Text and Photo: Mary Glidyl P. Nuñez and Rossele Mae P. Ponce
If there’s one thing pandemic has taught us, it is to discover nature’s greatest treasures for us. During this pandemic when we are required to keep distance from others, we learned to become closer to nature. God’s creation and man’s artistry converged to create fascination and delight for man to behold.
Mambusao is a developing municipality in the province of Capiz consisting of 16 barangays. For the past years, there have been lots of improvements in this town as seen in buildings, highways, and other infrastructures that are visible in every corner of the town center. However, in distant barangays a different form of development has taken place. Green hills and mountains have been developed to become tourist spots where people can go to relax and enjoy the scenery.
About 1.5 kilometers away from Barangay Burias proper lies a tourist spot that was developed only during this pandemic. Green Farm Lovers' Hill is located at Sitio Aliwas, Barangay Burias, Mambusao, Capiz. Delia Candelario de Fiesta, 57 years old, owns more or less 500 square meters of land which she turned into a tourist attraction in the midst of pandemic.
| Green Farm Lovers' Hill
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“This is actually out of plan kung baga nag-kadto lang gid kami sa area where I was born kay gusto magkadto sang bata ko. While nagapicture-picture kami sang nami nga view sang bata ko, nagsuggest siya nga why not maubra man kami pareho sang sa Mapol’s Farm for our family only para kon magbakasyon ang akon mga utod kag hinablos, may place kami nga kadtuan. So muna nga after a month, nagdecide na ako nga magpaubra. It was timely kay bawal man magpa-Roxas City that time kay we were under GCQ. After four days, may nahuman kami nga isa ka design kag ginpost lang namon sang pinabasta sa Facebook. Wala gid namon ginalauman nga damu ang ma-visit diri,” the owner shared how the place became a tourist destination.
(“This is actually out of plan since we just went here to visit the place where I was born because my child wanted to. While we were taking pictures of the view with my child, she suggested that we construct something just like Mapol’s Farm for our family and relatives to have a place to stay for our vacation? So, after a month, I decided to transform our land into a tourist spot. It was timely because during that time we were restricted to go to Roxas City due to General Community Quarantine. After four days, we had our first design and took pictures of it which we posted on Facebook not expecting that many people will visit our place.”)
Before you can reach this Instagram-worthy sights built on the top of a hill, you have to climb more or less thirty (30) steps. On your way up, you can see along the path different flowering plants beside the soil staircases’ wooden handrails and at the entrance. You could sense how much effort you have exerted if you start panting and sweating a lot.
Upon entering the place, you have to pay Php20 as an entrance fee. For safety purposes, visitors are required to disinfect their hands with hand sanitizer and log in on their visitors’ logbook for contact tracing.
According to the owner, they don’t allow persons who don’t wear face masks and they make sure that everyone disinfects their hands first before entering the place. She shared that she is also afraid that someone who is infected with COVID-19 might visit the place. But of course, they strictly enforce the health protocols so there’s nothing to worry about.
Green Farm Lovers' Hill has a small nipa hut where visitors could rest and take their snacks. It has more than five (5) tropical attractions inspired by Balinese culture and design in the middle of a thriving garden filled with lots of flowering plants. Round-shaped, heart-shaped, diamond-shaped wooden designs are among the attractions in the farm. But what really attract the visitors most are the different kinds of plants surrounding the place.
Since weekend is our free time to relax and enjoy with our family and friends, the farm accommodates around 80 persons or more during this day. Less than 20 persons on the other hand go there on weekdays depending on the weather.
So far, they haven’t encountered problems in operating the farm since visitors observe right conduct like disposing their trash properly and manifesting good behavior around the area.
Aside from the activities offered like coconut tree climbing where you climb and pick coconut by yourself and pay for it or cook ‘sab-a nga saging’ (‘saba banana’) or ‘balinghoy’ (‘cassava’), visitors can also have their camping or overnight trips while bringing their own tents. If you also want to taste the food served in the farm, you could make reservations a day before. They offer dishes like ‘binakol nga manok’ or ‘inubaran nga manok’ worth Php400-500 per chicken depending on the size. They also have a tie-up with Redd Chicken Wings and Peter’s Creation Catering Services.
