Posts
Abra de Ilog - Our Town… Our Future
Posted On Saturday, October 4, 2008 at at 5:02 AM by Admin
Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
Your GATEWAY to Western Mindoro Island…the WATERFALLS CAPITAL…
How to Get Here?
Abra de Ilog is one of the 11 towns in Occidental Mindoro. It is located in the West side of Mindoro Island in the Southern Tagalog region of the Philippine Archipelago.
To get here, there are several RORO trips from Batangas International Port to Matabang Port which take approximately 2 ½ hours. Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. (MSLI), the origin of which started from this very place takes pride as the major transport vessel not only to the local residents but to the whole province as well hence, Abra de Ilog takes pride as the major GATEWAY to entire Occidental Mindoro.
From Matabang Port, one can hire a tricycle for only Php 20.00 to get to Poblacion, which is the center of all hubs & activities of the town. Anyone can explore the nine (9) friendly Barangays of the town via tricycle or by taking a walk while enjoying the peaceful scenery.
We are also home to multiple beach resorts which can give Puerto Galera beaches a run for their money. Oriental tourists prefer the Abra de Ilog coast because of its solitude, quietude & serenity. Waterfalls are one of the most visited and loved by local and foreign adventurers. Spelunking and white water rafting can be offered also to those who would like to take extreme challenge of nature.
Brief Profile
The Municipality of Abra de Ilog lies in the northernmost tip of the mainland Occidental Mindoro. It is bounded by Paluan in the West, Mamburao in the South & Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro in the East. It has a total land area of 72, 865.870 hectare, consisting mainly of 70.47% forest land and 20.91% agricultural. Just like the rest of the country, Abra de Ilog experiences dry season during the months of March, April & May. Rainy season starts in June and persists until late November. But unlike other coastal towns Abra de Ilog is located between two ranges of mountain hence; it can have a low of 20.8°C even during summer and a high of 30.1°C during wet seasons.
Its terrain can be attributed to the rugged mountains ranging from the coastline up to the most isolated, untouched land formation going further south. The town has average annual rainfall is 2,262.5 mm to 3,850 mm while the humidity range from 63° to 87° with an average of 75.4°. Based on 2004 Local Government Unit survey, the town has a total population of 23,915, 33.78% of which are Indigenous People (IPs) with almost 1:1 male to female ratio. Lowlanders or Tagalog are 15,835. Electorate population is 12,126. About 90.14% of families belong to poverty level.
Festivities
There are several occasions being celebrated every year. The likes of which are the Feast of San Rafael Archangel the Patron Saint of Abra de Ilog, Apo Iraya Festival and “Penitensya” Holy Week Pilgrimage.
Our Heritage
Most houses in Poblacion took after its Spanish influence. It can be seen through the architectural designs and the ways of the people themselves.These Acacia trees are the only one of its kind left during the Japanese occupation. The whole town was totally burned down but these sturdy trees survived the tragedy.
Barangay Udalo is also home to multiple beach resorts which can give Puerto Galera beaches a run for their money. Oriental tourists prefer the Abra de Ilog coast because of its solitude, quietude & serenity. Casay Beach Resort offers very relaxing scenery on nipa cottages, native hammocks and sailboat. It is the first establishment in the town that has utilized non-fossil fuel as its source of energy. The powers take pride in their solar and wind powered facilities.
Our Finest
Kalong River located in Sitio Camurong is the only inland body of crystal clear water with a distinct white sand riverbank. It is a great come on for both local and foreign tourist.
Luang Baga Cave has been explored by the National Museum staff in 1992 when a number of anthropologist & paleontologist teamed up with our LGU personnel. The data has already been included in the Museum’s Archives.
Lanas Lake. Once a home of Mindoro’s crocodiles. It is almost a hundred hectare body of water located in Barangay Cabacao. Source of the tastiest Tilapia in the neighboring towns.
Agbalala Waterfalls. It is about 115 feet tall with 45 x 75 feet catchments pool. Agbalala – 16.46m X 22.86m catchments pool, Height 34.44m, Depth 3.65m. Above it is another breathtaking waterfall which is Agbalala Lovers Falls. Lovers falls – 13.72m X 9.15m Catchments pool, Height 13.72m, depth 2.44m
The Apyas Waterfalls is frequent hang-out among the local residents because of its proximity to Poblacion. You can enjoy the whole place anytime of the day paying only Php 10.00 for the maintenance of the place. Apyas – Height 4.57m, Depth 1.22m, 1.83m top to water surface
The greatest tourist attraction Abra de Ilog can offer is its inhabitants. Nobody can match the warmth, the solidarity, the industry and uniqueness of its people.
Ecotourism Potential Sites in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
Beach Resorts
- Beach Walk Resort – Barangay Lumangbayan
- Casay Beach Resort – Barangay Wawa
- Cymru Beach Resort – Barangay Wawa
- Green Wich Hills Beach Resort – Barangay Wawa
- San Souci Beach – Barangay Udalo
- Tuko Beach Resort – Barangay Udalo
- Udalo Beach Resort – Barangay Udalo
- Yellow Beach – Barangay Lumangbayan
- Wild Trek – Barangay Udalo
Waterfalls
- Agbalala Chain of Waterfalls – Barangay Wawa
- Apyas Waterfalls – Barangay Wawa
- Bagolayag Waterfalls – Barangay Wawa
- Balagnan Waterfalls – Barangay Wawa
- Kalong river – Barangay Udalo
- Bisay Waterfalls – Barangay Lumangbayan
- Kadilawan Waterfalls – Barangay San Vicente
- Mamangan – Bisay Waterfalls – Barangay Cabacao
- Nangka Waterfalls – Barangay Balao
- Papali Waterfalls – Barangay Wawa
- Sto. Tomas Waterfalls – Barangay Wawa
- Swim-Lawaan Waterfalls – Barangay Poblacion
- Rayusan Waterfalls – Barangay Armado
- Tulong Bato Waterfalls – Barangay Udalo
- Tuuyan Waterfalls – Barangay Balao
Caves, Rivers & Lakes
- Luang Baga Cave – Barangay Cabacao
- Tuaw – Masaklang River Rapids – Barangay Cababcao
- Lanas Lake – Barangay Cabacao
Historical Sites
Festivities
- San Rafael Archangel Patron Saint Fiesta – October 23-24
- Apo Iraya Festival – October 24
- Mahal na Araw Penitensya
Tamaraws no longer on brink of extinction, say conservationists
Posted On Friday, October 3, 2008 at at 3:47 AM by Admin
Dr. Arnel del Barrio, director of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC), said that from 2001-2008, the tamaraw population has increased yearly by an average of 10 percent.
