I was already tired and sleepless when I arrived in Daraga, Albay at around 0700H. And God, it was a rather drab morning and wet with the slow but constant drizzle. Nevertheless, I dragged myself to a waiting tricycle before catching a jeepney to Legazpi City where I had a quick breakfast.
This was not the first time that I have been in the city in this kind of weather. But when it’s like this, not seeing Mt. Mayon is depressing.

It was CHAOS as I excitedly wound my way to the lounge area of the Philtranco bus terminal in Pasay City on the evening of my trip. But what greeted me was the throng of people in various states and disposition as they were awaiting for their bus to arrive. Unfortunately, because it was 30 December and the height of the passenger season, all buses were late for as much as 2 hours.

I am updating my travel map as there are new destinations that I have visited. When I did the Luzon – Visayas loop via land and sea, I was able to visit for the first time the Panay provinces of Capiz and Aklan. I’m not a beach person but, thank God, due to some roro schedule foul ups, I forayed in Boracay for just an hour, another first. From Caticlan, I then docked at Roxas in Mindoro Oriental

Call it madness, call it a masochist’s trip but, after much ruminations, I finally made it…

A stunning beauty. That is what I can say of Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig, located in the interior of the vast Picop concession in the province of Surigao del Sur. Dubbed the Little Niagara of the Philippines (why do we always have this penchant in naming places, I don’t know) because it is considered to be the widest waterfall in the country at 95 meters in width.

Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, Davao Oriental is a wonder. A first time viewer is easily struck dumbfounded, speechless and awed by the spectacular sight. Just imagine, a series of 84 falls forming almost a hundred steps cascading from the forest to the edge of where it enters Cateel River and empties to the coast. The total height of the falls is said to be 1110 ft with varying drops of between 6 to 100 feet and is a declared protected area by the national government.

Baganga, Davao Oriental is the next town north of Caraga. Nothing much here but the rural scenery is beautiful. It is a typical idyllic, Philippine agricultural town along the rugged coastline facing the Pacific Ocean where life is slow paced, unhurried and bucolic. Rice paddies as well as coconut groves dominate the scenery. In the market, fresh fish abounds.