PH & Beyond: Wawa Dam in Rodriguez Rizal the Second Time Monday, February 9, 2015

I revisited Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal with my cousins, Kuya Carl, Ashley and her friends from school, Mikaela and Jersen last month. I like sharing the interest of exploring the great outdoors to younger people especially to those who are close to me so I went back to this place. Besides it is an opportunity for them to get away from busy life in school and reconnect with nature.

Although there were low pressure that day, it was still pretty crowded. There were group of mountain bikers and people taking the trail briskly for a nice morning workout. We successfully traversed the rocky edge justto get to the waterfalls and it was worth it. This time we went boating in the reservoir too using a bamboo raft with a hut on it. The view of the river was simply stunning and very serene. It was more like being acquainted with nature. Hence, going to places like this is an avenue to widen our appreciation with the world and an opportunity to get in touch with our environment.

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PH & Beyond: Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls in Tanay, Rizal Sunday, February 1, 2015

There's this sense of mystification embedded within the structure of waterfalls and caves. In terms of aesthetics, we are obviously attracted to such locations...but it's more than that. We are drawn to them because they pose as concrete remnants of history that establish the theory that our earth was indeed cultivated in a matter of eras. We are born as skeptics, innately questioning the forces that dominate the universe whether it be biological, political, or religious. For some reason, however, these doubts seem to decompose when we feel the water literally falling from these strategically patterned rocks or see the paintings that encompass the walls of caves, animating the existence of our fore mothers and forefathers. Why is that?

It's because humans not only strive to learn about history, but to witness it through all five possible senses: We want to touch it, we want to see it, we want to feel it, we want to hear it, and we want to taste it. Exploring through Calinawan Cave and swimming in Daranak Falls is not an opportunity, but a privilege. The whole premise of riding shabby jeeps and feeling the wind on your back, walking on unpaved roads and gravel, and eating on banana leaves is a privilege. To experience life in its purest and most natural form is a privilege. Hence, the inevitable desire to capture all aspects of reality that confirms our history as well as our existence.

There are these rare moments that connect us with the past and reveal to us that humanity is truly subsistent. Yesterday, February 1, 2015 contained one of those moments and I realized that we'll probably spend our lives wondering about the mechanisms that lie behind nature, but I guess that's the beauty of it too.

 Words by Ysabella Ashley de Jesus, Iphone Photos by RV Panambo 

This entry was written by my 18 years old cousin, Ysabella Ashley de Jesus for the blog, Chasing Adventure. Before moving to the Philippines mid-last year to study pre-medicine in the country, she lived her entire life in the big city of New York. One time, I was browsing her ipad, I saw this journal that she wrote about her moving, that very moment I knew that she can be a good writer. Yesterday, with her dear friend, Mikaela who is on the other hand raised in California, we went and explored this town nearby called, Tanay in Rizal. 

I think having fellow explorers write for Chasing Adventure and share their travel story with us will now be a regular feature of this blog.

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PH & Beyond: Lake Park, Angono, Rizal Wednesday, July 30, 2014

I'm always reminded that before dying to see the farthest destination is at least find time to explore some nearby places. Angono is just an hour away from where I’m living. Although I’ve been already there for twice before, I never had the chance to explore the whole town.

I’ve been eagerly wanting to visit the said town for quite a while now however, due to work and other commitments, plan of revisiting it was always put on-hold. Today, with the assistance of my boss from my previous job who is a proud local of the municipality, I was able to explore the colorful Angono once more.

The Lake Park wasn’t our first destination, but it’s one of the most I have enjoyed. I could actually feel the cold air touching my skin while walking around the lake, and made me miss my own town. Locals call it Wawa or Lawa in Filipino language. It is part of the Laguna de bay, the largest lake in the Philippines and one of the primary sources of freshwater fish in the country.

Everything about the experience reminds me of living in the province, no traffic, can get around the town proper by just walking and most especially everyone seems to be relatives or friends. 

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PH & Beyond: Blanco Family Museum, Angono, Rizal

I do have a huge interest and appreciation for arts. That’s always in me ever since then. Every destination should have at least a gallery or art exhibit that I should visit. When I first heard that Angono is being called as the Arts Capital of the Philippines, I just told myself that I need to find out why and satisfy this curiosity within.

Blanco Family Museum was our first destination in Angono. It showcases the tremendous collection of beautiful paintings by the Blanco family who are all passionate about making wonderful masterpieces of arts. The paintings are arranged from the youngest son’s to the eldest son’s artworks. It was followed by their mother’s gallery which, according to our tour guide started painting at the age of 48 and was trained with her children by Sir Jose “Pitok” Blanco, the Filipino Master and Patriarch of the Blanco Family.

The museum is filled with more than hundreds of masterpieces portraying folk realism style. The different Filipino culture and tradition,  landscape, way of life in rural places and each other portraits are mostly their favorite subjects.

Each Blanco artist are just all good at reminding through their paintings as a medium the colorful yet simplicity of life way back then.

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AngNewNo Cafe, Angono

I had so much catching up with my colleague from my previous work when we dined in this quaint and lovely cafe after our brisk walking around the town of Angono. We had a lot of talk table topics about anything and everything while enjoying our food and being surrounded by arts.

If you happen to be on a trip somewhere in Rizal, I would highly recommend this art cafe called Ang New No located along the Manila East Road. Their food is fairly cheap, and at the same time taste really good. The cafe’s interior is furnished with comfortable wooden chairs and tables.

There are lots of art pieces in every corner, from paintings hanging on the wall to small novelty pieces placed everywhere in this three story cafe. The laid back atmosphere makes this cafe an ideal place for a quick treat after a day of wandering the town.

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PH & Beyond: Wawa Dam, Montalban, Rizal Saturday, February 1, 2014

My mind wasn’t in Manila in the past days so along with my supportive family members and some of our friends, we went to this place called Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal, an hour away province from the metro to throw off the boredom.

If you’ve heard somewhere in your childhood the Philippine folklore about the man who bears a supernatural strength named Bernardo Carpio, this is the place where the story took place.

This is probably the twin mountains that trapped Berardo Carpio.

Before Angat Dam was built, Montalban Dam also famous as Wawa Dam was the concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam that provides the Manila Metropolitan. It was built in 1909 and serves the metro for quite a long period of time, 133 years to be exact.

Different sizes of rocks that covers the stream.

The old and ruined watch tower on the side of the dam.



The peaceful river is just so charming.



I have an unusual obsession of keeping wonderful places like this as a secret, so I didn’t reveal any info yesterday to those who have asked me in Instagram until I finish editing the digital photos.

If you’re on the go for adventure, this place is ideal. Its abundance of nature can refresh our spirit and soul, a place wherein we can experience God’s gift of life. 

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PH & Beyond: Pinto Art Gallery, Antipolo City Saturday, January 5, 2013

It was early this year when the boyfriend and I went to this lovely place, my new favorite hideout in the world called Pinto Art Museum. We were only armed with directions got from the web and and in an instant, in a span of 30 minutes from where I am living feels like we have made it all the way to Santorini. As much as I want to keep the place sacred and secret I can’t be that selfish not to post.

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