So what happened in the second day? This is the continuation of my article about the Northern Oriental Mindoro road trip I quoted “Encounter and Discover”. I named it such because of the CAFGU encounter I had during the trip. Also, discovering San Teodoro was a great initiative. Scary but cool.

Highlights:
* Meeting new friends
* Aras Falls
* Saclag Mangyan Village
* Saclag Hanging bridge
* CAFGU Interrogation
* NMA
* San Teodoro Town
* San Teodoro Cathedral
* San Teodoro Beach
* Red horse session

This is a good learning for me.

1. You should be cautious in rebel inflicted mountains
2. Always prepare your documents
3. Don’t wear pink earrings! (Long story)
4. Transport to mountains very hard to get esp for single travellers

As a fellow good will back packer, I invited my team mate Ryan to join the road trip. He followed the easy instructions I gave to San Teodoro.

Ryan was kind enough to bring the pasalubong I missed from the first day for Liam’s family, Krispy Kreme! Thanks Ryan!

He also shared all the expenses for the roadtrip including pasalubong.

Lumangbayan church
Tricycle – 10 Php

Woke up very early (6AM-this is early to me) to join Tita Lilia serve a catholic mass in Lumangbayan church. This is the first full mass I attended for 2009. 🙂

Lumangbayan church is the oldest church in San Teodoro. It is a renovated church in the south part of the town.

The mass was performed Father Arnold. He is a very cheerful priest and likes to quote known personalities. The homily was about traditions and superstitious beliefs. Learned some old beliefs about walking a casket backwards and what “Sukob” means.

Just beside the church you can find Punta Baluarte. To simply put it – “Bato”! Grin.

San Teodoro Market

After the mass I joined Tita Lilia buy something in San Teodoro Market where I met a very friendly vendor Aling Natty .


Aras Falls
Personal Pedicab – 200 Php

It was almost 11 AM when Ryan arrived in San Teodoro. He followed the same route as I took from the first day. Had breakfast and prepared for our Aras and Saclag Tour.

We started from San Teodoro highway with Christia, Kuya Levi and Tito Boy.

Levi is a nephew of Tita Lilia who owns a pedicab. We rented it as personal transport to the mountains to see Aras Falls and Saclag Hanging Bridge. Tito Boy is Tita Lilia’s brother and a public servant. He is a volunteer teacher and social worker in a small “Mangyan” village in Saclag.

It is 15 minute mountain road motor trail from San Teodoro highway to Aras falls’ climb point. A wooden house is a landmark for falls visitors.

You will then go through a small river and possibly see a “no comment” carabao, pass a coconut plantation, a dike, a hill and some rocky areas to get to Aras falls site. It’s around a 10 minute walk up hill.





The water is very cold! It’s very slippery near the falls. We took a bath in the cold falling water. The experience was great. I’d like to do this again sometime.



On the way back… photo trip!


Saclag “Mangyan” Village
Tour

Just a 5 minute pedicab ride from Aras Falls climb point you will reach the Saclag “Mangyan” village.

There is a developed community by NGOs in the mountains called Saclag Village. Most of the occupants are from local Mindoro tribes called “Mangyan”. It is a small community with row houses, playground, school and church.

Locals are taught how to write and read. Different subjects like Values, Agriculture and Mathematics is also integrated in the special education system as promoted by Tito Boy’s group. I’m proud to have met such people with noble intentions.

Second stop for tour is Saclag hanging bridge…

Saclag Hanging bridge
Tour

Saclag Hanging Bridge is a copper cable bridge with aluminum steps. It helps you cross a big river in the mountain. You will here the bending of metal when passing the bridge.

At the end of the bridge is the house of the Mendoza family. They are quite nice and they told me the name of the bird in the cage that caught my attention. It’s a “Tikling”! A bird with very long legs…

CAFGU Encounter

This has got to be one of the most memorable events in my road trips.

Upon going back, I was last to go back and confronted 3 local militia called CAFGU. They are soldiers who strictly enforce peace by arms in the mountains. They follow strict process of interrogation for new individuals in order to filter NPA rebels from coming into their village.

I shouldn’t have worn those colored earrings. Crap.

CAFGU 1: Pst!
Keen: (continues to walk)

CAFGU 2: Huy! (Loud)
Keen: (stops and points at myself. Smiles at them)

CAFGU leader: Taga saan ka?
Keen: Taga Manila po

CAFGU leader: Sino ka? Ano ginagawa mo dito? (In a doubtful voice)
Keen: Keen Robante po. Isa po akong manunulat. Pinupromote ko po ang Oriental Mindoro para malaman ng iba ang mga sites dito.

CAFGU leader: May papeles ka ba?
Keen: Naku wala po. (Pa cute) Bisita lang po ako sa bahay ng kaibigan ko. Isa lang akong manunulat.

CAFGU leader: May approval ka ba kay Mayor?
Keen: Naku wala po. (Pa cute uli) Di ko alam na kailangan yun. Bisita lang ako nila Maam Lilia Bigornia. Kaklase ko kasi anak niya sa Manila.

CAFGU leader: Yung sa high school?
Keen: Opo. Pasensya na kayo sa abala. Kung iyong mamarapatin, may dala po akong ID. Okay lang po ba eto muna? Isusulat ko nalang na required ng approval ni Mayor ang pumunta dito sa area niyo para di na kayo maabala sa susunod.

CAFGU leader: Ah sige.
Keen: (kuha at pakita HP ID). Pwede na po ba akong umalis?

CAFU leader: Pasensiya ka na rin. Mainit kasi dito ngayon. (Calm)
Keen: Okay. Salamat.

Lesson from the incident:

1. Always bring documents with you.
2. Don’t climb known rebel infested mountains.
3. Don’t wear earrings when climbing! Especially pink ones! (Christia gave me a pink plastic earring earlier and wore it just for fun.)

Went back to Liam’s house for Lunch after

Northern Mindoro Academy

This is a private school in Oriental Mindoro where Liam had his High School life. Neil and Christia is studying in this academy. This is just at the back of Bigornia residence!

After  the Aras and Saclag trip, we spent some time playing basketball, resting and watching the students rehearse their dance for the upcoming “Lingo ng Wika” celebration.

San Teodoro Town
Walk

Due to the Saclag incident, I was no longer in the mood for another mountain trip. We decided to explore the San Teodoro central town.

San Teodoro Cathedral
Walk

One of the best cathedrals I’ve been to.




San Teodoro Plaza



San Teodoro Beach
Walk

San Teodoro beach is a clean and brown fine sand beach. Lime stones are present near the shore and its really very clean.

We spent most of the time making sand castles. We were in high spirit and I made the biggest sand castle. In the end, we destroyed it jus for fun.

Ryan’s castle

Keen’s Castle
Christia’s castle

Bigornia residence

We had squid dinner in Liam’s house. Met and had red horse inuman session with Neil and his friends, Juan, James and Nikko after.

Sleep.

—-

Day 3 to follow: Light