minalungao

Minalungao River, Nueva Ecija.

If you are up for a quick and unique summer escape with a budget of a thousand or less and with only a whole day to spend, follow my adventure to Minalungao River National Park in Nueva Ecija.

You can drive for less than four hours; or take the public transport for five or so hours. Take the earliest trip bound to Gapan or at least the ones that would pass by Gapan town proper. Hop into a jeepney ride to municipality of Gen. Tinio and talk to the driver to drop you off at the jump off point to Minalungao. Take a contracted tricycle that would bring you to the river. This is off road and usually, you have to ask the driver to wait for you until the end of your adventure. So, again, I would emphasize, make sure that your rent the tricycle including your return trip to the town proper.  Reason is that no terminal for public transport in the area and if there are vehicles, either they are rented already or private.

So, to the river! I don’t know how familiar are you with rivers so I would try to describe a bit. Look at the picture. As an additional info, this huge karst formation lining both sides of the river is known to rivers stretching the sierra madre mountain ranges. And I would highlight that this feature is one thing present in all the rivers that I would be featuring this summer. Together with the greenish deep water, these amazing rock formations are sure fancy catchers to visitors. Most visitors would not only spend long hours on the water, but equally, taking pictures on the enthralling rocky background. I myself cannot get enough of it, even if I had visited this place quite a number of times already. Plus, watching locals and visitors jumping off to the water from huge rocks can be very fascinating and if you are up for adrenalin, join and take the plunge!  Make sure you know how to swim because the water is deep. If you don’t know how to swim, stay on the shallow parts.

One thing you also probably need to know about swimming in fresh water, rivers like this, you have to expect a certain smell of the water (minsan malansa, distinct to fresh waters, different from the kind of lansa of sea water). Rivers like this which considerably can still be called clean, have mosses on rocks and riverbed. So when you disturb the water, silt turns water to powderly white from the bottom. If you saw any, don’t think that water is dirty because in fact, that is present in most of the virgin rivers. Even underwater it is teeming with life: smallest of organisms, the mosses that feed little fishes and all the creatures you don’t see with your naked eyes. LOL

Aside from swimming, you can also rent a bamboo raft good for small and large groups so you can stay on the water and have your picnic there. As an alternative, you can camp and stay on makeshift huts on the banks. There are few stores selling the basic of needs: drinks, food and drinks. :D

On the east bank, you can hike a hill. They already paved stairs, some hundreds of steps and at the summit, a newly constructed huge cross known to pilgrims and curious tourists alike awaits. And of course, a pleasant view of the river down and the stretch of mountains from neighboring municipalities. Along the way to the summit, if you come with a local guide, you can hear interesting stories of the place: the myth how the tourists are often drowned in the river and or why there is a tomb of a Korean national erected on one stiff cliff.

On the west bank, after crossing the thrilling karst formation, you’ll find the mouth of a cave. Spelunking is one activity most adventurers engage into. Make sure to bring sufficient supply of water, especially if you decide to visit on summer time. Heat can be a serious struggle. 

Although I have a concern. My idea of visiting places like this is to keep everything as close to its natural state. I don’t mind if the road is rough really so long as a habal-habal can manage to pass. I don’t mind if I eat dust while on the trike. I don’t mind slipping and struggling on my way up while trekking, that is part of the activity. I don’t mind if stores are lacking of goods or if there is no mobile network reception. I don’t mind if we stay on makeshift huts. For me, it brings a lot closer to the nature, to the feel I am seeking for an escape. Those struggles if you call it are all part of the adventure and are the prize you have to pay if you are really up for nature adventure. That is how nature adventure should be because that is how nature is.

I am not against modernization and little comfort but based on my observation after visiting quite many places, our local governments struggle to balance between bringing comfort and being responsible to nature. That is often my concern. Yes, we paved new cemented roads but how the shoulders of mountains were tore down and trees were cut, I don’t see effort to rehabilitate or at least compensate for the damage. Kaya naman naturingang natural park ang sadya mo pero the road leading to, sobrang init kasi halos wala nang nakatayong malalaking kahoy. Here you come to visit a supposed virgin river (and a national park at that) but you can find concrete house being constructed of what said to be an influential family’s property and what’s worse, it is being constructed right close to the karst formations! Remember how a boxing champ supposedly secured permit to construct pompous properly in one DENR protected area in Boracay? I can only witness in dismay. You opt to go to a nature trip and yet here you can find cable wires of newly installed electric lines obstruct what can be considered the perfect view of the river and the magnificent rock formations. Kala mo sa siyudad lang may photography noise, nagkakamali ka.  

These are just few of my observations, not only in Minalungao but I can say in general, to most of other local attractions in many remote places.  We have more to learn (both the public officials implementing the law and as local administrators, and the visitors) on how to become more responsible and how to balance comfort as benefit of modernization and be willing to pay the prize in order to retain what natural beauty is left for us to enjoy.