The Bucari Experience
If your name is MANfred, you like to eat MANok (chicken) and you love the first day of the week, MANday; a trip to Bucari in the rainy season is the thing for you. No hotels, no chicks (ladies), deep mud, no electricity, no cellphone signals and best of all, no toilets...
Bucari offers a breath taking view
Since it is the start of the rainy season here in the Philippines, I remembered my first trip to Bucari. It was about 3 years ago and I can still remember that I was surprised on the vehicle that we were supposed to ride up the mountains. It was a rusty and overloaded 4x4 jeepney. The road up to Bucari was really muddy because of the constant rain and the jeepney had to be fitted with a set of tire chains so that it can negotiate the muddy climb.
4x4 jeepney
This time was a bit different. The road a not that muddy as before since it was summer, making the trip to Bucari a bit easier and faster. Since we camped near Imoy waterfalls in Sitio
Camandag the last time, we decided to set-up camp in Tabionan, an area with lots of pine trees and dubbed as the little Baguio of Iloilo.
Camandag the last time, we decided to set-up camp in Tabionan, an area with lots of pine trees and dubbed as the little Baguio of Iloilo.
But before heading to the campsite, we decided to take a dip in the cold springs in Sitio Camandag. But we had a set-back. The driver kept asking where we were going and no one answered so he dropped of off about 2-3 kilometers from Sitio Camandag. After taking a dip in the crystal clear and super cool pools, we decided it was time to hike to the campsite in Tabionan.
the hike to Sitio Camandag
we decided to take a shortcut
I've seen this monkey twice now. Since the people there are really nice, we always ask for water in this house. 
Sitio Camandag at the foot of Mt. Agua Colonia
settlements in Sitio Camandag
pools in Sitio Camandag
relaxing cool waters of the pools. Since we were tired, we decided not to continue to Imoy falls. But I regret making the decision because after typhoon Frank, Imoy falls was severely altered.
guardian
on the way to Sitio Tabionan, I saw this guy playing a trumpet. His music echoing in the mountains.And since we were already tired, it took a while before we managed the 4-5 kilometer hike uphill. When arrived at Sitio Tabionan, it was already dark and we were exausted. We didn't have flashlights, but thanks to lighters with puny lights, we managed to move about.
I'll never forget this marker. It means you're near Sitio Tabionan.
we stayed in this house for the night, it also offers a nice view of the rolling fogWe didn't set-up our tents since my friends uncle offered us a place to stay and he prepared a really nice native dish for us. It was "linagpang nga manok", grilled chicken made into a stew, and it was really delicious. We gave them pork and some dried fish in exchange, so everybody was happy.
the pine trees of Sitio Tabionan
insects that I found in the pine trees
The next day, we went to the pine trees to shoot a short clip. I also managed to find some interesting insects, its a nature lovers paradise indeed.
How to get there...
From Iloilo, ride a jeepney or van to Leon. Terminals are on Jaro Public Market. And after arriving in Leon, the jeepney terminal to Bucari is near the park.
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2 comments:
Hey Vince! If it's not BAGUIO then it's BUCARI! Yes, those shots of pine trees and rice teracces could easily be mistakened for Baguio. Got to admit I stayed in Baguio for 5 yr.(SLU 1981)and I just love the place! I always visit Baguio everytime I go home to the Philippines. Now, speaking of Leon, we had a month of Community Med. rotation there when we were PGI's of IDH. People there were buzzing about Bucari. In fact one of my patients there invited me to go but I was so scared of NPA's that time and I suspected that he's one of them, as well. Hehehe! I don't know if situation there is still the same. It looked like you had a great time there! Tani ma-develop nila ang Bucari and make it into a resort haven. Then, that time I might be able to go there!
Yup, may ara plans daw tani ang Leon nga i-develop. May ara na to gani concrete road pro daw halfway lang ang natapos. Hope ko gani nga tapuson nalang nila para mas hapos magkadto to. Subong daan kung rainy season kabudlay kay dapat 4x4 gid ang salakyan. Ok lang kung summer, pde ang 4x2. hehe Nami2x gman ang place, galing subong mejo indi na nami ang falls, grabe daan ang damage halin kay Frank. Basi madugayan pa before mabalik sa dati...
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