So tell me, how has the new year been treating you? Doing fantabulous already? Or still too early to tell? Personally, I’m still trying to get used to writing 2020 instead of 2019, as is always the case when a new year rolls in. But we’ll get there. But that doesn’t mean that 2019 is completely out of the radar, because it has been quite the year of adventure and new experiences, for me, for you, and for everyone. And this is another experience, albeit no longer a new one, that will never get old: my round two with Christmas Ed Kapangan.
The Christmas Ed Kapangan 2019, on its 11th year, is my second time joining this annual activity organized and hosted by the Municipality of Kapangan, through its Tourism Office, aimed at promoting the eco-tourism of the town. The fact that it has reached its 11th year is already quite a commendable feat, as it does not seem to have lost steam over the past decade (plus one). The 11th Christmas ed Kapangan was held last December 14 and 15, thankfully over the weekend, so I was able to go.
My first time participating in this event was way back 2014, on its 6th run. So it was a whole 5 years later that I repeated the experience. Granted, some of the activities were a repeat of the first time, but they still seemed fresh and new, a testament to how great nature and creation is.
Just in case you want to see how my first went, you can check out my blog posts by clicking the links below:
6th Christmas Ed Kapangan, Benguet (Day 1)
6th Christmas Ed Kapangan, Benguet (Day 2)
Disclaimer: All photos are mine, except those taken by Mr. Jones Aban of the Kapangan Tourism Office, as indicated in the images.
Assembly was at the Dangwa Station Terminal in Magsaysay, Baguio City. On board jeepneys provided by the municipality of Kapangan, we set off at a little past 5am. Upon entering the municipality of Kapangan, we were met by a convoy of the local police to escort us all the way to our first stop, Suvani’s Avong.
Breakfast at Suvani’s Avong
Located in Sitio Bantayan in Datakan, Suvani’s Avong has become a regular fixture for anyone coming to Kapangan for tourism purposes. Just several months earlier, I was also here, when we had our dayhike to Badi Falls. (I wrote about that just several weeks ago, right here, in case you wanna read up on it, or this link, if you want to watch the short video of that adventure.)
It is here that we had officially registered, got our T-shirts, and were formally welcomed by the organizers of the event, specifically the staff of the local government of Kapangan. Leading the welcoming party was no less than Mayor Manny Fermin and Councilor Bentres.
After a hearty breakfast on the lawn of the Avong, we prepped for what the day ahead has to offer.
Bulalacao Cave Adventure
The first stop was the Taba-ao Viewdeck, where you can get a view of the distant peak Mt. Calokasog. But that’s not really the main reason we stopped here. It so happened that below the view deck, a short but steep downhill slidin’ hike, is Bulalacao Cave.
It was no walk in the park, especially when there’s loose soil on that downhill path, but they had installed ropes on one side that we could hold on to in case we lost our footing. It wasn’t a long way, either. Five minutes, tops. Faster if you just let gravity do the work, heeeeh.
When we got down there, where the entrance to the cave is located, we were handed hard hats, which were from the Barangay Taba-ao (props to the cooperation and coordination of the local government units) before we were allowed up inside the Bulalacao Cave.
Which is basically a cavern. There is no going deep or far in this cave, because it’s not like it’s a connection to somewhere (at least, not yet). But it features some impressive rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites and, in some spots, soda straws, such as those that I first spotted in Capisaan Caves in Nueva Vizcaya.
And except for some parts with dripping water from the ceiling, the cavern is relatively dry.
Rice Terraces Viewing
Since there were more than 20 of us, and Longog Cave was not made for large crowds all at once, we were divided into two groups. While the first one went on ahead to the Cave, we rode forward to Brgy. Beleng-Belis where we stopped by the side of the road to have our morning snacks while viewing the Obellan-Catampan Rice Terraces in the distance.
Five years ago, we had the chance to experience rice-harvesting the old-fashioned (aka manual) way. (See how we fared. Or not.) This time, we made do with just sightseeing.
But here’s a bonus: by the side of the road, what looked like a rock overhang turns out to be a burial cave. And yes, we can check it out for a closer look. So that’s what we did: clambered up to that rock…
…and be overwhelmed with the view of the terraces… and of the school grounds of Gov. Bado Dangwa Industrial School (GBDAIS) in the distance.
And, indeed, it was a burial cave, if the contents within the narrow crevice in the rock is any indication. Several wooden coffins in different degrees of degeneration… and human bones… and skulls.
Longog Cave Adventure
Finally, we made our way back down to the jump-off point of Longog Cave.
If I remember correctly, this marks my third time to enter Longog Cave. The first time was during the 6th Christmas Ed Kapangan, the second time in November 2017. Compared to the earlier Bulalacao Cave, Longog Cave certainly posed more of a challenge. Physically. And psychologically, if you have something against closed and tight spaces.
Let me throw you back to a more detailed account of my Longog Cave Adventures in this post.
I took great comfort in the fact that it was sooooo familiar, yet it still gave me such a thrill to be entering Longog again. The slippery and dark passages, the tall treads where you have to heave yourself up… or accept assistance from the guides (which basically meant casually stepping on their thighs, and… sorry ’bout that, and sorry ’bout our legs being short).
And then there’s the narrow holes where you have to do a stomach crawl… and strike a pose if someone on the other side is waiting to take a photo of you in that compromising position.
Ah, fun, fun times.
Lunch and Rappeling at the Amburayan River
I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but my earliest memory of Amburayan River was back when I was about 7 or 8 years old, and we had to visit a relative’s home in Taba-ao. But the storm was quite strong that time, and Amburayan Bridge collapsed (it wasn’t the steel-and-concrete bridge that it is today), so the only way for vehicles to get across is through the river.
