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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 18, 2009 0:28:46 GMT
Here are some of the details as they come in from the NCCA.
We meet 22 May 09 tentatively at Genesis Bus Company station along EDSA in Cubao.
We leave at 3:00 a.m.
We bird and photograph at Diteki-Baler Watershed.
We are going to be billeted at Aurora Technical Institute.
We are going to be in Manila by 7:00 p.m., 24 May 09.
We are going to do some birding within another site yet to be decided upon in the morning of 24 May 09.
We might do some birding in the afternonn within another site yet to be decided in the afternoon of 22 May 09.
I am giving more details by tomorrow evening. I am sending all the details by Wednesday evening via email to all individuals concerned.
Doc Chito has cancelled and Nicky Icarangal is taking his spot.
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 18, 2009 0:31:00 GMT
We bird at Diteki-Baler Watershed on the 23rd, possibly the whole day involving two creeks, a roadside area, and two upland trails, possibly a third upland trail.
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Post by Toto Gamboa on May 18, 2009 2:16:02 GMT
Thanks for the info sir propjerry. I am excited for this trip. Yey!
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Post by Francis Cadiente on May 18, 2009 2:29:33 GMT
thank you prof jerry Can't wait for friday.  |
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Post by Ding Carpio on May 18, 2009 4:32:33 GMT
What are the transport arrangements?
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Post by Carmela Balcazar on May 18, 2009 11:40:42 GMT
Is there some occasion going on like a fiesta? Are the birding sites near the towns?
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 18, 2009 12:53:19 GMT
UPDATE 18 MAY 09, 8:45 P.M.
Assembly is on May 22, Friday and Estimaged Time of Departure is 4:30 a.m. at Genesis bus station along EDSA in Cubao. Transportation involves two Genesis tourist buses. I have tried to negotiate for an earlier departure so as not to waste half a day of birding; however, I have not been successful.
Scheduled birding is at Diteki-Baler Watershed area on May 23. This is going to take the whole day if birding goes well and may be transferred to some other area after lunch if birding does not go well although this is unlikely. There are plans to go upstream of Guitar Creek, up the upland trail by the bridge, and up Lala's Trail by the stream along the road -- besides doing the roadside birding. UP Mountaineers guides are providing assistance.
The morning of the May 24 is going to be spent along road by the Diteki-Baler Watershed again and some other nearby sites along the "Villa Aurora" route.
The Estimated Time of Departure for Manila is 1:00 p.m. (May 24).
Everyone is going to be billeted at the Aurora Technological Institute (very clean with almost brand new facilities but not along the beach), Bahia Resort (along the beach), and Bay's Inn Resort (along the beach).
There is going to be a final confirmation on Wednesday of all these and some othedetails.
If some are adventurous enough, they may join the Dicasalarin Cove birding with the WBCP. However, the risk is great for your equipment to be soaked in sea water due to the strong waves along the shores; you need special equipment to keep you equipment dry.
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 18, 2009 12:57:47 GMT
Carmela, the occasion is part of the year-long Baler 400-Year Anniversary celebration. There is a committee with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the Office of Senator Eduardo Angara involved with trip.
