Kaybiang Tunnel: The Philippines' Longest Subterranean Road Tunnel

On my way to Pico de Loro, a relatively painless road trip that took roughly 2 hours from Manila, I got to pass through mountainous terrain sprinkled with verdant greens. Thirty minutes before arrival at the resort, I finally saw the Kaybiang Tunnel, the Philippines' longest subterranean road tunnel, which links Ternate, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas. Technology blasted a hole, a tunnel if you will, through Mount Palay-Palay (aka Mt. Pico de Loro). This isn't a minor hill, mind you. Just check out the lush forested land above the tunnel. You can climb an uneven pathway for some photo-op over the mouth of the entrance, though I doubt if it's anything worth gloating about. Leftward is a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The tunnel is the focal scepter of the 1.5 kilometer access road that cuts Manila-Batangas travel time from 4 hours to 1.5 hours. From experience, the way back took less than an hour.

It isn't any wonder then that real estate valuation in the coastal areas have skyrocketed. But how long is this tunnel? Hold your breath - it's just 300 meters long.

The 300-meter tunnel specifically located in Marigondon  took 4 years to complete which is tantamount to saying, if this consortium did Vietnam's Hai Van Tunnel, Southeast Asia's longest at 6.28 kilometers, it would take them 20 long years to finish. By that time, I'd have had 20 different versions of iPhone and probably a slew of grandchildren. ;)

Moreover, a few factors irritate during a visit. Motor bikers would populate this area to make their joy rides and rev up their bikes, repeatedly make that awful noise while jetting in and out of the tunnel. The pleasure is still a mystery to me. Noise is never listed in my exhaustively long checklist of pleasures.

One other observation? It's morbidly dark inside. For comparison, check out the lighting of the Hai Van Tunnel (below) when I took the "shuttle bus" (well, it was a cramped coaster really) between Da Nang and Hue in Central Vietnam? Why can't a country with a robust economy such as ours afford lights in a 300-meter tunnel while Vietnam could afford THAT much number of lights in their tunnel? You wonder.

Heavily-guarded Hai Van Tunnel reduces travel time between Da Nang and Hue by almost an hour and shortens the distance by 20 kilometers. Pedestrians, motorcycles, carts and bicycles are not allowed in the tunnel, thus shuttle transport is available 24 hours a day. Since I hired an Easyrider's service, I had to get offloaded to a bus to get to the other end of the tunnel - my driver and his bike had to ride a separate truck! There was a minimal fee for my bus seat, as well as the motorcycle, but it wasn't really much.

Back in Kaybiang: Once I got through the tunnel, an inspiring scenery of the blue ocean greets you. There are a couple of lookout points where you could park your car to enjoy the scenic coast. I was already enjoying the adventure even before it officially started.

I couldn't help but think of the Boni Avenue-Pioneer Street Tunnel (Mandaluyong City) that feels longer than Kaybiang, but in reality it isn't. The tunnel is just 280-meter long. Does it really follow the "subterranean" (underground) criteria? They dug a hole, but half of it is on raised land. So probably it doesn't.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Kaybiang Tunnel

Look at all the lights at Hai Van Tunnel in Central Vietnam. I took the front seat beside the driver. Flash photography not allowed.

The eastern coast has scenic views. Is that Limbones Island?

Someone is selling ice cream in one of the remotest places along the highway.

Visit Pico de Loro - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/pico-de-loro-hanging-loose-simmering.html

Relaxing Haven at the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague (Davao City)

The few times that I've visited the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague in Davao City, there was always someone ardently praying for petitions, specifically for the result of a national qualifying exams; a couple of times for the Physicians Licensure and once for the Bar. The latter was eagerly anticipating the results within hours. Anxiety was palpable in the air. That has always been the scenario, but the power of the Holy Child extends to financial matters, health, family, liberty, peace, safe travels and even for romance or relationships.

The story of the Holy Child, a wax figure only 18 inches tall, dates back to the time of the royalties in Spain, one that essentially involved St. Theresa of Avila. When the Spanish royalty wed a Czech prince, the statue of the Holy Child was taken to Prague where, after years of being kept private, suddenly found a home in a Carmelite monastery, Our Lady of Victories,  visited by devotees. Suddenly, the blind and the mute could see and speak, respectively. And miracles were occurring upon the Child's intercession. But the Thirty-Year War that left the country, and most of Europe, in shambles  eventually took a toll on faith and the religious. The statue was thrown into the rubbles of war, with its arms torn off.

One day, a young priest named Father Cyril exhumed the statue of the child Christ without its arms. Suddenly, he heard a child's voice saying, "Have mercy on me and I will have mercy on you. Give me back my arms and I will give you peace."

The road to its eventual restoration was long and arduous, but miracle after miracle intervened to give its arms back, and along with it, thousands befitted from their prayerful petitions.

My favorite anecdote was that of the monastery's gardener who had a barren vineyard and withered bushes. Upon praying for his war-torn garden, the following spring yielded a bountiful harvest.

I am not sure of the story behind the statue on exhibit at the Davao Shrine, but it sure felt like a sincere representative of the Child Jesus. More importantly, this is the perfect place when you require a serene surrounding for reflection. Situated on a hill, the shrine grounds is green and the air is fresh. It's rarely inundated with huge crowds so you're sure you can pray in peace. Nope, you don't need to be desperate for something to visit the shrine. You can offer Thanksgiving here as well.

