Listening to the song in the present while contemplating the beauty of the past, I remember a time when I found myself driving down to the countryside to run away from the gray and frenzied hurly-burly of city life. It was a place of greenery fields and a Narnia-like paradise, featuring summer heat, busy farms, and towering majestic views beyond its best. As vividly as I can recall, the moment I stepped into its picturesque entrance, at the back of the famous Manlagtang Sports Complex, the first thing I had in mind was that it was a place of peace and serenity. Truly, it is a serene hidden paradise, where every calmness of the human nervous system can be triggered by astonishment and excitement.
It was a place for the unknown, brighter days and a hidden gem: the Tabogon Mountains.
Tabogon is a peaceful municipality in the province of Cebu, known for its farming and fishing livelihood alongside exciting various festival celebrations, e.g., the Sanggi Festival, which is celebrated every year on the 20th of May to honor Sr. San Isidro Labrador. The Tabogon municipality is commonly known for its greenery, landmarks, and 360-degree view at the top of its known mountains, offering very province-like experiences for tourists and visitors. The Caduawan Hills, dubbed the Little Batanes, are one of its glamorous landmarks, offering tourists a view from a hill and grass fields depicting provincial life. The Little Batanes also allow tourists to enjoy a province air breeze while walking in the aisle under scattered cotton clouds. Regardless of the debates occurring about whether it deserved to be a version of Batanes, the Cadauwan Hills is a great and spectacular site for every tourist hoping to see the glory of Tabogon.
Aside from its greenery features, Tabogon is also known as the home of cold yet mesmerizing cold springs. One of its known cold springs is the Bangyan Springs resort, also known as Guiwanon, which allows every tourist to experience the natural beauty and crystal-like water of the spring in Cebu province. It is a small cold spring in the municipality of Tabogon, which is very accessible, especially to the natives and nearby municipalities. Tourists visit the site to have a memorable dip and a fun cool-off from a stressful life, making it more prominent in being a keepsake of decades of memories from passing visitors.
Going back to my city life escape, after I drove from Dakit, Bogo, for thirty minutes, I found myself standing outside Manlagtang Sports Complex, unknowingly searching for native people to ask where the entrance was located. Little did I know, the paradise awaiting was just waving at me at the back with my unnecessary necessities (thinking it would be of great help packing those things).
The entrance greets you with towering, slender trunks and a hanging cluster of coconut trees, making it a province-like setting with its shape and landscapes. And not to spoil you, but behind its tall coconut trees are beautiful rock formations, like a staircase navigating you to the top of little mountains. Mountains can be seen adjacent initially at the entrance, and later on, if you view it from the top, those parallel mountains will be oriented in a non-adjacent arrangement. It took 25–30 minutes of walking, as suggested, from the entrance to the peak where went and stayed with known native people. Motorcycles are barely used in going to the top for the reason that it's very dangerous, considering the slopes and rocky track of the mountain. Fortunately, if your body signals fatigue to your nervous system due to prolonged walking, there are mountain huts made by the natives where you can have a temporary rest or make it a shelter due to unexpected weather conditions. For your reference, there are only three coconut huts along the track, scattered 2000 feet from each other, where the last one is located beside the final ascent to get you to the top. Just be ready for a possible oxygen loss caused by mountain sickness.
When you successfully arrive at the peak where the natives live, they will greet you with smiling faces, welcoming you to the glory at the top and wishing you a great experience. Well, some of them, especially the elderly, would warn you about supernatural beliefs, and it is up to you to respectfully acknowledge their way of perceiving the mountain.
Mountain monkeys are also present, even during your arrival, and they are very humorous when catching a run with the native dogs.
At the top, a panoramic view and expansive features of the municipality can be enjoyed by the tourist, with its cold air breeze. In my experience, I complemented the view with a cup of tea while contemplating and appreciating the view from a high vantage point. Towering mountains, with their own uniqueness in terms of greenery and tree varieties, were the best feature at the peak for me, since it was an odd scene for a tourist who is accustomed to city air and buildings. You can also see the sea horizon from the top, as well as the onboard ship starting its voyage in the port. I often sit on a hand-made bench under a tamarindo tree and later learn that it is made from coconut palm wood. It is very surprising and interesting, personally.
