A Trip to Tibiao, Antique. Saturday activities
By Rodel J. Abalus
What happens if you put people, a “jeepney,” coconuts, mountains, a 7 tiered waterfall, nature, flowers, children, adults, and “kawa” together and “cook”?
You’ve been in Boracay Island for quite some time, you’ve strolled all the places that can be strolled, you’ve studied all the grammar rules your grandma and grandpa never could imagine you would. You’ve listened and danced to all the music, rhythm and beat that all the clubs in BI could concur so you could move and drop dead exhausted with it including, hope not, your soul wit it. What to do now?Head somewhere.
After arrangements for the trip had been made by Teacher Lea, we were ready to go.
Our ride
Our ride, was a 23-24 sitter black and red painted “jeepney.”
Some climbed to the top of the “jeepney,” while some went inside and chose their most comfortable spots. All set, the hot wheels rolled on the road through rice field strewn villages, and relatively less populated towns and headed for Tibiao.
Getting there
About half way through the trip, the “jeepney” stopped. Toilet break!
A thoughtful family opened its toilet door for us to use. There was only 1 toiletand there were many on queue.I had difficulty finding another toilet, so,I looked toward the “jeepney” andasked others (who were in the “jeepney”) if anyone wanted to use the ‘open toilet’ (well, in hiding with the help of nature). Looking back now, I wonder what the ladies laughed about =P
The toilet problem remedied, some walked around to stretch their legs, and to enjoy the open space and refreshing breeze a sleepy town bids for anyone to ponder.Someone was hungry, so, we looked around for a store but didn’t see a store nearby. I saw palm trees.We pulled some shoots. We munched the shoots, almost good hunger beater. Now, don’t get the idea that somehow you have to climb coconuts and get their shoots, that’s way too dangerous and you might not get the shoots. 😉 I digress.
Mountains
We have “travelled” halfway.
To the left of the road’s a row of mountains that reach high above the sky. One can only imagine how beautiful nature there is and how truly gifted the Philippines is. A somber thought on nature: water, land, air, bees, trees, food… Without man, nature can continue to exist. Without nature, man won’t be able to exist. It’s time for man to give the respect, and full credit nature fully deserves.
The “jeep” climbed to some elevation. Cool refreshing breeze greeted us. Nerves livened up, eyes lit up, lungs breathed way more easily, the heart felt the lighter load, and your soul could almost feel freedom.
There
We arrived at a place at SitioTuno where there were huts, a restaurant, a parking space and a river whose water was almost as cold as ice.
We arrived a bit too late for breakfast and a bit too early for lunch, the restaurant was still cooking.
After the half way breakfast -half way lunch, we geared up for the trek.
The Trek- about 30 minutes
3 guides, 1 file
“Trek a winding.
People walk, winding on, inching along, on the trekking walk.”
When we got to a clearing, someone said it reminded her of a place she had been to but didn’t know where.
“Kids with supple feet silently walk. Adults with not so supple feet perhaps hope, or are hoping to walk the way the kids with supple feet walk?”
Got there- The 1st and 2nd tier
Some ladies swam at the 2nd tier.
The climb to the 3rd tier
You look up, and right in front of your face is a steep, almost vertical climb. The kids, parents and ladies stayed on the 2nd tierof the 7 tiered-waterfall. A student asked, “How do we go down?”
Five of us went up. They swam. We found out how to go down.
You have to go down not forwards but backwards. First, throw your flip-flops downwards carefully, while ladies down below the falls look after your f-fs, if you have ladies. Then, go down backwards while the ladies kindly look after your f-fs… Yes!! Why? The way is slippery, you know… haha. Thank you ladies!
“Kawa” time! Time to be cooked.
If your very own parents would allow, worse, conspire,collude to let you be cooked in a huge “kawa”/pot with water and even with flowers in it like there is festivity or something, and you see with your own two eyes huge tongues of fire menacingly or playfully licking the sides of the pot expecting to cook you alive and you have to go inside the pot, and you have to go voluntarily, and you are a kid…, perhaps it’s no wonder if you’ll have some hesitation and somehow some worried look (sometimes grammar is, albeit, a bit confusing : ) “in” or “on” your peeps.
Needless to say, there was the look of hesitation and worry on the faces. But that was just for about a few minutes…no cries, then they were smiling. I went to another pot to look after happy adults being cooked. When I returned to check on the kids, they were still smiling and had the relaxed and comfortable look in their eyes. Strange, isn’t it? 🙂
Goodbyes
We spent about 2 hours on the “jeepney”going back to Caticlan, then about 15 minutes on a boat going back to Boracay. We bade goodbyes.
The rest walked back to the dormitories as the night fell. I thought whether I’d walk or not. With a coconut in my backpack, I walked home… Good night. Good trip. ‘Tilnext.
Oh! I almost forgot about the question,that’s what you get when you put those together.