The raging river.
I have snippets of memories of sitting inside the moving vehicle, Daddy wrestling with the wheel to maintain traction against the roaring current, and me clutching at Mama while watching water rush inside the vehicle, pooling in our feet. It was a scary experience, but we somehow managed to get across.
Of course, a lot of things happened since then. Amburayan Bridge was reconstructed, reinforced, and even became the site of a pivotal scene in the long-running (*le sigh*) television series Ang Probinsiyano.
For me, however, it is the place where I experienced the most memorable rappeling I’ve ever done.
After a hearty lunch by the river, we got to take our turns to rappel down the bridge. It was all safe, ably handled by the Bureau of Fire Protection unit of the municipality. (I saw familiar faces among them, because they also assisted when I did it before.)
They gave a brief orientation and even did a demo of the three rappeling styles: the standard, the lizard (upside down, as shown in a couple of pics below), and the Australian (which is what members of assault teams, e.g. SWAT, do.)
Here is Sheryl, a rappeling virgin. She was tensed and terrified, understandably so. I remember being scared when I first tried it, too, 5 years ago. My earlier rappeling experiences at least had me kicking against a wall. This one was a straight fall downwards, no wall to put leverage or brace yourself against.
But she made it, nerves and all, and all in one piece, too!
As for me, this is my third time doing this here, and I will never tire of saying this: but it never gets old. I don’t think it ever will. I think if given the opportunity, I will do it again.
In fact, I was contemplating asking if I can try the lizard position this time… but right off the bat, during the briefing, they were like, “let’s do the standard position, because it’s the safest”. So… OK.
…Maybe next time….?
Camping and Bonfire at Landingan, Sagubo
From Amburayan, we made that relatively long drive to Landingan, a sitio in Barangay Sagubo. Atop a knoll or small hill was set up a campsite with a large stack of wood for a bonfire in the middle. On one side was a makeshift stage with chairs set up for guests.
Dinner was a community affair, with people from the community – and probably even the further parts of the barangay – joining in for what turned out to be a feast. The children and youth of the community rendered cultural dances and songs… and the senior citizens and elderlies are not to be beaten because they, too, had their own shot at the spotlight.
They also gave us, the guests, a taste of their famed “Grand March”, which they have officially institutionalized as their official dance.
Badi Falls Adventure
Day 2 shone bright and early, and I crawled out of the tent to wait for, and watch, the sunrise. It is during this time that I think that blasted leech made its way to the top of my foot and had a field day of it. Too bad the sucker seemed to prematurely end its meal so that, to this day, I have this relentless itch atop my foot. Well, at least one of us was happy.
But off to Badi Falls!
This was the first time that Barangay Sagubo had an active part in the Christmas Ed Kapangan activities, serving as the camping site, and it’s only fitting, logistics-wise, considering that Badi Falls in located in the barangay.
But remember Badi Falls? Which I talked about several blog posts back?
I’ll link it for you again, just in case. Here’s the post, and the video.
That was way back at the end of July 2019. When we hiked from the jump-off point farther up the road (because the road was closed then so we had to start walking from the turning point) all the way down to the foot of the river, and then slowly climb our way up to the first level until the fourth level.
This time, we took a detour on the trail, and it took us down to the second level or tier of the waterfalls. That was our only destination for our Badi Falls Adventure.
I have to admit I was initially disappointed that we weren’t making the full circuit. I was expecting us to visit all four levels. But then again, it did not seem feasible for everyone. Also, there was not enough water, so there’s a high chance that the other levels won’t have as much.
I urge you to look at the photos I took during our July visit, and compare it to this one. There was soooo much more water back then, the spray was overwhelming and I can barely keep my eyes open against the onslaught.
But that’s not to say that this visit was not worth it, because it still was. Less water notwithstanding, Badi Falls still looked intimidating yet glorious in her beauty. And boy, how she still roared.
Back in July, it would not have been possible for us to clamber up the rocks to get close to the falling curtain, because the water back then was just so strong ergo dangerous. This time, however, we were able to do so.
We spend the entire morning and noon by the waterfall. Swimming, playing in the water… the braver ones with hearts of steel (and swimming ability, to boot) went cliff-diving… or jumping from rocks, whichever applies… I just thought it was hella high.
At one point, after our very filling lunch, we all trooped to various spots and took some power nap, knowing we’d have quite the uphill hike going back up.
At 2pm, we made our way back up, and going up took longer than going down. It was past 4 when we arrived at the Sagubo Barangay Hall, where we all bathed and freshened up for the dinner and closing program later that evening, which took place at the open gym of the Municipal Hall of Kapangan. There, we received certificates and warm messages from the organizers.
Tired, full, yet still exhilarated, we made that trip back home….
And let me just say a few words before I end this.
Joining this activity was quite last-minute for me. I think it was just a week prior that I made the decision to do it again. And I am so glad I did.
We were so well taken care of. Every meal was a FEAST; they sure kept us well-fed and hydrated. And never did we feel unsafe, because the Police, the Fire Department, and the EMS (paramedics) were there with us every step of the way. Even the local officials from the barangay made that hike with us, and kept us company on the trail.
And this was such a fun group to be with. Mostly locals of Baguio and Benguet, with some hailing from Mt. Province, one from Kalinga, and another from Bacolod, it was a group that was up for anything, and I loved it. Never a dull moment, from beginning to end.
Thank you to the Municipality of Kapangan and Kapangan Tourism. I look forward to more of your offerings to show Kapangan’s gifts to the world. I still have Camp Utopia and your 4×4 offroading on my radar. *clears throat*
Great content! Keep up the good work!