... in the durian city

a trip to Davao is not on the immediate list, but since I need to be in the city to facilitate a multi-stakeholders environmental forum, might as well maximize the opportunity to do a weekend adventure hehehe.

initial idea was to again climb the majestic Mt. Apo with ecoactivist-mountaineer friends in Mindanao but luckily, Anne agreed to join me – so this trip was my birthday gift to her. changed the itinerary to birdwatching and more relax trekking in Baguio and Marilog Sub-districts. the Mt Apo climb will be set for another date this year…

who wants to join? :)

first stop was the Philippine Eagle Center, a research and education facility for the care and propagation of the endangered Philippine Eagle through captive-breeding. Standing in front of the majestic Philippine Eagle, felt humble and meek, as if in the presence of the King of Kings. the center is also a rehabilitation facility to other raptors such as scops-owls, sea eagles, hawk-eagles and kites that were caught or recovered from wildlife traders and poachers.

next in the list, Epol Waterfalls in Marilog. the bus conductor missed our drop-off so we end up in Bukidnon, another unplanned trip hahaha.

we took the return bus, for free, courtesy of the helpful bus inspector. the drop-off point (N7 27.196 E125 14.231) was difficult to spot because there are no markers or road signs.

the trek to Epol was relaxing. we saw a yellow-breasted fruit dove, a lifer, and lovely sunbirds, flowerpeckers and white-eyes. also spotted endemic pitcher plants and a snake along the trail.

the small waterfalls is beautiful and the water is cold, sarap mag-swimming. of course, every adventure should be accompanied with good native food like the balbacua and the bitter baklay na baka.

sadly, missed the durian because it’s off-season, tsk

our gratitude to Ate Wella, her kids and five-ten-lost the count lovable dogs, except the two masungit na great dane (and to my dear friend Willie Garcia) for hosting us and to Lia Esquillo and family for a very wonderful breakfast.

balik-balik...

Davao City

06.04-05.11

Backpacker Tips:

a cheap and comfortable accommodation in the durian city is the Mindanao Resource and Training Center (http://www.dmsf.edu.ph/iphcs/services.htm) located in DMSF, Banaja, Davao City.

From Davao downtown to PEC, take a bus/jeep to Calinan (bus costs P45). From Calinan, take habal-habal or trike for only P15. In front of the bus stop in Calinan, there is also a restaurant that offers a good variety of meals for budget price.

From Davao downtown to Epol, take a non-aircon Rural Tours bus to Cagayan (CDO) for P100 but remind the conductor to drop you in Epol Watefalls (formerly Green Valley). You can also take the aircon bus but the fare is P260, quite expensive. Need to pay two houses (P10 each) before you reach the waterfalls. Marilog District is also a wanderer’s haven, lots of waterfalls and caves. But you need to set 2-3days to explore the said areas.

Listwish

taking up filmmaking class on weekends and it was an opportunity for me to jump start, awaken the creativity within (kung meron man akong ganun hahaha). sadly, it was also hard for me being stranded for more than 3 weeks in Metro Manila. felt really really exhausted. the stress and pollution of the city is killing me and in fact was sick for almost a week.

luckily, the class is about to end (next step: thesis- to produce our own film, o my gulay!) and i'm already daydreaming of the outdoors, dancing, communing with Mother Nature.

after the class, will definitely do the following:

spend cool, relaxing moments in Bahay ni Lola in Batangas with dear friends...

go diving, windsurf or just spend lazy afternoons in the beach, watching the sunset while drinking coffee or beer...

climb mt. makiling, my unicorn mountain. this year i will break the curse! :-) mt malarayat is also in the list, a promise to my Ala Eh friends....

and a day of spinning with Ani in the Sierra Madre Range of Bulacan-Rizal.

trips are open to everyone who wishes to waste their time with me hehehe. will post the schedule in the Billboard.

ooh and for the thesis, hopefully will be able to create my script and storyboard that I can shoot in the outdoors hahaha.

Mam-eh Aeta Festival

really excited when I received the invitation from Jane to assists her in this wonderful event. Jane is a veteran community organizer and has been with the Aeta tribes for more than a decade. always call her “godmother”, even without her permission hehehe, because she is one of the very, very few people whom I consult my hang-ups and uncertainty in the two-third part of my life. the remains are just dark manifestations, jigsaw pieces I alone will bear. Jane taught me patience, a virtue until now I'm still struggling a bit. thanks ninang!

moving on…

more than 300 participants from different Aeta, Agta and Dumagat tribes in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region participated in this historic event. Mam-eh means “sharing” in the Aeta language and the whole festival is about sharing of their culture, practices, food, experiences and struggles.

I and the other “unat” guests were treated by the Aetas with warm smiles and joy as they happily share to us their cultural dances

songs and music

and skills on how to survive in the jungle – setting up animal traps, archery, how to identify and cook edible wild crops, etc.

Since I’m very adventurous when it comes to food, I love all the weird crops and meals that were offered to us

like the amukaw, a very sweet, wild banana. however, this banana is almost 90% seeds so chewing this fruit is a big no-no. according to the katutubo, they extract the juice of amukaw to make sweet refreshments

the puso ng amukaw. for cooking nilaga. saging lang ang may ganyang puso!

labi and agakat, wild rootcrops that can only be found in the forests. katutubo told us that labi (the smaller rootcrop) is also a very powerful aphrodisiac. I ate a whole piece that night. hmmm, maybe that's why...

kalot. looks like an oatmeal. also a meat of a wild root crop. but beware, this food is poisonous if not cook or prepared properly. thank Bathala because the one who prepared the kalot during the festival really knows how to prepare it, or else it could have been our last supper hehehe

Bicol specials- rilyenong talangka, pinangat, laing and ginataang suso, yumyum.

and lots of baboy ramo meat (nilaga, sinabawan). sorry pumba.

and op course, the favorite lambanog. sharing this native wine with old and new friends while enjoying a very wonderful event.

next year ulit! :-)

Mam-eh Festival

04.28-29.11

Barangay Sta Juliana, Capas, Talac