Driving along the MariFanta Highway, one will pass by the town of Baras, a quiet town with not much places to go. It was one of those byways in the highways where even a quaint stopover is nowhere to be found. But hidden in the foothills of this oblivious hinterland town are two of its gems- the Palo Alto Falls and Park, Dine and Rest Restaurant. I have read some blogs about this places but just pass them by whenever we frequent our favorite destinations in Tanay and Quezon. On one our sojourns from the Sierra Madre, we decided to check out these places on the way home.
Pertinent to our topic on ecotourism this summer, perhaps ecotourism
is the most over-used and miss-used word in the travel industry. But what does
it mean? The Ecotourism Society defines it as "responsible travel to
natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the
local people". A walk through the rainforest is not eco-tourism unless
that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and the people who live
there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and/or funds
to help protect the watershed. A loose interpretation of this definition allows
many companies to promote themselves as something they are not. If true
eco-tourism is important to you, ask plenty of questions to determine if your
trip will help "conserve and improve" the places you visit.
A year and a half after Malen underwent chemotherapy for cancer, I was always trying to find ways of keeping ourselves physically fit and at the same time adding more excitement to it to maintain our positive outlook in life. On the downhill drive from Sierra Madre our first destination was Palo Alto Falls. The waterfalls is actually located inside a private subdivision that bears the same name. The security was very cordial and allow passage of visitors eager to see the falls. We were given directions where the jump-off point is and where to park the car. Upon reaching the place, our initial assumption was that the place is probably developed for touring and we were actually correct in that. They charge a hundred bucks for every visitor but is free of charge if you just want to see the falls, provided that you can do it and return back to the entrance gate within 15 minutes. That's a pretty hard thing to do unless you're going to run uphill and run back as well. Anyway, rules are rules and this is private property so they can implement their own policies freely.
When we saw the concrete walk leading to the falls, I felt a little sad that the owner had to alter the natural beauty of the place. we kinda felt a little envy to those who had the opportunity to visit the place while it is still ruggedly pristine and untouched. Now, we just have to contend with an artificial stairway leading to the falls. Apparently, the owner had the senior citizens in mind to give them more opportunity to appreciate the beautiful falls as well.
The personnel at the jump-off point told us that the entire stairway to the falls has a total of 256 steps. When we heard this, I felt pretty sure we can make it to the top. But of course, there will always be a complaining remark from my ever bickering but loving wife. I remembered the time when we trekked to Ambon-Ambon Falls, she kept asking me if the falls is already near, and time and again I would always assure her that it's just around the bend, even though we were both visiting the place for the first time.
I was glad that my words of assurance always convinces her to keep on going. When I see a landing on the next level, I would tell her that upon reaching the landing, the remaining trek will be horizontal all the way to the falls. I was praying I am correct when I said that, but when she reached the top first, she would give a sharp stare at me suggesting that there are still uphill steps to negotiate. I just have to convince her that if I can do it, considering my size, she can definitely do it as well. So we continue on with the climb.
One of the things that I keep telling my wife during our adventure is to keep herself preoccupied with the beauty of the natural surroundings and not focus too much on the task of walking. This way it keeps your mind off the physical challenge because nature's beauty is so powerful that gazing upon and admiring the intricacy of its beauty is enough to dispel all the aches and hardships of the journey. The path to the falls is ruggedly beautiful with lush vegetation serving as its background and enormous boulders lay strewn along the downstream length of the almost dry streambed.
When we finally reached the falls, all the aches and weariness dissipated as the cascading waters drenched our dry spirits and the cool water in the collecting pool below seems to extend and invitation to dive in. We sat down to rest for a while and gazing our eyes on the surroundings.
We were kinda disappointed because the owner really did a full blown development of the place. The entire perimeter was already covered in concrete. Even the pool where the falls drop is completely cemented.
There were a mixture of concrete and nipa hut picnic sheds that can withstand a flashflood. To our disappointment, We did not bother to shoot all these man-made structures. We leave it to the future visitors to judge for themselves.
