Delubyo

Paisa-isa
kung bumagsak
ang mga patak.

Parami sila ng parami,
tulad ng mga naiwang alaalang
magulo, masaya, magulo, masaya, magulo, masaya.

At tila palakas pa nga ng palakas
ang taghoy ng pighating pilit itinago sa sarili
at sa kanila, at sa mundo, at sa iyo.

Sadya ngang bumabagyo na at malakas na'ng hampas ng hangin.
Boses ko ay mistulang kulog na maingay ma'y walang naiparating.
Hanggang kailan ko ikukubli at hanggang kailan mo ipagwawalang-bahala?
Ang mensahe'y naisigaw na nguni't di ka pa rin naniniwala.

Ngayon ikaw ay lumipad patungo sa bisig ng iba.
Kapalit mo'y si Gener na para sa aki'y lumuluha
'pagkat mata ko'y tuyo, puso ma'y sugatan.


Tila nakikiayon ang lamig ng panahon
Sa delubyong dala na nga
Ng paglisan mo dito.


Makikita kang muli.
Mensahe'y tandaan:
Mahal...


(c) 2012

Letting My Feet Decide: 2011 Trips (Part 2)

Other places

Puerto Princesa is a really big city so, basically, we didn’t really leave the city when we visited these other places. However, to reach these places, I had to book a guided tour because you need city permits to reach these destinations. (I’m SO sorry; I forgot the name of the travel agency. It has been a year. My sister doesn’t remember either. But, in case you might need one, you may ask your hotel for help. Or, if you want extra adventure, go ‘agency-searching’ on the street going to the airport. Most agencies are located there.)

Ugong Rock

The name came from the sound the cave produces when wind passes through its walls. The rock is about 75 feet high and ends with a zip line ride. Think: 160 ft. drop!!! Fun!!! J

Ready to go spelunking

Highlights: The limestones are very beautiful. Aside from that, they also say a lot about the culture and history of the Palawenos. The guided tours are quite special because they are given by the residents of Brgy. Tagabenit, the community responsible of taking care of the Ugong Rock itself. Listen to your guide as he or she tells you all about the Ugong Rock and its role in their community. (Our guide was a quiet lady who talked about the rock and her community like they were all her children. It was heartwarming.)

Passing through 'Humility Point': it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor. You'd have to bow and crouch to go through.

This part of the rock was said to be underwater eons ago.
This explains why the walls are shaped as such.

I posed in front of the heart of Ugong Rock...

...and then I conquered it. Naks!

The view on top of the rock is breathtaking. Shout all your stress and frustrations away on the zip line!

I was trying to be brave but, in reality, I was really, REALLY scared of falling off the rocks. Hehehe.

Lowlight: The roads! The city government should hasten the construction of roads to Ugong Rock. It will be good too if they improve the place where stop overs are made, too.

While listening to our guide, I really felt that nature was alive in that place, how nature adjusts to new circumstances and how it changes over time…just like people. It made me realize that caves are not just rocks and soil. They have stories to tell, too.

Beautiful, beautiful limestone mountain

Palawan’s Underground River

You’d be mad if you go to PPC and not visit what seems like Palawan’s greatest contribution to the whole world. Now one of the eight wonders of the world and a UNESCO heritage, Palawan’s UR (as the locals fondly call it) is definitely more than a body of water.

All smiles! Yay!

Highlights: Two words: the boatmen. Trust me; you will not appreciate UR as much as the others unless you listen to them. Serving as your tour guides, hear them out as they show you the different rock formations and tell you funny stories about their “relationship” with the river.

A balinsasayaw in flight

The Nido birds, locally known as the balinsasayaw, are also something you need to watch out for. They look – and sound – very beautiful.

The light at the end of the tunnel
(No pictures of the formations inside the UR. I don't like spoilers. :P)

To reach UR, you have to pass by Sabang Beach (above). 
We had lunch there and the dishes served, though really simple, were absolutely sumptuous.

(Above and below) some very beautiful sights to behold on the way to UR.

Amazing street lamp:
The panel on the right side
absorbs energy to be used at night.
Thus, no electricity is needed!

Lowlights: On the way to Sabang Beach, you’ll pass by a bridge called the Hope Bridge (or maybe it was Trust Bridge) because you put your hope and trust that it won’t collapse while your vehicle crosses. Work on those roads, PPC government!  









