So, we went to Pangasinan...
- Paolo Santos
- Feb 26, 2019
- 15 min read
Updated: Mar 2, 2019
The Plan
Prior to the trip
Some of our mutual friends were planning to maximize the #longweekend that the month of February offered for this year. Since we have February 25 as our Philippine holiday - and luckily falls in a Monday - the squad started calling acquaintances to join their travel party. Reasons from those whom they called came, and some unfortunately cannot join due to prior commitments. Others immediately accepted without hesitation. My partner actually called me to join in the group. She was part of that planning group, and since I am not the kind who leaves a partner unaccompanied on such journeys (and I hate missing all the fun), I gleefully accepted the invitation. Soon, the 12-man travel party was finalized. We will travel in the 24th of February. But the party still had not yet decided on which place we should go. This happened due to some of them have other obligations come Monday, so the affair should only last a day. And the destination should not be too far in terms of travel time. One of the party members recommended Pangasinan, particularly the towns of Natividad and Balungao. Being the guy that is not really used to traveling, I asked "What's there to see?"
What's there to see, anyway?
Natividad and Balungao are municipalities of the Province of Pangasinan in the Ilocos Region. Both are situated at the eastern part of the province.
Natividad is a 4th class municipality with a population of 24,299 people according to our 2015 census. One of our party members hinted that we will visit this municipality first because majority of the party loved the prospect of hiking and the sight of waterfalls. There is an area where we can do both, so the entire party became thrilled. I am not so sure if my knees agree, as well.
Meanwhile, Balungao is also a 4th class municipality with 31,106 people in its territory according to the same census. This municipality is also known for its government-run resort, the Balungao Hilltop Adventure. I took the chance to Google the place while the rest of the party discussed on our itinerary, but the latest, comprehensive post that I saw was way back 2016. This made me excited because 3 years worth of development is yet to be seen. I became thrilled with what I am about to see here.
With days of planning, we finalized our trip and simulated every possibilities if ever something goes against our plan. We were set to travel on the 24th of February, and since it is a long weekend and we expected that most of public transport will be crowded, the party rented a van from Ranchez Express Travel and Tours, a local travel and tours agency located at San Fernando City, La Union.
The Execution
Assembly at San Fernando City, La Union
As agreed prior, the party decided to assemble in front of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - Mid La Union Campus to allow enough waiting time. When the party was assembled, we set off at 4:30 am. We were informed that it would take us 3 hours to reach Natividad. And yes, the first thing we will do is hiking. I can hear my knees crying. I decided to take a nap. I woke up around an hour and a half later, and all I saw is a vast plain of rice paddies. Upon consulting Google Maps, we are currently heading east towards Asingan town. The driver chose this path because it is faster than being stuck at a traffic jam in Urdaneta City. At the very least, the rest of our trip here was really straightforward with little traffic.
As a primarily agricultural area, there were tricycles, rickshaws, and jeepneys that were shipping goods and farm equipment. The fog that engulfs the plains is a very relaxing sight to see, especially when it is put on backdrop the nearby mountain ranges. The view was so enticing that I did not went back to sleep as I was waiting for that ever-dramatic sunrise behind the mountain ranges. We also happened to pass by a few quarries that are situated beside Agno River. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of all of it as I was too busy enjoying the view.
The Arrival
We arrived in Natividad town proper at 6:48am. We were pleased that the party arrived earlier than we predicted. We also happened to witness the alumni homecoming parade of their local national high school there. We asked a few locals for assistance in locating a certain Sky Plaza. We were told to traverse Taft St. and continue eastward. While we were along the way, the party rose in excitement as we saw a statue of Jesus Christ atop a mountain. That statue will be our first destination of the day, the Sky Plaza.
5 minutes later, we met some members of the Local Government Unit manning the site entrance. Usually, LGUs gain profit from charging visitors with Environmental Fee before they allow the visitors to step foot in a tourist site. It's a common practice so that the funds collected will be used for further improvement of the site and ensuring the cleanliness of the place. For a very minimal fee that will benefit a tourist destination for the long run, it is not really a bad issue.
As we waited, we took the time to check on what the Sky Plaza has to offer. The Jesus Christ statue we saw a while back is called Ayat ni Apo Hesus, that in our Ilokano dialect is literally translated The Love of Jesus Christ. But it is more aptly called as Christ the Redeemer statue. The statue is 40ft high, and it mostly resembles the statue with the same name in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, though I also saw the same statues in San Fernando City in La Union and Alaminos City in western Pangasinan, as well, but with slightly varied designs.
