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Doña Remedios Trinidad (commonly abbreviated to DRT) is a municipality in the province of Bulacan in the Philippines. One of the geographically largest yet least populated towns in the country, it is home to less known natural attractions along the Sierra Madre mountains.
Understand
[edit | edit source]DRT is the youngest municipality in Bulacan, having been created in 1977 by Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and named after his mother-in-law, the mother of first lady Imelda Marcos. Cobbled together from parts of the neighboring towns of Norzagaray, Angat, and San Miguel, it is the largest municipality in Bulacan by land area, with 932.96 square kilometres (360.22 sq mi), but is mostly comprised of forests and a portion of the Sierra Madre mountains that run vertically through the town. It is also the least populated town in Bulacan, with around 30,000 residents composed of Tagalogs and members of the indigenous Aeta communities that continue to make a living from the hunting, fishing, and gathering opportunities offered by the forests.
Throughout its history, DRT was racked with political violence brought about by the New People's Army insurgency and local rivalries among politicians. Apart from this, DRT is not well-known even among other residents of Bulacan, making the town a subject of jokes about its existence. Despite this, DRT is slowly becoming a tourist destination in its own right, as the largest green space in a province that is increasingly being submerged by Manila Bay and consumed by the expanding urbanization and commercialization from Metro Manila.
Get in
[edit | edit source]DRT is the most difficult town to travel to in Bulacan, being outside major highways and connected to neighboring municipalities by narrow two-lane roads. Most visitors will enter the town through M. Valte Road originating from Angat, which is accessible from Metro Manila via the Bocaue exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and then Halili Highway through Santa Maria and Norzagaray before reaching Angat. An alternate toll-free route to Angat is through Quirino Highway from Quezon City, passing through North Caloocan, San Jose del Monte before merging with Halili Highway in Norzagaray onwards to Angat.
Visitors heading to Biak-na-Bato National Park enter DRT via San Miguel, which is along the lies along Maharlika Highway, also known as Asian Highway 26 (AH 26) and Cagayan Valley Road, which connects with the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) at Santa Rita Exit in Guiguinto, Bulacan. From Metro Manila, it is served by buses heading to the cities of Gapan and Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.
Public transportation is scarce, apart from a jeepney from Angat or spending hundreds of pesos to hire a tricycle in the same town going to DRT. It is more preferable to bring your own vehicle, preferably a 4WD, as DRT is not the stereotypical flat Central Luzon town.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are available in the downtown, though given the extensive land area and resulting wide distances, a private 4WD vehicle is better suited to get around. Many natural attractions are only accessible through hiking.
See
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- 1 Angat Watershed Forest Reserve. A popular birdwatching site and a biodiversity hotspot containing most of the remaining closed-canopy forests in Central Luzon. The site also covers parts of the city of San Jose del Monte, and the towns of Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, and San Miguel, as well as parts of Rizal, Quezon, Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces.
- 2 Biak-na-Bato National Park. A sprawling 2,117 hectares (5,230 acres) national park that also covers parts of the neighboring towns of San Miguel and San Ildefonso. Famous as the site of the Biak-na-Bato Republic, a proto-state founded by Filipino separatists during the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1897, it also contains caves, rivers and forested highlands of the Sierra Madre that belie the misconception of Bulacan as a largely flat province.
- 3 13 Falls, Camachin. A segment of rapids with 13 cascades deep in the forests of DRT. Within the complex is the Candle Monument, a memorial to the guerrillas who set up a base in the area while fighting Japanese forces during World War II.
- 4 Mount Brigino, Sapang Bulak. A mountain with campsite offering views reaching up to the neighboring provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and even Metro Manila.
- 5 Mount Manalmon, Kalawakan. A 196 metres (643 ft) peak that is popular among hikers in Biak-na-Bato National Park. It also contains Madlum Cave and forms one side of a gorge along the Madlum River that is also shared with Mount Gola, another popular hiking destination. The area is also claimed by the municipality of San Miguel.
- 6 Kabayunan Viewdeck, Kabayunan. A highland observation point with campgrounds.
- 7 Tila Pilon Hills, Kalawakan. A series of grass-covered hills that are nicknamed the "Chocolate Hills of Bulacan" after its resemblance to the original in Bohol.
- 8 Balistada Hills, Kalawakan. A 328 metres (1,076 ft) sequence of highlands that offers views of surrounding peaks such as Mounts Pinagbanderahan (named because Japanese soldiers and guerrillas kept contesting who could plant their respective flags at its summit during World War II), Susong Dalaga (literally "Maiden's Breast" in Tagalog), and Mabio. Treks to Balistada are often combined with climbs to any of the three mountains.
- 9 Talon ni Eva, Sitio Tubigan, Kalawakan. Translated as "Eva's Waterfall" in Tagalog, although some locals will say Eva is actually the nickname of a man named Evaristo. It is a 30 metres (98 ft) cascade at the foot of Mount Sumacbao accessible by hiking through a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) trail.
- 10 Verdivia Falls, Camachin. A secluded cascade that is accessible through a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) hike.
- 11 Digo's Hills, Verdivia Trail, Talbak. A series of hills with a panoramic viewdeck.
- 12 Talon Pari Falls, Kalawakan. A cascade that translates to "Priest's Waterfall".
- 13 Puning Cave, Puning Trail, Bayabas. A cave with chambers of varying sizes. Its interior is also a pathway for the Puning River.
- 14 Talon ni Lukab at Pedro, Kalawakan. A pair of waterfalls.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Secret Falls Resort, Sitio Matilig-tilig, Camachile, ☏ +63 915 672 3926, nerissacastrodebelen@yahoo.com. An ecotourism venue built around a natural waterfall.
- 2 Antonio's Nature Park, Sitio Matilig-tilig, Camachile. A resort complex built around the Mandala Waterfalls.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 DRT Public Market, M. Valte Road, Camachile.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]There are coffeeshops serving locally-produced coffee in Barangay Talbak, which is along the town's major hiking trails.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Teomatenzos Resort, Mount Lumot Trail, Camachin, ☏ +63 961 008 3414, +63 961 008 3412, toll-free: +63 44 492 1923, stay@teomatenzosresort.com.
- 2 Kampo ni Juan, Kalawakan, ☏ +63 905 111 5751, kamponijuancabin@gmail.com.
- 3 EJ Campsite, Sapang Bulak, ejcampsitedrt@gmail.com.
- 4 Kalinaw sa Kalawakan Campsite, Kalawakan, kalinawsakalawakan@gmail.com.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Landslides and flashfloods are common during the rainy season.
There may be a few NPA rebels hiding in the mountains.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 3009.