Closer Look: KAWA-KAWA Falls, Marinduque

It's SUMMER! Where's your destination?

Let us take a closer look at a paradise undiscovered by many, the KAWA-KAWA Falls. From the name itself, it is a water falls with a kawa-shaped basin (Kawa is a cooking utensil that looks like but is bigger than a typical frying pan). The falls is located in the mountainous part of Barangay Bangcuangan, Santa Cruz, Marinduque.

This place is very close to my heart because I grew up spending almost every summer vacation here. This is where I learned my first freestyle and back strokes with the help of two tied floating coconuts that served as my life support. And whenever my high school classmates decide not to attend classes, this becomes the party venue.

Whenever I have visitors (college friends, etc.), I always make sure that they will experience the very cold water from the cascade. It is really refreshing and you will feel how nature take charge of your whole body relaxation. You will hear the chorale of chirping birds, buzzing insects, whispering wind, and falling water. Even for a short time, you can get away from the stressful ambiance of the metro. 

Last 2009, my parents treated me for passing the board examination and they hosted a short vacation for some of my college friends. Kawa-kawa Falls was part of our itinerary and half of the day was allotted for our bonding activities. We did picnic, swimming, drinking, and the memorable picture taking under the rain.

It would take time if I'll share all my Kawa-kawa memories. I hope that you could as well get the chance to discover the beauty of the place. It's more fun in the Philippines, it's more fun in Marinduque, as they say. 

Kahit saan ako magpunta, palagi kong ipagmamalaki ang mahal kong Kawa-kawa Falls, at ang pinagmulan kong lalawigan ng Marinduque.

Once a "Maglalako"

This is my very first post and I would like to share where I started. I am a "PROMDI" boy from Santa Cruz, Marinduque, a simple "probinsyano" who had big dreams. My father worked as a farmer, carpenter, driver, construction worker, etc. His work's location was in Manila back then so he rarely visits us in the province. My mother was tasked to take care of us while my father is away. I am the only son of the four siblings.

At the age of five, I studied kindergarten. Our school is far from our house since we lived in the mountain-part of Santa Cruz, and so we were walking our way back and forth. Hindi uso ang sumasakay ng jeep o tricycle kasi lahat naman ng bata, naglalakad. Kaya pitong taon kaming naglalakad ng halos isang oras sa umaga at  parehong oras sa hapon. Nasanay na din kami. Ang nakakatuwa dito, marami sa amin (tinatawag nilang taga-bundok) ang kayang makipagsabayan sa kanila (na tinatawag naman naming taga-bayan) pagdating sa husay sa pag-aaral. It was really a matter of discipline and desire to achieve something.