There's also Lourdes Grotto, the Holy Cross, a chapel, a function hall, and a 120 meter zipline inside. Now that's a tourist attraction!
After we have settled everything, we drove uphill towards the parking area.
Stairway to Heaven
Upon stepping off our van, the first thing I noticed is the site's cleanliness. It seems that the Sky Plaza is more than just a tourist destination. For some, it is actually a religious symbol for the municipality's faith in Christianity, which is embodied through the Ayat ni Apo Hesus statue that we saw a while back. We saw a small group of mountain bike riders taking selfies, as well. The chapel and function hall is closed when we have arrived, and unfortunately I failed to ask the tenants if people still hold mass there. There's also the zipline but there were no signs of recent ziplining activity. But they are there anyways.
We stopped for a few times along the way to catch our breath and get an increasingly impressive view of nearby surroundings and mountains.
The view of the plains from the elevation of the parking lot is already a pleasant thing to see, as well. You might wish not to scale the mountain towards the shrine.
But a curious freelancer should do its thing when he is struck by curiosity. We definitely need to climb the mountain to see a more magnificent view of the area. My knees begged to disagree but my legs were as excited as I am.
The party first frolicked at the welcoming arch called the Arch of Love. Our party is composed mostly of couples, so the bunch of singles tried to troll every couple that passes through the arch. Me and my partner sided with the trolling bunch.
And then we began the ascent.
Fortunately, development of the area is still underway. What used to be a rugged trail is now placed with flights of stairs from the base parking lot toward near the peak. I swear, there are REALLY LOTS OF STAIRS. As someone who is not used to hiking activities, the climb is sure very punishing. Good thing that we carried big water bottles before the hike, so we did not felt excessively dehydrated from all the sweating. I recommend you to do the same if you wish to scale the site.
As the signboard dictated, we encountered the Holy Cross and the Lourdes Grotto. We stopped for a few times along the way to catch our breaths and get an increasingly impressive view of nearby surroundings and mountains.
Things get a little risky when you are nearing the summit. The development of that particular area is still under construction, so there were no concrete stairs to climb to. I recommend you to take every step with caution because if you lost your balance and slipped on either side of the mountain, there's only two possibilities.
1. You'll slide towards the concrete staircase just below. Worse when no one is there to help you back up when you hurt yourself in the process.
2. You'll fall into a nearby ravine. Dangers aside, the view of the site from this high is really worth the climb. There are no words to describe how magnificent the view from here is. Apart from seeing the gargantuan statue up close, you can have a complete view of the plains on one side, and the nearby mountain ranges on the other.
If only the climb back down the mountain is as quick as the time we spent climbing it up.
Trekking to the Waterfalls
Just 400 meters away from the Sky Plaza is the Maranum Falls. The party drove towards the end of the road, where a gate was established and manned with local LGU members as well. It's a good thing that there's a facility erected to provide basic toilet services, but you need to pay a minimal fee to access it. They also prohibit anybody from bringing in food and liquor in order to reduce trash. I cannot help but wonder who in their right mind would bring liquor inside an obviously source of the town's irrigation needs and leave their bottles there or shatter them into shards, let alone throw trash? Good thing that they allowed water bottles to pass through.
The staff said that the trek going to the falls will only take around 10-15 minutes. It's a good thing that the beaten path was already visible for us to follow. But they never mentioned something about the difficulty of the trail you will traverse.
It was easy at first. We passed a somehow cemented road going through the trail. The concrete road was probably established in order to make way for a more apt driveway for vehicles, but evidences of soil erosion from the nearby carved mountain face had prevented further construction. There's also evidences of soil erosion right below the cemented trail.
Things got a little difficult afterwards. The party needed to scale some steep slopes and had to watch each other's back to ensure that everybody climbs the obstacle. There were a few times we need to lean on the mountain wall to get a better grip in traversing because the trail is a little slippery due to small streams passing through the trail.
We can already hear people shrieking with joy from afar, so we paced faster towards it. By then we can see the majestic view of the waterfalls and people swimming in the nearby stream And then comes the most frustrating parts of being huge - the party needs to climb down to see the falls up close. You first need to go across the cliff using a thick steel wire acting as handle or support, carefully crawling against the jagged mountain wall filled with sharp and slippery rocks, and climb down a wooden staircase that provokes enough skepticism if it can handle a heavyweight like me. Nevertheless I made it through.
It's a good thing that the beaten path was already visible for us to follow. But they never mentioned something about the difficulty of the trail you will traverse.