(To be continued...)

Letting My Feet Decide: 2011 Trips (Part 1)

It started sometime last year. I don’t know how it happened, and why. I just know that, one day, I decided to go to Palawan for my mom’s death anniversary. (No, it wasn’t out of vanity or because I wanted to go soul searching or whatever. My mom was buried in NARRA, Palawan, a few hours away from Puerto Princesa. It’s quite famous for Estrella falls now. I am proud to say that I have gone and experienced picnicking there even before it was trendy.) Besides, my younger sister still lived in Puerto Princesa during that time and I thought Hey, two birds with one stone!

Those were all just excuses, of course. I know wanderlust got me bad. I just didn’t want to admit it during that time. I knew I wanted it – wanted it so bad. I have written about touring the Philippines a gazillion times. True enough, four months after, I found my bags packed for another trip to Anawangin, Zambales with a high school friend.

After that trip, I knew I couldn’t kid myself anymore. This year, I have visited three more very beautiful places in the Philippines (more about those in the near future). I will visit two or three more before the year ends. It’s not as many as I want it to be. True blue lakwacheros and byaheros might scoff at the number. But, hey, it's a start, isn’t it?

I never got the chance to write about any of these trips. Who says it’s too late to start now? :)

July 2011: PALAWAN

I remember cursing myself for wearing high heels on the way to the airport and putting my trusty slippers at the very bottom of my suitcase. But, as I trudged along, praying to God that I don’t slip or trip or make a fool out of myself in front of all those tourists, I felt nostalgic and peaceful. Palawan has always felt like home.

City tour

My sister (my local guide) and I visited the usual spots around Puerto Princesa:

Binuatan Creations

My "local guide" poses for the camera. :)

Some of their finished products.
Colorfully beautiful!

Highlight: Weaving is an art that needs discipline and patience to master. Learn all about it here. It’s amazing how long pieces of thread and rattan end up as bags, tissue holders, bookmarks, etc. I bought pasalubong for some most of my friends here.

Lowlight: Not-so friendly weavers. Well, at least not to us. :( There was one, though, who was really friendly. She even taught me how to weave. Yay! :)

Crocodile Farm

Them crocodiles. Waaaah!

 The skeleton head of one big BIG crocodile. Haha!

Highlights: The skeleton of the biggest crocodile in the Philippines (I think) never fails to amaze. The live ones are also fascinating, albeit a bit scary. You need to cross this sort of runway to the other side. The bridge is sturdy but it's surrounded by crocodiles on both sides. Not for the fainthearted. Definitely not for people with very active imaginations, either.

The nature park is a must-see, too, if you like animals. Say hello to Palawan hornbills and parrots and bearcats!

These are the hats. :(

Another lowlight:I wanted to eat 
crocodile sisig. My sister didn't! 
Good thing a friend of mine brought 
me some last March. Yay!

Lowlights: The souvenirs were quite expensive. (I have expected that. It's just, I really wanted this fabulous hat but, as I was on a budget, I wasn’t able to buy it. Sad sad sad.) The park isn't that well-maintained and there were a lot of mosquitoes to prove that. (Note: we got bitten by 'quitoes inside the souvenir shop in the middle of the park. Weird.) The reptile house only had one, well, reptile and it looked deserted. You’d feel like you’re about to star in a remake of Anaconda. Shudder. Scary.

      

Baker’s Hill

Very scenic, yes?

Highlights: This is the perfect place to lounge around and chill. Take a look at the peacocks while you’re at it. The orchids are also very beautiful. Pose with one of the many statues around the place.

This male peacock (middle) just got lucky with two females fighting for his attention! 

We had lunch at the Baker’s Kitchen and Restaurant. It was very cozy and the decor suited the ambiance they wanted to, er,  exude. I ordered grilled prawns with cucumber salad and mango juice. My sister ordered (surprise, surprise) fried chicken and sago't gulaman. The food was good. The service, even better. :)

Lowlight: 


Baker’s Hill is not only popular to tourists but also to locals. The ambience is quite relaxing, but you should expect a lot of people at around 4PM. It may be disturbing for you, if you’re the type who equates R & R to silence.

 To be continued…