Counterflow

By Julius R. Paner

As year 2021 approaches there is only one thing I considered certain and that is UNCERTAINTY. Yes, the strain brought by the hostile 2020 will be carried over, which to me could underscore so much questions rather than answers as the New Year unfolds.

Just like you, I yearn for a better 2021. To be able to go back to what we all have been used to in the pre-pandemic glory days. To travel without reservations to places we long to visit and finally check some important pieces in the bucket. To be with anybody else in the planet without the fear of acquiring the virus they referred to as lethal. To be psychologically stable without thinking too much about government policies and guidelines which stigmatized the society.

Just like some of you, I prayed hard that government regulations should favor economic repositioning to gain back the momentum we enjoyed before COVID-19 came into our minds. I am not sure though, if all of us have fully realized that this epidemic appears more in human being’s brain instead of them saying it paralyzes the respiratory system. Just like most of us, I prayed hard that a more comprehensive adaptation mechanism, rather than, as they said, prevention will be employed within all of us.

But for now that we have embraced the COVID-19 existence and that we have shown average tolerance to live life in the bubble, I will be seeking indulgence to live the exact opposite to whom it may concern. When all else wanted to reap good things while spreading hatred and culture of vindication I would rather go to the mountains and look for birds and other wildlife. When all else found splendor over fake news in facebook and twitter I would rather spend time cuddling beautiful memories in the outdoors where face mask is not required and social distancing is as free as the air we breathe. When all else are busy counting COVID-19 positive cases and wrecking their minds of numbers I would rather take my six-string and strum my thoughts out in a personal playlist I have been listening since childhood days. When all else are disinfecting themselves to get rid of the virus I would rather have inner cleansing and be with people I consider friends, I don’t care if they are tagged positive. When all else are praying for the pandemic to be over so that no more cremation of their dead love ones I would rather pray to God to give me strength to accept death as an inevitable phenomenon.

Just like you, I would like to believe that what is happening in the world today is all more of a paradox and there is no amount of community quarantines and lockdowns can settle it. It goes without saying that the best remedy is to deactivate our social media accounts, entertain only good news from your neighbors and pray, just pray. And if you are not inclined of this humble interpretation from this lowly citizen, you can always block or unfollow me in all my social media accounts.

But for as long as you consider me your friend and believe me in the platforms I stood for you can always join me in taking the less-traveled road. For as long as you thought all these things happening are meant for the majority to go with the flow you can always join me in the counter flow.

Mt. Dinor Traverse Day Hike, Sinoron Sta. Cruz (1,274 MASL)

The Barangay Council of Sinoron and Tribal Community recently invited my group to explore one of its proposed trekking sites located in sitio Sangay. I was informed during the climb that they are few steps away from finally crafting its mountaineering and trekking ordinance which should pave way for the official take off of its ecotourism program in Pilan River, Bagon Spring, Gisi Falls, Kasisi Falls, Dumagok Falls, Sampo Falls and Tacub Laya Falls. If I have this correct vibration I think Sinoron will become the next adventure destination not only in Davao del Sur but the whole region as well.

  

Finally we have scaled a summit here taller than the famous Mt. Loay in Zone 2. The official elevation is 1,274 MASL and the total trekking distance from Barangay Hall to the Summit Campsite is 9 kilometers. The Bagobo-Tagabawa is the dominant community occupying the entire track made up of farm lands and tropical rainforest. From the difficulty scale employed by Philippine Mountaineering this mountain is within the 5-6/9 category.

Mt. Dinor is the exact opposite of Mt. Loay in terms of overall features. Mt. Dinor is the first of three dominant mountains located in central ranges of Sta. Cruz. The other two are Mt. Tinako and Mt. Baryara. A 45-degree turn southward from Mt. Baryara is Mt. Loay, making these sites a good trekking loop in the municipality. Imagine that, four beautiful summits in one town interconnected to each other is a tremendous mountaineering corridpr in Mindanao. Lovely 

Unlike Loay which is a bald heap, the summit in Mt. Dinor is situated in an old dipterocarp forest within the Mt. Apo Natural Park. The word “Dinor” is a Bagobo term for Almaciga, an endemic tree species in the Philippines and plenty of them can be seen in this mountain. The last 400 meters of the trail is a bed sheet of beautiful mossy plants and wild flowers. Tracks of Philippine Deer and Philippine Warty Pig were also seen in the summit. And some birds of assorted species were observed, including several raptors Philippine Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite and Philippine Serpent Eagle.  

