Rediscovering Toledo: A Throwback Adventure

Hey, Hivers!

Years ago, whenever my friend, The Bisaya Traveler (Sir Aldrich), posted a blog about our hiking experiences or adventures, people kept messaging him, asking if we could also guide them to those places. Since then, Sir Aldrich has consistently redirected those inquiries to me and my friend, Wilfred, to guide these individuals. We usually did it for free because it was enjoyable, but sometimes people insisted on compensating us. Through this, we formed many friendships over the years.

Today, I'd like to share our adventures in the town of Toledo with my friends from a now-defunct mobile photography group, CMS, or Cebu Mobile Shutterbugs. It was a group for mobile photography enthusiasts where people posted their photos and received curation if their photo was exceptional. It was just going to be a day tour to places I was familiar with.

Toledo is located on the western coast of Cebu Island, about 67 kilometers from Cebu City. Toledo City is called the "Copper City" because it is home to the Carmen Copper Corporation, which is the largest copper mining company in the Philippines.

Our journey began at the Cebu South Bus Terminal early in the morning to catch a bus that passed through a barangay called Magdugo in Toledo. Upon our arrival in Brgy. Magdugo, we hailed motorcycle taxis in pairs to take us to Brgy. General Climaco, Toledo City, where our adventures would commence.

This barangay in Toledo City offers a wide range of natural and man-made attractions, from its beautiful mountains to its lakes.

First on our list of places to visit was Malubog Lake.

We arrived at Brgy. Malubog, and the motorcycle driver dropped us off at the barangay gym, which is located next to the lake, making it very accessible from there.

Malubog Lake is a man-made reservoir constructed in 1970 by Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (ACMDC) to provide water for its mining operations. Today, it's a popular tourist destination known for its scenic beauty.

There are rumors and gossip that surround the lake. Some say that it is a mysterious lake with a mantaga, a giant octopus that supposedly grabs and drowns unwary humans or animals in and around the lake. Although there have been numerous deaths in the lake, mostly due to drowning, no one has been able to prove the existence of these mysterious giant octopuses.

From there, we could easily walk to our next destination, as most of the spots are by the lake, and following the lakeside road would lead us there.

Fortunately, we were able to hitch a ride on a dump truck that was fully loaded with sand. It was a bumpy ride since some of the roads were not cemented, and we even passed a shallow river on our way to our next destination.

Our next destination was an old and creepy tunnel leading to the hidden lagoon. However, it's now a forbidden site after gaining online fame and attracting the owner's attention.

The lagoon resembles the limestone rock formations in Palawan, and locals also visit for fishing and swimming.

Afterward, we managed to board a boat to our next destination, opting for the boat ride to enjoy a different experience and perspective.

Our final stop was Tagaytay Hill. This is the primary reason people flock to this part of Toledo, to experience the breathtaking backdrop of the lake, reminiscent of scenes from 'Kimi no Nawa,' a Japanese animated romantic fantasy film that features a lake created by a comet that crashed into a town, looking exactly the same as Malubog Lake.

Getting there required us to hike up from a trail near the lakeside road. It was an easy uphill climb that even children could manage, as it's a trail used by locals going up to the hilltop communities.

Once we reached the viewpoint near a private property, we wasted no time and took countless pictures with the lake in the background. The spot offered the perfect view, not too far, not too close, allowing us to see the entire lake. The view of the lake offers a breathtaking and relaxing atmosphere. It was a perfect spot to contemplate some aspects of life. Cherish these moments.

We stayed there until we were satisfied with the view.

Descending, we took a different trail passing several houses with a cemented road leading back to our starting point.

A jeepney headed for Toledo town proper was waiting there to pick up passengers.

We arrived at the Toledo Terminal around sundown and boarded a bus to Cebu City from there.

It was quite an experience, although we missed some spots due to time constraints.

Toledo City has numerous beautiful spots waiting to be discovered and shared on social media. So, while capturing the stunning landscapes is essential, don't forget to immerse yourself in the full Toledo experience for memories that go beyond the screen. Until my next post.

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