Baktas Ta Impasug-ong

It was a lazy Sunday when my travelling instinct comes again.

The sun was very bright, greeting a happy and blessed Sunday to everyone eyeing its glorious glow! For an avid traveler, sunshine is always equal to adventures.

With nothing on my mind, I wondered where to go, should I go south? west? east? north? Too many choices! Finally, a sign came in and told me where to go, NORTH! But I thought, where in the north? Then it hit me! I never had a chance to capture Malaybalay's Welcome Marker in Barangay Dalwangan. The destination is set!

Being an easy trip, I invited some friends but only one was willing to go with me. It was my colleague and friend Ramon Torres. Without any delay, we set off to the Bus Stop and off we go to Brgy. Dalwangan.

Malaybalay City Welcome Marker at Barangay Dalwangan.

The view around the marker, being in the highest barangay of Malaybalay (Barangay Dalwangan has the Malaybalay's jurisdiction with the Kitanglad Range, hence, the highest in terms of elevation), was very spectacular. The Kitanglad Range can be seen from afar, and so are other notable peaks (e.g. Palaopao Hills of Sumilao).

It was still early, being 9am in the morning, and our feet is still itching for more adventure. Then, Ramon said - "Baktas ta ta!" (Lets walk). At first I was hesitant knowing we would be walking, but I thought, why not try it. So we decided to walk through the entire Impasug-ong Sayre Highway jurisdiction (From Brgy. Impalutao up to the Alalum Bridge in Kisolon, Sumilao).

The Impasug-ong-Malaybalay Boundary Marker in Brgys. Impalutao-Dalwangan.

Walking a few kilometers was not easy, specially if you're not geared for it. I decided we should take a ride up to the famous Atugan Bridge (a decision which I regret the most). We rode our way up from Brgy. Impalutao  to Brgy. Capitan Bayong. We then started walking again at the southern end of a bridge, but this is not just a bridge, its ATUGAN BRIDGE!

The Atugan Bridge. The bridge crosses the Atugan River, a tributary of Tagoloan River.

ATUGAN BRIDGE was the highest bridge in the Philippines, but the Agas-Agas Bridge in Sogod, Southern Leyte took the title. The bridge crosses the Atugan River which serves as the natural boundary between Barangays Capitan Bayong and Poblacion, Impasug-ong.

It was my first time to walk across the bridge. As the large cargo trucks and buses ply the bridge, you will feel like you're going down the river underneath. It was a cool and awesome experience! The time it takes to walk though the bridge was 4 minutes.

Posing at the northern end of Atugan Bridge. (at Brgy. Poblacion's jurisdiction)

Sir Ramon Torres and the Atugan Bridge.

The Atugan Bridge.

The Atugan Bridge was not the end point of our "baktas". We have to walk more than 5 kilometers to reach Alalum Bridge, and the sun is rising higher in the sky. But the walk must go on!

Feeling the need to rest, we stopped at a waiting shed near a gasoline station and an intersection. Reading the signs, the road going west leads to Brgy. Kibenton, a barangay of Impasug-ong at the foot of the Kitanglad Range. The road going east leads to Brgy. Poblacion proper.

After 2 kilometers, we finally reached another famous landmark of Impasug-ong - the Giant Headdress with 7 Giant Women - located at the road junction leading Brgy. Poblacion proper.

The Giant Headdress and 7 Giant Women at Brgy. Poblacion, Impasug-ong.

After chilling for a bit, we continued walking. I can already see the Palaopao Hills which only means one thing - Kisolon is near! Feeling excited that the Alalum Bridge is close, I remembered the bridge has a welcome marker of Impasug-ong.

After 4 kilometers, finally, we reached Alalum Bridge!

The Alalum Bridge at Sumilao-Impasug-ong Boundary.

ALALUM BRIDGE crosses the Alalum River which serves as the boundary between Barangays Kisolon, Sumilao and Poblacion, Impasug-ong. It is also the Sumilao-Impasug-ong boundary and Bukidnon's DPWH Boundary (3rd DEO and 1st DEO). The Alalum River is a tributary of Tagoloan River.

The New Impasug-ong Welcome Marker on the southern end of Alalum Bridge.

Finally, we reached Barangay Kisolon, Sumilao, the end point of our "baktas". It was a great feeling to walk all through out Impasug-ong (except the multicab ride part). And to end a great adventure is to capture Sumilao's famous landmark - Alalum Falls.

Alalum Falls - the most accessible waterfalls in the province.

ALALUM FALLS, a waterfall in Alalum River, stands at 148 feet (45 meters). It is the most accessible falls in Bukidnon since it can be seen while plying through the Sayre Highway.

It was 3pm and we decided to go back to Malaybalay, but this time, we rode a bus. Seeing the road we walked, I thought "Wow, minuto ra to tanan kung mag sakay!" (It only took the bus minutes to pass the road).

With the modern commodities and luxuries we have today, we sometimes don't appreciate the views around us. But if we take time to see such views, then we realize we wasted the sceneries meant for us to see and amaze.

Baktas ta Impasug-ong

October 20, 2013

Impasug-ong, Bukidnon