Aurora Province Destinations: Mother Falls of Ditumabo, San Luis

The northeastern province simply has tons to offer every intrepid traveler, thrill seekers, and wanderers, both local and foreign, could not resist. This Aurora trip, however, was not about us but a very good friend who crossed the vast Pacific and flew halfway across the world in search of the American dream. Returning to the Philippines for a short vacation, squeezing an activity-filled vacation would be difficult. Fortunately, there’s Baler to fill in the gaps.


Sixteen hours earlier, the eager beaver trio left Manila and when I was packing my stuff, they were getting busy with their tan under the Sabang Beach sun. Direct buses to Baler were only until 7AM so I was left with taking two transfers. Five Star Buses have regular trips to Cabanatuan, and from there I could catch a van to Baler. However, the Cabanatuan-Baler schedules were indefinite. I just hoped I’d be able to catch the last trip, and fortunately I did. After my grueling 7-hour trip, I arrived in Baler past midnight. The long haul gave me a safe journey through the pitch black roads of the Siera Madre Mountains in Nueva Vizcaya to Baler Terminal.

Among the numerous guest houses and hotels along Sabang Beach, BBC’s P700.00 room with a single queen size bed and a private C.R. installed would suffice our 4-day endeavor in the coastal province. Distinct green ‘sawali’ (woven split bamboo mats) walls make BBC easy to find when wandering along Sabang Beach’s breakwater. Across the room is an open hut guest may use for dining or viewing the huge waves of the vast Pacific.

If in search of a hefty but low cost meals, rows of eateries called, “The Rolling Store”, offering budget-friendly viands, tons to choose from. Under large colorful umbrellas, indulge in authentic Filipino home-cooked dishes al fresco style. At The Rolling Store, one would definitely get a bang for their buck. Why named Rolling Store? Even its vendors do not know the history.

Get down to Baler’s cultural and historical roots in Museo de Baler located just behind the Rolling Store. The museum holds significant artifacts, cultural heritage, and famous residents of the town like Dona Aurora Quezon, the wife of Former President Quezon. Might as well visit the home of one of Baler’s prominent figure Dona Aurora Quezon’s house which is a few meters from Museo. Getting to know the colorful history of Baler and the rest of Aurora is best done with a stroll around town.

Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s) are a tricycle ride away from Museo de Baler. Landbank and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) ATM’s are located along the national highway just in front of the Aurora Tourism Office and Aurora Government Office. Travelers, and residents as well, would never run out of juice.

Part of our day’s itinerary is a trip to one of Baler’s coastal baranggay called Zabali which holds an isolated counterpart of the bustling Sabang Beach.Through occasional drizzles in cliff side bumpy roads and landslide paths, we made it safe and sound to Digisit Beach (click to read full article on Digisit Beach).Spending the entire day in Digisit‘s kilometer stretch of coral beach was worth a visit. Our awesome but tiring day has come to end so we made our way back to Sabang Beach, while dropping by Baler Wet Market in Suklayin to buy meat and vegetables for our gourmet dinner back in BBC.

The cool breeze of the night swept Sabang Beach’s shores. Ocean mist brought by strong winds sends salty sprinkles on our faces. While we were cutting and slicing parts of our chicken barbeque, the winds were howling like wolves stalking their preys. We celebrated our night with a nice dinner and chit-chat over a few drinks. A swim in Sabang Beach, home-cooked viands in Rolling Store, a cultural visit in Museo de Baler, a whole afternoon in Digisit Beach, ending the day with beers and barbeques – my first day (second for them) was very well-spent.

Thundering roars of waves crashing rampaging towards the beach can be heard from our beds. It was an invitation for an early morning dip in Sabang Beach’s refreshingly cool water. After a morning bath, where else to get a hearty breakfast rather than The Rolling Store.

An adventurous addition to our bucket list of activities is a day hike at the feet of the Siera Madre Mountain Range to San Luis’ Mother Falls. Going to San Luis is about an hour tricycle ride from Sabang until reaching Baranggay Ditumabo where our on-foot adventure kicks off. Under huge tree canopies of the rainforest we hiked through moss-covered paths and muddy trails, crossed streams with strong currents, and hopped one boulder to another before we reached the majestic Mother Falls of Baranggay Ditumabo.Hiking in Ditumabo got us tired and worn out, but the thrill of accomplishment was rewarding enough to keep us going. Again for the nth time, we went to the Rolling Store to fill our rumbling tummies seeking something to digest.

