Baler is a place of mystery and adventure. I stepped my right foot between two rocks. They were not visible to my eyes as the raging water covered everything beneath my feet. After walking through a narrow pebbled pathway and crossing three flimsy bamboo bridges, we faced the river. Land disappeared from sight, and we waded through the river while trekking onward. We aimed for the Mother Falls of Ditumabo in San Luis, Baler, Aurora, on eastern Luzon, Philippines.
I grabbed the rope tied by our guides. Stepping carefully, I walked along the river’s edge. I took another step, trying to test the depth and the stability of the rocks below. There were points where the bedrock suddenly drops deep. Consequently, other areas were covered with moss, making it slippery to step onto.
Then we climbed another bamboo ladder. We walked along a concrete ramp that echoed Temple Run from my phone. I used to play it there. A few minutes of walk on this concrete path led us to the mouth of the falls.
Heavy rain in recent days caused water to gush from above, splashing us and wetting us beside the natural pool.
Here are some things you need to bear in mind if you want to visit the falls. Since we weren’t able to park at the entrance of the falls, we had to leave the van near the highway (with parking cost of P50.00) and had to take the tricycle to and from the entrance.
It was costly as they charged P50.00 per head one way. We could have walked, although it was a long one, because the road was full of rocks and we had to endure a bumpy ride. Also, there were two bamboo bridges at the middle of the trek where an old man charges P20.00 per head.
Apart from the falls, we also went to Digisit Beach with the rock formations as its landmark. We intended to visit the private beach at Dicasalarin Cove; however, the gates closed, so we retraced our route and paused at Digisit Beach. Note also the P20.00 entrance per head and the P50.00 parking fee.
The water at the Digisit Beach was shallow because of the rocks at its bed. Crushed shells and corals fill the sand, keeping it white but rough. I even found a boot-shaped coral along the shore, which I took a photo and left it where it was lying before.
We ended the tour with a climb to Ermita Hill. It is known as a sacred haven for religious activities by devotees of Mother Mary. There was even some youth practicing dance steps at the hill.
Aside from being a spiritual landmark, Ermita Hill is also a historical spot. Right at the base of the hill, along the highway, is a sculpture of a wave and several people climbing the slope. Called the Tromba Marina, it represented the families who sought refuge at the hill when a tidal wave hit Baler on December 27, 1735.
It was a steep climb to the hill from Tromba Marina. But once we got there, we were greeted by the beautiful view of the bay and the Baler Fish Port.
There were still so many spots to visit, such as the museum, the church, and other attractions around town. But we decided to enjoy the rest of the day dipping into the enticing pool at Costa Pacifica and listen to the crashing of the waves at the beach.
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