The town of General
Nakar is a place that most people may be familiar with but likely have limited
knowledge about. This rings true in my case. As I packed my stuff for the trip,
I took a peek at its location on Google Maps and observed that it faces the
Pacific Ocean and runs parallel to Polillo Island. Studying its position and
knowing the geography around, it struck me that this town likely boasts a
wealth of outdoor attractions, nestled as it is in the foothills of the Sierra
Madre mountain range.
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| River tubing in General Nakar, Quezon can get wild and so much fun |
Despite being
enroute to General Nakar to cover the Gapo and Palusong Festival, which also
coincides with the 75th founding anniversary of the town, an excited jolt shot
up my body, knowing that we would be there not just for the fun revelry but
also for some nature-tripping adventure.
Let the Fun Gapo
and Palusong Festival Begin
According to
Nakarins, a term describing locals of General Nakar, the word "Gapo"
translates to "Panimula," or "Beginning," in English.
Meanwhile, "Paluson" embodies the town's "Bayanihan"
spirit, reflecting a strong sense of unity and community.
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| Street bands and majorettes participated during the festival's street parade |
Gapo and Palusong
celebrate the rich farming traditions of the town. From the planting season to
the rituals performed during harvest, these events highlight the community's
connection to the land and the sharing of its abundant blessings.
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| LGU employees during the street parade |
After spending our
first day in chill mode at the quaint family-run Mondy & Goldy's Beach
Resort, we woke up early the next day to witness the street parade. Unlike
other festivals I've attended around the country, this one in General Nakar is
very laid back, yet it still exudes a festive atmosphere. The rest of the week
was filled with pockets of events such as a pageant for the search of Mister
and Miss General Nakar, an Agri-booth presentation showcasing each barangay's
specialty products, and a concert featuring a few showbiz personalities from
GMA.
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| Traditional tagayan |
I could say that I
enjoyed the weeklong festivities, savoring shots of the traditional
"tagayan," which consisted of the town's local wine, and
participating in feasts at various houses, including the family home of Mam
Chona, the owner of the resort where we stayed.
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| Tagay sa Tagumpay |
What endeared me
the most to this quaint town, however, was our few days of exploring General
Nakar’s nature attractions. These were the moments where we found ourselves
negotiating slippery trails, riding a banana boat, speeding on an ATV, chasing
waterfalls and even tumbling underwater on a river.
An Emerging
Eco-Tourism Destination
General Nakar was
named in the honor of Major General Guillermo Peñamante Nakar (1905–1942), a
revered figure who hailed from the barangay of Anoling and led the 1st
Battalion of the 71st Infantry Division of the USAFFE in their valiant stand
against the invading Japanese Forces during World War II.
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| General Nakar is a lowkey outdoor enthusiast's playground |
General Guillermo Nakar
has shown that the town named after him boasts a long lineage of brave
individuals, complemented by the equally resilient and hardworking Dumagat and
Remontado Indigenous communities. A significant number of Dumagat-Remontado
settlers made their home alongside the waters of the Rigrig River, in the area
now known as Sitio Masla.
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| On the way to adventure |
After nearly two
hours of navigating the bumpy and muddy terrain of the ongoing construction
site of the Pacific Coast Trail highway that will soon link General Nakar to
Dingalan, Aurora, aboard a habal-habal, we finally reached Sitio Masla. This
burgeoning eco-adventure tourism hotspot is teeming with excitement and
exploration opportunities for travelers eager to embrace fresh outdoor
experiences.
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| Three of our 7 river tubing guides |
Upon our arrival,
we were warmly greeted by members of the Masla Community Nature Adventure,
predominantly representing the Dumagat and Remontado Indigenous People
communities. In a bid to enhance its community-based tourism program, the
municipal tourism office has empowered the Masla community members to manage all
the outdoor attractions in their area.
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| Sapot Falls |
Our group of seven
travel writers and content creators was pleasantly surprised to find that the
same number of trained guides was assigned to accompany us on our trek to the
waterfalls and during our river tubing adventures for the day. During our
pre-hike briefing, we learned that each guide has completed and is actively
pursuing further eco-tourism training to enhance their ability to serve future
visitors to their community.
