A Weary World Wanderer
On these few pages I will be placing my most select works and showing them off to the world. It may not be the best work but I did enjoy taking them so I would be glad if it will also bring a smile to your day. Have a great day!
An Unforgettable Moment in Mantayupan
It was supposed to be a simple gathering in Mantayupan Falls in Barili, Cebu, but... then all I can say is “I Can Only Imagine”. Rizza, Ana, Mary Jane, Christopher, Benedict, Aimee and I came from a long trek, observing one of the holiest traditions in the Lenten Season, the Via Crucis. Arriving past 6 PM in Barili, Cebu from Lindogon, Sibonga, we crashed at a friend’s house for some Rest and Relaxation. That night, we were pooped but it never stopped us, we had fun, we did the usual played some cards and talked a lot. In the morning of April 3, 2010 we did our most ordinary chores, cooked breakfast in a rush, spend time talking and eating it not expecting of the fun that may follow. Yes, we did plan our day, we were to hit the beach and drive up to the so called Mantayupan Falls. Of course being mindless of what fun we’d get in trekking up to that place, I was the devil’s advocate; I pushed for hitting the beach and well spend more time in having fun in the beach. But to my dismay nature was against me. We arrived on the beach but it was low tide water was but waist high so we took a few pictures and left for that place called Mantayupan falls. Once more we spent so much time talking in the multicab that time simply passed us by, the next thing we knew we were on the gate of the resort. We paid the attendant no more than 10 pesos each. A little trek on the concrete pathway and I was still unaware of what’s to come.
I saw the first falls. “Is this it?” I asked. “No silly!” Ana, our host responded. The first falls carried too little excitement, we moved into a foot bridge no bigger than a meter, up a flight of concrete stairs and what I saw next totally changed my mind. Now I knew why everyone of my friends was so excited to visit the falls, the view was exhilarating. The place was crowded though, it was Easter and another way of celebrating Easter in the Philippines, was to hit the beach or any body of water, thus everyone was here. We enjoyed the view had fun in the pool of the second falls but overcrowding and the heat got the better of us. The sun was too strong so we went back to our table but since there were no umbrellas for us, the cruel sun beat down so hard, it felt like it was nibbling on our skin, until we noticed the cool babbling brook beside us. It carried nonetheless cold run-off water from the falls, it was shaded by the branches of the trees up above and well it was cool. Benedict, our friend got a crazy idea and there began a pictorial like no other, posing like models for a beauty pageant we laid down and paid less attention to what was going on, posing here and a click there time passed like the water that flowed around us. We need not worry about anything as our table lay simply beside us above ground; the trees shaded our skin and more fragile egotistic view of having a fairly white skin; and above all not having to leave someone to watch our bags it involved everyone in our group. there began no more than 50 pictures as it lasted no more than an hour but if it did then I can only imagine. It didn't simply take the stress out from our tired bodies; it rejuvenated and filled us with a memory which I perhaps won’t easily forget. If it lasted longer I can only imagine the fun that would have followed.
It takes approximately no more than 2 hours to get to Barili from Cebu City and some 15 minutes from the town center of Barili to Mantayupan Falls. “I Can Only Imagine” is a title of a praise and worship song popularized by MercyMe in connection to the date of the event, the scenery and to my goal in writing this travelog. If I am amazed by such wonder of nature what more would I feel when I meet our creator. Yes, I can only imagine.