The Hidden Gem of Nueva Ecija: Minalungao National Park

by lakwatserong tatay

So right after the christening we had attended at Gapan. Next on our itinerary was to visit the hidden gem of Nueva Ecija. Who could have thought that the province of Nueva Ecija, that is known to be as the rice paddies of our country, holds one of a kind secret of our mother nature. A great sculpture of nature that can be found in center of Peñaranda River. Has marvelous limestone that is towering 16 meters high and has calm rivers waters within Sierra Mountain Range, known as Minalungao National Park.

Pristine Calm Water of Peñaranda River

Having heard about this place to my co-bloggers last year. Seeing their shared stories about this park makes me excited to see it up close. However i'm having hard time to schedule a trip on this place, then opportunity comes because of an invite to attend christening. Seeing the chance to have additional side trip and had the chance to first set foot in Nueva Ecija makes me more excited because i'll be seeing the park at last.

The Crowded Park

Crowded Parking Area within rented nipa huts

The park covers 2018 hectares and was recognized as a protected area around 1967. Located in Brgy. Minalungao at General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

Huge limestone within Peñaranda River

Tourists along the river

A local guide is available to guide you within the park, to the grotto, and to the cave. Our was kid named Felix. Since we have only limited time, we opted to visit the cave and experience the cool waters of Peñaranda river.

a very calm river water..

It is advisable to get a local guide because they know more about the park likewise as you help them too. In touring the park you choose between two options by foot or by boat. So if you want relaxation trip within the park, it is better to choose by boat by renting bamboo raft (please rental fees below). Or you may choose the newly cemented trail path to tour the park. Both trails will lead you to the shallow swimming area with refreshing and cool waters of the river.

the bamboo raft that cruise along the river

awesome rock formations...

our guide felix....

that's how you enjoy its cool waters....

There are so many activities available within the park, that you can choose from. There are ziplines for adventurers, bamboo rafting ride, trekking to limestone to get to the cave, trek to grotto and of course having a picnic with your families and friends.

rocky trail going to cave

one of the shallow part of the river....

As of writing, the local government is promoting this place as one of its eco-tourism destination. Rehabilitation of the road going to the park is on going. The rocky trail before is now established and already cemented path for the tourist which is younger and older ones much enjoy the scenery. The fees was different from last year as i've seen from my co-bloggers.

What i wish on this place is that hopefully when i had again the chance to visit again this place. It will be a pleasant as we've visited it. I know the park will attract more tourist and as the tourist may arise the garbage within the area may also arise. I just hope the local government, locals and tourist alike are more responsible with their own trashes. As i've seen there were actually scattered around the area from foils, plastic and even bottles. Hope that in next years to come the park will stay as is right now or few years before when it was explored and be opened to the public. Moreover, let us help the Minalungao National Park, be placed in map as one of the tourist attraction, be beautiful and as charmed right now, thus it will help more locals to their livelihood, specially to those kids like Felix, it will help them alot with schooling and families financies.

Me with our guide Felix..^_^

XB's - Melvin, Me & Joel

Nature Park Trippin is more fun in the Philippines

Minalungao National Park Rates (as of April, 2015):

Entrance Fee - php 30.00
Minulangao Cave - php 10.00
Cottage - php 200.00
Bamboo raft (small) - php 250.00
Bambbo raft (big) - php 500.00
Comfort room - php 10.00
Parking fee - php 50.00

How to get to Minalungao National Park:

By commute: 
Ride a bus bound Gapan/Cabanatuan. Available bus companies from Cubao/Pasay like Five Star, ES Transport. Travel time may take from 2-3 hours.

From Gapan, you have two options, (1) ride a jeep bound to General Tinio formerly known as Papaya (not sure of the jeepney fare) and then from city proper ride a trike going to park (php50 each as per my conversation with the tricycles around the park) / (2) rent a trike from Gapan to Minalungao National Park. Estimate travel time is 1-1.5 hours (php500-600 per tricycle). This option is hassle free because you knew that there will be a tricycle waiting for you if you want to go back to city in anytime you want.

2015: First Quarter Travels

by lakwatserong tatay

First three months of 2015 is done and summer period has already started. I'm just so lucky that i have been to different places in just three months specially together with my family and friends...

So let me start with my first travel stop....

An early trek near on our house in Angono, Rizal. I've named the place as Mt. Perlita named after the restaurant that can be seen on the peak together with old tower....^_^

With my wife, kuya gab & ate gayle trekking to bushes...^_^

Next stop was a traverse dayhike in Mt. Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal to Tinipak River, General Nakar, Quezon Province. Together with xplorerboyz Carlo, Melvin, Johari, Joel and Ekoy. It was another memorable dayhike because of its memorable road trip, almost all assault hike and a very refreshing dip at Tinipak river. Although our adventures was not complete, we promise to ourselves that we will comeback for its cave and waterfalls.....^_^

Xplorerboyz @ Mt. Daraitan Summit

X-plorerboyz enjoying Tinipak River

Summertime is almost started. So better to start the summer with a beacheenering trip and our next stop was a family beacheenering trip at Laiya, San Juan, Batangas in Sigayan Bay Beach Resort. This is the first time that Macoy family had an beach adventure for our yearly summer trip. My kids really enjoyed the beach and all of us had also a great time spending the shores of Laiya..^_^

Me with my family at Sigayan Bay Beach Resort

Next stop was another road trip travel up north. The province of my mother-in-law. Together with my wife, kids and the rest of Macoy family, we travelled to Bauang, La Union. To enjoy another weekend of beacheenering, visiting relatives and a little get together gathering. However it was really hard for me travelling with an upset stomach, but this will not stop me to enjoy another family vacation...^_^

Me @ Baccuit Sur, Bauang Beach

My kids are really enjoying....^_^

Me with Gab at St Peter Parish Church of Bauang, La Union

Weekend Getaway Group Shot @ Tito Senyong's Place....

