Return to the Falls

One of the very first set of pictures I posted on the first version of Batangbaler was a trip to Ditumabo Falls on May 2001. It was not my first visit but going there was such an experience that everytime seems to be the first. The last such trip for me was on 2002. I don't know what the government officials in San Luis were thinking but instead of developing the place into what could probably be the best tourist destination in Aurora, they decided to turn it into an electric generator. They're currently doing their thing there now and it looks ugly. The waterfall is still there, as majestic as before but the thrill of the journey is lost forever.

See the old pictures. Then see these. Then Compare.



One of the metal pipes that will be used for the Ditumabo Hydroelectric Power Plant was washed out and crushed like a tin can during the December typhoons.



The small dam two kilometers from the waterfall.



To the right of the dam (shown above) is this building that will house the turbines and generators of the power plant.



Pipes as wide as drums snake through the trail.



The Baby Falls, or what's left of it.



If you ignore the constructions, there are still beautiful sights to behold.



This one you can't ignore.



This used to be the old log located near the "Mother Falls".



Warning signs, littering not allowed but bulldozing okay.



The pipes goes here.



Some remaining swimming spots.



The shower falls, a sign that the big one is just around the corner.



The newly constructed dam.



What a beauty.



The dam turned what was once a slippery and rocky obstacle to the the falls into a clear and sparkling pool for swimming.



Ahh.. still there, what's the problem?



And that big round boulder is still there. No problemo.



Just to give you the scale of the thing.



This thing is actually discouraged by the tourist guides.



And look, now there's a beach.



Quick, click this picture to get the wallpaper.



The big picture.



Ok. Thank you! Come again!

Ditumabo Falls Redux

Wait 'til i post more pictures.

Katmun and Korombot

This is the "Katmun".



And this is the "korombot". (photo by: Olin)

Cloudy

Don't know if I posted this pix before.

Labut reunion, USA

Gonzales reunion at the backyard of Ka Berning in Somerset, New Jersey.
In the front sitting, from left to right: Rey Sindac, son of Leonor at Goyo
Sindac (deceased), Benting Gonzales, Polding Gonzales. Standing left to
right: Jessie Querijero, Ka Sang-ong, Gilbert Rubio, Raul Querijero,
Ernesto Querijero, John Arcilla with sunglass during his visit to New
Jersey, Poppo Olag, Leo Bitong on Poppo's back, Tano husband of Linda, Ka Polding's sister, and Tani, husband of Ka Levi's daughter.

Rare Kidlat Picture

My DJ career harks back to when i'm still 4 or 5 years old. Check out the turntables!

Walking Stick

Spotted some kids playing on this huge walking stick at the dam going to Ditumabo Falls last Saturday. We didn't go all the way to the Falls (i think it's now called Hydro Falls), i'm not ready to see the change yet but a big building near the dam and some huge metal pipes provided some sneak preview.

Brgy. Sabang Will be Concreted

When finished this will be the biggest government project in Aurora, a whole Barangay will be concreted. And with a budget of only 500,000 pesos this is really a bargain. Spotted on one of the ever present government project signs at Labasin in Baler. I highlighted a part for clarity.

Sitsarong Kibit

Sitsarong kibit is my favorite local snack and pulutan. It comes in bite-size pieces and more delicious and healthy than the regular sitsarong baboy. I predict that its popularity with the locals as well as tourists will cause the extinction of Kibit in the area. The kibit supply in the Baler area are now in short supply and most of the mollusks are now exported from the northern towns of Casiguran, Dinalungan and Dilasag.



Kibit is the local term for the chiton, a saltwater mollusk. Here's more detail from the Marine Discovery Center website of the Woodbridge District High School of Australia: "Chitons are found very commonly on the local foreshore. These are a type of sea snail with eight parts to the shell, hence often called Eight Part Shells. They look a bit like a slater, with the muscular foot underneath tightly gripping the rocks. This makes picking them up VERY difficult. Chitons use a radula (which is stronger than your average kitchen knife) to scrape encrusting plants and animals off the rocks."