I immediately approached the nearest stream and tried to wash my face. The water is cold enough to make you feel refreshed, it is equally tempting to take a plunge. Unfortunately we did not. In approaching the waterfalls up close, you need to traverse boulders and sharp rocks to go around. But I cannot risk going there with me tired from the trek. I helped myself by taking pictures of the waterfalls from afar instead.
The party stayed a little in the vicinity before we climbed back to our van. We decided to take a quick grub at Natividad town proper before traveling for an hour towards Balungao.
Why is it called Balungao Hilltop Adventure instead of Balungao Mountaintop Adventure?
Our final stop for our Pangasinan trip is the government-run resort called Balungao Hilltop Adventure. As the name implies, the resort is named after the very mountain it is situated. Naming it a Hilltop instead of a mountaintop adventure still bugs me as of this time of writing. Surely, a 382m ASL mound of soil and rocks is a mountain for me.
Some of their popular activities include wall climbing, aero cable biking, a 620m zipline, ATV rides, a 1.4km zipline, and an opportunity to climb Mt. Balungao itself that offers various trails that can accommodate to hikers of all backgrounds. You can also avail multiple activities at a time with their package promo. Meanwhile their facilities include a function hall, cottages, and their hot and cold pools.
Most of our partymates are actually workmates too in a national government agency, and it so happened that one member of the said group is well-acquainted to Mr. John Ray Mondina, the municipal link (let's call it ML from now on) of this town. It was very generous of him that during our planning stage for this trip, he informed us that he pledged for our lunch and that the pavillion we are about to stay for the rest of the day will be totally free. They also agreed that he would meet the party at the town proper to accompany us towards the resort.
Upon arrival at the resort at around 11am, I did not expect that it would be crowded. It is such an impressive sight to see that Balungao locals are really patronizing the resort. It reminds me of the same level of patronage at Bago Resort in Salcedo, Ilocos Sur. There were also non-Ilocano visitors that came alongside us.
We unloaded our stuff and settled down for a while. Mr. Mondina told us to wait a few minutes as our lunch is still being prepared. They also took out the only thing that is consistent to every Filipino peer and family outing in order to burn waiting time - Karaoke. I took it as an opportunity to look around the resort without going too far.
The pavilion where we are staying has the information booth right beside it. That is where visitors will pay for the amenities they will avail, provided that you will sign a waiver of sort. You know, the classic waiver, like warning you about stuff that might happen and if they do because you failed to listen and follow their instructions and precautionary measures, they won't be liable and stuff. Yes I am just kidding about the how third sentence is written, but you get the point of the waiver.
I did not expect that it would be crowded. It is such an impressive sight to see that Balungao locals are really patronizing the resort.
If ever visitors would avail either the zipline or ATV, they will be dressed right there with proper equipment first before they set off to their starting points. As for the wall climbing and aerobike, gear will be provided at the site itself. A very impressive and efficient system they are running here, if you observe them working with clients for some time. Color me impressed.
Just overhead the pavilion is the end point for the 620m zipline. The indicator that somebody is about to arrive through the zipline is the whizzing sound the steel cables make whenever a person is sent flying from the starting point. On one occasion, I even saw a little boy crying while being accompanied by its laughing older companion atop the zipline. Adults sure do know how to enjoy.
Also beside the pavilion is the ATV station. The turnaround on this is fairly quick as a lot of visitors want to have a first hand experience of running the quad bike. I got excited with this possibility.
Just beside the resort entrance is where the wall climbing and the Aero Cable biking endpoint is located. I saw nobody availed the former for the entire day, unfortunately. There were sari-sari stores located at the other side of the it, too.
When I was about to get back to the pavilion, I immediately saw the swimming pools. You know, the usual swimming pools with their usual depths, with one pool exclusive to kids, except it is not rectangular shaped. I counted 2 pools in the biggest area of resort where most of the customers are, while a third pool located in the small area has no swimmers. And that is not the only thing that intrigues me. I haven't seen their famous hot pool yet. And the 1.4km zipline. I wonder where are those.
A few more minutes later, and our lunch is already served.
After enjoying the feast, we let ourselves change into swimming attires and readied ourselves towards the pool in the large area. But Mr. Mondina's generosity still has not stopped. He ushered us to the seemingly vacant pool in the small area. The party assumed that the pool is closed off for VIPs only, but the ML only chuckled a smile while we get down the stairs. The pool was reserved for you to enjoy, he said in Filipino.
And swam we did.
