THE TRIP TO AGPAY

Inspite of the near mishap at the Dam, I did not stop visiting the place and going beyond the immediate area...A month later, Alex Romero, Angelito Domaoan and a few other friends decided to go back, camp over night and proceed to Agpay ( a beautiful resort in San Nicolas ) via a small mountain trail..This group which I accompanied ( I was the mountain guide ) did this twice in the 70s. It was still quite safe then although we found out later what we did was really fool hardy. But it developed in the participants of the camping trip certain traits like: 1)  Not to give up easily 2)  Not listen to EVERYTHING that your elders say 3) Believe that nothing ventured nothing gained 4) There is nothing like the great outdoors ( You see Real Beauty in the wild mountains free of man made structures )

With a few camping equipments ( pots, pans, rice, canned goods, etc ) we took the late Pantranco bus  to San Manuel and from there, we hired a carromata to bring us to the Dam. We reached the area at dusk. We approached an employee ( an ENCARDO or caretaker ) and told them we are planning to go to Agpay, San Nicolas  the next morning..

The guard of the Dam lived in a small room somewhere there within those concrete structures. He told us we are crazy; only a few know the way there up those hills..I told him I have been there once, and I can find my way again..

His wife was also there and she was gracious enough to prepare some rice for us..At first, they must think we were bandits or NPA people.. Finally,  they sensed that we were good people. They showed us the Filipino hospitality: food and  accomodation for the night. We slept in their living room .But before the couple slept, I saw the man put a shotgun beside his door.."Do not worry," he said.."We are in San Manuel" ( which at that time was noted for its "notoriety"). The mountains made a good hiding place for any fugitive, good or bad..Back of my mind I also thought: well, that shotgun might be a message to us too..No messing around in my house..Before I fell asleep, the last thought in my mind was "what did I get myself into?.."But it was too late to back out. We were already there, for of us. What will happen to one will happen to four..All for one and one four all.In case the man decided to shoot us and dump our bodies in the area, then that's the end of it..But  then I am still here telling this story..

The next morning broke bright and clear..The lady of the house prepared a simple breakfast..We offered some of our canned goods but she turned them down saying, "you will need them more than we do..." Their "house" was nothing more than one of the rooms in the Dam...We packed our gears again, bade them goodbye and thanked them profusely..We climbed down via a set of iron rungs fastened on the concrete wall going down the riverbed beside which was a wide concrete pavement..Their room was found in the topmost part of the Irrigation structures. I think one of his jobs is to open and close the floodgates during certain times, plus general maintenance of the set-up.It was also a big, lonely job... 

Then we walked through an area full of stones towards the foot of a hill. The stones were there I guess to prevent erosion..The morning was sunny.It was a fine day for hiking.. We talked about our host and the shot gun.."Do you think the gun was for the bandits? or for us.?" We decided that the next time we do this thing, we won't sleep there anymore. We were all bachelors ( except for one called Andoy. But then, I guess he does not care. It was one way of getting a break from his family ). We talked about things as we trekked the sand and stone river bank  until we reached the foot of the hill. Then, we rested our feet a bit ( even with shoes the stones really made them  sore, ) and then we commenced our hike going up the hillside.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, you will be  rewarded with a view of San Manuel's rural vista. One can see these hills  on the Binalonan-Laoac road and being on top of it is something.  It is like being on top of Mt. Everest--sort of The feeling was exhilarating. But we can not rest here, we have to continue because Agpay, our final destination was still miles away.

As one of my companions said, "Agpay paya pay iti Agpay.." "Agpayso ta kunam, answered another..

( to be continued )