In Bay-Ler View’s restaurant, we watch the full moon rise illuminating the sea and sat under the glittering stars, while consuming Filipino “pulutan” (finger foods matched with beer and alcoholic drinks) delicacies and drinking ice cold beer. Instead of getting our own table, we sat by the break water as we sang beach tunes in harmony with the ocean’s waves in an orchestra of their own.

Any Baler vacation would not be complete without surfing, or at least try to surf. Before we end our four-day frenzy in Aurora, we borrowed a long board hoping to catch some waves and at least try riding it.

Waves in Baler reach a staggering height of  feet during the surfing seasons from September to February which attracted visitors from locally and across the globe. Waves during our visit weren’t even half as tall on surfing season but I was not able to stand up, but at least I tried. My hopes are still up and with a little more perseverance and commitment, I’d be able to ride like a pro.

Rizal Province: The Town of Tanay

Tanay sits in between the Philippines largest lake, Laguna de Bay, and the rugged terrains of Sierra Madre, where greater portions of the town are situated. Abundance of the lake’s freshwater fishes provides livelihood for Tanay, while Sierra Madre boasts huge potential for adventures and eco-tourism. Calinawan Cave, Daranak Falls, and Batlag Falls, tackled in my previous Tanay feature, are to name some but many remain uncharted. This time, however, we’ll save the adventures for later, and take a morning stroll around the town of Tanay.

Streets bustle with the loud roars of tricycles and motorcycles, colorful jeepneys stop corner to corner picking up passengers, and children clad in their uniforms ran to school – Tanay rapidly moves similar to the fast developing modernization of the Rizal Province. However, evidences of the traditional lifestyle like in most provincial areas, still dwells at the heart of town.Pan De Sal (‘salted bread’ in Spanish), or simply pandesal, has always been part of a Filipino breakfast. Coffee, keso (cheese), and liver spread are only some that complement the yeast-raised bread while others prefer the pandesal as it is, plain and simple. In Tanay, they like their pandesal packed with vitamins and nutrients so they fused their morning bread with malunggay, thus being called Malunggay Pandesal.Malunggay Pandesal may not be a first in Rizal Province, but its definitely a first for me. This healthy option was actually a project of the Philippine Society of Baking to promote good health and nutritious food that could keep up with Filipinos’ tight budget. Adding a nutritious element without compromising the price was the challenge, but for P2.00, which is the regular price of pandesal, the challenge was overcame.

I munched on a hot pair of Malunggay pandesal while walking towards Tanay Park. Formerly the site of the market, Tanay Park was converted to a hub for festivities, big events, or plainly a place where locals laze around and enjoy the morning ambiance, or involve in activities like playing singles or doubles in the smashing sport of badminton or sitting on the bench silently besting their opponents in the strategic game of chess. Tanay Park was simply a place for anybody, and, everybody.Beside Tanay Park was the 400-year old church of San Ildefonso Parish, or commonly known as, Tanay Church. Renovations were made after the baroque church was devastated with natural calamities back in the 1600’s, and now it still stood and will stand as a silent witness to Tanay’s history as it unfolds.

Built within the Tanay Church’s compound is the San Ildefonso College of Tanay where I found my access to the choir loft and the church’s bell tower. Tanay Church’s Adoration Chapel can be located in the school’s courtyard enclosed by grey brick walls resembling a classic Spanish Colonial structure. A wooden staircase near the guard post lead to the second floor where another door leads back to the church’s choir loft.San Ildefonso Church and Tanay Park have always been part of my itinerary when visiting Tanay, but the highlight of my trip was craving for the Rizal Province’s famous, Budbud. Fried rice is topped with scrambled egg together with either fried pork or beef, lumpiang shanghai, daing, or even all of the above, garnished with spring onions, a slice of cucumber and tomato. Budbud is the province’s rendition of rice toppings which originated in Taytay, according to locals of the province. But Tanay also takes the recipe back in town where locals and other Rizaleño’s have a taste of it. Try it in Budbud Ni Nanay Kaling.