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| Let the wild ride begin |
First on our agenda
is a trek to the 150-foot Sapot Falls which according to our lead guide
Jonathan Ascaraga will only take "one hour tops". I wanted to
believe him right away but just by crossing the river to the jump-off point of
our hike already took us 20 minutes, I knew right away it would take us more
than an hour.
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| My friend April enjoying a quick break from our topsy turvy river tubing ride |
Fortunately, the
captivating sights and the verdant beauty of the forested path kept us
thoroughly engaged. It offered all the essential elements of an ideal outdoor
excursion: the soothing sounds of the river streams, the melodic chirping of
birds, the vibrant hues of small flowers set against the lush greenery, and the
refreshing water that cooled our feet. Each detail provided us with something
to be in awe at as we inch closer to our first destination, the waterfalls steeped
with a legend to tell.
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| Near the tail-end of our river tubing ride |
According to our
guides, a local legend tells of a Dumagat family who ventured near the
waterfall. As they were climbing around the rocky walls, the child lost his
footing, causing the mother to yell to the father, "Sapotin mo!"
which loosely translates to "catch him!". Since then, the story
evolved into a poignant reflection of familial bonds, illustrating the
collective concern one extends beyond individual members to include the entire
community.
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| Our breakfast that fueled up for our activities that day |
What was supposed
to be an hour-long hike ended up as a two-hour walk in the woods. After
spending 60 minutes or so of swimming in the chest-deep pool of the waterfall
and photo shoots, we set off on our descending trek to the starting point of
our day’s second activity: river tubing at Rigrig river.
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| General Nakar's raw outdoor appeal is a welcome sight |
River tubing offers
a delightful experience where you can sit on a donut-shaped inner tube, letting
the gentle flow of the river guide you. While you may occasionally dip your
hands into the water to paddle, for the most part, it's all about surrendering
to the whims of the current. This thrilling adventure activity is still in its
early stages here, and as such, it has yet to receive an official river grade
under the International River Grading System.
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| Kakanin feast courtesy of a local herbal products makers cooperative |
We quickly selected
our preferred tube and prepared ourselves for an exhilarating journey. In no
time, as our guide pushed us downstream, the river’s current took charge from
thereon, taking us on a whirlwind of circling movements. There was a moment when
we tipped over, giving us a fleeting taste of what it feels like to be inside a
washing machine for a few seconds.
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| With fellow travel writers and content creators |
With my companion's
excited shouts of “Whoo-hoo” harmonizing with the rhythmic rush of Rigrig
River's rapids, I found myself gazing up at the vast blue sky as my tube
carried me in a quick, swirling dance. From time to time, I would glance
forward to catch a glimpse of the approaching rapids. Our guides would shout
“hold on” ahead of the stream, signaling that we were nearing a rapid. As we
navigated each rapid, the exuberant voices of my friends April and Jerame rose
in a delightful crescendo, filling the air with joyous yells.
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| Most of our meals were composed of fresh catch from the sea and newly-picked veggies |
A little more than
an hour of this had us brimming with smiles on our faces while each showing
each other part of our skin that mildly scraped a rock. A little bruise here
and there, but generally safe over-all, we escaped with a wonderful experience
that we will all remember for a long time and something we would associate with
General Nakar.
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| Our home for a week in General Nakar, Mondy & Goldys' Beach Resort |
The next day, while
we were enjoying the water activities at Mondy and Goldys' Beach Resort, riding
a banana boat, a jet ski, a UFO boat, and an ATV over the fine gray sands of
the beach, Jonathan Saynes, the Tourism Officer of General Nakar, said to us,
"If only you had more time, we have a lot more nature spots here in our
town." He mentioned Tulaog Cave, considered a sacred place for the Dumagat
people, accessible from the sea and leading into a striking inner chamber
nestled within a dense karst wall. ThereThere is also a unique beach with
smooth pebble rocks, a beautiful rock formation known as Masanga Point, and
numerous waterfalls such as the Pagapeden Falls and the 50-foot-high Depalyon
Falls. ally, much of Mt. Daraitan is in General Nakar," he adds.
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| Water activities at Mondy and Goldys' Beach Resort |
General Nakar is
shaping up to be an exciting destination, especially with the upcoming
completion of the Quezon-Aurora road that traces the stunning Pacific Coastal
Trail. The region boasts a wealth of natural wonders, featuring stunning
beaches, intriguing caves, and flowing rivers, including the Tinipak and Agos
rivers that also passes through General Nakar.
