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Northern Samar is a destination that is popular for its rock formations. Facing the Pacific Ocean, this geography helped mold the dramatic seascape of this province. An island destination has placed the province on the tourism map with its collection of these massive rock formations BUT these seascapes are not confined just there. So… in my quest to explore my 71st province, I opted to go beyond the usual and enjoy the coastal views of Mapanas in Northern Samar.  Time to explore an off beat destination on my 71st PH province. Mapanas is a laidback town that lies along the eastern coast of Northern Samar. Sandwiched by the mountains of Samar and the Pacific Ocean, this destination is so rural that, as early as 6pm, the town grinds to a halt for the day. But do not be deceived by its rustic vibe because it holds a lot of natural attractions that will keep you in awe. Pictures and videos of these attractions have recently trickled down into social media feeds that is putting the natural beauty of Mapanas on the tourism spotlight. From towering rock formations to clean river escapes to untouched beach spots, I think I got most of it covered on this trip so I could share with you the hidden gem of Mapanas. Guinpandayan Coastal Scenery I must admit that it was the videos of this Mapanas coastal view that caught my attention when I was planning my Northern Samar trip. The serene view of a rugged coastline opening into view from a highway road curve was just immensely captivating. This cemented Mapanas on my #GOT71NorthernSamar adventure.  This view of the Guipandayan View Deck caught social media by storm. The Guinpandayan View Deck lies along the national road of Northern Samar. Carved along the side of the mountain, the road sharply curves to the right opening to a dramatic view of Mapanas’ rugged coastline. I held on to my breath as we approached the curve and got swept off my feet with the amazing overhead view of the coast. It was simply breathtaking. It is no surprise that people on the road would often make a quick stop to catch this breathtaking view. A view deck was built for visitors on the side of the road. From the deck, you can enjoy a full view of the snaking coastline with Pinusilan Rock and Balukawi Point Rock Formations jutting out of the waters of the Pacific. The white sand shores of Manapas also dots the coast of the town. The rugged coastal scene was simply captivating. The coastal highway runs adjacent to this amazing views. This spot is also where a lot of photos and videos are taken while “on the road”. Just make sure that you take extra precaution since it is a major highway. Pinusilan Rock Formation and Blue Lagoon Just a couple of minutes from the Guinpandayan View Deck, we rolled in the Pinusilan Rock Formation and Blue Lagoon. There are three massive formations in the area. Two rock formations guard the white sand cove where a resort now stands. A third rock formation is located off-shore, connected by a concrete boardwalk that spans over its rocky shoreline.  Enjoying the rock formations of Pinusilan in Mapanas. Local stories shared that its name “Pinusilan” was derived from the same waray word that translates to “gunshot”. The place was believed to be a place of execution during World War 2 where American forces brought Japanese prisoners to be shot. From its dark stories, it now rises as one of the attractions of Mapanas where you can enjoy the view of the rocky coast of Mapanas. The towering rock formations looked like guardians of the cove, protecting it from the waves coming from the Pacific Ocean.
The boardwalk connects the mainland to an islet where you would find the Pusilan Blue Lagoon. Tucked within its rock walls, the deep crevice is filled with saltwater creating a pool with a blue hue. This is a favorite spot of locals and guests who are looking for a quick saltwater dip. The lagoon and the boardwalk also offer a panoramic view of the coastline of Mapanas. Balukawi Point and Beach Balukawi Point and Beach is another destination that is worth checking out when you find yourself in Mapanas. It is one of those spots along the coast that juts out to the Pacific Ocean with a massive rock formation at its edge. In fact, you can actually see Balukawi Point’s clustered rock formations from the Gipandayan View Deck.  Balukawi Point is a low-ket attraction along the coast of Mapanas. Similar to other beach spots in the area, it has a white sand coast and a rocky shore as you move out further to the sea. It is best appreciated during low tide where you could see the rocky bottom of its shores. You could easily see fossilized remains of anemones. Locals enjoy take advantage of the low tide to catch small crabs in the area. The clustered rock formations of Balukawi Point can be seen from a distance. The rock cluster adds more drama to the amazing landscape of this attraction.
There is a small resort at Balukawi Beach that offers basic facilities to tourists who want to experience a serene and rugged vibe of Mapanas. There’s no doubt that Balukawi Point can give you that space to disconnect and just enjoy it serene atmosphere. It also lets you connect with the rugged coast molded by the Pacific. Kan Langka Cold Spring Tucked on the hinterlands of Mapanas is the Kan Langka Cold Spring. Laidback and unassuming, the place is a favorite hangout of locals for that quick and refreshing mountain spring water dip. It took us about 45 minutes, on a habal-habal, to get to this natural attraction.  We moved inland to explore the Kan Langka Cold Spring. Surrounded by the lush forest covers of Mapanas, the Kan Langka Cold Spring is an attraction where two rivers meet to become one downstream flow. You can enjoy taking a dip from the larger river where water flows through its natural path and also enjoy “sliding” under a bridge where the second one flows. There is a huge and deep turquoise-colored pool at the junction where the rivers meet where there is an area where you can swim. From the junction, the river flows into one river downstream.