Rizal Province:About Morong

Before Rizal Province was named after the National Hero, Morong was a huge territory that once included, the nation’s capital, Manila, the business district of Makati, Rizal Province’s former capital, Pasig, and all the towns currently in the province’s jurisdiction. In the Philippine flag, the eight rays of the sun symbolizes the eight freedom-fighting provinces of the Philippine’s revolt against the Spanish rule – one of them was Manila, which was formerly Morong. The name bears significant historical events the town witnessed in the warring periods. Today let us visit the municipality of the present day Morong, Rizal.


Morong’s mornings are not as quiet as any small provincial town may seem, especially Baranggay San Juan which is the hub of trade and commerce in town. However, as I walked beyond the outskirts of the busy baranggay, one can sense the placid side of town where I’m bound to grab a house specialty for breakfast.

Only a few meters passed the historic Old Municipal Office of Morong was the former site of ERA School in the 1920’s, presently the location of ERA Plaza Restaurant. Running for almost 2 decades, ERA Plaza made itself a Morong landmark which boasts of a house specialty known as “Warek Warek”, an Ilokano dish of deep-fried crispy pig’s ear, garnished with onions and green chilli, mixed in mayonnaise. Eat it with rice, match it with cold beers, or do both, diners will be delighted with a single plate of the must-try Warek Warek.

Muslims once prevailed the town of Morong during the Pre-Hispanic days of the country. Thus, the name Morong came from the word, Moro, a term used by Spanish invaders to describe Muslim natives in the Philippines. Today, the former Muslim-dominated town attracts many Catholics by the Iglesia de San Geronimo, or St. Jerome’s Church, not only as a tourist destination, but a pilgrimage site for Visita Iglesia practitioners.

Notable among the residents of Morong is the famous artist, Rafael Pacheco, utilizing his own hands and fingers as medium to his paintings, thus, being dubbed as the “Father of Finger & Palm Painting of the Philippines”. The world-renown artist conducts workshops in Baranggay Bumbongan’s  U-ugong Park where art practitioners are inspired by luscious greens sprawling in the mountains, and cascading waterfalls. The orchestra of roaring rapids echoing in the gorge branded the park’s name, “u-ugong”, a Tagalog term which means “echoing”.

Hike into Philippine History at the Wawa Dam Site

Are you fond of the outdoor activities like trekking, hiking or rock climbing? If the answer is yes, then Wawa Dam site is exact place for you. You may even have a feel of the history of the Philippines as you walk along the trail.

Nestled at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Montalban, Rizal. The Wawa Dam site is an hour away from Cubao, Manila. It is a place where one can take a time out from the busy streets of Manila city and have fun in the outdoors.

You can get there by taking a jeepney from Cubao going to Montalban. There are also FX-taxis that can take you there (gives more comfort if you wish). This will take you to Barangay San Rafael in Montalban and from there you can take jeepneys that can take you to Barangay Wawa.

If you travel by car you will have to pay a toll fee of twenty pesos for your car. After that you may go wherever you wish in the Wawa Dam site. This is the perfect place for hikers, photographers, trekkers, mountaineers, cave explorers, and every outdoorsman. There are little huts at the dam where you can hang out or have your lunch after a short swim.

The Wawa Dam flanked by limestone walls is a majestic site. The quiet river, the huge limestone rocks, the caves, and the tranquil scenery depict a mystical scene. It is like traveling back in time. The view of the magnificent gorge is awe-inspiring; no wonder a lot of people would love to have a try at rock climbing here.

Local legend has it that Bernardo Carpio, a figure in Philippine Mythology, was once lured into a trap here by the Spaniards. Employing the powers of a shaman, Bernardo Carpio, being a giant in one version, was trapped in between two rocks in the Wawa Dam site. As proof of which, it is said that his hands or feet have been imprinted on the rocks. Local lore also says that one of his teeth was found in one of the caves.

The Wawa Dam was constructed in 1909 by the Americans as a reservoir and pumping facility. It became a battlefield during the Japanese occupation. Many Japanese soldiers died here defending this holding point when the Americans retook the area. A marker was placed in one of the caves that anyone passing through the trail can see. It was placed in honor of these brave men.

One of the caves in the Wawa Dam site is historically significant. The Pamitnan cave is large enough so that it can be explored. It may take an hour for a group to explore the whole cave. In April 1895, it is said that the Philippine revolutionary group KKK (Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga anak ng bayan) took refuge here. Their first cry of freedom took place here in the cave.

One may feel the embrace of nature while going through the trail. You may have the history of the place instill a spirit of peace and freedom. A trek through the trail at the Wawa Dam site infuses nature’s blessings and spirituality into the soul.