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Post by Ding Carpio on May 18, 2009 23:52:06 GMT
Thanks for the info Prop. As I mentioned before, I plan to bring my family and plan to drive going there. After I leave my family at a hotel in Baler, I will join the sortie that same morning (23rd). I'd appreciate knowing the itinerary so I'd know when to find you. I will therefore be with you in the bus within Baler but not in the Manila-Baler and Baler-Manila rides. Would there be cellphone (Globe) signal in the birding areas? I will also still stay with you all at the accomodations you mentioned above. My family can cram into a hotel room we've arranged separately. I'd also appreciate some driving directions. From NLEX, do I exit Sta. Rita? Or is it better to go all the way to take SCTEX to Tarlac? From Tarlac, where do I go? Do I drive all the way to San Jose, NV and turn off into Bongabong? Or is there an earlier turnoff from Munoz, Talavera, or Cabanatuan? Of course, I could just convoy with the buses but I always like knowing where I'm headed so I can set my own pace. My passengers have different bladder requirements.  When on the Bongabong-Baler road, will the buses stop at a birding site before heading to Baler? Sorry for being a pain about this. Trying to squeeze family time into birding sortie as much as I could. |
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Post by Francis Cadiente on May 19, 2009 0:36:54 GMT
PropJerry, hope we could have a check list of things to bring
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Post by Toto Gamboa on May 19, 2009 0:37:14 GMT
Hi Ding ... there are several routes when going to Baler. via Bulacan thru Pulilan Exit, then you have to go thru Gapan, Cabanatuan, Palayan. After Palayan, there are two possible routes going to Baler. One is just after Natividad if am not mistaken if you take the Bongabon-Villa route. This is the old route but as far as I know, buses dont take this route anymore. The new route (for buses) from Palayan is to take the direction of San Jose and you go right in Rizal all the way to Pantabanagan-Canili road. Both routes end up in Baler.
If you go via SCTEX, that would be too far off but it might be a smoother ride up to SCTEX. Then you take La Paz at the end of SCTEX and head to Santa Rosa just before Cabanatuan. From Cabanatuan, you will take the normal routes to Baler which I detailed ealier.
I am also considering driving up there as I need to be back in Manila early Sunday, but I am trying to fix my sked so I need not be back early. In turn I can just join the bus if I can fix my sked.
It has been more than a couple of years since my last trip to Baler so I am not sure if the directions I gave are accurate. However, i have asked my staff in the office that is from Baler and said that the general directions are still pretty accurate. It might change if there are rerouting along the way.
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Post by Toto Gamboa on May 19, 2009 0:52:35 GMT
To add, am not sure which route will the Genesis bus takes. Normally, Genesis buses take the Pantabangan-Canili route but since this is a special trip, it is possible they take the Villa route. Sir Propjerry can fill us in in this I guess. But I am aware that the Villa route is restricted for large vehicles since some portions of the zigzags here are too narrow for vehicles like large buses.
I used to ride Genesis buses for years and they use the Villa route. I swear I never stopped praying until the bus reaches San Luis near Baler. lols!
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 19, 2009 1:17:29 GMT
Not this time. The Pantabangan Dam route is much more economical for them. Actually, we have requested that the return route be the "Villa Aurora" route so we can do some bird photography on the way back; the organizers have not acceded. The 5-hour drive through the Pantabagan Dam route is easy driving; however, there is a 35 kilometer unpaved portion as one crosses the Castaneda, Nueva Viscaya portion.
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Post by Toto Gamboa on May 19, 2009 9:03:40 GMT
Not this time. The Pantabangan Dam route is much more economical for them. Actually, we have requested that the return route be the "Villa Aurora" route so we can do some bird photography on the way back; the organizers have not acceded. The 5-hour drive through the Pantabagan Dam route is easy driving; however, there is a 35 kilometer unpaved portion as one crosses the Castaneda, Nueva Viscaya portion. oh ic. sayang ... the pantabangan canili area is heavily denuded already. so birding on the way to baler and on the way back to manila is not possible? |
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 19, 2009 9:33:14 GMT
On our way back on 24 May, we are doing some bird photography along Villa Aurora route around San Luis area. Later, we go back the other way on our way home.
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Post by Ding Carpio on May 19, 2009 21:15:56 GMT
Thanks for the info, Toto & Prop. But please bear with me some more as I am completely unfamiliar with locations east of Cabanatuan.
As I understand it, I will first need to make my way to Palayan and, from there, I have the option of taking two routes. Now, this is where I’m a bit thick. When I look at Google Earth and the maps I just got from National Bookstore, I see only one road from Palayan going northeast to Bongabon. Does the 2nd route you mentioned pass through Bongabon, too, or does it take a different route to Baler? On maps, I only see one road to Baler coming from the west, and that’s from Bongabon.
You mentioned Natividad and Rizal. Natividad seems to turn back west from Palayan while Rizal goes north from Palayan, passing thru Bongabon.
