Bulacan’s road less traveled
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
—Robert Frost
Just like this popular quote from the famed American poet, traveling on the literal roads less traveled by people—the proverbial off-beaten path—brings more excitement that the usual and traditional highways.
Such is the case of the town of Norzagaray, which is tucked in the interior roads of Bulacan, just at the northeastern doorstep of Metro Manila.
It is so near that tourists often look past it in search of adventures in a province far, far away.
Named after Spanish GovernorGeneral Fernando de Norzagaray who decreed its creation on Aug. 13, 1860 as a municipality from its mother town of Angat, it can be accessed via the Marilao or Bocaue Exit of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex).
An exciting alternative route is via Fairview, Quezon City and San Jose Del Monte City if you want to pedal or motor your way to the town which is being promoting itself for two-wheel drives.
Nicknamed as “Garay,” it is an unheralded but promising tourist destination in Bulacan, especially those who love the great outdoors and simple joys of a no-frills excursion.
Its topography is generally flat on the western portion, and becomes undulating and hilly on the eastern portion of the Sierra Madre Mountains ranges.
The town center in the Angat River belt which is at 20 to 50 meters above sea level, making it cooler than most parts of the big city.
With a hilly terrain and a meandering river that runs through it, Garay is an ideal ecotourism and adventure getaway destination for motorists and bikers alike. Here are some of the must-see spots in the area.
Angat Dam
The town’s poster image, Angat River Hydroelectric Plant is the country’s biggest in terms of power generation capacity and supplies Metro Manila with potable water. The reservoir has a 37-kilometer ridge and 6,155 hectares covered with watershed forests.
It is best seen from the viewdeck at 212 meters above sea level, which provides an exhilarating panorama of the entire reservation as cool, crisp mountain air caresses your skiin.
A special arrangement is required to enter and tour the plant premises.
Bakas
A portion of the Angat River in Barangay Matictic which literally means “footprint,” alluding to the foot markings of the legendary prehistoric Filipino giant Bernardo Carpio.
Legend says that the other footprint is located on the other side of the mountain in Wawa Dam in Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal.
Bakas is noted for its big natural white stones along the river banks, the green scenery surrounding it, the fresh air, and the cool and the calm current.
The river resort offers a refreshing and inexpensive back-to-basics picnics reminiscent of the good old days. Bitbit River. A watercourse nestled at the foot in the Sierra Mountain range near the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa system, which is similar to Bakas in terms of topography, also offers an adventure as big chunks of rocks are located in some parts, where campers usually climb, and jump to the deep part of the river. This scenic river is framed by a 100foot bridge where the more intrepid ones can rapel.
Ipo Dam
Located upstream of Bitbit is Ipo Dam, a component of the Angat River Hydroelectric Plant system.
During World War II in 1945, the vicinity had been a site of fierce battles between American and Japanese
troops during the liberation of Bulacan.
Aside from a historical brass plaque from the National Historical Commission, there are a couple of memorial markers in the area, attesting to its pivotal role during the war.
Due to security concerns on the water facility, a permit is needed to enter the dam.
Pinagrealan Cave
Another iconic image of the town, Pinagrealan is a subterranean network of caverns extending more than a kilometer deep which figured in various points of Philippine history.
It was the refuge of Katipunero freedom fighters during the 1896 Revolution against Spain, and again during the Filipino-American War in 1899 as a hideout of General Emilio Aguinaldo, then the President of the First Philippine Republic.
Towards the end of World War II, it was also used as a garrison by the Japanese Imperial Army when the Americans were liberating Bulacan.
Hilltop
Dubbed as the “Bagiuo of Bulacan,” its breathtaking vista of the Sierra Madre Range always mesmerizes tourists.
It has a park for camping and swimming, and cottages line up the river banks to lure locals and tourists for an afternoon of river bathing experience.
This is a favorite spot for bikers to gaze at the land below after pedaling around the roads less traveled.
Where to stay
If Garay beckons you to stay and its lure seems irresistible, the town has several inland resorts where you can linger a little longer.
Adventure Resort, with bigger accommodation facilities, has giant slides and recreational adventures such as an outdoor wall and a zipline mounted on a replica of Eiffel Tower.
You can also tour the world’s famous landmarks via mini versions of the Statue of Liberty and Great Wall of China.
Other family-oriented resorts are Galilee Wonderland, which has a park inspired by Noah’s Ark, and Malamig Park Resort, which sports a superhero motif, and has a wave pool with rainbow-colored night lights.
St. John Mary Vianney Retreat House is tops for religious activities and quiet moments with its manicured gardens in an upland location which brings you closer to heaven, quite literally.
Meanwhile, Falcon Crest Resort is superb for obstacle courses and team-building exercises for small to medium-sized groups.
Where to dine
After burning a few hundred calories pedaling or hiking, you can sink your teeth on the town’s specialty dish at the native-themed JL Jamie’s Restaurant, which offers perhaps the crunchiest crispy pata you’ll ever taste.
And if you can’t kick your craving for the aroma of brewed coffee even in the boondocks, you can swing by Kangay, a fast casual café near Gen. Norzagaray’s monument.
A vernacular word for feasting, it also serves Pinoy favorites with a contemporary twist in its pasta dishes, sandwiches, pastries, and shakes.
After your weekend foray into Garay, you’ll realize that the roads less traveled, can indeed make the difference in the way you journey.