Reporting on the findings of the latest tamaraw expedition by government and private entities, including students from the Far Eastern University (FEU), last April, Del Barrio said the tamaraw population was counted at 263 this year compared to only 175 heads in 2001.
“The calving rate estimated by number of yearlings is considerably high... (which could mean that) more than 55 percent of the Tamaraws are giving birth," Del Barrio reported during the Third Tamaraw Forum at the FEU Conference Center in Manila on Friday.
The expedition was organized by the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) at the Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park in Mindoro Occidental
In another bit of good news, the TCP figure was considered conservative by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said a “systematic counting" conducted by the department’s field personnel in all possible tamaraw habitats on the island estimated the tamaraw population to be more than 1,000.
“The figures of the TCP are based on actual, visual counting; and done only in one area, Mt. Iglit-Baco," Gerochi said in the same forum.
The TCP and DENR attributed the increase in the tamaraw population to continuing initiatives to raise awareness regarding the significance of the species and its preservation by national and local government, as well as the private sectors.
Through the tamaraw awareness campaign, the island’s native Mangyan dwellers stopped their tradition of killing the animal for its blood, which the tribesmen consider as a source of strength and good health.
Known to scientists as the Bubalus mindorensis or Mindoro dwarf buffalo, the tamaraw population was estimated at 10,000 during the 1900s, when the island was unpopulated due to malaria.
But the population of the animal started to decline with the eventual increase in human activity and the occurrence of diseases, starting in 1930 with the outbreak of rinderpest, a viral disease mostly affecting cattle.
In 1953, the estimated tamaraw population was placed at around 200, slipping to only about 100 in the 1960s when the animal’s range was reduced to three areas: Mount Iglit, Mount Calavite and areas near the Sablayon Penal Settlement.
Haribon Foundation also noted the introduction of cattle into Mindoro in the early 1900s, rampant hunting of the species and the widespread logging that destroyed much of Mindoro’s forests where the Tamaraws live as among the major causes of the decline in tamaraw population.
Concerns over the deteriorating population of the tamaraw were elevated in a conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Species (IUCS) in Bangkok, Thailand; resulted in the establishment of a 280-hectare gene pool farm in Rizal municipality of Mindoro Occidental.
Captive breeding
Breeding the tamaraws in captivity, however, was found to be ineffectual. Only four births were recorded from 1990 to1997, and all four calves did not live long.
Learning from experience, the government shifted focus on improving actual habitat conditions and educating the local populace.
Gerochi said that tamaraws “should be somehow isolated from human population" and must be allowed to roam freely, as incidents of suicide or self-inflicted harm have been noted from tamaraws that were held in the gene pool farm.
“The tamaraws should be somehow isolated from human population so we need to know their real habitat during its highest population," Gerochi said.
“Breeding in captivity might not be good, same as what happened with our experience with the Philippine eagle," he said.
He said captive-bred Philippine eagle encountered difficulties when they were released in the wild.
“It seemed that if we restrict them or these animals, we lose the glory of that species," Gerochi said.
Carabao's cousin
Tamaraws are usually mistaken as carabaos, but scientists say it differs in several aspects.
Dr. Antonio Manila, assistant director of the DENR-Protected Areas Wildlife and Bureau (PAWB), said that tamaraws are smaller and darker in color than carabaos. He also said that tamaraws have shorter tail and have V-shaped horns, unlike the carabao’s which are large and C-shaped.
A mature tamaraw stands at only about three feet high at the shoulder and weighs 300 kilograms.
Unlike the domesticated carabao, the tamaraw is wild and fierce that if cornered or disturbed in its natural habitat, it will attack and pursue the intruder relentlessly.
“The indigenous Mangyans of Mindoro rightly respect the tamaraw and keep their distance from it," says researcher Art Fuentes in the Haribon Foundation’s Web site (http://www.haribon.org.ph).
Gerochi stressed that extensive reforestation might be the key to accelerate the propagation of the tamaraws, which are found only in the mountainous portions of Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mt. Calavite, Mt. Halcon-Eagle Pass, Mt. Aruyan-Sablayan-Mapalad Valley, and Mt. Bansud-Bongabong-Mansalay.
“The current sanctuary is big enough, I think. So, really it is the preservation of their habitat, which should be undertaken," he said.
In 2002, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 273, the governmentset the month of October as a “Special Month for the Conservation and Protection of the Tamaraw in Mindoro," emphasizing the need for more intense effort to protect, conserve, and eventually perpetuate one of the country’s flagship species and national pride. GMANews.TV
Mindoro Boobook (Mindoro Hawk-Owl)
Posted On Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at at 11:53 PM by Admin
Mindoro Scops Owl / Otus mindorensis