Talking about trees, we know coconut trees are primarily located at the entrance, but what surprised me the most was the abundance of coconut trees at the peak of the mountain. It was a part of my experience to drink from a coconut in a very refreshing manner, together with its hydrating properties. Many province fruits are planted in the place, but what captured my gustatory sense was their pinkish, scale-like protrusion and vibrant fruit, the dragon fruit, scientifically known as pitaya. It looks like a kiwi inside and contains small, black edible seeds, just like a kiwi fruit. And to answer your question about how it tastes, it was a blend of pear and kiwi. Imagine that?!
I also ate an original bibingka (rice cake) made by the natives. And I swear, I ate three. It was delicious and sweet.
Moreover, behind the native house where I stayed was a rocky sub-peak, which is the only way to get to a Sto. Niño monument (saint) and a path to their hidden cave. But let's get to the Sto. Nino Monument first, in order to savor the beauty of the peak by not missing a detail. The secondary peak is very rugged and steep, requiring a considerable effort, which may possibly cause oxygen loss or uncontrollable breathing. It is a peak where tourists or mountain climbers take for additional challenges and to experience the most panoramic view for serenity. The famous Sto. The Nino Monument is a preserved testament to the hopes and decades of living of the natives there. Any tourist should pay respect and act obediently when around the compound of the said site. Personally, it was the best site at the peak, full of different blooming flowers, like a flourishing sun, offering a blissful welcome for the tourists. Luckily, I found the flower plumeria at its peak, a flower that reminds me of a friendship from a from a few years ago. Plumeria is also featured in the song "Kalachuchi" by Muni-muni, a local underrated band in the Philippines, which is worthy of gatekeeping. Also, at the sub-peak, the momentous setting of the sun can be witnessed on the horizon. It was the most memorable sunset the moment the orange shade of the sun struck my eyes. Another reference is that if you want to stay there all night, you can bring a tent, necessities, and many blankets. The breeze at night is very cold, and based on my experience, I was very frustrated by my aching feet from the cold. Despite its coldness, city lights from different locales can be seen, and it was the best moment to contemplate the moment.
At sunrise, fogging clouds will greet you, and please savor the moment, for it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Furthermore, hidden caves are concealed just around the forest and wood at the peak. But to get there, I suggest being accompanied by a native there so that there will be important guidance, especially if the track is obstructed by branches or fallen trees. An escalating track should be expected, and guiding hands should be present. There is a possibility of falling or accidentally rolling from the heights, causing serious injuries. The two caves present at the peak are the "Lapos-Lapos" and "Dise Kuartos" (Twelve Rooms), camouflaged behind hanging vines and dried leaves. So it would be better to ask for a native companion since they're familiar with the cave. The Lapos-Lapos is a one-room cave, named by its open-ended feature and wide holes at the ceiling. Lapos-Lapos served as the evacuation site for the natives and was formed after a group of Japanese militaries bombed the area. It was not surprising why the floor of the cave has a wide hole, like a product of a meteorite hit. Colonies of bats live and reproduce inside the area, and I really believe they have helped preserve the beauty of the cave.
The Dise Kuartos is obviously named because it has twelve rooms, making it five times wider than the cave Lapos-Lapos. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get there due to incoming heavy rain, and if we pursued our journey there, we couldn't go back easily considering the escalating and rocky road.
Indeed, it was a reverberating cave wall experience and a flying colony of memories.
Before the storm hit the locale, we safely got back to the house and prepared for the night's dinner.
The Tabogon Mountains are truly a majestic attraction in Tabogon municipality. I am sure that in the near future, it will be discovered by famous tourists and will be known by the whole nation.
Dusted and done, the province experience at the top of the Tabogon Mountains is a good shot to get away from the frenzied hurly-burly of city life. It was the right place to experience peace and appreciate the beauty of life without being distracted by reality. It was a good escape and a worthy drive down to the countryside.
And maybe then, soon, you could go for a ride...
Drive down to the countryside🎶
Get away from the gray🎶
And the frenzied hurly-burly of city life, 'coz who would mind?.
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