At the entrance of the main chapel, there's a crucifix made of Roman Olive Tree from Bethala, a district of Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus and of David. Supervised by Fr. Antonio G. Luto, OFM, sculptor Salem Giacomo finished the crucifix in 1978 and later sent it to where it is now.

You can light your candles and offer your petitions. Here's the Prayer before Lighting your Candles.

"O God, source and origin of all light accept this candle as a symbol of my love. inflame my heart with your grace that I may walk on the road of virtues, and glorify you all my life. Please help me in my needs (mention your petitions) through Infant Jesus and His mother Mary. Amen."

You can always word your prayer the way you want to. I am pretty sure it would be heard however you say them.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

The Travelling Infant.

Look at all those melted candles and the hundreds of dreams that represent them.

The lush green surroundings of this religious mountain shrine. This photo only courtesy of skyscrapercity's Ibex.

Sculpture flown from Bethlehem.

Parade of Philippine Indigenous Tribes at the Gap Farming Resort, Davao City

The geek in me truly appreciated this portion at the Gap Farming Resort - the Parade of the Philippines' Indigenous Tribes, otherwise known as the ethnic groups found in every region of the country. These were the folks who lived before; the ones who pioneered the lands and who embraced agriculture as a way of life. The resort's list is by no means complete; they even overlap, but which other local resort even tries to do the same? Indeed, if one of the resort's goals was to educate, it succeeded many times over by giving us this compendium of ethnolinguistic groups whose languages hail from the Malayo-Polynesian (Austronesian) base.

I would have to say that there are several other "ethnicities" that deserve to be included in the list, many of whom are grouped according to the languages and/or dialects they use, language being their (most) distinctive feature, aside from physical attributes, lifestyle and traditional practices.

From the get go, here are just a few additions to the list: Badjao, Bol-anon, Waray, Manileno, Cebuano, Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Bicolano, Surigaonon, Hiligaynon, Gaddang, Moro, Sambal, Sumbanon, Kagayanen, Ilongots (the headhunting tribe of the Carballo Mountains), Tumandok (Central Panay island). Unfortunately, I seem to have missed the list from Regions 8 and 9.

For the record though, these are what's listed at the Gap Farming Resort:

Region 1 – Ilocos Region

Bontoc

Balangao

Isneg

Tinggian

Kalanyuya

Kankaney

Ibaloi

Bago

Aplai

Region2 – Cagayan Valley

Bugkalot

Dumagat

Agta

Kalinga

Kaddang

Ikalahan

Ibanag

Isinai

Ivatan

Itawis

Igataynon

Ilaniom

Ifugao

Cordillera Administrative Region

Kalinga

Isneg

Tinggian

Apayao

Kankaney

Ibaloi

Bontoc

Isadanga

Iwak

Region 3 – Central Luzon

Aeta

Ibaloi

Kankaney

Negritos

Region 4 – Southern Tagalog

Aeta

Iraya

Alangan

Bilid

Batangan

Hadyawan

Kanunuo

Ratagnon

Tagbanua

Palawanon

Batak

Cuyunon

Taot Bato

Mangyan

* Region 4 is further divided into 4A (Calabarzon - Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena, Quezon, Rizal) and 4B (Mimaropa - Marinduque, the Mindoros, Palawan and Romblon)

Region 5 – Bicol Region

Agta

Isarog

Abiyan

Region 6 – Western Visayas

Ati

Ata

Bukidnon

Sillod

Mangabat

Karolanes

Region 7 – Central Visayas

Ati

Magabat

Mangyans of Mindoro

Buhid

Hiraya

Manunuo

Alangan

Baon

Tao

Buid

Palawan Groups

Tagbanua

Palawan

Molbog (of Balabak island)

Batac

   
* Region 8 is Eastern Visayas which has Tacloban as the Regional Center (Biliran, Samar, Leyte, Ormoc)
   Region 9 is the Zamboanga Peninsula with Pagadian as its Regional Center (Pagadian, Isabela, the Zamboangas, Sibugay)

Region 10 – Northern Mindanao

Higaonon

Bukidnon

Manobo

Mamanwa

Talaandig

Subanon

Dibabawon

Banwon

Camiguinon

Region 11 – Southern Mindanao

Bagobo

Mandaya

Mansaka

Manobo

Bilaan

Tiboli

Tagakaolo

Ubo

Dibabawon

Ata

Mangguangan

Tasaday

Matigsalug

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

Tiruray

B’laan

Region 13 – CARAGA

Higaonon

Manobo

Mamanwa

Banwaon

Dibabawon

Region 12 – Central Mindanao

    Tiruray
      Manobo
      B'laan
      Bagobo

    National Capital Region (NCR)

Some of these terms have been used pejoratively, almost defamatory by some sectors in referring to a group of people. Despite the differences, they make our culture rich and varied. In this regard, I am enjoining the parents to take your children here so they can realize the richness of our ethnographic landscape.

Gap Farming Resort is located in Ma-a, Davao City. It is a theme park paying homage to "agriculture", tourism and education.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

An Overview of Gap Farming Resort - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/bridging-fun-education-history-at-gap.html

A Japanese Cave is found here, but there's another hotel/resort/restaurant nearby that has their own Japanese tunnel: http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2013/05/swim-dine-and-relax-at-d-japanese.html