Still feeling the fatigue from our early morning hike and trek, the party decided to look for the Hot Pool. There was a specific portion of the big area where it is always full of people just seemingly soaking themselves. That was actually the Hot Pool we are in here for. There were 2 sets of small-area pools where you can enjoy its warm temperatures to relax. It also seemed that the hot pools are artificial, even though I suspected that despite Mt. Balungao being an extinct volcano, would there be at least 1 natural hot spring. The only downside here is that the pools are always crowded. It just happened that the moment we arrived, there's enough space to accommodate most of us. We decided to soak ourselves for a prolonged time just to catch up with muscular fatigue. It sure was relaxing. The party saved the best for last. It is time we enjoy the facilities the resort has to offer. Having a large group, the staff offered us a hiking trip to Mt. Balungao. Good thing that the group forego the option as there is no way we are doing another hike.
Being a chicken to heights like I am, I decided not to avail any attractions that utilizes it. I only availed the ATV ride, while the rest of the group went in their own way. Most of them availed the 620m zipline, while my partner and the rest of the still undecided members tried to do Aero Cable Biking. Our driver meanwhile enjoyed himself singing along the Karaoke, with the ML accompanying him.
I first accompanied my partner's group to the starting point of Aero Cable Biking. The view from the deck is already a pleasant thing to see, but it's a nightmare for me whenever I look down because a fall will surely lead you into a ravine. I can also see another set of zipline that is located way up. That's the zipline for the 1.4km distance, the staff said in Filipino. He told us that both the start and endpoint of that attraction is situated on different mountain peaks. I thought the 620m version is already high enough. Picture me terrified upon the sight of the 1.4km's zipline elevation, and the staff pointing at a distance towards the starting point of it. Before I knew it, the Aero Cable Biking group was done with their rides. Most of them are still petrified about their wiggling steel cable episodes, while we shared laughter about the fact that one of them failed to wear protective helmet and we only noticed it when they were halfway the trip.
I got mixed feelings when it was my turn to avail the ATV. First, the staff said that the bikes are exclusively 1:1, meaning I won't be able to let my partner tag along with me. Since it will be my first time driving it, one of the staff accompanied me in instructing how to run the ATV properly. Later, he asked me to tail him to the road outside the resort. That was already the course for the ATV ride. I got a bit disappointed that there will be no actual terrain for me to drive, only a pavement drive was the closest thing I get to experience in driving an ATV. We then eventually turned back towards the resort.
Afterwards, we waited for the rest of the party to finish their sorties. We concluded the day with a group picture and a never-ending expression of gratitude to our ML.
Remarks and Verdict
Going around Natividad is easy, with the presence of tricycles around. But going to the destinations mentioned is expensive in terms of availing existing public transportation methods. It became a practical choice that we rented a van since going to and from Maranum Falls alone will burn you a lot of commute money. Apparently they only accept charter trips - or arkila - in reaching those parts. Not to mention the distance that you need to travel in order to get to Natividad town proper as you still need to make several connecting rides to go through. Access to some areas has a set schedule, for example a jeepney. If you happen to miss the schedule, or if the jeepney becomes full, you will have to wait a while for the next trip. That might be an inconvenient thing to happen, since I personally am not a fan of waiting. I also find Ayat ni Apo Hesus as a place where Catholics might go whenever they do a pilgrimage tour during the Lenten season.
It became a practical choice that we rented a van...
Balungao is a different story, as it is more accessible than one of the province's easternmost town we went. You can drop by at SM Rosales, Pangasinan, and look for a jeep that has a route going to Balungao town market. Locals say that there's a set schedule intervals for this trip. The fare will be significantly cheaper in this method. However, if you somehow missed the jeepney, you will have to charter a trip going to the said town, usually through a tricycle. Sources say they will charge you as high as 300 pesos for a one-way trip. And then from the town proper of Balungao, another charter trip with a tricycle will take you to the resort. They say that the fare is around 100 pesos for a one-way trip.
The hiking at the Sky Plaza and Maranum Falls is the most physically-taxing activities in our trip. As a non-hiker, I'd recommend that you might want to warm-up and stretch your body first before attempting the hike. Bring lots of water, too. They also discourage people with respiratory problems from scaling the mountain, even to Balungao Hilltop Adventure too. But the view from atop is always worth the sweat and panting.
All in all, the trip was all worth it. The only downside to it is that it only lasted for a day. But it's fine by me. Because tomorrow will be another opportunity for me to continue my training as a freelancer. Who knows, I might even check your emails even while I scale another shrine atop a mountain.
We would like to express our utmost gratitude to Mr. John Ray Mondina, Balungao Municipal Link of DSWD - Field Office I, in accommodating us and arranging all our sorties in the Balungao Hilltop Adventure. Agyaman kami! Thank you also to my partner, Ms. Angelica Real, and Ms. Beverly Oribello for giving me permission to use most of their pictures into the site.
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