old buildings have been destroyed by either natural calamities and wars and for many times, the Ilocoanos also rebuilt or restored them. This is a testimony of how the Ilocanos love and value their heritage. 

I can't wait to see the church fully renovated and marvel at its grandeur. 

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Guling-Guling Festival in Paoay - Street Dance Rehearsal

17 February 2012

There was a rehearsal of the different street dances that will be presented during the annual "Guling-Guling" festival of the town of Paoay during my visit.   

Paoay Town Hall

The rehearsal started at the back of the Municipal Hall and converge at the Plaza facing the Paoay Church. There were around 200 dancers at that time.

According to historians, "This festival of Paoay, Ilocos Norte started in the olden days since the Spanish regime. The friars have introduced this event in the 16th century. 

It is a celebration held on Tuesdays before Ash Wednesdays to signify that this is the last day for the townsfolk to enjoy all forms of merrymaking before they observe the Lenten season. The Ilocano word “guling” means to mark or smear. 

Using wet and white rice flour, the town mayor would smear the sign of cross in a person’s forehead. Its white color signifies purity and it is believed that through this procedure a person is cleansed of all of his past sins. 

I even submitted myself to be smeared with the sign of the cross on my forehead." 

Visit Treasures of Ilocandia and the World web site.

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Sand Dunes

Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

18 February 2012

Although not on my bucket list, I decided to pass-by Suba in Paoay Ilocos Norte to see the National Geological Monument in the Philippines that can be found only in the province of Ilocos Norte, the amazing Sand Dunes. 

4x4 Terminal

With limited time, I just decided to climb one of the sandy hills and take some shots. Stretching 800 meters wide, the sand dunes of Suba is the only place where you can find a desert in this tropical country. 

The place was the setting for memorable movies like Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July and Temptation Island, that famously campy 1980s film by Joey Gosiengfiao. It is also where Nora Aunor uttered the now-immortal line “Walang Himala!” in the Ishmael Bernal classic Himala. 

This was also the setting of Fernando Poe's - Panday. Ilocos Norte’s unique sand dunes stretches from the municipality of Currimao in the north up to La Paz in Laoag City then to Suba in Paoay and finally in Pasuquin in the south. 

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Paoay Lake

Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

18 February 2012

On my way to the "Malacanang ti Amianan" I stopped over to have a glimpse of the fresh water lake of Paoay in Suba. Paoay lake located 3 kilometers away from the sea in Suba, Paoay has an area of 470 hectares. Declared as a National Park under Republic Act 5631 on June 21, 1969, its environs has been turned into a sports complex including a world-class golf course.

Paoay Lake and the Malacanang of the North

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Malacanang ti Amianan

Paoay, Ilocos Norte

18 February 2012

Malacañang of the North "Malacanang ti Amianan" is the other term used by Ilocanos to describe Malacañang of the North. This is the official residence of the former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte, built on a high point of land projecting into the sea right beyond the coastline of the legendary Paoay Lake, this enduring structure is now a museum. 

Paoay Church Painting

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Town of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte

19 February 2012

I had a nice and relaxing photo walk at the peaceful town of Bacarra in Ilocos Norte. Specifically, I went there to see the old church and its belfry. Riding a jeepney from the City of Laoag, I reached the town of Bacarra and I was welcomed immediately by the gigantic ruins of the church belfry that still standing and can be seen from afar. 

Church Facade and Bell Tower

According to the Philippine Department of Tourism, the Bacarra Church was constructed by the Spanish Augustinian Friars in 1593 and subsequently inaugurated in 1782. It was destroyed by the intensity 7.8 earthquake on August 1983 and reconstructed and once again inaugurated in August 1984. 

Main Altar

The image of the patron saint, San Andres stands in front of his x-shaped cross in the central niche. The Bacarra Bell Tower with its unusual elongated cupola was built during the 1830’s is located at the left side of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Bell Tower

It was built in 1830’s and made up of coral blocks and stucco with an original height of fifty meters and a five meter-thick wall. An earthquake wrecked it in 1931, which had caused the top most portions to tilt a little sideward on the right.

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Exploring Taal Basilica

Town of Taal, Province of Batangas

11 February 2012

Onboard JAM liner bound for Lemery Batangas, I traveled down south of Manila for another fun road trip, photo ops and to explore a town called Taal in Batangas. 

According to Philippine history, Taal was first founded in present day San Nicolas in 1572 by the Augustinian Friars but due to the eruption of Taal Volcano in 1754, the town was moved to its present site for protection. The town became the capital of Batangas until it was moved to Batangas City.

Church Facde

After 3 hours of bus travel, I finally reached the sleepy town of Taal. The first view that captured my interest was the gigantic fascade of the Basilica de San Martin de Tours (also known as Taal Church). 

Church Interior

Philippine history says, Taal church is the biggest church in the Philippines, was first built in 1575 in present day San Nicolas but abandoned in 1754 due the eruption of Taal and rebuilt in 1755. Then an earthquake shook it down in 1849 and once again rebuilt in 1856 by Architect Luciano Olivero. 

Dome

The Taal church is an amazing architectural structure. Its massive stone columns is a very nice subject for photography. The large original bell is displayed at the plaza. 

Caysasay Church

After spending an hour taking shots at the plaza and enjoying the view of the fascade, I went inside to see its interior. The interior is superb. The dome and the ceiling are painted. There are portions though that are under construction. The pulpit is still intact and the altar is magnificent. 

Caysasay Interior

After exploring the interior of the church, I decided to climb up the bellfry. After getting approval from the church admin office, I climbed more than 50 steps on a very narrow stairway going up the bellfry. At the top, the view of the town of Taal immerged just like a painting canvass. The bellfry though is under construction. The original bells were replaced with new ones operated by an electric motor.

Ancestral Houses

After exploring the Taal church, I decided to see one more church nearby. The Caysasay church I believe, just like Taal, is also ancient. The exterior though is quite plain. The interior is still intact. The paintings on the ceiling, the pulpit and the dome are still in good condition. 

Several Heritage houses can be found along "Calle Agoncillo". Taal s now a Heritage town and is known as the Barong Tagalog and Balisong capital of the Philippines.

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