Yodis Phere: ilocandia

Pagudpud is famous for its scenic beaches, but staying too long in the waves can bore you and sometimes you felt this need to escape the salty breeze . So, for a little freshwater twist in your Ilocos Norte tour, never miss this lazy trek to the Kabigan falls.

Kabigan Falls is surrounded by thick forest and well-known for its concaved basin, located at the eastern part of Barangay Balaoi, around 1.8 kilometers away from the national highway.

Kabigan falls is also part of the town of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and a trek going to this falls is usually included in the tricycle tour offered in the area. The tour is locally called tourcycle for two to three persons per tricycle. It is divided into Southbound and Northbound tour for 600.00 Pesos per tour. Anyway I'll talk about Ilocos tourcycle, including the itinerary and quick stopovers on my next post.

We availed the Pagudpud Northbound tour only, because we already visited the Southbound destinations on our way to Pagudpud from Laoag City.

There is a 20 Pesos/pax entrance fee at the jump-off point where you will be assigned your official trek guide going to the falls. You don't have to worry about being lost or being conned in the area because the locals organized their official group to guide tourist and receive payment.

The official Kabigan Falls tour guide wearing their official green shirt

The trek going to Kabigan Falls takes 30 to 40 minutes mostly of flat area so you'll have time to enjoy the verdant panorama. Although there is a visible trail going to the falls, you'll still need a tour guide if it's your first time there just to be safe.

The cold freshwater along the trail will definitely add to your excitement to see the Kabigan falls. Against the snaking clear river are verdant mountains, rice fields and wild flowers.

It's a very light mountain trek so expect no concrete pavements. Flip flops or sandals is the advisable footwear on this trek because you'll pass by small streams, soft mud and a few rocky trail.

Again, this is a lazy trek so aside from enjoying the view, don't forget to have some group fun, joke time and of course camwhoring for the souvenir.

The locals made the trek really easy for you. They made makeshift bridges with handrails on a few slopes along the trail.

Although the trail is mostly on flat muddy areas, there are also a few uphill climb which are also really easy to pass. It seem to me that the locals designed the trail for the lampayatot Manileño because even this uphill curve has handrails - no real effort needed.

Some exciting part of the Kabigan trail are the area where you need to get across the river through this narrow makeshift bridge.

A few meters from the Kabigan falls are more river crossings with slightly strong current and slippery boulders so you need to be extra careful on these areas.

Then finally, you'll get to see the Kabigan falls. It rained in the previous days and the current in the falls is a little bit strong when we visited it so for safety we just took pictures although we want to take a little freshwater swimming on its concave basin. However, during summer visitors can actually enjoy a swim on the basin or have a short picnic in the area.

This is just one of the seven destinations on our afternoon Pagudpud tricycle tour so after taking pictures we head back to the jump-off area where our tricycle driver was patiently waiting to bring us to Agua Grande, Kalbario Patapat Natural Park, Timamtang Rock, Bantay-Abot Cave and Blue Lagoon.

We have a very limited time so we hurry back so as not to miss this other amazing places.

HERE ARE THE DETAILED POSTS ABOUT OUR Ilocandia Time Travel

We expect bright sunny day on our visit to the majestic Cape Bojeador Lighthouse but no, egotistical weather decided to give us gray clouds and gloomy rain showers. It seemed that the weather was trying to make a point - solitary sentinels of the sea are best visited when the circumstance has the aura of immense loneliness. Well I got the point, and I love it.

I looked up, and saw the outline of the towering Bojeador Lighthouse, hazy due to the drops of rain falling like tears on my old eyeglasses. It was like Severus’ giant wand ready to cast the unforgivable Imperius Curse to the world – hoping to control its chaotic ways. And I was like an elf, climbing the cold stone steps, diminutive, weary and nonchalant.

Towering Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

The lighthouse is the old queen, standing high and proud on top of the Vigia de Nagparitan Hill in Burgos Ilocos Norte. She is keeping vigil since March 30, 1892, so far away from the chaos of civilization yet her job was very important.

Dying elegance

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse view of the balcony from the courtyard

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as the Burgos Lighthouse must have once had certain elegance and a nice dose of Spanish hubris. The romantic series of stone steps connected to the once ornate iron gate, now rusty and creaking, will lead you directly to the balcony, courtyard and main pavilion.

Stone steps from the main tower going to the living quarters with rusty decorative grills and woodcarvings.

The whole structure is made of bricks, complemented by decorative grill works and woodcarvings. But the violent roaring winds, sea salt and ravages of time stripped it of all its former glory.

View from the romantic Spanish Balconaje

Stairs leading down the courtyard

Also, the place must have been the favorite romantic spot for lovers during the Spanish era - a Filipina in her maria clara giggling with her abaniko while her lover sings old kundiman at the balconaje. Hmmmm, romantic eh.

The living quarters

But no, the living quarters of the lighthouse is now a dungeon for old ghosts. Red bricks are now falling off the walls, capiz windows are now patched by wood planks, ornate iron railings are rusty and deformed.

The tower, which constitutes the highest level situated in the rear a few meters higher than the pavilion is also suffering the demise of Ferdinand Marcos. No restoration efforts was visible and climbing inside the tower going to the overhanging balcony is no longer allowed due to rusty spiral metal stairs.