The chiton picture and description can be found here.

Food Trip

Food trip muna tayo!



Inihaw na tulingan. Picnic favorite when there's no bangkulis available.



Papaitan. Internal organs of cow or goat stewed in bile with lots of green pepper and kidya.

A Thank You Note

I would like to send my one million thank yous to the Aurora Association USA for donating a digital camera to Batangbaler. Special mention to Mrs. Gloria Guerrero-Ramos the association president and to Poppo Olag. This is the camera, a 7.1 megapixel Canon G6.

Fund Drive Update

Batangbaler is nearing it's deadline. just want to update you on the BB Fund Drive 2005. So far i have already received donations enough for the regular hosting and domain fees. I'm still below the target expenses of the website but i can say that BB will survive this year.

Thanks to the following for their donations: Dr. Emilio Ruidera (USA), Mr. Ezer De Guzman (USA), Ms. Vangie Daton (Iraq). Thanks also to those who have pledged their help.

Big thanks to everyone!

Almost Famous

Poppo Olag with Manolo (Manuel L. Quezon III) in front of Poppo's Maryland house. Picture taken two weeks ago.



The closeup shot. MLQ3 keeps a blog at www.quezon.ph. Poppo Olag has a website of Aurora stories called Olag Stories.

Adventure Race Redux

The Island Paradise Adventure Race in Aurora last May 7 and 8 was really a multi-event 2-day affair. Being the lazy person that i am, I only watched the Labasin beach gig and only during the day. I did not bother going to San Luis to watch the participants while doing their "suksuk" challenge or to Digisit to see them race through Lukso Lukso. I opted to watch TV instead of watching the evening party and awarding night and i did not bother waking up early the next day to catch the genuine Igorots sending the participants off to their next destination. Fortunately, some people were more vigilant than myself. So here's the other parts of the action, provided by the good people of the Provincial Tourism Office. Pictures taken by Ferdie Delos Reyes with their spanking new Nikon D70.



San Luis Mayor Mariano Tangson guiding the participants through the delicate craft of sabutan weaving and how to do the "suksuk".



The award winning golden ladies of ASCOT await the racers at the finish line.



The racers enjoying their dinner at the beach while being serenaded by Baler Central School's Pangkat Kawayan - the real "bamboo the band".



Receiving a giveaway from Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, the wonderfully packaged lambanog called Casiguran, aka pure virgin coconut wine.



Early morning briefing - "O! wag masyadong damihan ang baong buko ha, bibigat ang sasakyan!"



A genuine Igorot tribe sending off the racers to their next pitstop. I wonder if they're doing the Dayang-Dayang.



The Payatots hauling their salbabidas.



The digisit race - how to conquer a mountain in five minutes.

Sining Silangan

I'm still reeling from the 7-day workshop called Sining Silangan held last week. It's an artfest/workshop organized by Jeho Bitancor with the help of Gov. Bella Angara-Castillo. It aims to find another Jeho Bitancor. It went well aside from the rain that ruined the closing party in front of Museo De Baler. The works of the participants are still on exhibit at the Museo. And while i'm still sorting through the hundreds of pictures taken by Olin and partner Mos, here are some teasers.



The kids of Category 1 (15 years old and below) trying their hands on pastel painting on felt.



A lesson in still life.



Landscape painting at Tibag.



Multi-awarded artist Noel Pama demonstrating how to do clay sculpture.



The older ones busy with their mural piece.



Performance artist Yuan Mor'O Ocampo leads the kids in an 30 minute epic of a performance art during the closing ceremonies of the artfest. First in Aurora.



Viewing the works at Museo De Baler.

***
All photos by Olin Duaso and Mos Moselina

Pasirit Moment

Here's a pasirit moment for you: Baler boy Joel Faraon testing the waves of Catanduanes. Picture taken by Olin Duaso.