Portrait of a Corn Grower, San Juan, La Union

He is just one of the friendly faces I met during my early morning walks in the idyllic brgy. Nadsaag in San Juan, La Union. He and his fellow farmers wake up very early in the morning to tend to their corn farms especially during the summer season when the earth is powder dry and need some irrigation.

Yellow corn is one of the primary agricultural products of San Juan. It is used as raw material for food and industrial products.

Skim Boarding in Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union

It wasn't surfing season when we arrived in Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. The waves were not so big but there were some surfers still enjoying the beach. What caught my attention was this young skim surfer seizing every power wave that could carry his board off and make him do that graceful stuff I wish I could be doing, too.

Maratangtang, Edible Sea Urchin

The people in La Union call it 'maratangtang'. This cluster of sea urchins costs Php 50.00/Kilo and is prepared by dipping it into boiling water. The spiky shell is as hard as a crab shell. We opened it with a knife and hot liquid flooded our plate. A mud-color substance appeared together with the white edible flesh. It tasted like the sea--salty and soft like crab meat or something like sea shell.

Experience Antique: Bugang River Bamboo Rafting and Banca Cruise

A trip to the province of Antique would be more exciting if you visit the municipality of Pandan and experience bamboo rafting and banca cruise along Bugang river. This river is one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines with crystal clear waters flowing underneath a canopy of emerald forest cover. It is nature at its best!

An interesting feature of this adventure is that you can start from the Malumpati health spring where you can enjoy a cool dip into the river and take a trek to the very source of the river itself, the Malumpati Head spring.

Pandan is just about 30 kms from Caticlan, Aklan. So if you are planning to visit Boracay and want something more out of your vacation,you might as well visit the place.

a more detailed narrative of this adventure can be found here.

Experience the province of Antique

Awaken your senses! Hear the soothing sound of nature. Breathe the freshness of the outdoors. Savor the delectable dishes. Behold the wonder of the province. Feel the beat of adventure. Engage your senses. Experience heritage, experience katahum, experience Antique.

A Trek to the Malumpati Head Spring

As a suburban guy who hasn't seen a lot of how mother nature works, I imagine river sources or head springs as giant faucet-like structures spraying several cubic meters of water into a giant pool just like how a magestic water falls pour water into a large basin. My trek into the Malumpati head spring in Pandan, province of Antique, Philippines shattered that mental image. The Malumpati head spring is a very tranquil body of bluish green water surrounded with dense forest cover and it is a home to thousands of plant species.

The quiet Malumpati Head Spring

Malumpati headspring is one of Pandan's tourist attractions. It is about 10 meters in diameter and it is said that its depth is yet to be fathomed.  On the other hand, the Malumpati forest is declared as a municipal watershed and park and is a habitat for the Visayan Writhed-billed hornbill ( Aceros waldeni ) and the Visayan Tarictic hornbill ( Penelopides panini ). The headspring is the water source of the Bugang river dubbed as one of the cleanest rivers in the country.

Valena Malumpati Health Spring and Tourist Resort

To reach the Malumpati headspring, visitors may start at the Valena Malumpati Health Spring and Tourist Resort located at Sitio Malumpati, Brgy. Guia, Pandan, Antique. It is a short rough road ride from the town proper. A very affordable entrance fee is required. The resort is equipped with cottages, rest rooms and other basic amenities to make your stay really worthwhile. The river water is dammed and the sides are concreted. The cold river water always appears so inviting you couldn't help but take a dip. Rafts and inflated tire tubes are also available. Like swimming pools, the depth vary from shallow to deep.

A rocky but enjoyable trek to the Malumpati head spring

From the resort, a 15-20 minute trek is needed to reach the head spring. You have to tread a rocky path under a canopy of  trees. For a shorter trek, you may also take a shortcut by crossing a shallow stream. The challenging walk will then be rewarded by a mystical quietude. The pool is so quiet, the water plants almost unmoving. Some human structures, fish pens, are constructed off center. It is said that mystical creatures inhabit the place especially that large-eared, nameless creature, a loch ness of Malumpati, some foreign travelers would say.

Tour guides are provided for tourists. A different path is taken upon return and you will cross a hanging bridge.

The best time to enjoy the resort is when you arrive back from the exciting trek.

Bamboo rafting at the Malumpati Health Spring and Tourist Resort

The trip is more complete is you also do bamboo rafting along the Bugang river.

For more information about the Municipality of Pandan, Antique, click here.

In case you need yet another reason to visit Malalison Island

In case you need yet another reason to visit Malalison Island in Culasi, Antique, here's this innocent-looking yet carnivorous life form, the tropical pitcher plant(Nepenthes).

This insect-eating plant is scattered all over the island like unwanted weeds harmless among humans but not to the poor insects who can't afford to pay a fishing boat to ferry them safely to the mainland. Haha!

Malalison Island is one of the three island barangays of Culasi, Antique. It is a 55-hectare island known among locals as Mararison Island since Antiqueños pronounce the L sound as R. From the poblacion, a visitor needs to take a 15-minute boat ride to reach the island. This alluring island offers clear blue waters, pebbled beach sand and coral reefs. Visitors would definitely enjoy swimming, fishing, scuba diving and sailing.

Here's one good blog entry that leads you to the island:

http://www.akrosdayunibers.com/8/post/2013/04/malalison-island-travel-guide-how-to-get-to-malalison-island-in-culasi.html