Sunshine and smiles, fellow travelers! In today's blog, I'll share my experiences during my travels in Alegria. Alegria is one of my favorite destinations and has always been a place I've dreamed of visiting. With its stunning and breathtaking towering mountains, the beautifully clear blue sea, and the impressive architectural styles that attract most travelers, I can confidently say I would really love to go back here.
We took my mother's friend's car to head to Alegria, but if you prefer to travel to Alegria as a commuter, you can catch a jeep or mini bus heading towards the south bus station. Board a bus marked Bato via Barili and get off at the town center of Alegria. Our journey lasted 6 hours because our starting point is quite far from the south.
We arrived in Alegria at 1am, and instead of checking into a hotel or motel, my mother’s friend invited us to spend the night at their ancestral house. Although the surroundings were quite dark, I could envision how beautiful Alegria would be in the light of day. That day happened to be the town's fiesta, and everyone was busy with preparations for the next day's festivities. Their ancestral home was located by the seaside, where you could witness the sun rising and the stunning colors of yellow and orange lighting up the sky at sunset. This view brought a sense of calm to my mind and body; I wished I could enjoy it forever. I envy the locals of Alegria because they experience this stunning landscape daily. In the morning, I can feel the warm sea breeze brushing against my hair and skin. We had breakfast by the sea along with the families of my mother's friends. Throughout our visit, I noticed that many of the locals in Alegria were quite generous and welcoming. Some of them are modest; you might assume they are poor due to their small house, but my mother's friend's sister mentioned that they are wealthy because they own several hectares of land. They aren't concerned about the appearance of their home as long as they make a good income from their land. I found their culture intriguing because in my area, we only invite specific people we wish to have over, whereas in this town, they welcome anyone who comes through their gates. They believe that if they generously give to others, good fortune will return to them tenfold.
The family runs a catering business called Cosina Organica. Cosina Organica offers delicious and flavorful food, which helps guests would have a greater appetite. The dishes are fantastic and scrumptious; among my favorites are their carbonara and kakanin. The texture and quality are impressive, and it's clear that they use right amounts of ingredients. They serve Carbonara, Sweet and Sour Fish, Pork Caldereta, various kakanin, Sweet and Sour Pork, Beef Steak, and, of course, lechon. They also serve wine to guests as a complement to their meal. The wine they provide pairs perfectly with the dishes they offer. I enjoy the flavor of their wine because, unlike many others I've tried, this one is quite flavorful without being overly bold. We ended the day by accommodating our guests and mingling with other locals. In the evening, we swim in the sea as we enjoy the view of the sunset. I must say, the sunset in Alegria is unlike any I’ve experienced at home. We spent only three days in Alegria since that was the only time my mother had off work.
On the last day of our stay in Alegria, we prepare all our belongings and ensured everything was ready for our 5pm departure. After preparing everything, we went for a walk together with my aunt and her son, my mother, and my mother's friend. We strolled from Sta. Filomina to Alegria Heritage Park, covering a distance of 3.6 kilometers. The early hour of 6am meant we couldn't feel any fatigue as the sun had yet to rise. While walking, I observed locals putting up tarpaulins in front of their homes, announcing their children’s graduations from prestigious universities in Cebu. There was a stretch of the seashore where, instead of sand, large pebbles were scattered across the area. You can also spot some deserted houses along the shore. It was mentioned that the abandoned house was affected by Typhoon Odette, and they cannot return to their homes because it is too hazardous to live there.
Eventually, we arrived at Alegria Heritage Park. We took pictures of the word 'alegria' and the park itself. We also admired their historical baluarte. I was impressed by the preservation of this type of historical structure. As you can see, this baluarte was constructed in the 1800s during the Spanish colonial period.
I also experienced the breathtaking beauty of their mountains and sea; the view feels reminiscent of Hawaii. The beauty is truly remarkable. I could also see the neighboring island, where you can notice its minimal features. This park offers an extraordinary view that certainly allows people to relax and relieve their stress. We rode a tricycle to head home.
We took a trip to a dragon fruit farm that was quite distant. We journeyed for about an hour until we arrived at our destination. This farm belonged to the sister of a friend of my mother. They mentioned that they initially planted only 10 dragon fruit plants, and over time, they multiplied significantly. Currently, they have 500 dragon fruit plants and are looking to expand their farm further. They cultivate two types of dragon fruit: the white dragon fruit and the red dragon fruit. They explained that they do not grow yellow dragon fruit because it is quite costly and requires delicate care, as this particular variety is very fragile to handle.
As I gaze at the broad expanse of dragon fruit, I recall one of the tales shared by Jonaxx, specifically the Alegria series. It gives me the sensation that I'm part of Jonaxx's story, haha.
After we got home, we started getting ready to head to Cancalanog Falls. We traveled for about 30 minutes before reaching Cancalanog. Before we arrived, the locals informed us that we would need to walk for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour at a slow pace since the falls are situated at the bottom of the mountains. The locals also mentioned that if we preferred not to walk, we could take a habal habal, or motorcycle, for a fee of 50 pesos (Philippine currency). Prior to reaching the falls, the locals advised us to pay an entrance fee of 50 pesos, and we could also rent a life vest for 50 pesos for those who needed it.
Now that we have arrived at Cancalanog Falls, the stunning beauty of the waterfall and the vibrant blue water made me eager to take a swim! The path leading to Cancalanog is quite perilous and treacherous for individuals who may be clumsy or inattentive, as it is very slippery and lacks a well-defined walkway. My mother and I captured photos of the bamboo bridge, and I refrained from jumping due to my fear of heights.
If you plan to take a child swimming, it’s advisable to go beside to Cancalanog Falls, where there is a small river for children to enjoy and play in. We only spent about 30 minutes at Cancalanog Falls since we were pressed for time; it was already 3 PM and we needed to leave by 4 PM. Heading back to where the car was parked is the most difficult challenge, requiring us to hike for at least 30 minutes. The exhaustion from swimming at Canclalanog Falls intensified my fatigue. I felt like I was on the verge of collapsing due to my extreme tiredness and the pain in my feet. It was exhausting, but it is possible to take a break amidst the forest before finishing the hike. However, since we were pressed for time, we chose not to rest at all, which left us all feeling like we might pass out from sheer fatigue and our sore, trembling feet.
After getting home and preparing to leave, the family of my mother’s friend gifted us some small food items as a token of appreciation for our visit. I will truly miss Alegria—the stunning views of sunrises and sunsets, the breathtaking coastline and mountains, and the friendly locals; I will definitely miss them all.
This concludes my travel experience in Alegria. I hope I’ve provided you with some insight into why Alegria is a great destination, whether you're a solo traveler or planning a trip there. Thank you for taking the time to read! Ciao!