The place was developed by the locals with picnic huts and tables that dot both the river sides. There is an area deep enough where you can swing and jump into the deeper portion of the pool. You can also rent make-shift inflatables if you just want to enjoy “running” with the flow of the river. This mountain spot is a perfect place to just unwind, connect, and recharge with nature. Binabalidawan Rock Formation/Mayong Payong I have read that the best place to catch the sunrise in Mapanas is at the Binabalidawan Rock Formation. Unfortunately, we had a small hiccup that caused me not to catch the sunrise BUT I had enough time to explore the place and enjoy the early morning sun. Aboard a habal-habal, we rode through the rough trails to this pristine beach spot. The trail is sandy that we had to carefully tread through the trail. The seaside views were captivating along the route. This beach spot is best explored during the low tide.  A perfect way to start the day... enjoying the view of Mayong Payong at Binabalidawan Beach. Binabalidawan Rock Formation is along the edge of a white sand beach cove. This massive limestone formation stands like a vanguard protecting the pristine cove on this side of Mapanas. The cove is an untouched tropical paradise where you get to enjoy the solitude of the place since it is far from the communities. Although it has spots of white sand shorelines, the beach is largely rocky shores that is ideal for mangrove growth. You can find a spot and enjoy the cove all for yourself.
From the cove, you can catch the towering rock formations of Mayong Payong. These three rock formations lies a few meters from the cove and it is best explored during low tide. It would be easy to walk to these islets. The rock formations were called Mayong Payong because one its rock formations was shaped like an umbrella. Unfortunately, water was already setting in when we came in and I was not able to explore the rock formations up close. I did get to enjoy the view of these massive rock formations from the shores of Binabalidawan. POST TRAVEL NOTES It took a couple of amazing shots of Mapanas’ rugged coast to convince me to explore this off-beat destination. Who would have thought that these rock formations are not confined to an island but there are amazing formations that dot the coast of Northern Samar. These exposures, like this blog, can give new opportunities for tourism growth in the area and alternative livelihood opportunities for its locals.  Up next... a mountain waterfall, a sleeping lion, and a taste of Spanish-period history. Social media is pivotal in turning a lowkey and laidback destinations into the a hot PH attraction. This gives local travelers more opportunities to bring to the front unknown destinations to the psyche of local and international travelers resulting to opening up new opportunities for the community. Hence, it is important that local tourism offices are more adept in discovering their own attractions and drafting a sustainable program for tourism. This will give them a more proactive approach in promoting their own tourism brand rather than being taken into the limelight without a plan. Key word is proactive approach. Check out my Mapanas and Palapag adventures on my Youtube Travel Channel:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: Philippine Airlines flies to Catarman on specific days of the week from Manila and Cebu. You can take a trike from the airport to Colorhub Paint Supply along Bonifacio Street. The van terminal for Mapanas is just across this hardware. Trips to Mapanas from Catarman are usually in the morning while van trips from Mapanas to Catarman are only from 3am to 6am You can stay at Jacob’s Haven at the town center of Mapanas. They also assist with your Mapanas tour arrangements. You can reach them at +63955 273 6297 or through their FB page: Jacob’s Haven. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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This municipality either calmly welcomes or bids you goodbye along one of the flight line of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The municipality is part of Metro Cebu but unlike the nearby cities, this town kept its rural vibe. It was like we were being transported to the countryside of the province. A small town sandwiched by urban development but still manages to keep its rural vibe at the helm - this is the town of Cordova.  Exploring another Cebu municipality that is close to the city. Cordova, or Cordoba, is a quiet fishing town on the island of Mactan. It was created as a municipality 1864 and it is believed that its name meant “stark nakedness and bare”. Its name is also believed to be in honor of Governor-General Echague who created the town. He previously represented the Spanish province of Cordoba in the Spanish Congress. The sleepy town is an unassuming destination, living under the shadows of the more popular Lapu-Lapu City. But do not be deceived by its serene vibe, it can give quite a rustic travel experience for those who go beyond the bridge and ten thousand roses. Cebu-Cordova Bridge More popularly called the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, it is the third bridge that traverses the Mactan Channel and connects Cebu Mainland and the island of Mactan. It now stands as the longest bridge in the Philippines that spans over a body of water. It runs a total length of 8.9 kilometers from South Road Properties in Cebu City to Cordova. It was started construction in 2017 and was inaugurated in 2022 by Former President Rodrigo Duterte.  Enjoying an afternoon cruise at the longest bridge of the Philippines. CCLEx is now an attraction for both Cebu City and Cordova. Just like most people who visit Cebu, I have traversed the bridge a couple of times. My best traverse was on habal-habal while enjoying the afternoon sun. It is a beautiful sight to look at from the shores of Cordova where you get a view of the bridge with the cityscape view of Cebu. Cordova Church and Convent The Cordova Church, also known as the San Roque Church, was officially recognized as a separate parish in 1864. Its patron saint, St. Roque of Montpeller, France was a victim of leprosy. At the time of the church’s installation, Cordoba was home of many lepers. The creation of the church paved the way for the Christianism of this side of Mactan Island.  The San Roque Parish Church of Cordova stands out with its Moorish-style architecture. The present structure was rebuilt in 1924, decades after the original church was destroyed by a typhoon. The structure stands out with its Moorish-style architecture with two columns on both sides of the facade. It creates an impression of strength when viewed from the outside. Its interior, in contrast, is softer in tone with its stained-glass window pulpit. It is void of those huge retablos that is common in the province.
