Fun Tacloban to Baybay via Mahaplag

Just five days after my Eastern and Southern Leyte Joyride, here I was again on the Tacloban to Baybay 'South Road'. I was on an early morning run to VSU (Visayas State University), to attend the regional business conference. Start time 9AM, so we left 7AM. That would normally be enough travel time, especially passing via the Mahaplag route.

Remember this corner? Mayorga poblacion. We came from La Paz (that road on the right) five days ago, right? This was just about 7:40AM and we were already far from Tacloban.

So far so good, we were zooming on the highway... until here. Only hehehe!

There were slowdowns that we never expected. Parades! What is with July 31st?

Why do all schools have parades during this day? Well, good thing we passed this way (via Mahaplag), as there are more schools along the road on the Capoocan-Ormoc way!

These are kids of MacArthur National High School emerging from beside the church...

They have fruit or vegetable mascots. That one is a "pineapple"! Hmm, nutrition month?

I got a bit worried. If we have to stop like this at every school, we won't make it to the 9AM opening program in Baybay. But driver was confident saying there are only a few more schools along our route (Abuyog and Mahaplag), as the rest would be thick forests!

Okay, moving on, we reached the outskirts of Javier. Remember this intersection?

Going straight is to the town center of Javier, and going elsewhere take the left turn!

Also worth remembering... always a wonderful sight... the ricefields of Abuyog...

This coastal town has vast fields before reaching into those mountains in the horizon.

And we encounter another parade! This time at Brgy. Balocawehay, Abuyog...

This was a longer parade as the participants were a combination of elementary and high school students. Good anyway that they were not crossing the highway (here), and we were eventually given the go-signal to run along as the parade moved on the road side.

But just about a minute into our travel, here we were again hehehe...

That's Paguite Elementary School, where the highway starts climbing up the mountains. Minor bummers, but generally a wonderful watching the mini-parades. Educational too!

I took short video clips. Will put them here soon.

Okay, remember our "drop-off shoulder" discussion last week? Here, it is "pavement"...

"Road-slip" na lang kasi, para matakot na agad at mag-ingat si driver. Remember "storm surge" before Yolanda? No one cared because no one understood. Kung sinabi ba naman "tidal wave" or "dilubyo" marami sanang natakot na at lumikas sa ligtas na lugar. Ganun!

This one was the best morning hirit of my driver... he criticized that signage too...

I asked what was wrong with it. He said it should be SLOW UP, not SLOW DOWN - because the road is ascending, as in it is going up. Therefore SLOW UP! May tama sya!

Oh, for those who still remember, this btw is the "Check Brakes Highway"...

The signs are still around, some even new and bigger. But I don't count them anymore!

And we passed by this perennially flowing free water source of Mahaplag again...

This time we stopped to ask a few questions. The most interesting 'revelation' I learned from this women was/is that: the water doesn't become murky even during heavy rains.

They drink this water - and they have been doing so as far as they can remember!

They say there is already a waterline pipe to their houses from here, but they still prefer to wash clothes here - with friends - where it's merrier with all the banter and tsismisan!

The most important intersection in the south that drivers and passengers must note...

If you go straight (the road at left), that would be going to Mahaplag town proper which is 5kms from this point says those signages. It's also 73kms to the Liloan Port passing via Agas-agas Bridge, Sogod and Libagon - that is the shortest way from this point on.

Why did I have to emphasize that that is "the shortest way"? Because of the following...

Turning right on this intersection will lead you to Baybay City - it is just 23kms but on a zigzagging, up and down, scenic, check-your-brakes, mountain road. Where, as you know, you can turn right going to Albuera and Ormoc, or turn left going to Maasin and even on to Sogod, Libagon and Liloan - mas malayo nga lang. Correct?! Now, here's the catch...

If you are commuting from Tacloban or the towns before this intersection, whether it be by bus, van or jeep, listen to this... there are those that go straight here (left road) and those that turn right going to Maasin! Ironically, they're of the same distance from here!

But if you are going to the Agas-agas Bridge, you must take one that goes left here. Otherwise, you'll have traveled about 190kms turning around, instead of just 22 hahaha!

Here's more, if naman, you are going to Sogod or Liloan and you rode on those big buses from Manila, take note that some of them go straight down here (left), while others still go to Baybay and Maasin. Why? No one knows. But they usually put a signboard in front.

Thus, and anyway, always check with the drivers before you ride.

Teka, how about my trip to Baybay?! Oh okay, of course we turned right on that corner...

FYI, ever since I started passing by this road, without fail, I would always see uniformed men anywhere on this stretch of mountainous highway. There is/are (I think) a military detachment/s here somewhere. Not that there's anything, but somehow nakakapraning seeing them! I just get reminded of insurgents and "their bad" when I see military here.

And no pun intended, but construction, repair, upgrade, etc., also never stop here...

Yes no pun, but intending a direct accusative finger-pointing query, ganyan ba talaga ang DPWH - utay-utay gumawa ng highway? Ganyan talaga? O me kumikitang kabuhayan?

When originally made, magandang kalsada - lang. Then, "ay walang canal, gawan natin", so contract ulit. Then, "ay baka mag-landslide, ayusin natin" so contract nanaman. Ganun?

Haizst! Anyway, if anything, there are people in what otherwise would be eerie forests.

At least my driver was in a good mood with his corny comments and jokes.

Like on this one.., he says this should be the proper place for the SLOW DOWN signage.

That this Manong must be traveling very veeery far (because he has 2 spare tires)...

Tingin naman ako.., analyzing.., and it took me a long while before I got the joke. Argh!

This was the biggest puzzle and greatest laugh of the morning...

We were not concerned about how many sacks were loaded on that jeep nor what the cargoes might be. We were not also concerned this time, at how tall the cargoes were piled up on the roof, nor were we thinking about how safe those two 'helpers' are...

My driver quizzed me..,
"why did the driver/operator of that jeep put, position, install their spare tire that way".

My driver says "no stir" there is a practical and intelligible reason why it is so. This time I focused my little pea of a brain on that thing, and all I could say was "ay oo nga ano, ke gago tarantado eh daanan yan ng tao, akala nya siguro ang sasakyan nya e Pajero" haha!

And its already night time as I write this. No guess yet :(

Anyway, amidst many curious things along the way, I didn't notice we arrived at VSU..,

Yep, Visayas State University, the summit venue, at exactly 9:12AM! Only 12minutes late. The ceremonies were just about starting - outside the building for the grand welcome and entrance. See?! I still made it despite delays due to school parades along the way!

And I did a little "social blunder"... a "faux pas"... but let's talk about it in my next story!