When I hear about beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines I'm... let's say... rather skeptical...
I've seen a few which have been promoted as tourist attractions and usually I'd find one of the two realities: a) a 2-meter drop which, depending on wet or dry season, does or does not carry any water, b) a nice waterfall that has been turned into an amusement park with entrance fee (camouflaged as "environmental fee"), tubes, rafts, food stalls and a lot of trash floating in them.
The Inambakan Falls in southern Cebu taught me yet another lesson: there is beauty out there which is responsibly developed to enjoy it!
To get to the falls it requires quite some local knowledge. The narrow trail passes by small huts where old men offered us Tuba (local rice wine) while guiding us into the right direction. The walk is not difficult, just hidden. We crossed seven rivers (or was it just one river which we crossed seven times?) but did not come across any other "tourist".
When we finally walked up and down a few man-made concrete stairs (the kind of development which provides for accessibility and safety but doesn't spoil the experience) I almost didn't believe my eyes!
There was actually a curtain of water falling into a turquoise pool of water! The surrounding smoothed rocks were covered in lush green moss. The falling water was received by a mushroom-shaped rock, which crushed each drop of water into fine mist, creating this fascinating draft inherent to waterfalls. Swimming against a fairly strong current we discovered a cave behind the waterfall. For years and years drops of water have been eating their way through the rock!
After a refreshing dip we decided to explore the source of the waterfall. Climbing higher and higher, against the stream like salmons, we discovered truly untouched nature and a couple more water slides and steep falls. Careful not to slip we dared to challenge the stream and cooled off in the current.
As careful as we were we have to lament one casualty: Glenn's nice gecko shirt got sucked into one of the plenty whirlpools... never to be seen again. In swim shorts he made his way back to the car... Truly a tourist attraction!
After several weeks of suspension for driving a bus off the Skyway killing and injuring passengers, Dimple Star bus company is back on track (I sure hope so!).The past weeks have been an ordeal for me commuting to the office. I'm therefore glad to see the bus company back in action. The busses are in good shape (as compared to the run-down vehicles I had to use these past weeks!) and I'm sure they learned a thing or two in training and selecting their drivers now (no more Rambos, please!). My commute-life just got a lot more comfortable and convenient! I'm in the bus by 6am, together with all the college students (makes me feel young! Haha!). At 7am I'm in the office enjoying the silence before the day breaks lose at 9! Enough time to share a thought here.
Call me a workaholic, but SCOPE is my baby! SCOPE is the Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership Program. Active in the conceptualization, development, and improvement of the program to foster economic development in the Philippines since 2006, I've helped SCOPE grow and mature over the years. Five years later we look back at 35 implemented projects, embedding local producer groups into the value chains of Philippine-based companies. Plus, a growing team of SCOPE Consultants to cover more areas throughout the Philippines! At the same time we see a growing interest and acceptance of the SCOPE approach from the local private sector, government agencies, and civil society. And, of course, the media! Our latest media exposure in Cebu resulted in an article in the Sun Star Cebu! Have a read!
I love cheese! In the Philippines, my cheese-addiction has become an expensive vice. With virtually no cattle industry (as even my farmer friend from South Africa noticed during his 2 week visit!) most dairy products are imported.
Given the scarce local dairy industry, I'm happy to see any attempt of local cheese making! And, there is! Some cheeses are made from water buffalo (or Karabaw in local dialect) milk, some from goat milk, and yet others from cow milk (I hope it’s not imported milk from China!).
Some locally produced cheeses are wrapped in banana leaves which gives an unmistakable native look to it.
My latest very tasty find is Cebu made cow cheese! Wrapped in plastic it even provides 'handling tips'. That is, to refrigerate the product at six degrees Celsius or to not let it sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. (I’d say room temperature is a rather vague concept in the tropics...).
The most important handling tip provides concrete action steps for the worst-case scenario: 'in case of brown-out consume immediately or store with ice!'
Truly, a local product with handling tips adjusted to the respective power shortage situation of the island!
I met Bernadette during Planet Zips’ August SpinDependence in Manila. She not only impressed me with her height but especially with her fire-hooping skills! Almost effortless she whirled a flaming hoop up and down and around her body. I was truly impressed and ready to extend my Poi skills into hooping (let’s skip the fire for now). Ready to sign up for classes with Bernadette I learned she is Cebu-based. Too bad!
During my latest trip to Cebu I met her and more Cebu-based Poi practitioners. Over a truly Pinoy dinner (crispy pata, which I as a vegetarian only looked at from afar) we shared our experiences and frustrations learning the art of “fire handling”. It’s great to connect with strangers through a commonly shared passion!
My next trip to the Visayas will surely include a fire spin with the Cebu crowd. I can’t wait!
How could we reject Matt and Grace's spontaneous invitation to spend the weekend at the family's beach house in Ginatilan? Saturday morning we stuffed the car with good food, beach outfits, toys for Saana, and were on our way!
Ginatilan is a cute little town in the most southern tip on the west coast of Cebu island. After his retirement, Grace's father returned to Ginitilan, a place dear to him, to build a beach house for the family to enjoy.
135km from Cebu City, we traversed the mountain range of Cebu, stopped for a "carabao milk" mango icecream to stretch our legs and sat on the beach mere four hours later!
The tranquility of the place was contagious! Used to the buzz of the city and the daily routine of office work we let go of all of this and just relaxed! We played with Saana on the beach and immersed ourselves in the beauty of discovering the world with the eyes of a tow-year old: a shell, a leave, an odd-shaped pebble, a hermit crab trying to outsmart us and hide, small black ants exploring our arms and legs...
In between we enjoyed Matthias' self-made German bread with cheese and grapes, Grace's stunning salad, and fresh coconuts which Glenn "plugged" for us climbing a 20 meter high coconut tree. Quick like a monkey he conquered the top of the palm tree, earning the respect of all the bystanders! Grace admitted they never eat the coconuts because they don't know how to get them down. They would sometimes pay a boy from the neighborhood to climb up there to harvest.
At night we went to the town center which impressed me with the tallest Acacia tree I've ever seen and a 200 year-old well-maintained church! People enjoyed themselves sitting in groups chatting, kids were playing at the promenade which the setting sun tinged in the most bizarre colors.
After dinner we talked about Grace and her family, her childhood and upbringing. The many framed family pictures all over the house gave us a unique glimpse into her life. What a treasure!
Thank you again, Matt and Grace, for inviting us to spent the weekend with you and Saana!
When was the last time you spent a nice and relaxed weekend with friends? I suggest you plan it out!
When I hear about beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines I'm... let's say... rather skeptical...
