Treasures waiting in Malabuyoc

CEBU, Philippines - Some 126 kilometers from Cebu City, on the island's southwest, is a town so modest that a visitor would not think it has treasures waiting to be discovered. The town of Malabuyoc is composed of 14 barangays, each with its own treasure to share. From Cebu City, Malabuyoc comes next to Alegria.

Legends abound as to how Malabuyoc got its name. One such legend - and apparently the most plausible - has it that fruit trees once grew a plenty in the area: mango, lanzones, cacao and many others. Perhaps due to favorable soil quality, during fruit-bearing season the trees' branches would be so heavy with fruits that these would bend in the weight.

Now, in the local dialect the bent position of the fruit-heavy branches is called "buyok," a verb that translates to "to bend down" in English. It is believed that as the area was once known for the sight of fruit-heavy bent branches, it must have been originally called "Buyok," as it is a local tradition to call places by the sights common in the area.

The suffix "mala" may have been added later on, when the local people realized that the bent position of the branches was not the result of voluntary motion by the trees but rather simply by force of gravity. Trees do not really prostrate or bend down on their own. And so "mala," whose usage in the local language is equivalent to the English "in the manner of" or "looks like," was added. Thus, "Malabuyoc" ma actually mean "looks like bending down or prostrating."

Anyway, whatever the origin of the word, the town of Malabuyoc was officially founded in 1832 by Agustin Fuentes, Leon Carbonella, Jose Balentos, Pedro Vildosola and Martin Carredo, all pioneering residents of the place. Before then, the place used to be a barrio of the now neighboring town of Samboan, at the time when the coverage of the parish church was synonymous with township. And so when Malabuyoc was separated from Samboan, it was assigned its own parish under the patronage of San Nicolas de Tolentino.

So much with history and etymology, the town has many attractions to offer visitors.

Aranzana Springs. Located in barangay Aranzana, the springs are a few hundred meters from the town center. These are a cluster of several freshwater springs that yield into the river, where the local people get their water for drinking and washing. Small pools have now been made by some villagers, to catch part of the flowing spring water. And these have become local versions of the swimming pool.

Montañeza Beach. This public beach, along the national road, takes its name from the barangays where it is located, Barangay Montañeza.  This tiny beach area is only known to locals and very few visitors. The beauty of this beach lies in the fact that its bed is made of tiny pebbles and stones, instead of the usual sand. And it is such a good vantage point to catch a marvelous sunset.

Mainit Springs. As the name suggests, yes, these are hot springs. It's located just a few kilometers from the public beach in Barangay Montañeza; in fact, it still belongs to the barangay. There are four different pools of different sizes - and, amazingly, different water temperatures!

Montañeza Falls . Still in Barangay Montañeza, it's less than a kilometer away from the hot springs. The falls has several small drops and a big one - so beautiful that it is indeed a real reassure. Visitors would have to take a narrow trail to reach the falls' final drop. The adventurous may opt to get there by crawling through rock holes, climb on carved footholds on the rock face, and wade through knee-high waters to get there.

Kabutongan Falls. This one is in Barangay Looc, at the tip of the town.  Locals and visitors who've been there say that the falls is a most challenging of Malabuyoc's natural wonders. One has to maneuver up slippery slopes and through waist-deep waters, deep natural pools, and then climb on boulders and tree branches get to the main drop. It can be said that Kabutongan Falls is not for beginners. Getting a qualified local guide is recommended.

Divine Mercy Shrine. The Shrine attracts visitors' attention because of its structural design, which looks like letter "A".  Its serene surroundings are perfect for soul-searching or meditation. Or one may just pass time away there, to relax the body and mind. To get to the Shrine one would have to climb up a 200-step concrete stairway.

Spanish-timeWatchtower.  This old stone structure right at the town center is a most popular spot among local promenaders and visitors alike.  This small watchtower has once protected the townsfolk from seafaring marauders, It has now been converted into a museum that houses important mementos of the town's history. 

San Nicolas de Tolentino Church. It is made of coral stones and its façade is decorated with ornate bas relief artworks. An insignia carved in the stone wall indicates that its construction was supported by the King of Spain. The top view of the church reveals the cross form of the entire structure.

Binuyokan Festival. If the visit to Malabuyoc is timed on the town's annual fiesta celebration, on September 9 or 10, one would experience the Binuyokan Festival, a show of pomp and pageantry participated in by several contingents from all over the town. The fiesta celebration itself is a testament to the local people's warm hospitality and friendliness. Saison Dampios, Jr   (FREEMAN)