Minalungao National Park, An Ecotourism Marvel in Nueva Ecija

July 2, 2016…a Saturday. And our wandering feet strikes again. We embarked on a day trip to satisfy our wanderlust. We left our house with just a light breakfast, our swimwear, and a few clothes…nothing else. Oh, and the tent that never left the trunk of our car, ready to be pitched anytime, anywhere.

The previous night, Jonjie and I talked about a possible place to explore. But for those of you who are familiar with our road trips, our destination is never final until we reached the place.

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Sitio La Presa of Forevermore

Sitio La Presa is the fictional site of the famous television series, Forevermore. In reality, it is called Sitio Pungayan located at Mount Santo Tomas in the town of Tuba, province of Benguet.

Last June 13, 2015, after our visit to Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, and our dilly-dallying whether we go to the beach in Lingayen or up the mountain in Baguio, we finally decided to follow the road to La Presa.

And as always the case in most of our road trips…we do not have accommodation. So while on the road, I tried to search the net with the help of Mr. Google, no less, and easily pointed me to Cafe in the Sky. When I call the cell phone number indicated, the person on the other line gave me a direct number to the place. Luckily, there is an available room, good for 2 persons, but can accommodate a child and another adult.

When we reached the end of Marcos Highway, known also as Aspiras-Palispis Highway, we turned right (opposite Petron Station) and follow the winding road going up, up and up to Sitio Pungayan.

We reached the top...almost the top of Mt. Kabuyao...and checked-in at Café in the Sky.

The view from the window of our room...with the sea of cloud...and Baguio City down below

The caretaker, Ate Vangie, mentioned that La Presa is just a walking distance. And so after, we settled in our room, Jonjie and I decided to hike. Daniz wanted to stay in the room and Mommy Lydia cannot go, even if we wanted to, because of the long walk and steep uphill and downhill.

Sights of our afternoon walk to Sitio La Presa

Sitio La Presa is located several meters after the radars.

Looking down in the middle is a house. Or is it a kamalig (barn) for storing the harvest. The picture below is a hoist...like a zip line...for transporting items from and to the kamalig. The post is located near the side of the road.

Mang Bogs and Agnes house is the one behind. Entrance to the house is P20 per head.

The House of Mang Bogs (Joey Marquez) and Agnes Calay (Liza Soberano)

There is no problem with our camera…it’s the fog…the house is engulfed in fog.

The famous Sitio La Presa sign...with the bench where Agnes and Xander usually had a conversation.  Left below is the main door of the house and on the right is the back of the house.

Right after we left the Calay’s house, the rain started to fall. Light at first that we were able to walk a few meters more. Then, it became a downpour that we need to stop for shelter in one of the stores that lined up the street. There’s no sign that the heavy rainfall will stop…and we have no way to know the time,my cell phone is dead.

The rain was the least of our worry…the most was…the last call for dinner at the Cafe is 7:30pm…the only place nearby that will serve us dinner.

We look at each other and we knew what to do. With the “Agnes’ hat” that we bought earlier, red for Jonjie and blue for me, we decided to brave the rain.  A good decision because we reached the Cafe just a few minutes before the last call for order.

The black plastic that served as our raincoat is from the two ladies who were able to ride a jeepney...that fetched some of the store owners.

Early Morning in La Presa

We woke up early. The sun is clear…and we have more time before breakfast will be served. So we decided to go back and re-visit La Presa. This time, Daniz join us.

We left the Cafe just after 6:00am. But not like our afternoon walk, this time we rode our car until the area allocated for parking. Then we follow the road to the famous La Presa…taking our time…enjoying each other and the scenery.

One of the many Sitio La Presa sign that lined-up the streets...for picture-taking, with a fee

The Plantation

After about 10 to 15 minutes walk, we reached Agnes Calay’s house. The house is already open but the gate is not…there’s an on-going photo session, for prenup or something. Not to wste the time, we went to the plantation just behind the house.Unfortunately, there are no strawberries in sight (not yet in season)…but an abundance of cabbage…terraces of cabbage.

Love her smile!!!

Spot of bright colors amidst the green mountains and blue skies

The View

The Calay's House

My Selfies

Footnotes: From the web...

• Mount Kabuyao and Mount Santo is formerly known as the Twin Peaks of Cordillera. Mount Santo Tomas has the highest point between the two.
• Cafe in the Sky and the radars are located in Mount Kabuyao.
• Sitio Pungayan / Sitio La Presa is part of Mount Santo Tomas

You may also read

• Road Trip to Manaoag and La Presa of Forevermore
• Cafe in the Sky: The Breathtaking View

Please wait for my next posts:

• About Cafe in the Sky...a bit of history and the available accommodation

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Cafe in the Sky: The Breathtaking View

Last June 13, 2015, we traveled the road traveled by many before us. All we want is to go to Sitio La Presa and visit the location of the famous TV series, Forevermore. To take pictures of the Calay’s house…the bench…of Bonita the pig, Justin Bibe the duck, the chickens…and the plantation where the strawberries were planted and where the “kambal na strawberry” was found. 

In looking for a place near the area to stay for the night…we found so much more. We found a place to relax…to just let the time pass us by…a place aptly called “Cafe in the Sky”.

A gem of A place that almost touch the sky

Where clouds seemed like an arm length away

Foggy Afternoon.

This is what welcomed us in the parking area of the Cafe…the fog slowly creeping up. But it did not diminish the beauty of the place. Instead, it gave a hint of mystery…of what awaits us the next day.

Looking closely on the fist picture…I was surprised…as in truly surprised...to discover a rainbow beyond the fog and the clouds. I did not know that there's a rainbow when I took the picture.

All the four pictures are taken using my iPhone4S.

Look closely and look for the rainbow...

It's cloud and fog...where one ends and the other begins???

Night View of Baguio City from the Balcony of the Cafe.

There were no stars on the night sky but down below were the twinkling lights of Baguio City. The pictures did not do justice to what our eyes saw. Next time we visit, we will do better to capture the night scene…better than these.

The Dawn.

Wikipedia define dawn as the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon.

I set the alarm at 4:30am…and forced myself to get out of bed when all I really wanted was to snuggle. Because I knew that early morning…before the sun rises...the view would be spectacular…and it was.

The long and winding road...

It's not Mickey Mouse...its the Radar...on the peak of Mount Kabuyao

Baguio City bathe in the golden rays of the dawn

The Cafe in the Sky...Jonjie, the Photographer...and Alphie, the old but new Travel Buddy

The Sunrise in All its Splendor.

Magnificent…breathtaking…awesome. The start of a new day. It’s God making His presence known to mankind…spreading the warmth of His eternal love for us.

I love this picture

   

The Photographer
Taken by an iPhone4S


Some of my favorite photos taken by “The Photographer”

The Golden Grass

The Well

Baguio City...up close.

The Lonely Tree

Footnotes:

• After dinner, last call is 7:30pm and before they served breakfast at around 8:30am...we practically have the entire place to ourselves. Alphie is the only car in the parking space.
• Cafe in the Sky is a restaurant and bed and breakfast...the only one in the area.

Please wait for my next posts:

• About Cafe in the Sky...a bit of history and the available accommodation

You may also read

• Road Trip to Manaoag and La Presa of Forevermore
• Sitio La Presa of Forevermore

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