Labo and Talisay, Camarines Norte
Bicol’s community-based tourism gems
“COMMUNITY-BASED tourism (CBT) can reap great rewards. Done well, it enables local organizations to protect precious habitats, preserve unique culture, and empower grassroots employees,” National Geographic said.
CBT enables communities to get in- volved in all aspects of tourism, from planning to execution to active participation. It empowers communities to develop their own programs based on their unique customs and traditions, their natural and cultural attractions, and the hospitality of their people with the aim of providing tourists an authentic local experience. It incorporates sustainability and helps reduce the negative impact of tourism in the community.
According to the latest report by Booking.com, 73 percent of travelers would like to have authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture. Although most Filipinos’ idea of travel is staying in high-end resorts with minimal contact with the local community, the trend is now slowly catching up with a new breed of Filipino travelers who go outside the usual tourist trails to visit CBT destinations organized by barangay (villages), multipurpose cooperatives, and even fisherfolk to gain genuine local experience.
In Camarines Norte, CBT is alive and has become one of the province’s strengths to spur growth in tourism. In Bagasbas Beach in Daet, a local surfer group has been organized to teach tourists how to surf as well as to help keep the beach clean, and in Vinzons, the local government unit has organized the local communities to ensure that Calaguas Island will remain pristine and will not suffer from over-tourism.
The two municipalities of Camarines Norte, namely Labo and Talisay, have introduced CBT programs from the grassroots level, and are now attracting tourists to visit them to be treated to the authentic brand of Bicolano hospitality.
Getting there
The municipality of Labo is located about 330 kilometers southeast of Manila. It can be accessed by driving south via South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), and then taking the national highway from Laguna to Quezon before entering the Gateway to Bicolandia Arch (at km 246) in Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte. The town proper of Labo can be reached after driving for around 80 kilometers more after the arch on the winding road on the slopes of the mountains of Cadig, Labo, Bagacay, and Nalisbitan. These mountains hold Labo’s attractions of about 30 waterfalls, hidden caves, and rivers, and challenging hiking trails leading to their peaks. Talisay is located 10 kilometers from Labo. By public transportation, Labo and Daet can be reached by taking the Daet-bound bus from PITX. Travel time is approximately 10 hours.
Canapawan Eco-Tourism and Farm
This eco-tourism and farm developed by the barangay council of Canapawan, Labo, is a perfect place to relax after a long drive from Manila. Located a few meters from the main road, visitors can dip in its cool, clear fresh mountain waters. They also offer bamboo rafting, picnics, and camping. They have no restaurant, but they can prepare native delicacies like suman, kalamay, boiled gabi and kamote, pancit bato, and fresh buko juice straight from the tree. A P10 entrance fee allows visitors to experience this piece of paradise.
Malatap Falls
This CBT organized by the local multipurpose cooperative of Malatap, Labo, allows visitors to visit one of the province’s most magnificent waterfalls without hiking for hours. Located only 5 minutes from the highway, one can already visit this gorgeous waterfall on a wide rock formation with water slowly cascading into its basin, perfect for swimming. There’s another similar falls upriver for those who wish to enjoy the waters far from the usual crowd. The members of the local cooperative make sure that the area within and around the waterfalls are kept clean. The P10 entrance fee helps with its maintenance.
Casanayon Resort and Labo Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Tucked on the slopes of the mountains of Labo is a family-run resort with several large swimming pools and cabanas for a refreshing overnight stay. They can also prepare a boodle-fight of Bicolano favorites for that well-deserved family bonding.
The slopes of Mt. Labo also provides the raw material for the products of Labo Multi-Purpose Cooperative: the fruit of Formosa pineapple for the juice preserved in tetra pack, while its leaves, when processed and dried, can be made into beautiful pina cloth. The cooperative welcomes visitors to see how the pina leaves are processed and handwoven into beautiful piña fabric.
San Nicolas Mangrove Forest
Located along the San Vicente-Talisay River System which flows out into the sea in Talisay is this mangrove forest project organized and developed by the fishing cooperative of San Nicolas. Its mangrove forest provides a habitat for crabs and shrimps but also for “tuhoy” or mud clams that grow in abundance. They are usually grilled, then dipped in spicy vinegar and eaten with steamed rice. The women of the cooperative have also developed different recipes using “tuhoy” such as barbecues, sisig, kilawin, tacos, and even pizza, which they also teach to visitors who wish to learn how to catch and cook them.
The San Nicolas mangrove experience is riding on a bamboo raft, eating several dishes made from “tuhoy,” and listening to the stories of the fisherfolk of how they transitioned from being fishermen to guardians in preserving their resources and their community. This is what CBT is: providing an opportunity for travelers to engage with the community while contributing to local development and sustainability.