Entrance going to the elevated main tower

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador, said to be the most photographed and filmed of all Philippine light stations is slowly losing its elegance. Its light is dying. Somebody from the government should do something.

Creepy tales of the light keeper

Awe-inspiring view of the ocean from the foot of the lighthouse's main tower

I thought lighthouses catch the most awe-inspiring aspects of the ocean alone. There can be immense loneliness if you can’t share the magnificent view with anyone. But I’m wrong. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse was never alone. She has Mang Ruben.

the barefoot light keeper telling his scary tales

While inspecting the dark alley of the lighthouse’s living quarters and taking pictures at the veranda, a stout looking old man with no slippers appeared at the gate. No, he’s not a ghost, he is Mang Ruben, the light keeper. ( I don’t know if I got his name right.)

We are the only group that time and he enthusiastically showed us the place like welcoming us on his own home. He felt sorry because he can’t allow us to go up the tower. He said it’s dangerous, and it’s fine with us.

There are four big rooms in the living quarters, each with huge creepy doors. First he allowed us to inspect the first room which served as the mini museum. The room is musty and dark with old photos inside glass cases.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse Museum which includes a replica of the lighthouse tower, old photos of: century old foot cabinet; the manual machine; the site of the "Urno"; the prism; the "birdcage"; structure where the prisms are attached; the rock monument believed to cut patiently and diligently by Burgos forefathers; the pulley room; the "weight"; and the FA250 Lamp producing three white flashes every after five seconds. The room also has a few newspaper clippings, souvenir photo of Ferdinand Marcos at the Parola and a top view diorama of the whole Nagparitan hills.

The next room was really creepy. He said there’s a family living there a long time ago but it was abandoned now. What were left are old wooden bench, a bed and a vintage bicycle - hair-raising yet interesting.

Old window from one of the rooms

The adjacent room, which he did not showed us holds spooky tales. Mang Ruben said that one time, he was trapped in the lighthouse due to a typhoon, and he swore that he heard voices coming from those rooms – a crying child and a lady. Mang Ruben also said he saw a ghost of a really big snake gliding inside those big rooms.

Fantastic view from one of the rooms

I don’t actually believe in ghosts but I still got goose bumps whenever I remember that rainy morning, on those cold, dark dungeon-like rooms listening to Mang Ruben’s creepy tales.

Never miss talking to Mang Ruben when you visited Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. He himself is like a living old relic of the Faro Cabo making the lighthouse a real blast!

Lighthouse reflections

Emo Anjho waiting for her dead lover

"Darkness reigns at the foot of the lighthouse"

-Japanese Proverb-

Sometimes just visiting a place gives me a sudden spark of wisdom – that’s the beauty of travel, makes me lapsed into an introspective state. While touring and camwhoring at the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, I sensed that it was trying to tell me something. It’s not like those creepy sensations but a peaceful one.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse is a perfect metaphor for many things in our life. It is a perfect metaphor for my life. I would definitely love to go back or visit other lighthouses. Or perhaps buy an island with an old lighthouse and live out there. Immense loneliness will be there but intense spiritual connections can be made only on those places.

Our favorite Lighthouse boyband shot [courtesy of Bar's smartphone]. From left: Aldan, Bern, Bar and Yodz

“Why you’d rather be on the center of chaos, fast-paced life and temporal ambitions than looking for silence and inner peace. Why you consider sitting and thinking a waste of time?” the lighthouse whispered.

I am a sinner on the run; this is what the lighthouse told me.

HERE ARE THE DETAILED POSTS ABOUT OUR Ilocandia Time Travel

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Sources of Facts and Citations:

» Wikipidia Article. "Cape Bojeador Lighthouse" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojeador_Lighthouse] Retrieved: 03 May 2011

» Cape Bojeador Lighhouse Images and Photos (via Mobile Phone Photography - Samsung Galaxy S I9000) : Taken by Yodz Insigne: 26 March 2011

» Philippine National Historical Institute - Cape Bojeador Lighthouse Historical Marker

Complete Historical Inscription Reads:

"Idinesenyo ni Inhenyero Magin Pers Y Pers, 1887. Isinaayaos at natapos ng Servicio de Faros sa ilalim ni Inhenyero Guillermo Brockman, 1890. Itinayo bilang Faro de Primera Orden na may tore at mga pabelyon sa burol na Vigia de Nagparitan ng bayan ng Burgos. Nagsilbing gabay-tanglawsa mga sasakyang pandagat mula 1892 hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Natatanging halimbawa ng parola at arkitektura ng ikalabinsiyam na dantaon. Ipinhayag na Pambansang Palatandaang Pangkasaysayan ng Pambansang Suriang Pangkasaysayan, 13 Agosto 2004, at Pambansang Yamang Pangkalinangan ng Pambansang Museo, 20 Hunyo 2005."

Yodis Phere

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Kabigan Falls, Pagudpud Ilocos Norte » The Best Lazy Trekking to Waterfalls in Ilocandia

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse » Death of Elegance, Creepy Tales and A Spark of Wisdom