With the help of the tourism officer-designate in the municipality of Mambusao Mr. Danny Navarra, Green Farm Lovers' Hill is endorsed by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Council.
“Very happy gid kami kay wala kami gaexpect nga ang amon lugar nga ari sa kabukiran naging local tourist destination na kag isa na sa gina-endorse kag ginakilala sang aton Provincial Tourism. Because of that, mas damu gakadto kag kon damu gakadto it means may income gid kami nga magamit para sa maintenance kag pagdevelop pa gid sang lugar. Gani happy kag thankful gid kami sa ila nga pagsupport sa amon,” Ma’am Delia expressed with so much delight on her face.
(“We are very happy since we don’t expect that our place far from the city will become a local tourist destination, and earn the recognition and endorsement of the Provincial Tourism. Because of that, a lot of people visit here which means we have an income to use for maintenance and improvement of the place. So we are happy and thankful with the support we receive from them.”)
According to Ma’am Delia, they have still lots of plans for their place if ever they will receive financial assistance especially that it is a farm where vegetables and fruit-bearing trees could be grown to attract more visitors.
Ma’am Delia gladly invites those who still haven’t visited their place to come and see what they have. “Sa mga wala pa nakakadto dapat magkadto na kamo kay indi gid kamo maghinulsol kon ari na kamo diri sa amon lugar. Kung mahilig kamo sa adventure, then Green Farm Lovers' Hill is the best for you!”
(“To those who haven’t visited the place, you should come and see it yourself. You really won’t regret coming here. If you are fond of adventure, then Green Farm Lovers' Hill is the best for you!”)
| Cima de la Montaña
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A few miles away from Green Farm Lovers' Hill is also a tourist destination endorsed by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Council. It is located in Sitio Agkawayan, Burias, Mambusao. The 12.8 hectares land owned by siblings Marilyn Labitan Cañete, Evangeline Labitan Bandies and Eriberto Labitan was developed into a tourist attraction which was named Cima De la Montaña. The name is just something they had come up with said Ma’am Marilyn.
Going to this place is not easy. Going there would require a vehicle that can handle the road’s steepness and can endure the running water from the two streams. But if you want to experience an adventure, you can walk on the running water barefooted along with your friends.
Just like Green Farm Lovers' Hill, Cima de la Montaña also charges an amount of Php20 as entrance fee. Health protocols like disinfection of hands and checking of temperature are also observed. Once inside you will be walking on a short slope where array of traditional huts made of bamboo can be seen.
Everyone knows that some of the best souvenirs you can take home are the photographs from your trip. Luckily, there’s a plenty to fill your camera with at the Cima de la Montaña which has seven (7) Insta-worthy attractions like bird’s nest, swings, round and heart-shaped designs and even a pirate ship made of bamboo. What visitors are most fascinated about the tourist spot are the mini-rice terraces on the background. Sitting on the attractions at the viewing deck, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the hills and terraces. You will surely be amazed since the mini rice terraces are a breathtaking sight from any angle.
According to Ma’am Marilyn, the view of the mini-rice terraces inspired them to make their land a tourist spot for the locals to witness the beauty of it. The good ambience also makes you feel relaxed. She and her siblings were the ones who planned out the attractions they would build which are not found in other local tourist destinations.
If the weather is good, more or less one hundred (100) local tourists visit them on weekends. They make sure that the tourists always wear their face masks and observe physical distancing as mandated by the local IATF against COVID-19.
The place does not only satisfy our eyes with amazing views but also our stomach with savory food batchoy and lomi. They also prepare meals for lunch like silog meals. The tourists can also make a request for the food they are going to eat but should be arranged at least three (3) days prior to their visit.
The owners were proud to share that they receive many positive feedbacks from their guests. Some also give suggestions how to make the place better. They also have lots of ideas to improve the place but they cannot push them through due to the situation we are currently facing.
“Come, escape and breathe the air of our tourist spot! It will excite you to go in an adventure that you truly love the most!” a message from Ma’am Marilyn.
Pandemic made us realize that we must enjoy the things we have while we’re still alive, and one of these is nature and what it can offer. We should enjoy every little moment and take lots of pictures that will remind us in the coming years that once in our life, we’d been to places communing with nature and witnessing God’s works of art.