The town of President Roxas is just 40 minutes
away from Roxas City. Tourists might get confuse at this, but please don't. Roxas City (formerly known as the town of Capiz), is the capital of the Province of Capiz, while President Roxas, is a town located a few kilometers away. It is known as the sugar capital of northern Panay
Island, with its hectares upon hectares of sugarcane plantation and the
azucarera that serves as the town’s
biggest employer. The tall mountains and rolling hills are stunning
views worth capturing. Tucked in these mountains is Liktinon Falls, which will
capture your imagination and give you a refreshing respite.
President Roxas is just a bus ride away
from where I live and one fine weekend, I ventured out to explore the town that
was once called
Lutod-Lutod. It was once a part of the nearby town of Pilar (which was named
after the Nuestra Senora del Pilar). Shortly after the war, the locals successfully lobbied
for the separation of Lutod-Lutod. It was named after President Manuel Roxas,
whose cousin was instrumental in the creation of the town.
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| The road to Liktinon Falls |
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| Dirt roads through sugarcane plantations. |
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| Expansive sugarcane plantations in President Roxas, Capiz. |
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| Sugarcane production is the main source of revenue of the town of President Roxas in the province of Capiz. |
I took a habal-habal ride from town’s public to Liktinon Falls. It is a rejuvenating 40-minute trip that took me through desolate country roads lined with coconut trees that cut through sugarcane fields and towards towering, tree-covered mountains. Open your senses, the view is simply awe-inspiring! I had to take some pictures so I asked the driver for a short stop every now and then.
On the right side of the road to Liktinon
is a huge sign that says “Simboryo de Espanol.” I asked the driver for a
stopover so I could check out the old, Spanish sugar mill made of bricks and
limestone. An overgrowth already eats the better part of the mill, but if I am
not mistaken, the simboryo and the land that surrounds it used to belong
to the Elizaldes who developed the town's sugar industry.
The simboryo stands desolate amidst the
field and the sound of the gentle rustle of the sugarcane leaves is soothing to
my senses. I can spend a day strolling and wandering here and feel only the
sense of peace that creep through me. After taking some shots of the simboryo,
the trip resumed and a short while later, we reached Brgy. Bayuyan.
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| The Simboryo de Español is a Spanish-era sugar mill. It is now covered by overgrowth. |
It was about an hour’s walk because every now and then, I stopped to take pictures. I did not want to miss the chance to capture the beauty of nature, so, there, I took pictures of streams, dirt roads, hills, and the forests that I passed through. The walk turned uphill as I got nearer and nearer the falls and it was challenging, breathtakingly challenging!
A hand-painted sign on a drift wood that
says “Welcome to Liktinon Falls” greeted us as we got closer to the destination. The water flowing from it seems so much to the people
who live and to the creatures who thrive in the area. I passed through young
girls washing their clothes on the stream, while water buffalos bathe in its
cool water. Butterflies and dragonflies are everywhere, a sign that the
Liktinon’s flora is lush and thriving!
We have to pass through the boulders and
rocks that have been here for so long. These rock formations are massive and I had to climb and descend from
one to the other many times over. It was another breath-taking adventure but
all worth it! And we were there…
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| You know that you've approached Liktinon Falls when you see this colorful, hand-painted wood sign. |
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| Cool water gives anyone the reason to take a dip! |
The water rushing from the cliff was cool
and inviting. I couldn’t resist and immediately took a dip. It was refreshing
for the body after an hour long, tiring walk, and rejuvenating for the soul at
the same time. I could temporarily take off my cares away and simply sit on the
edge of basin while resting myself for another week of life’s struggle. I thank
God for restful moments like this, for stunning locations like this, for a
beautiful life like this.
