Tara na sa Palo Alto Falls, Baras Rizal

Summer is start this month of March. Naisipan namin ng mga humbler friends ko gumawa ng hakbang para kulayan ang mga lakad na drawing palage. Naniniwala kami na kapag may biglaang yayaan kadalasan mas nagiging masaya ang lakad.

Me and my Pakner in Crime Ms. Camee Tancinco ay nag isip at biglaang nagkayayaan sabi ko trip lang mag DIY “Do It Yourself” na travel. She said mukang OK yan go tayo Pakner, Sabi ko sama natin si Shey Coderis para masaya. Since sahod ko at that time sabi ko tara ambagan na lang tayo for food. And sa pamasahe kanya kanya. Sabi ko since tayo naman magkasama sa FoodTrippers baguhin natin ang name from FoodTrippers gawin nating DabPackers. Bakit DabPackers, kasi uso ngayon yung Dub Shot tapos i combine natin sa Backpackers kasi mag travel tayo.

Kaya nabuo ang grupo namin bilang “DABPACKERS” binubuo nina Hacky Natividad, Camee Tancinco, Shey Coderis at ng neophyte namin na si Michael Oh aka ARN ARN.

Our First Stop will be the Palo Alto Falls in Baras Rizal; here’s the few background on the place.

Who would have thought that the low profile town of Baras is home to one of Rizal Province’s best kept secrets? Only an hour away from Metropolitan Manila is Palo Alto Falls, one of the numerous waterfalls that dot the province of Rizal. Situated inside the 200-hectare Palo Alto Leisure and Residential Estates in Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Palo Alto Falls is one of, if not, the lesser known waterfalls in the Province of Rizal. In fact, it was off limits to public for quite some time due to development of the area, making it a secret destination for most. But late last year, the private developer opened the site to public and the news of its opening quickly spread like a bushfire to waterfalls chaser and nature lovers. Now, it is fast becoming a hotspot. Palo Alto Falls lies at the foot of Sierra Madre Mountain Range, with the cold water cascading from the height of 60 feet into a wide concreted pool and all the way to a rocky stream that drains to Laguna Lake. Although the road to Palo Alto Leisure and Residential Estates and to the waterfall’s compound is in excellent condition, reaching the waterfalls itself isn’t a walk in the park as it involves a 30-meter trek on an established trail beside the stream which includes 249 stone steps. It is relatively an easy feat with its well paved trail and handrails, a short five to ten minutes trek that guarantees a worthy scenery.

March 05, 2017.., Natuloy din makulayan ang aming sketch na plano namin. a day before kinumpleto namin ang mga baon namin. Around 7’o clock am lumarga na kaming tatlo from Tayuman, Manila. Sumakay kami ng jeep going to Recto, Manila for only P8.00 only. After that we ride a LRT Line 2 going to Santolan Station for only P25,00/each. Since we are going to Palo Alto, Baras. We ride a jeep bound to Cogeo, Antipolo also dun kasi namin i meet si Shey Coderis, because she bring a yummy Chicken Adobo. The jeep going to Cogeo is for only P17,00 only, after we wait in Jolibee Cogeo, also nag buy kami ng breakfast. Until Shey is arrived. Nag drop-bye muna kami sa Cogeo Market to buy Tilapia and Uling for our food. After that we ride a jeep at the Cogeo Market bound to Palo Alto for only P35,00 each.

Since DIY travel ito my two friends first time nila ginawa ito kaya nakaranas sila ng konting adjustment sa mga patok na Jeep. After one hour of travel finally were here at the entrance of Palo Alto Village. Siyempre will do some pictorials and also our Signature Dub Shot.

After the pictorials we decide to ride a Tricycle instead of long walking. The tricycle is cost of P15,00/each to go in the entrance of the falls. The travel from the village entrance is almost 7 minutes only. Finally sabi ko andito na kami.

Since it’s Sunday expect mo talaga ang dagsa ng tao lalo na first weekend pa ito ng March. Summer feels na ang lahat. At that time magbabayad na kami ng entrance when the attendant said, “Sir and Ma’am entrance na lang po ang babayaran niyo kasi occupied na ang lahat ng cottage” Shey, said WOW naka mura pa tayo. And after that the trekking start now.

The 249 step is start now and i will amazed kasi most of the area habang tinatahak namin ang pathway going to the falls is totally amazed.

Actually hindi namin matapos tapos ang trekking kasi bawat daanan namin ang ganda ng ambiance. Ma appreciate mo siya lalo na stressful ka dahil sa araw-araw na trabaho.

When the 249 step reached by our team. Eto nakita na namin siya kaso madami lang talaga tao at that time.