 

The summit campsite measures 1,274 meters above sea level. I recommend this will be utilized as official campsite for trekkers once Mt. Dinor is ready to cater mountain climbers in the future. Although there is no water source in the campsite but the last water source is just 700 meters away, particularly in the farm house of Nong Dondon Cana. The smaller trees can serve as hammock anchors for visiting day hikers and trail runners. For overnight campers, a trek further 200 meters from the campsite could lead to a ridge that connects Mt. Dinor to Mt. Tinako.

After a good lunch at the summit campsite, we trekked in a different trail downward. We used a hunter’s trail off to sitio Kapula-pulahan, another mountainous site in Sinoron. Once established, this is a much exciting traverse trail. But again, this has to be established because if you are not familiar in the area this trail could lead you to other hostile sites in Sta. Cruz Mountains or worse, you might get lost.  In the meantime the most friendly and suitable trail for ecotourism is the one from Barangay Hall to the summit and back.

There are important stopovers along the trail of Mt. Dinor that serves as rest areas, all have potable water sources. Most of them are farm houses as temporary shelter and in their own can become attractions already.

Pilan Hanging Bridge (Kilometer 3.5)

Armando Bago Farm House in Lumaban (Kilometer 4.2)

Jimmy’s Farm House in Sangay (Kilometer 6.9 (770 masl)

Dondon’s Farm House (Kilometer 7.8 @ 1,005 masl)

Summit Campsite (Kilometer 9 @ 1,274 masl)

Overlooking sceneries in Sta. Cruz can be seen on clear day in these areas. This climb was an affirmation that Sinoron is one of the biggest mountainous barangay in Sta. Cruz. From Dondon’s Farm House where we took a boiled banana break I saw forest edges of Zone 2 in the eastern side and the huge cover in sitio Saroso, Licop, Karamagan and Pilan.

The total trek distance of that traverse day hike is 22 kilometers. We arrived at Pilan Hanging Bridge by 4:00 PM and we instantly took a dip in the river to cool down. Thank you so much to my group LOGSAC for always taking time to join me in expeditions like this.

As a new site for trekking, inquiries can be addressed to the Barangay Council and Tribal Council of Sinoron. The cellphone number of IPMR Datu Wilmar Obedencio is 09121613218. 

Maco, Davao Region’s Ultimate Destination for Volcano Tourism

On October 28 I was invited by the Local Government Unit of Maco, Davao de Oro and Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM) for a talk which aimed at sharing best practices of Sta. Cruz to the stakeholders of Lake Leonard in Maco, Davao de Oro. My subject matter was all about Community-based Ecotourism (CBET) which clearly defines where the direction of Maco Tourism is set. It was the first time I visited the laid back but mining-infested locality situated in the province of Davao de Oro.

I appreciated the management scheme of the tourism in Lake Leonard and thought of it as one of the better CBET attractions in Davao Region. This site should be marketed more so that people would be able to experience, understand and appreciate the real tourism value.

Lake Leonard is for me one of the biggest highland lakes in region XI and it is but fitting to consider it for CBET being located within an Ancestral Domain of the Mansaka Tribe. There is always a touch of heritage here, natural and cultural, that should be recognized by everybody especially local authorities for its appropriate conservation and one key answer to that is ecotourism. The people of Maco for sure have realized how mining was injurious to biodiversity and I hope they realized the need not to welcome any mining-related ideas in the future. Again, the only way to conserve heritage in Maco is ecotourism.

