The Pinay Solo Backpacker

It’s 4am but I’m already  awake in my room at  New Emperors Palace Pension in Iloilo City.  I couldn’t figure out my next destination.  I reached for my backpack on the side table of my bed and took out the flyer I got  from Iloilo airport’s tourism division.  As much as possible, I wanna include a visit to a remote place on my trips and my 1st choice was Bucari in Leon.  I texted my friend  Marcos .  He replied, “‘ I have to warn you though, trekking is hard, its a very remote village and it’s no longer as lush as it appears on my photos post-typhoon Frank.”   Being a  probinsyana, I am used to trekking (except for Tappiya falls in Batad! ) so I wasn’t scared, but I need to go back at the end of the day.  I looked up my map to check out which village is closest to Iloilo City and I decided to go to Igbaras!

 

I don’t wanna bother asking Marcos for directions anymore as  he seems tired from his night out.  I went out to look something to eat and found a 24hr internet café instead just right beside my hostel. I went inside and browsed the internet for directions.  I found a write-up by Mon Corpuz, a photographer and one of the coordinators of  The Black Pencil Project, a group of photographers, whose committed to give pencils to early learners (Day Care to Grade 3) of select public elementary schools from beneficiaries of remote and or indigenous communities of the Philippines. . He was just there a few days ago.  I have no idea  how to go there, I checked the official website of  Igbaras but to no avail, only to find out after my trip that Marcos has a detailed article about the place.

 

I went back to bed knowing it’s just 5am, but I overslept so I  started my road trip around 8am already.   I asked the woman selling fruits at the sidewalk  outside my  pension house for directions but  she doesn’t know it.  She then asked the 2 guys standing by my side.  A stranger directed me to Jaro Liko jeep,  and told me to ask the driver to stop me at The Market.  From there I could find jeeps bound to Igbaras.

The ride to Igbaras town is almost an hour.  The jeep stopped in front of the Municipal Hall fronting a basketball court and some sari-sari stores and motorcycles for hire are parked on its right side.   One driver hurriedly met me and asked where I’m going, he seems to have an idea already. Luckily, he was the driver that brought Mon to the falls some few days back.  The fare is Php 60 one way, some drivers  asked him to bring me to the tourism office so I can get a guide because there’s no sign of  humans out there, but Manong Ricky, the driver, volunteered to be my guide, he didn’t set a price, “bahala na po kayo kung magkano”. And because he was very kind. I paid him more than what I normally pay for a guide (since I have extra travel funds).

I  agreed and ride at the back of his motorcycle. The only concern when going to such remote places is safety.  Its been said that  the leftist group are thriving everywhere in that area but like I said before, I don’t think the NPA will hurt you if you won’t harm them. They know who their enemies are. Sadly, after  my visit last February, the rebels allegedly opened fire near the elementary school of  Igcabugao, Igbaras.

The ride was bumpy, we passed by a series of  mountains, rolling hills,  huge rocks, rivers and streams, dry paddy fields, farmlands, bamboos and forested areas.  The concrete bridge was severely damaged by the typhoon last year, so a make-shift bridge was built where only humans, bikes and single motorcycles can pass.

After a few minutes, we reached the outpost at Bgry. Passi, where a customary registration in a log book is required for security reasons.  So in case someone would get lost, stuck out there or something, they would know.

There are other attractions in the area but some may need an overnight stay at Mt.Napulak, which is also a home to one of the largest flower in the world, the rafflesia.

Manong Ricky escorted me to the Nagsanjan falls. The trek  is not that hard but still, it took a couple of minutes for us to reach the falls. The area can be muddy during rainy seasons and a bit dangerous as the river would overflow.  Good thing its the dry season that time.  The surrounding is dry, and the hills around turned into orange and brown because of the summer heat.  Still the view is beautiful, indeed it’s a haven for eco-tourism and adventure!

Nagsanjan Falls is a bit dry because of the climate but you can take a dip in its cold waters,  but if you’re no good swimmer, be careful and hold on to the bamboos on the waters because the water is  really deep.  Above the falls , one can’t help but notice a huge towering marble dome.  Igbaras is blessed with caves and other falls tucked somewhere in the mountains thus attracting trekkers and mountaineers than the usual tourist.

Manong Ricky, my guide,was born in  Guimaras, he even showed me his Driver’s license to prove it, he also used to drive a jeep in Muntinlupa-Alabang route, but he moved to Igbaras when he married. “Life is better here, it’s peaceful and simple,” he said.  After his chaotic life in Manila, he couldn’t trade this peaceful life in this province

Upon seeing how excited I was to see paddy fields again, he offered to tour me up one of the hills where a public high school & a small chapel is standing on top  of it overlooking the paddy fields and rice terraces. 

The school which is made of cheap materials like bamboo and palm leaves, reminds me of my high school days back in our province. Exactly what I’ve been looking for, something reminiscent of my past.  I so miss the simple laid back life!

After a taste of nostalgia, we left and Manong Ricky dropped me at the hotel as I wanted to grab something to drink and eat. I was starving as I haven’t eaten breakfast or lunch.  Surprisingly, there’s a nice hotel in this quaint town and on its ground floor is a convenience store, too bad there’s no rice meal.

Luckily, an old man  working for an NGO & tourism department of the local government approached me while I’m enjoying my  ice drop.  He introduced me to the hotel owner, an Ilongga who is based in Australia and is on vacation that time.  She had me taste a unique dish from the hotel, it’s made of gabi, gata and the small shells thriving in rice paddies.  Yummy! Now I’m full!

After our short conversation, which revolved around how the local government of  Igbaras should work on promoting this ruggedly beautiful town, I had to leave because I wanted to catch the sunset in Guimaras and I have 3 hours to go.

***To  volunteer or give to The Black Pencil Project click  HERE.***

How to get to Igbaras:

Look for jeepneys bound to Igbaras at the Iloilo Terminal Market. The jeep will stop at the Igbaras town proper where you can hire a motorcycle to Brgy. Passi beside the Municipal Hall and hire the driver as your guide. But if you wanna hike Mt.Napulak and see the rafflesia, you can coordinate with the local tourism office at the Municipal Hall for your means of transportation and guide. The trek from jump off point in Bgry. Passi to Nadsadjan Falls may take 15-20 minutes.

Driver / Guide:

Manong Ricky – 09069299849

Accomodation:

Igbaras Golden Shoppers Village

Rizal St. Igbaras, Iloilo 5029

Phone/fax:+63 33 315 6278

Email: info@igbarasgolden.com

website: www.igbarasgolden.com

*********************************************************************************************** About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina solo adventurer, a dream chaser and a student of life.  Her (mis) adventures are documented in this blog. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For advertisement, partnerships and sponsorship, click here. or email me at thepinaysolobackpacker(at)yahoo(dot)com. **********************************************************************************************

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