Mommy’s (my mother-in-law) initial plans included going to Palawan or Baguio City for a family outing. However, time and budget forbade us to push through with it so they decided to have an overnight stay at Gawahon Eco-Park in Victorias City last April 15th. Val and I arrived from Cebu on that same day and we left for Victorias City in the afternoon.
Victorias City is approximately 30 km north of Bacolod City and Gawahon is 18 km from Victorias highway. There were some parts with rough roads and Gawahon Eco-Park is a government-owned vacation spot situated uphill. For skilled mountaineers, they could go hiking up to the peak of Gawahon mountain.
It was late afternoon when we arrived. There were 9 of us – Val’s parents and his sisters, Pano, Frank, Biboy and me. Talk about this place located in the middle of nowhere yet there were some groups having their overnight stay as well. A number of seminarians were on their 3rd night already while a family was staying in a huge house with roof deck which my father-in-law tried to make a reservation 3 weeks ago.
the huge house with an upper deck
Mayor’s suite
The staff house where we stayed is cozy and adequately furnished and it only costs php 1500 per night. It has a kitchen, dining and living room, toilet and bathroom, and 2 bedrooms complete with beddings. A wide front porch added to its comfort of a relaxing vacation.
front porch
living room
kitchen
one of the bedrooms
There were several duplex houses and cottages near the boating lagoon which is below the staff house. Two swimming pools were located uphill and an on-going hotel-construction is beside them. The place is not yet fully developed for it was too dark to take a night swim. But the view around it was breathtaking. It was overlooking nearby towns and even the new Silay airport.
the lower pool separated from the upper pool
Early morning the next day, all of us except Papa, my father-in-law, moved up to a great distance for the 1st falls. Like Mambukal Resort, Gawahon has 7 falls, too. Papa was familiar with the 1st falls only. Unlike the falls in Mambukal, a double lane concrete road leads to the 1st falls itself. We could even ride with our car but since nobody from our group knew the way, it was better to have a morning hike. It was a good exercise and we could appreciate the nature’s beauty along our way.
It was fun playing near the 1st falls with its icy cold water under the summer heat. Well, we were almost at the peak of the mountain so it was cool up there. There were a few cottages near the falls where local and foreign tourists could place their things and foods but it wasn’t developed yet for an overnight stay. The water flows down to a few meters below the 1st falls for the visitors to have a slide and enjoy the shallow water. This area was designed more for kids.
the end of the concrete road next to the cottage and just near the 1st falls
the 1st falls
going down to the slide area
After Val, Biboy, Kathleen, Frank and I tried the slide, we ate some of the breads and cookies we brought along then we started to go back. We wanted to catch up for a swim before we left Gawahon at 11 a.m. There are two ways to reach the pool area – by a smaller but easier trail or by a wider but uphill concrete road.
the moon is still visible in a clear blue sky
a plant of red bananas rooted beside the trail to the pool
near the pool
also near the pool
the narrow and easier trail to the pool area
the wider trail going down from the pool area
Gawahon still has some areas that require improvements. Some railings on the bridge near the 1st falls were unrepaired and the swan boats at the boating lagoon were rusted while other cottages were left uncleaned. Hopefully, the hotel-construction and the walled structure near the swimming pools may attract more tourists in the future.
the rough road going back to the city proper