Since all the cottages are totally occupied, naghanap kami ng area na kung saan pede kami pumuwesto. Pumuwest kami sa may gawing ibaba ng mga cottages sa tabi ng Batis. Also my friend Camee ay sinakprisyo ang kanyang beach mat. Dahil DIY nga will do some sacrifice for the sake of happiness ng trip.

After the grilling of Tilapia were already set to fulfill our tummies. Since it’s DIY we do a boodle fight eating system our food is; Rice, Daing na Galunggong, Salted Egg w/ Tomato, Tuyo, Inihaw na Tilapia, Yummy Chicken Adobo courtesy of Shey, Indian Manggo w/ Bagoong, also we have a snack food Puto and Bread w/ Sandwich Spread our Beverages is Soda and Water. Since the alcoholic drink is not allowed in the park. But suddenly disappointing for some trippers, Because most of them bring the alcoholic drink at park.

Nang matapos ang kainan, ibig sabihin swimming time na. The Palo Alto Falls is developed by the Sta. Lucia Development. Yung pool along the falls is 5ft. deep, pero yung water is flowing tska medyo malabo yung water kasi nagalaw yung lupa sa ilalim dahil crowded nga. But before that as usual pictorial ulit.

Nang lumusong kami sa tubig, nasabi ko WOW ang lamig. Sinubukan namin ma reach yung falls and naging happy kami kasi di siya malalim para sa height namin. Napakasarap mag stay dun sa falls kasi para kang minamasahe ng tubig. At sobrang lamig ng tubig actually two side falls dapat yan kaso summer nga eh. Siyempre di namin palalagpasin ang Signature Shot ulit namin.

Almost past 2’0 clock pm we decide to take a shower. Shey and Camz is the first batch to take a shower and after that Me and Arn will take the shower. Most of the shower area is fully occupied so we patiently wait for our turn. Pero suddenly nakatawag ng pansin ko ang nagbabadyang banta sa lugar na ito yung pagiging abusado ng ilang trippers sa park na ito. That place is really need the proper drainage system kasi yung water from the shower room is dumiderecho sa batis paibaba. I hope the developer will do some action for this concerned. After namin matapos maligo, It’s time to depart from Palo Alto Place. Around 3:30pm umalis na kami sa Palo Alto. We ride again the tricycle but this time i asked the driver to take our team at the terminal of jeep going to Cogeo. The tricycle fare is P25.00/each because the terminal is too far from the falls. After we reached the terminal as usual hintay ulit kami mapuno yung jeep. But this is always have a first time the terminal of jeep is too relaxing grabe nakaka bingi yung katahimikan w/ matching huni ng mga ibon. Camee and Shey appreciate that place because is too relaxing. Also siyempre natawa kami sa mga Cow na nakahabambalang sa kalsada. kasi yung dadaan na SUV beastmode na kasi hindi niya mapatabi yung mga Cow na nasa kalsada. Siyempre while waiting for other passenger nag soundtrip ako ng OPM music yung w/ a twist of nobelty songs especially the Eraserheads song’s and Parokya ni Edgar. The other passenger is also like the songs. And finally napuno na rin ang jeep. The fare is P30.00 going to Cogeo. And around 5:30pm we arrive on our home with a smile and achieving our first DIY Trip.

Recommendation:

For Management of Palo Alto Falls;

• Proper Drainage System for the Shower Room.

• Additional Staff to facilitate the area to avoid the violators in the Park.

For the Trippers:

• Please follow the rules and regulation of the Park.

• If your’e the motorcycle rider this place will be highly recommended for your team.

• Please visit this area during weekdays to avoid the crowd area.

Budget of Our Team:

P500.00 - Food

P400.00 - Entrance Fee for 4 pax

For Transportation; based on each pax

P8.00 - Jeep from Tayuman to Recto, Manila

P25.00 - LRT from Recto to Santolan Station

P17.00 - Jeep from Santolan to Cogeo

P35.00 - Jeep from Cogeo to Palo Alto (ride a jeep bound to Sampaloc Tanay at the Market)

P15.00 - Tricycle from the Village Entrance to the Park Entrance.

P25.00 - Tricycle from Park Entrance to Terminal

P30.00 - Jeep from Terminal to Cogeo (ride a jeep bound to Pinugay-Marikina)

P17.00 - Jeep from Cogeo to Santolan

P25.00 - LRT from Santolan to Recto Station

P8.00 - Jeep from Recto to Tayuman, Manila

P205.00 Total Transportation for each pax.

Total Budget: P430.00 for each pax on DIY Tour, reserved extra money because we can’t count the cottage.

See you on NEXT TRIP.......