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| Morong River |
We arrived at Sitio Kanawan in Brgy. Binaritan by 11 AM. A very short hike led us to a pastoral scene of the moderately flowing Morong River fringed on both banks by dense forest and crossed by a hanging bridge of wood planks and steel cables. Two in our party went ahead to prepare lunch at the Aeta Resettlement Area. We, however, couldn’t and didn’t resist a cool dip at the river’s inviting waters. That done, we crossed the bridge and proceeded, along a well-marked trail, toward Kanawan, pausing only to rest at Mang Kit’s mango tree farm. Kanawan’s 147 households have a mixed population of lowlanders or unat (meaning “straight-haired”) and resettled Aetas or kulot (meaning “kinky-haired”). The Mt. Pinatubo-displaced Aetas were resettled there in 1987 (through Pres. Corazon Aquino’s Proclamation No. 129) and an Aeta kapitana (captain) currently heads the village. Every 5 May, the Aetas perform a kabikin or marriage ritual.
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| Hanging bridge |
We arrived at the village just in time for a tinolang manok lunch. This we attacked with gusto, and justly so as we would need the energy to tackle the long hike ahead. Laden with water containers, we also secured the services of 48-year old Mr. Iglezerdo “Guilling” Alejo of Task Force Kalikasan as our guide. After a short hike through rice paddies, our band soon entered the cooling shade of the dense forest. And dense it really was as about 70% of Morong town is included in the SBMA reservation, with 9,694 hectares identified as watershed primary growth forest area.
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| The trek begins ….. |
The hike, through an often well-marked trail strewn with dried leaves and rocks, entailed some dry streambed crossings and quite steep and strenuous mountain climbing. At the end of this very tiring, almost three-hour hike was the rewarding vista of the well-hidden, 80-foot high Pintong Alipi Falls which is fed by numerous springs sweeping along the mountain. We relaxed our visibly tired bodies at the cool, refreshing waters of the fall’s shallow pool, as well as enjoyed a back massage underneath the falls itself. It was truly worth the long hike.
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| Pintong Alipi Falls |
Recharged, we began our return trek to Kanawan, meeting two Aetas gathering honey along the way. We arrived by 5:30 PM. After a short rest and some sustenance, we groped our way back to our jeep, our path lit by flashlights. Our progress back to the town was somewhat stalled by the Good Friday parade of carrozas. Instead of fretting, we just curiously watched the parade pass us by. Back at Mang Kit’s house, we hungrily gorged ourselves at supper. I was just too spent to even walk the short distance back to Vener’s house, collapsing instead to a blissful sleep at Mang Kit’s living room sofa.