Meanwhile, Lake Leonard serves as jump off site for a trek up Amakan Crater. Having extra time in the morning before my turn for a lecture I trekked the crater despite occasional downpour the whole day. I have heard good stories about this minor hiking attraction particularly its volcanic feature as its ultimate selling point. Amakan Crater is an 8-hectare site that hosts a boiling cauldron of greenish-yellow murk, surrounded by mountain walls. The sulfur content of the lake makes it an acidic water body that should only be seen and photographed. Other activities like bathing can be tried in Arabaton Waterfalls located 30 minutes from the crater.

The trek lasted for more than three hours back and forth and from the trails I witnessed damages brought by logging and mining in the past. Few farmlands still exist but the most vegetation available are sets of invasive plants. Some rivers and creeks are contaminated with mining chemicals.  Somehow there are good birds roaming around. In fact I spotted Coletos, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, the endemic Mindanao Hornbill and Everett’s White-Eyes. On the way down I’ve been thinking how in the heck government authorities could restore the lost glory of its biodiversity. I don’t know. I’m not sure.

The only thing good I saw here is ecotourism. Maco is for me should be positioned for volcano tourism in the region. The Camiguin experience is a hit here for sure. I also remember beautiful volcano attractions in Java, Indonesia where highlights are its volcanic icons such as Mt. Bromo, Mt. Semeru and the famous Ijen Crater Lake, encouraging more people from practically everywhere in the world to visit. Maco is a big thing in terms of showcasing remnants of dormant and extinct geologic heritage. It is high time now that Davaoeños in particular and Mindanaon in general should escalate volcano tourism and I see no other sites as appropriate except Maco, Davao de Oro.  

P.S. My trip in Maco would not have been made possible without the invitation of its Tourism Officer Mam Marestan Villacarlos and MFSM Event Organizer Dan Bacus. I seldom let go of an invitation like this as I was committed to always help the tourism sector in Davao Region in whatever ways I could. Thanks for joining this trip Meggy and Jacko.

San Miguel Beer brings Octoberfest Party to your Homes

The country’s largest producer of beer, San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB), comes up with an exciting and fun way to reach out despite the social limitations. On October 17 & 31, 2020, San Miguel Beer brings the Oktoberfest party to your homes through its first-ever San Miguel Oktoberfest Beer and Music Virtual Festival.

With digital events becoming the new norm, SMB one ups the typical by offering its viewers a new and immersive virtual experience. The two-day festival, co-presented by Stream and in cooperation with Set & Stage and Network Rentals, offers plenty to the varying and evolving entertainment preferences of its target market through its multi-stage setup. Audiences can choose to rock out loud at the Band Stage, move to the beat at the Dance Stage, or hangout with the stars at the Backstage via Zoom.

Catch your favorite bands, artists, and celebrities live online including The Dawn, Razorback ft. Kevin Roy, Mayonnaise, Kylie Versoza, Alyssa Muhlach, and PBA star June Mar Fajardo. With more stages and performers, more people can join and engage in SMB’s first virtual festival. The best part of this is it’s all for free! The biggest beer event this year is just a few clicks away. Simply visit the Facebook pages of San Miguel Oktoberfest and your beloved San Miguel Beer brands - San Miguel Pale Pilsen, San Mig Light, Red Horse Beer and San Miguel Flavored Beer to catch the live event and take part in this once in a lifetime beer and music virtual festival. To complete the festival experience, SMB offers official merchandise for the San Miguel Oktoberfest Beer and Music Virtual Festival. 

Order the San Miguel Oktoberfest pack includes one (1) six-pack of any favorite SMB brands, and a limited Oktoberfest merchandise. Promo is available through SMB Delivers, and boozy.com (all brands), and The Mall (San Miguel Pale Pilsen, San Mig Light, San Miguel Flavored Beer, Red Horse Beer). Check out these e-commerce platforms, and order to make the most out of the festival. After all, Oktoberfest is best enjoyed with San Miguel Beer.

Don’t miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest! Grab a beer and enjoy a night of good booze and good music with family and friends.