Pantabangan and Casili seem to be further up north, beyond Rizal.
So the route I can see (in maps) would be Cabanatuan-Palayan-Bongabon-Baler.
Help!
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 20, 2009 0:43:34 GMT
I am going ahead tomorrow morning with the advanced party. I will find markers for you as we go along the way. I am sending you these markers tomorrow. Also, I will ask Buboy Francisco to send you a map.
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Post by Agerico M. De Villa on May 20, 2009 0:46:53 GMT
My wife, Jenny, a WBCP member, is meeting everyone at the Genesis bus station tomorrow. Here are her numbers: 0920-923-3263, 0917-525-2450, (Our residence number) 497-3756. Like I have pointed out, I am leaving tomorrow ahead of everyone.
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Post by Toto Gamboa on May 20, 2009 1:51:15 GMT
As I understand it, I will first need to make my way to Palayan and, from there, I have the option of taking two routes. Now, this is where I’m a bit thick. When I look at Google Earth and the maps I just got from National Bookstore, I see only one road from Palayan going northeast to Bongabon. Does the 2nd route you mentioned pass through Bongabon, too, or does it take a different route to Baler? On maps, I only see one road to Baler coming from the west, and that’s from Bongabon. You mentioned Natividad and Rizal. Natividad seems to turn back west from Palayan while Rizal goes north from Palayan, passing thru Bongabon. Pantabangan and Casili seem to be further up north, beyond Rizal. So the route I can see (in maps) would be Cabanatuan-Palayan-Bongabon-Baler. Help! Hi Ding, I have checked and old map and I cant see the Canili-Pantabangan route. I am guessing that the Canili route isn't shown there as it is relatively new and not a well established route since 2005. Everybody used to pass thru Cabanatuan-Palayan-Bongabon-Villa route to Baler. But that route was destroyed by a super typhoon in 2005 in think. Forgot the name of the typhoon that time. I think it was Ruping. Now the easier route is the Canili-Pantabangan. Less zigzag but more of ascent-descent type of road. Canili-Pantabangan is way up north than Bongabon. Natividad is on your left (western side) when you are going up to Rizal while Bongabon is on your right. However, you wont be passing thru the Bongabon road you are probably seeing in the map, (i assume it is a long straight line from the west to east in the map then you got the zigzags) when you take up the Canili-Pantabangan. Hope this helps. I have a GPS route to Baler both using the Canili-Pantabanagn or the Villa route. I can send them to you if you have a GPS. |
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Post by Romy Ocon on May 20, 2009 2:03:11 GMT
So the route I can see (in maps) would be Cabanatuan-Palayan-Bongabon-Baler. Help! Ding, the Cabanatuan-Palayan-Bongabon-Baler route is the simplest one to take and it was what I used going to Baler (I travelled the Pantabangan route on the way back) . 1. At Cabanatuan, turn right going to Palayan at the junction where there are Shell and Petron gas stations. There's also a good restaurant at this junction (NE Restaurant or something) where you can eat and buy pack lunch. Good CRs are available in both gas stations and the said restautant. 2. Head for Palayan, where you can ask which road goes to Bongabon/Baler. 3. At Bongabon town proper, ask around which road goes to Baler. 4. Rough road starts at Bongabon, at about km 155, and goes on for about 60-70 km. When you drive straight without birding, maximum average speed is about 25-30 kph, hence it will take you 2 - 3 hours to cross the Sierra Madre. When you bird while driving, make that a 4-6 hours crossing. The mountain trail is one-way in many areas. Be sure you have water, food and you've already used a CR before leaving Bongabon town proper, otherwise you have to relieve yourself the way birds do it - au naturel. ;D ;D 5. Cellular signal is spotty along the 60 km trail, most portions have no houses too. 6. Traffic to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija is a nightmare between 6 am to 8 pm. You might wish to leave Manila at 2 am, drive leisurely, hit Cabanatuan junction at 5 am, have breakfast then go up the mountains. Rough road and birding at Bongabon start at about an hour after the Cabanatuan junction. Hope this helps. |
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