Argao

“We should’ve been chillin’ out in malls and drinking latte by this time. Why did we come here and risk our lives? Adventure.” -Vahn

Bounded by work constraints, I accepted a so-called adventure upon proposal. I fell in love with the waterfall jump images posted on the activity page over Facebook encouraging me to really go with the group even if there’s a class the day after. In mind, I thought everything will go accordingly to what has been planned. I never thought that I’m in the beginning of the list of adventures I will be going.

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The exploration started with a river and highland trek. Our first destination was The Agta Cave. We need to travel four to five kilometers from where we were dropped by our bus. Before finally arriving at the cave, we need to undergo climbing and cliff rappelling.

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According to an interview with the local guide, before explorations and adventures of the place, following the route we have chosen (the one wherein you need to rappel) was utterly impossible. The only possible way of getting to the cave is to go and pass by the hole on the top of the cave. It was called “Agta Cave” since there was a big tree on top of the hole and people believed that when morning comes, the Agta stays on the cave (primarily becoming his second home aside from the tree).

The way towards the Agta Cave

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The hole believed to be where the Agta goes down
The hole believed to be where the Agta goes down

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Opening of the Agta Cave
Opening of the Agta Cave

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After the Agta Cave exploration, we immediately went to the most awaited part of the activity, the Bugasok Waterfall adventure. Like any other waterfalls, it has a bone-shivering coldness. It is 50 meters high and serves as water source for the locale in the area. With its height, many members of the group backed out, but not me. In my mind, it was a once in a lifetime experience. It is a now and never. Completely relying my trust to the three rescuers who are waiting down the waterfalls, I gathered all my might and jumped.

Bugasok Falls

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The feeling was utterly unexplainable. It was as if my soul has been left behind the cliff where I jumped in. Midair, I couldn’t believe why I have done such random act. But, there was no backing out. The current that time was very strong that’s why I got carried away. No harm was done though because the rescuers immediately pass upon me a coconut husk (bunot) which I never thought could be a very good lifesaver like life vests.

Before we started waterfall jumping and rappelling, we had first a budol fight feast. This feast became a venue for people to chat and check onto each other’s feelings.

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After the waterfall jumping and rappelling, we then started our trek to the Argao Coal Mine Resort. It was a more or less four hour trek depending on your pace. This trek was an ultimate test of stamina and determination! We were on the tail and are almost giving up. But good thing we didn’t because all of us made it to the resort alive and kicking.

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Before leaving, we drenched into the awaiting arms of the amazingly architecture swimming pools and ate our dinner. This concluded our death defying journey.

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Expenses:

300 – Transpo, Cebu City-Argao-Mountain Resort-Cebu City (bus will be provided basta moabot lang ta ug 30pax)
150 – guide and equipments (Balay sa Agta cave, rapelling)
250 – Food

TOTAL – 700/head

 

 

 

Itinerary:

3:00am – Assembly Time

3:00 – 4:30 – Travel to Argao (to our host’s house where sikwati, puto and torta were waiting for us)

4:30 – 6:00 – Breakfast

7:00 – start of the river and highland trek

9:00am – arrival to Agta Cave

12:00 – 1:00pm – trek to Bugasok Falls

1:00 – 3:00pm – Lunch, waterfall jumping and rappelling

3:00 – 4:00pm – Packing up

4:00 – 7:00pm – trek to Coal Mines View Resort

7:00 – 8:00pm – Dinner

8:00 – 9:30pm – Truck ride to Argao proper

9:30 – 11:00pm – Travel back to the city

11:30 – Home sweet home

Learnings and Realization:

  • You’ll never know your limits until you try to test what you can really do.
  • Knowing smiles and greetings spark conversation that often leads to instant friendships.
  • Always make the best of your life.
  • Drink pain reliever after these kind of activities to avoid fever brought by over fatigue.
  • Always be prepared.

Should there be further inquiries, feel free to post on the comment box. Aja!