Calinawan Cave, Daranak Falls & Other Tanay Destinations

Today’s blog took me wandering around my hometown to look for something new to write about. Growing up as a Rizaleño, I want to show the entire country and maybe the whole world that our place maybe underrated when it comes to tourism, but wait until you get to know our province. We may not have the best white sand beaches, we may not have the fanciest hotels, but we have everything in the middle that will equally satisfy the cravings of the intrepid traveler. Let’s travel to a town nestled at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range on the east and at the shores of Laguna Lake on the south – welcome to Tanay, Rizal.

I got lots of idea going on concerning the itinerary and at the same time considering the low budget. Instead of bringing a car, we took the public jeepney from Cainta (since I’m from Cainta) bound for Tanay. The province is only a jeepney away from Crossing Terminal in EDSA Shaw area passing by the Ortigas Extension route. If you’re coming from Quezon City area, there are Tanay bound jeepneys in Cubao Ali Mall. Reaching Tanay would take approximately 2-3 hours depending on the day and the traffic, but starting your journey early would definitely save you some time.

From Cainta, Tanay took us about an hour before we got off at the town’s transport terminal where we will need a tricycle to take us to our destinations. However, overcharging tricycle drivers is a common case according to a lady we bumped into the jeep so she walked us towards the terminal where she thinks would give us a reasonable fee.

As we head up the mountain, we saw a staircase at the side of the road and decided to take quick stopover out of curiosity. Taking one step at a time, we made our way up the 200-step staircase and ended up on a Grotto where devotees offer candles and  prayers, and serves as a local exercise area where they can enjoy the fresh morning air. At the peak of the Grotto is a 180 degree breathtaking view of the Laguna Lake where a long range of mountains surround the abundant body of water. This grotto is only one of the 3 Grottos that I know in the area, Regina Rica in Sampaloc holds a 70 foot tall statue of the Blessed Mother, which unfortunately we weren’t able to visit.

Not far from Calinawan Cave, still in the same baranggay, we went to the town’s famous Daranak Falls which is nestled between the mountains of Sierra Madre. The 14-meter high falls cascade from rocks to a catch basin of emerald waters where visitors enjoy a refreshing cool bath. The endless flowing water and the luscious green vegetation surrounding creates a serene atmosphere except for the huge number of visitors and the loud videoke echoing around the area. To avoid the crowd, we went to a river, followed it upstream and settled on a small pool enclosed by rocks enjoying the  more peaceful environment. The best time to visit the place would probably on a regular weekday if you want to experience a peaceful time with Mother Nature.

Crossing a wooden bridge and heading your way up a cemented trail will take you to Batlag Falls which unfortunately we weren’t able to see since the entrance personal was requiring me to pay P150.00 for bringing in a DSLR camera. According to them, the falls is a private property  and they want to avoid publications and media use without their consent so paying A HUNDRED AND FIFTY PESOS ONLY would take care of the damage. Instead of paying, I kindly asked if I can only take a peek of what’s inside and saw a guy shooting with his DSLR camera, so again I kindly and respectfully asked if they charge the guy with the same amount and they said NO since they only allow DSLR cameras for families and big groups only.

Disappointed with the rules, we went back to Daranak Falls instead and ate our P40.00 lunch of a hefty serving of rice and laing good for two. We were suppose to eat our lunch in Batlag. I should’ve kept my camera inside my bag.

Now, here are some fast facts that may help you on the trip:

1. I don’t actually know the jeepney fare from Crossing or Cubao but just to give you an approximate, jeep fare from Cainta cost P38.00.

2. The tricycle charged P380.00 for renting his vehicle which took us from the terminal to the Grotto, Calinawan Cave, Daranak Falls/Batlag Falls, Parola, and Tanay Church covering a half day trip (8:00 AM – 2:00 PM).

3. Calinawan Caves entrance fee is P20.00, and we gave an additional P30.00 to Marilou for guiding us. You might want to bring your own flashlight.

4. Daranak/Batlag Falls Fees:
Daranak Entrance Fee – P20.00
Batlag Entrance Fee – P50.00

5. Daranak has cottages available for rent and free use of restrooms. There are also vendors selling food and local products in the area.

6. If you’re planning to shoot Batlag Falls, make sure your camera is inside your bag to avoid paying P150.00.