Friday, November 23, 2012

CALBIGA: Lulugayan Falls


Day 1- The Arrival

Knowing me as a lakwatchera, my friend Gerard invited me to their (class) outing, I eventually said “YES” to him because we’re on the same college department, its sembreak and I’m after some adventure. I pack my things, met him and we headed to Tacloban New Bus Terminal where others were waiting. As soon as we’re complete, we hailed a van that brought us to Calbiga, Samar.

 
One way trip: Php50 fare per person


Calbiga is an hour travel away from Tacloban, known to be a fourth class municipality in the province of Samar. Passing through the famous San Juanico Bridge that connects the province of Samar and Leyte, couple of towns of Samar and some zigzag roads we reached the town quarter after two in the afternoon.

The famous 2.16 kilometers San Juanico Bridge

Met’s Place located right in front of Calbiga Town Plaza and Town Hall.
Its right wing serves as a gym and disco house (during Friday and Saturday nights only)

We headed right into our so-called quarters for three days- Met’s Place (owned by Jaecon’z family.)
After taking some rest and unpacking our things, we strolled around the town proper. Like other towns in Samar, the town proper is small and amazingly clean.

We walked towards the public market and we noticed that most of the houses were ancestral ones. Some where even restored making them more beautiful and eye catching. The narrow streets that serve as the town’s main road made Calbiga looked like Calle Crisologo in Vigan.




We call it a day earlier to get ready for the next day’s adventure.

Day 2 – To Lulugayan Falls and Rapids 

After eating our breakfast, cooked food for lunch and packed our things, we stepped out the house, where four habal-habals were already waiting for us. (Habal-habal are extended motorcycle that are known as the primary means of transportations on mountain parts of Visayas)The drivers agreed for a roundtrip fee of Php 100 per person.

The 45-minute ride was a real death defying one. Ridding on a small motorcycle with two others (Marianne and Manong Driver), the habal-habal had to pass through a 20 kilometer of dirt road composed of uphill and downhill that made the vehicle whine like it would die in the middle of it. If you’re not used to riding motorcycles, better brace yourself.

The view of the hills surrounding us lessened the horror that the road gave us.


At exactly 12:30 pm, we arrived at Brgy. Literon where we stopped in front of a house where a signage says: “Lulugayan Falls No Permit No Entry”. Jaecon asked for permit that included a tour guide and a cottage that costs Php 400. (Permit not included)

(L-R) Jay, Ronel, Hyacinth, Me, Jane, Gerard and Marriane.

From the barrio we walked another 15 minute through the 740-meter trail where we passed through rapids, two bridges and mini falls that made us more thrilled to see Lulugayan. Good thing that the trail is cemented that made our journey easier.

Part of the740-meter trail to Lulugayan Falls.

Who would have thought that there is actually a paradise hiding beneath the numerous hills of Calbiga?
We were like kids who saw a carnival for the first time (well, actually that was my first time to see such waterfalls. The very first thing I did was go to the water and splashed some on my face and took a video of the water falling angrily and flowing freely to the rapids.

Lulugayan is composed of hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the 14-kilometer rapids from the source at Lake Kalidongan to the Calbiga River. Approximately fifty meters wide, Lulugayan Falls has been dubbed by tourists as a Mini Niagara in the Philippines.


According to Manong Tour Guide (whose name I forgot to ask) Lulugayan is more beautiful during summer when the current of the water is too weak that make the rock formation of the falls visible and you can even climbed to the upstream  through the falls. Since it rained before the day we went there, the current was too strong that swimming was strictly prohibited that time.



We asked Manong if we could go to the upstream and if there’s a trail going there. Fortunately, he gave us a nod and led us to the stiff and bushy trail to the top that took us five minutes to hike. If you’d insist to climb be sure you’re not wearing short-shorts (if you’re not good in mounting climbing or trekking) for you might get wounded from wild plant and tree stems.

Up to the top.

Despite the current of the water, it didn’t stop u from walking through the upstream. The good thing was you just had to fight the current at first and once you’d reached the top, walking would be as easy as walking on a flat ground. We even managed to take a lot of picture there without worrying that we might be carried away by the water.


Manong Tourguide standing at the tip of the main waterfall.

(L-R) Hyacinth, Marriane, Perci, Ronel, Jane, Jay, Me and Jaecon.



The water was too refreshing made us forget that we told the drivers to wait until 3pm making us an hour late. We hurriedly went down the barrio and thanked Manong T.G but unfortunately, one of the drivers got bored and tried to get passengers in the town. We decided on what to do and we agreed that the first three habal-habal to leave and Jaecon, Perci and Gerard waited for their ride.

The ride going back at Met’s was too long because of exhaustion. When we arrived there; we’re too relieved that we reached home safe and sound. We thanked Manong Driver who had the biggest role in this trip. 30 minutes later the three guys arrived with the same relieved face we had.


Day 3- Kayaking

Eventually, after washing our face and brushing our teeth we hurriedly proceeded to the salug (waray-waray term for Ilog) without eating breakfast. The salug was clean and we noticed that there were people washing their cloths at the river bank.

By pair, we rode the kayak and paddled over the water of Calbiga River. At first I had Jay as my partner, followed by Jane. Over an hour later, Engr. Jumagdao brought a wooden banca that can carry 5-7 persons. Hungry we were, we had our lunch (prepared by Engr.) at the river bank and then proceeded on kayaking where we reached the hanging bridge that connects the main and the town’s High School. Going back, we decided to race going back to our starting place here Jane was my partner riding the kayak while Jaecon, Gerard, Hyacinth and Ronel were the ones riding the wooden banca. Unfortunately, we didn’t win over the experts in rowing.

Kayaks are available at Met’s with Php100 per hour rental rate.

Me and Jane while enjoying the clean water of Calbiga River.

Too bad, we had to return to Tacloban before lunch so we had to end the kayak activity and headed back to Met’s to take a bath and pack our things. We had a silent- quick lunch ( halatang ayaw umuwi..) while waiting for the van that brought us back to Tacloban.

Before leaving, we visited one of the ancestral houses, just beside Met’s. The house was full of antique furniture like the coffee table located in the living room and the china cabinet in the kitchen. I even took a picture of an inverted wooden horn hanging on the wall. I don’t really have an idea what it is but it catches my attention.


Calbiga gave me something that I will surely never forget. I’m looking forward on visiting the place couple of months now fro another adventure on the town’s treasure, Langun-Gobingob Cave ,the largest cave system in the Philippines, reputed to be the second largest in Asia and the world's third largest karst formation





               
























3 comments:

  1. Jaecon asked for permit that included a tour guide and a cottage that costs Php 400. (Permit not included) --- hi, so how much did you pay including the permit?

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