When looking at the top of the falls, the water was already falling in trickles and this is just the beginning of summer. From what I saw in the blogs I've read, water cascades down the entire width of its mouth. Now only traces of water falls on the right side of the viewer. The small volume of water is probably attributed to the degree of deforestation in the headwaters of the falls. A watershed should be adequately covered with trees because the extensive root system of the vegetation is the one that retains water in the highlands and if trees disappeared in the upland, the impact on the watershed will be felt and seen in the amount of water feeding the falls. It would have been spectacular if the output of water is at its maximum. It would have been a sight to see. But with the increasing heat this summer, there might not be any water falling at all by that time.
Not dissuaded by the alterations to the natural beauty of the place, I seized the moment to take a dip in the cool waters of the pool since I was drenched in sweat climbing up this place. In fairness, the water is clear and clean despite the low output from the falls so my experience in swimming in Palo Alto is what Filipinos would say "Palong-Palo" and pagligo sa Palo Alto!
Malen was reluctant to take a swim in the pool because although there are cubicles for changing clothes, there are no clean water to rinse your body. The water coming out of the shower is the same water coming from the falls. So she just settled being my photographer. I decided not to rinse anymore and just change into a new set of clothes when we returned to the car. As we began our descent, we can't help feast our eyes once more on the rugged beauty of the surroundings.
We enjoyed ourselves during the downhill climb as we frolic in the minifalls along the way. We were the only ones in the path so we played like children mindless of the place and time because of the uninhibiting beauty of the surrounding forest.
What's the meaning of Palo Alto? The name is translated in Spanish as "tall tree". The original Palo Alto is in Western California where giant red trees dominate the land. Here in the Philippines Palo Alto is a just but a mere wishful thinking of people still yearning of virgin forests in the Philippines. Gone are those ecosystems as 400 years of colonial environmental degradation and present day capitalism and corruption has decimated much of the tall tree forest in our country. So we just have to settle for this wishful name at this point. The forest around this place is no longer primary but a secondary forest dominated by young trees with some old survivors.
After changing into dry clothes, our next stop was the Park, Rest and Dine Restaurant along the downhill highway from Palo Alto. We decided to have an early dinner in this quaint restaurant. Upon entering dining area, we were greeted by a cozy ambiance where the interior is a mixture of wood and upholstery and highlighted by a fusion of local abd foreign decorations. To top it all, the place is ideal for a romantic dinner for lovebirds small groups and intimate family gatherings.
The porch is centerpieced by a huge wooden table complemented with puka shell curtain as a sun shade. The cool breeze of mountain air can be felt as you indulge yourself with the freshly cooked food of your choice.
We decided to try out their Sinigang na Hipon as we were not really hungry during that time. Our visit to this restaurant was driven by curiosity from reading several blogs, where this restaurant was given recognition as "Bloggers' Choice" Award. It's a fitting award for such a daring endeavor of its owner to build a halfway restaurant which isn't technically even halfway to whatever destination you will go.
The experience we had dining in this restaurant is quite different from the invited critiques who ate here. We were not given a special treatment as important people but the waiter tried earnestly to serve us the best way he can. They gave a complimentary appetizer of mixed nuts and respond immediately to our call.
Overall, dining in Park, Rest and Dine was quite good but not enough for us to be returning in the near future. Though we won't impart unkind comments about the place, but we do feel it still need a little upgrading of the menu especially highlighting a cuisine which should be distinctly "Baras" original. There should also be a form of entertainment throughout the open hours as long as there are customers so that they don't get uneasy waiting for their orders.
Calabarzon is fast being encroached by the rapid urbanization of Metro Manila. The hinterlands of Baras is now wide open for tourism and in the era of growing environmental awareness, ecotourism is now being used by many business entreprise as a tool for economic development. But unless the true concept of ecotourism is used, all efforts in fostering this new concept will be a failure if business still insists of putting up financial gains first rather than environmental conservation and sustainable development.
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