Psst! Did you, once in your life, wanted to swim in some hidden forest waterfalls in your birthday suit with no care in the world except for some nosy shrieking birds, cool breeze, cold water and lots of moss-encrusted trees to cover your nakedness? Well, I discovered that there is still a place in Barangay Bulang, Malinao, Albay, named Vera Falls. I heard a lot about this waterfall from some of my adventurous friends, but sadly, they forgot to carry any cameras, or if they do, the films have never seen the light of the processors (that was still the golden era of films).
Being the info officer of my office, I was assigned to cover and document DAR-initiated projects in our rural communities.
Nestled at the foot of forested Mt. Malinao, this barangay belongs to one of the far-flung and mountainous agrarian reform communities in Albay. After doing my assignment, I had some chika-chika with some residents and somebody mentioned the waterfalls. Well, in my past life I was related to Magellan (though my looks don’t) hehehe, thus an explorer. So with my reliable, ever-present Olympus E-500 camera, I lost no time and went with an excited, lolo-like Barangay Kagawad to guide me around.
Vera Falls can be reached around eight kilometers from Tabaco City, then take a right turn at Barangay Quinastillojan, where Barangay Comun comes next, cross the millions-worth World Bank-DAR-LGU-built concrete bridge and road (ehem, I said I am the DAR-Albay info officer, so I better promote our accomplishments) and upon reaching Barangay Sua, you start negotiating the bumpy, winding road. Although in a year’s time, it will be a smooth ride since paving of the road is afoot. For now, if you want to take your car it should be a 4-wheel drive, but of course I got there with my trusted, office-issued Honda XL125.
Then spare another 1.5 kilometers from the barangay center, with road construction is also in full swing. Upon reaching the end of the road, there goes the hard part. You have to trek another 300 meters downhill and if careless, you’ll reach your destination below in seconds, but with broken bones, if you’re lucky to be alive, hehehe. And please don’t be acrophobic, it’ll be a dizzying height but if you want to step on Tarzan shoes, er, g-strings, there will be lots of vines and vegetations to cling to. I tell you, it will not be a walk in the park. But upon reaching the falls, cool breeze will envelope you, with shrieking birds, cold water and lots of moss-encrusted trees around, then go for your dream, swim! Be in you birthday suit and let nature cover you.
PS. My guide cum model didn’t mind my suit, so I didn’t mind him too, hehehe. Better come now because if the road network is finished, tourists will surely be flocking in and who wants to swim buck naked if hordes of people are around, except if you are an exhibitionist.
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