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Dona Remedios Trinidad is the “IT” post-lockdown destination. With its relaxed travel requirements and proximity to the metro, it was not surprising that it has become popular among seasoned travelers, bike enthusiasts, and weekend explorers. The natural beauty of the municipality caught everyone by surprise. And with a huge playground to explore, a day or two is not enough to discover and enjoy what it has to offer.  Are you ready for another DRT adventure? I went on a third trip to DRT because I had the opportunity to conquer one of its most-talked about attractions - Talon ni Eva. The spot caught my attention from the start and was one of the reasons why I got interested with DRT. I was told that exploring it was no joke and was said to be challenging. But that did not dampen my desire to catch its beauty. Trail Over Land and Water Let me be straightforward... the 2-hour trek to Talon ni Eva is physically challenging. It involves river crossing, a steep ascent, and a bit of bouldering. It can be physically exhausting but the view of Talon ni Eva is the best reward you’ll get after the two-hour traverse. I assure you that it is all worth challenging yourself.
The trail starts off with a quick and easy trek along the barangay’s dirt road where you will be treated with the rustic and rugged views of DRT. The lush greens, with a solitary kubo every now and then, will give you that relaxing and calm vibe of the province. The dirt road will lead you to a river bed where the trail runs alongside it and, at certain points, crossing the river. So expect your feet to get wet.  Expect to get your feet wet during the trek. My ever dependable Hull and Stern kept my stuff safe and dry. The most challenging part of the trail is the steep ascent to Kinailawan - the designated campsite in the area. The “paahon” is “breathtaking” in a sense that the views at the top will sweep you off your feet and, on the other end, is that it “takes your breath” because it is exhausting. It is important that you take rest stops during the climb and to just take it one step at a time to conquer this part of the trek. Once you get to Kinailawan, the views will re-energize you. This is where I got my second wind. You can take in a longer break at the campsite while taking in the beautiful view and breathing in the fresh air. From here, the trek gets easier as you descend down the other side of the mountain through its bamboo forest. The last part of the trek will get you scrambling over rocks and boulders to get to the base of the falls.  The view of the mountain ranges and the fresh air at Kinailawan gave me my second wind for the final push to Talon ni Eva. The key here is to get good pacing through the trail. There is no need to hurry and take your time to take in and enjoy the view and the experience. Talon Ni Eva Talon ni Eva is the second highest waterfall in Dona Remedios Trinidad. Its water cascades at a height of 30 meters into a deep basin. Contrary to usual perception, the name Eva is the shortened version of the male name Evaristo. There are two versions as to how the waterfalls got its name. The first was that it was the name of the lumad who discovered the waterfalls. The other one is that it was the name of the man who died tragically when he fell off the cascade while showing off to the woman he loved. The second story was shared by our tour guide.  The name "Eva" is actually a shortened version of the male name "Evaristo". Talon ni Eva is a beautiful art piece by nature. The water cascades beautifully on the crevices of its rock surface creating small streams flowing down into its basin. The breadth of its walls is a huge canvass for the water to run over, creating this beautiful view. Our guides say that it looks more majestic when the water flows are stronger. The water drops into a deep basin at the foot of Talon ni Eva before flowing downstream. You can enjoy a relaxing dip into its cold waters but you need to take extra precaution. Lifevests can be rented out for those who are not confident with their swimming skills. You can also rent a bamboo raft if you want to chill while gliding through its waters and get close to its cascades.
Talon ni Eva has gained traction among local travelers so expect crowds, especially during weekends. This is also where most visitors take their meals so make sure that you find your spot first before exploring. Our group had good pacing so we were one of the first groups to get to the falls and enjoyed its beauty without the crowd. Trekking Back The trail heading back is a lot easier through Sapang Maltisa. It leads you downstream where you would be treated with the views of lush greens and still water pools glistening in green hues. Our guide says that this is the easier trail as the ascent back to Kailawan os gradual compared to the trail that we descended to on the way to Talon ni Eva. We made a slight detour to a place that they call “Sliding Falls”. The secluded spot is a perfect spot to enjoy the calmness of nature without the crowd. Its main attraction is a small cascade gushing on one of the crevices of its boulders where one can slide down into its deep pool, hence, the name given by the locals. You can take a break at this spot before heading back home.
From this spot, the gradual ascent to Kalinawan begins through its picturesque bamboo forest. This part of the trail is a popular spot for pictures because of its beautifully landscaped bamboo-lined pathway. A final uphill push will get you to back to Kalinawan and finally back on the trail to the jump-off point. POST TRAVEL NOTES Talon ni Eva was the spot that made me curious to explore Dona Remedios Trinidad. It was this same curiosity that had me exploring DRT, not just once, but thrice. In all of these travels, I always came home tired but totally amazed by the municipality’s natural beauty.  Dona Remedios Trinidad is a great place to enjoy and commune with nature. Saan tayo sunod? There are still a number of interesting spots to explore and discover on this side of Bulacan. One thing that came out really good during this health crisis is the discovery of these destinations after the lockdown which, on a regular day, would probably be missed out for other “fancier” destinations. Go ahead and explore your own hometowns because you just might discover the next best thing in Philippine tourism. Watch my Talon ni Eva Youtube video blog here: #ByahengOffTheGrid Talon Ni Eva Getting there: My trip to Talon ni Eva was organize by FB Travel Organizer - Buhay Kalye Gala. I highly recommend joining their organized trips especially if it is just you or a couple of your friends. I think you can also take a trike or habal-habal from the Poblacion to the jump off point of Talon ni Eva. Click on the image for the link.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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