The sprawling church compound is also void of religious images which makes you focus on the beauty of the church. The convent sits adjacent to it, still showing its age and still in use. A bust of Father Chevalier was mounted along the perimeter of the convent to honor the Father of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Through the decades, the church continues to be a sanctuary for Cordovanons, not only spiritually, but also during times of calamity. Cordova Municipal Hall and Park Not far from the church stands the Cordova Municipal Hall and Park. The compound serves as the center of governance of Cordova. It houses the local government offices that provide basic services to Cordovanons. It has kept its old-time charm with its old structures fused with modern structures.
The compound is also home to its local museum housed in the old municipal hall of the town. It serves as the town’s repository of its past. Unfortunately, the museum was closed at the time of our visit so we were not able to explore its exhibits. Cordova RORO Port Just a few minutes away from the town center, The Cordova RORO Port serves as the town’s connection to nearby islands. It also serves as the jump-off point for island-hopping activities for tourists. The facilities are now being upgraded to give guests and locals the ease and convenience when traveling.
The port gives you an amazing 360-degree view of its surrounding areas. The towering resorts of Lapu-Lapu on one side contrasts the mangrove covers on the opposite side. You get to catch planes on their final approach on the west side and enjoy the sea views on the east side. The area is also a favorite hang-out spot of locals and tourists in the afternoon when the strip turns into a food park. Bantayan Bay Port Bantayan is Cordova’s secret local spot. It is a port area where local fishermen dock their boats that turn into a beach spot when the tides are low. And yes, weekends are usually busy when locals flock to the area to enjoy the sun, sand, beach.
This local beach spot reveals its rustic beauty during the low tide when its sandbars pop out of the sea. You can choose to wade through waist-deep waters as you hop from one sandbar to another as you find your own spot. There are no picnic huts and tables in the area. There are a line of mangrove trees along the sandbar where you can have a picnic. For those who don’t want to get wet, they can opt to hire a small bangka to bring you to your sandbar of choice.
The Bantayan Bay area lies along the vast mangrove covers of Cordova. Our guide shared with us that they offer tours around the mangrove areas but you can only do it during the high tide. A small lighthouse stands along the entrance of the port, adding more drama to its seascape. Floating cottages once operated in the area but it was later shut by the local government due to concerns on proper waste disposal. Cordova Coastal Area The Cordova coastal area flourishes with mangrove covers with about 100 hectares of cover. Traversing through an unfinished road network, we got a view of the beauty of the coastal area of Cordova. The low tide showed us the dramatic seascape of the town.
The unfinished or ongoing road project is a great place to hangout. There are small shops along the road where you can buy snacks and then find your spot to enjoy them. We found ours where there were ruins of a house that once stood there. It was visually appealing with the limestone rocks and mangrove covers in the background. We enjoyed the view while enjoying the cool breeze from the sea. 10,000 Roses Cafe Apart from CCLEx, the 10,000 Roses Cafe is another tourist attraction that is included in the day tours around Cebu City. The sprawling attraction is complete with restaurants, cafe, and souvenir shop that attracts hundreds of tourists daily. It gets usually crowded in the late afternoon and evening where you get to witness the 10,000 roses “bloom” with its led lights. Since it is an attraction in Cebu, you can expect to catch the thousand roses with the crowd.
The cafe offers an amazing view of the CCLEx and the Mactan Channel with the cityscape of Cebu City in the background. It is also a perfect sunset spot giving you front seat views of the sun setting along the mountains of the Cebu. You also get to enjoy the views of planes arriving and leaving as it lies along the flight line of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Once you are in luck to find a spot, just enjoy the skyline views and the breeze from the small town of Cordova. POST TRAVEL NOTES Cordova is a rustic town that has managed to keep its low profile despite having destinations that attract the crowds. There is no doubt that development and attention was pushed forward to this town after the construction and inauguration of the CCLEx. It brought new opportunities in and around the bridge. It also gave the town a new breath that could, hopefully, bring sustainable development and wealth to Cordova.  We are exploring another PH province next!!! Small towns often yield local secrets that often hide behind the shadows of more popular attractions. A change or development gives these attractions new pair of eyes that admire its beauty. Sometimes it goes on to becoming popular while others continue to remain lowkey. Whatever the case maybe, these attractions bring a different experience to guests. It is this experience that makes the destination unique. Check out my Cordova adventure on my Youtube Travel Channel:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights, from major local and international airports, to Cebu’s gateway - the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. You can take a cab from the airport to the Cordova Church where you can hire electric trikes to go around these Cordova destinations. For e-trike tours around Cordova, you can reach Kuya Daryl at (0970) 778 9177. You can contact Kuya Sito for Bantayan Mangrove Tours at (0910) 479 0094. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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