Saan ka man sa Pilipinas o saan mang panig ng mundo, dito tayo magkikita-kita online sa Oktoberfest Beer and Music Virtual Festival!’

Top Day Hiking Sites in Sta. Cruz

In terms of Day Hiking in Region XI the first thing that comes to mind for trekkers and mountaineers is Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. The mountain ranges here offer variety of trails suitable for day treks and trail runs that lead to beautiful summits, waterfalls, rivers, cave and forests. Of course, the presence of Sibulan Trail to Mount Apo speaks about how gigantic Sta. Cruz could become in terms of hiking and mountaineering. As a banner site of ecotourism in the region, Mt. Apo always live up to the expectation as grandfather of Philippine mountains and remains a top hiking bucket list in the country.

With the notable increase of day hiking market due to COVID-19 pandemic I list down several sites in Sta. Cruz that are considered day hiking destinations. For some seasoned trail runners the Sibulan Trail to Mt. Apo can be a day hike option but for a generic audience the following are good day hiking sites.

TOMARI WATERFALLS. This waterfalls geographically intermediates the municipality of Sta. Cruz and Toril District in Davao City. It is accessible though via Inawayan and Baracatan road but the nearest route is via an open dirt road of barangay Darong. It is approximately 20 kilometers from the national highway. The tall drop of around 50 meters of the waterfalls compliments well with its cool 50-meter diameter pool. A short river trekking which starts from HEDCOR Desander site serves as jump off to Tomari Waterfalls.

MOUNT LOAY. Mount Loay is the baby version of Mt. Apo which was discovered in 2018 and instantly became a trekking craze not just in Davao del Sur but in the entire Davao Region.  At 1,040 masl this dry mountain within the ranges of barangay Zone II is a favorite training ground for adventure junkies before a strenuous climb in Mt. Apo. A 5-kilometer moderate to extremely steep track has become a popular spot for millennials as well. The jump off point of Mt. Loay is just along the national highway, making it one of the most accessible trekking trails in Mindanao.

SALIDUCON CAVE. Saliducon Cave is more known as a caving attraction in Sta. Cruz but a short hike going to its entrance point adds more friendly strain to this unique adventure experience. A farm and community trail accounts for more or less 2 kilometers can be a good warm up before heading through the underground wealth of Saliducon Cave.  Habal-habals traveling to Saliducon are stationed in Sta. Cruz Public Market. Travel time is around 30 minutes of paved barangay road.

SINORON. From a rebel-infested locality in the 80s and early 90s Sinoron is now slowly becoming the next big thing for Sta. Cruz basically because of the presence of Pilan River, the one I referred as the cleanest river system in Davao del Sur.  The common point for average hikers is Pilan Hanging Bridge, 3.5 kilometers from Sinoron Barangay Hall. This point has plenty of open pools ideal for bathing and picnic trips. Lately a 200-meter side trek off portions of Lumaban presents another series of natural pools, LOGSAC rock wall and tiny vertical water droplets. Two Kilometers from Pilan Hanging Bridge is a twin waterfalls located in sitio Dumagok which locals christened Dumagok Falls and Kasisi Falls. While an arduous run 10 kilometers through sitio Saroso and Vega is the gorgeous Tacub Laya Falls. There is no entrance fee yet in going to these sites in Sinoron but it is better to hire a guide from the Barangay Council to make your adventure safe and fun.

MAILUM FALLS. This series of waterfalls in barangay Coronon culminates a trekking in sitio Langan. The last part is a two-tiered waterfalls emanating from Binuangon forest reserve. Reaching this site requires 2-3 hours of single track and river trekking via Mailum River. It is not advisable to trek Mailum Falls on rainy days as it might be prone to flash floods. Hiring of expert guides is mandatory. A concrete road in crossing Langan just beside Franklin Baker Plant in Coronon connects the national highway to sitio Langan.

