Ron's World

2^nd entry in the Cagayan Chronicles

After a day of exploring the sights and scenery in Peñablanca, we returned to our hotel in Tuguegarao to wash up and get ready for dinner. It was unanimously agreed that we were to have Cabagan Pancit for dinner. The Cabagan Pancit is one of the specialties in the region and it was said to be something to die for.

We headed off to a restaurant whose specialty is the said pancit. There was a sign that said that they would close at 7:30 pm and we arrived at 7:00 pm. Un-daunted by the time constraints we ordered and waited for our food and made plans for later that evening.

We were a diverse group of people from different backgrounds. But one thing that brought us together is our common desire to travel and explore places that you wouldn’t normally encounter, especially for city dwellers. I learned about this trip since it was organized by a College orgmate from the UP Red Cross Youth (RCY). It is not surprising that a couple of the participants were from UP RCY. There was Erl who has been my confederate since college, Kim who now writes for Mabuhay Magazine, Ace who was the only person who didn’t bring a camera so she ended in everybody’s pictures, Gigi who seems to harbor a dream to become an FHM model, and Chin the organizer of the whole thing.

We were also joined by Anton, a famous blogger from Our Awesome Planet fame. Then there was Barbie who has the funniest behind the scenes stories of celebrities. We also had a UP Mountaineer named Tope who I think would be better off as a theater actor instead of becoming a Geologist. I was also glad to meet Jena who has trips lined up till 2010 and she knows all the airlines that are currently offering discounted rates, she can also give you information about places like Siargao, Cagbalete Island, and Kota Kinabalu. Then there is MJ whose pictures I intend to steal, errr… I mean borrow, and her friend and travel companion Patricia, who plans to become a wedding coordinator (I gave her ideas on themes and stuff, hehehe). We also had Jeremy who runs geothermal power plants in Laguna. Finally there’s Jelai, who served as our de-facto guide since, like Chin she is also from Cagayan, she is also an aspiring dancer.

We weren’t disappointed by the huge servings of Cabagan Pancit that arrived at our table. The noodles were somewhat small but it was topped with lots of small bits of what looked like Lechon Kawali and a few pieces of quail eggs on top. It was served with a cup of a thick broth that you can add to the pancit or enjoy as a soup. It was also supposed to be eaten with lots of onions mixed with “siling labuyo” and soy sauce. It was really good and the best part was each huge serving only cost thirty pesos each. Someone from Cagayan should put up a restaurant here in Manila and bring this dish over for us poor saps trapped in this city to enjoy.

Pancit Cabagan! (Photo by MJ)

To cap the night off we decided to check out the “hottest” gimik spot in the city. It looked strikingly similar to the Pier One restaurants and bars found in Metro Manila but it had a quirky name, it was called “The Port”. A play on words I guess from “The Fort” found in Taguig. We were greeted by a sign that said “No Sandos, No Shorts, No Slippers” which we were all wearing in the typical “bakasyunista” fashion. We were ushered in nevertheless probably because the place was still empty at the time. 

A Dead Ringer for Pier One

The Port!?! (Photo by Tope)

Back at the hotel, a few of us decided to have a night cap before hitting the sack and we were able to swap stories and get to know each other better. This was the end of day one…

There is something about lighthouses that seem to have a certain pull that attracts travelers to them. It was the idea of a mystical island with a light house on it that took hold of my curiosity and led me to Capones Island and subsequently to Anawangin. It was also a light house on a place called Cape Engaño that attracted me to seek out Palaui Island in the first place, thus this trip. 

At the onset of June we finally ventured off up north to the Province of Cagayan to visit Palaui Island. This trip was slated for June 6 to 9, 2008, exactly as the rainy season came around. Our itinerary was going to bring us to Tuguegarao which will serve as our jump off point to Peñablanca wherein the famous Callao Cave is located. After that we were to go to Sta. Ana at the northern most tip of the Island of Luzon where we would explore a secluded beach called Anguib. Finally, on our last day we were to go to Palaui Island to visit the Light House of Cape Engaño.

We took the ever reliable Victory Liner bus from their kamias station for a long and butt numbing ride north. We left Manila at around 8:30 pm and we arrived in Tuguegarao at around 7:30 am the next day. We checked in to Pampagueña Hotel where we had a hearty breakfast of the various incarnations of the silog meals. Then we were off to Peñablanca.

I had first explored the Callao Cave as a side trip to a white water rafting adventure we had way back in 2004. I came back with serious intent. This time I had a better camera… No, actually I had two, and I fully intended to use them.

The Callao Cave is actually a series of cavernous chambers with a lot of large openings at the ceiling to allow natural light in. It is actually very easy to explore and obviously it is a place that is frequented by tourists. The chapel inside the first chamber is often found in pictures that is used in a lot of tourist maps, books, or websites that pertains to Cagayan Valley. Sierra Cave is another story…

Me! Inside Callao Cave

Sierra is not easily accessible to tourist since the entrance and exits are barred by padlocked steel gates. You will need special permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in order to get in and you will need to take a guide with you. This cave is dark and muddy, and there are a few tight spots that might require moving on all fours. Head lamps or flashlights are required and those who have an aversion to dark and cramped spaces should stay away.

Erl in a tight spot inside Sierra cave.

This is the customary group shot after emerging from Sierra, mud and all...

We ended our little adventure in Peñablanca with a boat ride on the Pinacanauan river where we cleaned up the mud we hauled out of the Sierra cave. It was a relaxing way to end a visit to two caves that are very different from one another. This was only our first day…

Boat ride on the Pinacanauan river

       
Video: Callao Caves

More Pics here!

It was April 27, 2008 and this was the date of University of the Philippines’ Centennial Graduation. I attended both the College Recognition of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR) and the University Graduation.

A lot of people don’t bother attending the University Graduation but I decided to do so because I have never attended a University Commencement Exercise and this is my third degree from UP.

My name in the program now comes with: 

BA Philosophy, 1998

Diploma in Industrial Relations, 2005

Masters in Industrial Relations, 2008

Graduate's Group Shot

Summer is the best time to go out and visit the great outdoors, but the searing heat of the summer sun makes climbs up open and exposed trails a less than attractive proposition. Going to the beach on the other hand presents the prospect of being caught up in a vast multitude of people out for the traditional summer outing. I wanted to go out and do something different but I wanted to avoid too much sun and the hordes or people.

As good fortune would have it I stumbled upon Magdapio Falls which is more commonly known as Pagsanjan Falls in Pinoy Mountaineer. This world renowned tourist attraction is usually reached via boat from the Town of Pagsanjan, thus the misnomer. But a new land route was recently opened which allows people access to the falls via the town of Cavinti also in Laguna.

To reach the falls one would have to negotiate a developed trail that includes steel stairs and ladders. This will involve putting on harness similar to that used in wall climbing and being lowered down a few times instead of climbing down the ladder. I don’t think it is really necessary but for people who don’t do that sort of thing, being belayed down that short distance might actually add to the experience.

Manabu or Mt. Manabu supposedly means Mataas Na Bundok or loosely translated that means High Mountain. The name kinda sounds like a joke but you can actually see that place labeled as such in maps.

It’s not really very high and everybody kept saying that it was really easy to climb. We’ll we went there for a day trip hike back in Feb and we got a bit lost. But we managed to find our way back, everybody got back home in one piece, and it seemed like everybody had fun.

I’ll let the pics tell the story… 
  

Video: Manabu