Vantage Point

Matt & I have been planning to visit our friend Deks in Antipolo for quite a while; he is also a balikbayan from Saudi Arabia. At last, it happened yesterday.

Deks have 2 sons, one of which (Theo) is our inaanak (in absentia), we were all in Saudi Arabia when he was christened, in fact, this is my first time to see him yet Ninong didn’t bring anything for him.

While resting outside, a group of kids stopped by to ask for some guava fruit, I didn’t let this opportunity pass by without capturing their happy faces.

Deks was boasting of a good place to shoot, after lunch we immediately left the house & went across a hanging bridge.

Across the bridge a bunch of people were playing tong-its while the children plunged into a muddy river.

An old lady told us that a waterfalls is just nearby, “maganda doon, maganda ang agos ng tubig, konting lakad lang”, the lady told us. We started trekking to find this beautiful waterfalls, the trek was tiring yet relaxing considering the serenity of the place, the smell of fresh & leaves rested our lungs from the polluted air of the metropolis, not to mention the breathtaking sceneries that we passed by.

The children playing along the streets, they make me think of how happy my childhood days was.

After walking for more than an hour & a half & still no waterfalls, we decided stopped by & asked for direction. Don’t get me wrong, we asked for direction everytime we saw a person & we get the same answer, “d’yan lang sa bandang unahan” which makes us think that we come nearer & nearer. Another lady told us, “malapit na, itanong n’yo sa susunod na bahay”, believe it or not but the next house was another kilometer of walk.

During our stop, they told us the truth, it is quite far, they gave us 3 options, option 1, walk back home (demn! no way!), option 2, cross a couple of mountains more going to Cristo Falls or option 3, cross the river & find a shorter way home.

I’d really want to see the falls, but I was so exhausted & asked Deks & Matt to take option 3. On the way up, I felt that I’m gonna collapse, I’ve lost a lot of water during the trek & we didn’t bring any to quench our thirst. You may say that I’m exaggerating, but I felt that I’m gonna die that moment. I am not fit, my lifestyle (& health condition) does not recommend that I take that trek.

It was quite an experience, although we didn’t get to see Cristo Falls, I’m glad that I’m still alive.

Popularity: 18% [?]