PALAKA HOT SPRINGS. These are two hot springs located in sitio Colan, barangay Sibulan which used to be just side trip sites for Mt. Apo trekkers. But for audience who cannot do the major peak trek a day hike in Palaka Hot Springs can already be a good option. However, it requires a very early jump off if one comes from Davao City. It is accessible via Digos-Kapatagan-Marawer-Baruring route. The trek starts from the steep Desander Plant to sitio Colan and a plain hike all the way to the hot springs. The first one is an orange-colored pool and the hotter pool is 400 meters downward. The total distance from Desander to the second pool is 3 kilometers.

While we encourage you to visit these sites it is still an utmost priority for us to do trekking responsibly by strictly following the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics. Visiting these places requires prior coordination in Sta. Cruz Tourism Office. One can also book through our accredited tour operators and tour guides. 

Revisiting Saliducon Cave, our last Adventure with Irvin Joy Alcoriza

From total exploration of trekking trails my team suddenly had the urge to rediscover an underground attraction in Sta. Cruz which I last visited ten years ago. Yes, that is how long Saliducon Cave is being stepped anew by a human foot. It has been left out in the ecotourism picture for quite some time because there was a notion that it is connected with the present potable water source and we chose not to disturb it for valid humanitarian intention. It was only last year that this cave in Sta. Cruz is not at all intertwined with the water concerns as confirmed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) when the Saliducon Cave Development and Management Plan was crafted and approved.

In one of the salient components of the development plan I learned that ecotourism was considered and that the DENR is aggressive in its stance to tap the local governments, both municipal and barangay, to be partners in the said endeavour not very far from now. Everybody obliged, of course.  

On June 5, we had a short caving here. Not a single weekend was missed by LOGSAC, a hyper group which have been scratching wanderlust since day one of the pandemic. This one though was a unique experience. After a short chat with Barangay Captain Renon Sombilon of Saliducon, we drove a short paved road off sitio Tibaol. I remember doing caving in Saliducon three times in a separate trail in Melilia and the one we had last week was actually shorter and a lot easier. Our guide was Nong Elmer Turado, a Barangay Tanod in Saliducon. A 20-minute single track of farmlands is required to reach the entry point of the cave.

As the only one with knowledge in caving (at least in Saliducon Cave) I conducted a short orientation to the group. The night before this schedule Davao Oriental was hit by an intensity 6.6 earthquake which left me in doubt of possible aftershock and that could happen anytime while all of us are inside the cave. Thank God there was no shaking that day. The entrance of this cave is very small, enough for a single person’s body and if you are a certified heavy weight you have no chance of going in here.

By the way this is my fourth time in Saliducon Cave but I am still amazed by the huge cobblestone formations distributed through all its chambers. This might not be the best cave in Mindanao but it can be a really good site for minor spelunking. Just like any other tropical caves, Saliducon Cave has an attractive and wide caverns and some chambers where speleothems are found. I am pretty sure only few Sta. Cruzians have explored and witnessed the glory of this underground heritage in our place. The pictures below are some snaps for you to take glimpse of.  

Cave wildlife was also recorded during this visit. The Pit Viper I saw in 2009 was no longer here for now but consistent dwellers are bats, crickets, millipedes and Big-eyed Frog. Outside the cave perimeter are good bird species such as Stripe-headed Rhabdornis, Amethyst Brown Dove, Philippine Serpent eagle, among others.

It won’t be for long and Saliducon Cave will be another good ecotourism site in Sta. Cruz. At this point we are grooming the community to do most of the operation and conservation at the same time. The fact that Saliducon and nearby barangays are baskets of tropical fruits is a sure compliment. 

Lastly, this adventure was the last time for LOGSAC with the company of the late Irvin Joy Alcoriza who chose to leave this world ahead of us on June 10. We fondly call him Joyjoy because he was a jolly, good fellow and had always been part of our adventures in the past. He is that person in the picture background of Mt. Pulag used as header of this website. 

To you our brother, may you rest in peace. You now have a good adventure wherever you are. 

P.S. Supplemental wildlife photos provided by Mr. Jake Caspi. Thank you.