The Trek

I have no idea how hard the climb was to get to Aninuan Falls or how long it will take to get there. I’m not mountaineer nor I have a real workout for months. Worse, I’ve been smoking for over a month now.

The sun was almost high up when we started the climb so imagine how I sweated like buckets. Halfway towards the falls, I could’ve opted not to proceed – I was already a walking waterfalls. But no matter, I kept on walking. It was a hard climb but not agonizing. You still get the constant reward of a wonderful view of the mountains and the sea and of clean fresh air.

The Falls

The waters of Aninuan Falls were cold! With reckless abandon, I waded in right away. I was hot and sweaty and the clean cool waters were just what I needed.

I would’ve stayed longer; Mang Islaw won’t mind. But I just worry that if I starve myself much – it was noon when we got there – I wouldn’t have enough energy to trek back to White Beach. I don’t really want to slid of some of those narrow paths if I’m weak-kneed with hunger; my fall would be painful.

Next time, I would bring packed lunch so I could stay longer and we could cry longer… (Sinong emo??) At this point, you could see how I failed attaining my first objective – to forget. I guess I could never forget; hopefully, the tears can heal… (Isa pa – sinong emo??)

I so wanted to go back to that waterfalls again!

Mang Islaw

I would definitely look for Mang Islaw if I decide to visit Aninuan Falls again. I enjoyed chatting with him; he knows when to talk and when to keep quiet. He starts on a topic and keep it going not just for the sake that we were talking.

I told him of my reason for being there. He assured me that I seem to be ok – mukhang mabait, baka nasobrahan lang sa bait. But mostly, I let him do all the talking. He talked about the many jobs he has been through – as a fisherman in the seas of Palawan, a marble quarryman, a construction worker, a magic ’shrom jam maker, he worked at the forestry, as a repairman, etc, etc, etc. He also talked about his first love – his wife, and their 10 kids. Unfortunately, someone advised against his wife getting a ligation kaya dumami! He talked about wanting to leave his nagger wife or find himself a few more girls but wouldn’t entertain the thoughts longer than necessary nor act on it; he worries about his kids. Anyway, he says, he has no choice.

I’ve reflected on that one thought that I’ve heard from Islaw the Guide: of course we have a choice. Sometimes we feel that we don’t have a choice because what we are, what we want for ourselves, what we say or do, is completely different form what the society or our very own friends and families says is acceptable. We drop what we want as not an option; we go for what your community says is good; therefore, there’ll be no choice but that one. But are we being true to ourselves? We could have also already conceded defeat to the hard path to take you there. We take the easier path and convince ourselves that that is what we really wanted; that we are contented with our choice…

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Oh! I could go on and on. But I’ll have to stop, I just think too much. I’ll post accompanying pictures on this entry next time. <3

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