After our weekend stay at La Union, it's time to go back to reality, however we had another stop prior in going back to Manila.We visited, toured and pray for our safety trip back home at the Church of Manaoag also known as The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag....^_^

Family photo opps at Manaoag Church

My kids @ Historical Church marker

So for the meantime, this is all of my travels and family getaways !!!!! Just check me on all of my social media sites as im always posting where i have been...#lakwatserongtatay....^_^

Lakwatserong Tatay will be back !!!!!!

DIY Trip: Dayhike to Mt. Talamitam with Sidetrip to Layong Bato River

by lakwatserong tatay

Here's another fullpacked daytrip i've had together with tropang tits and pips. We visited the towns of Nasugbu and Taal, Batangas, where we had trekking activity first in Mt. Talamitam, followed by Chillaxation at Layong Bato River. Then travel to town of Taal, where we visited the Asia's Largest Catholic Church known as Taal Basilica and walk on its street and mesmerized with its Old Structures of Houses that reminds me of Vigan, Ilocos Sur and tried to eat the Famous Chicken Empanada.

So let me start the journey, we met up around 4am in the bus station located in MRT/LRT Pasay station bound for Nasugbu and aligtened at Sitio Bayabasan in Brgy. Aga (Km. 83) (php 124 as of now) or just simply tell the drop you on that Sitio because most of the drivers and conductors bound to Nasugbu known this place. As of now guide is mandatory in the place however different mountaineering clubs, hikers and including  pinoy mountaineer (Sir Gideon) did not like this policy and a registration fee (php25) is needed too.

registration area

With a local guide, (sorry kuya i already forgot your name, we got it by 300/ 5 pax). We started our quick dayhike around 7am. Pips Judz & Princess are following are guide, Aleli is in the middle and Ichan and I were last in our group....^_^

the 1st bridge

river stream

The 2nd bridge, a very quite scary bridge made of bamboo. This is the last bridge, and after this, the trek really starts....^_^

2nd bamboo bridge

Then our sunny dayhike starts with a short woodland trek that continue to a grassland slope and partial vegetiation maybe from the locals. There are so many trail variations, most of them are leading to the plateau where the peak of Mt. Talamitam can be seen. From there, is is a easy up hill climb with about 60 degrees slope trail up to the peak, just beware of the talahib that could cause slowness to your climb to the peak.

cows are present anywhere....

the trail up to the peak is viewable meters away...

nearby Mt. Batulao is can be seen along the trail.

And he we start our ascend from plateau....where lucky enough on our climb the weather coordinates with us. The sun sometimes show and sometimes clouds covers the heat. The summit assault usually takes 20-30 minutes up or can be depend on your group's trekking pace.

and we started....

Along the trail, we saw this local selling ice cream, cheese and chocolate flavor and also pinipig. Of course, we did not missed to try it, specially the weather that time constantly changes from heat striking rays of the sun and sometimes it turns the skies to grayish that in any moment rain could drop.

photo opps with kuya ice cream seller and kuya guide

And then we resumed our talahib trek, hehehehehe... let the pictures below tell how tall are the grasses that time.

within few minutes we will be in the summit.....

In less than 2 hours we've summited Mt. Talamitam, where we had lunch and few photo session at the top.

lunch at the summit

Tropang Tits and Pips @ Mt. Talamitam Summit

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Mt. Talamitam Summit

After staying at the summit for almost an hour, we started our descent with the same trail we had during our ascend. However before we proceed to the next destination town "Taal", our kuya guide is very generous to take us a river which we could enjoy and chillax for few moments. Our kuya guide told us, they called this river as "Layong Bato River". When you reach this area, the picture below, your nearly on the river, with just a few meters descend you will reach the swimming area of the river, where most of the locals and climbers alike stay and enjoy the called waters of this river.

actually the pool has a slide through this flow of water

the swimming pool

And here's our photo opps while enjoying the cold and quite clear waters of Layong Bato river....

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Layong Bato River

After staying for almost 30 minutes, we had to bid goodbye to this river and proceed to the house of our guide and had to take a bath and refresh for a moment. Then proceed to our next destination, which is the town of Taal, Batangas. Our main goal is to visit the Asia's Biggest Catholic Church known as Taal Basilica, walk through the street of Old Heritage Houses of Taal and tried and eat the Famous Chicken Empanada of Taal, Aling Rowena's Empanada at Taal Public Market. 
So see you in my next day trip adventures.....^_^