Tuel, Tublay,Benguet

A Guide for your Travel to my beloved Municipality, Check it out!👇

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE

Bayokbok Falls is a waterfall located near the village of Tuel in Tublay, Benguet. If you are familiar with the Asin Hotspring in aforementioned village, Bayokbok Falls is just a few minutes away from it. Just cross the hanging bridge to the other side of the river then ask the locals for the direction of the trail that leads to the falls.

Or you can simply follow the river to the north until you reach the falls. However, before you decide to make your way through the river instead of following the trail, make sure that everyone in your group can swim. There are deep pockets and pools in the river that can be dangerous to non-swimmers.

The rocks can also be very slippery (especially the moss-covered ones). If it's raining or it's about to rain, never follow the river because the current can suddenly swell to very strong levels.

I LOVE TUBLAY

Tuel, Tublay ,Benguet

      Last week we visited Barangay Ambongdolan in Tublay with my friends. The only reason is that to see and to witnessed the hidden beauty of the site.  Along the way we was mesmerized by the attractive view of the mountains, rivers and well preserved eco-system.

After a while we succesfully reach the place.The smile of the locals welcomed us.Frankly speaking, we started to treak and to start to take videos and photos to document the place. We passed through a trail and a rocky routes but it's really worth the effort. After a 10 minutes trekking we reached Bayokbok falls one of the most tourist attraction site in Tublay. We can't concretely described the place but the only thing is that the place is incomparable to other falls I've ever been before.

Bayokbok Falls

Lagoon

The sight

A video we was able to document.

After which, we was lucky that we was able to attend a local wedding ceremony and we witnessed how they practice their beliefs,cultures and traditions. A video presented below.

Therefore, we thank this core subject "Piling Larang" for giving us the opportunity to unveil an particular place. In this connection, we essentially documented some of the scenic views, attractive eco-systems, cultures,agriculture,the nature, the falls like blue lagoons and all of this we enjoyed it so much. Thus, we highly recommend to visit and explore Tublay.

So come and visit Tublay!

How to Get to Bayokbok Falls

Here are two options you can take.

Option 1. From Baguio City, ride a jeep bound to Camp Dangwa or Upper/Lower Tomay and drop by the Alapang Junction. There is a waiting shade there to serve as your landmark. Just across the waiting shade is the garages’ station.
Hire one of the garages for 400 pesos all the way to sitio Sayangan, Tuel. Tell the driver to drop you by the registration booth of Bayokbok falls. Travel takes around 20-30 minutes.

Option 2. There is another garage station at KM 6 in front of the Als Restaurant, adjacent to the Provincial Capitol. If you are also coming from Baguio City, ride a jeep bound to Camp Dangwa or Tomay. Don’t forget to tell the driver to drop you off in front of Als Restaurant. The fare from here to Tuel is also 400 pesos.
Upon reaching the registration booth at Sayangan, Tuel, pay an entrance/registration fee of 120 pesos each. This already covers environmental fee, barangay fee, and the rent for a life vest.

There will also be a brief orientation for safety 

purposes. A guide will be assigned to lead you to the falls for free. The trek to the falls takes 10-15 minutes.

You will be crossing this hanging bridge towards Bayokbok falls

Upon reaching Bayokbok falls, you will be given a number to present to the guides when it’s your turn to climb the waterfalls.

When going back to La Trinidad, you may ride the same garage you hired earlier. That is why don’t forget to get the number of the driver.

You can also inquire at the registration booth for available garages or vehicles in the area. Fare is also 400 pesos.

Upon reaching the registration area, you will be led to a designated parking spot.

Manila to Baguio City. Ride buses such as Victory Liner and North Genesis bound to Baguio. They have regular trip departures. Both also have stations at Pasay and along EDSA in Cubao. Fare ranges from 475 to 490 pesos. The trip takes around five to six hours.

Get to Know Bayokbok Falls More
“Bayokbok” literally means fall/cascade in the Ibaloi language. Most of the inhabitants of Tuel, Tublay are Ibalois. So, that’s how the name of the falls came to be.
Bayokbok is a three-layered waterfall. Only the first drop, however, is visible upon reaching the site. To see the other two falls, one needs to climb over the first fall. For that, the locals installed ropes to help in the assault. Oh, how I’d loved soaking in the rejuvenating cascades at every stage of my rappel.
The first fall measures around 10 meters high. It cascades on a sliding platform sideward. It has a very long and deep pool. Even without dipping on the pool, one could somehow feel the sensation of what it’s like to wade in the fall’s invigorating waters.

The first layer of Bayokbok falls cascades in a sideward manner.

Tips and Reminders:
The best time to visit Bayokbok falls is during sunny days or summer months. This is when its waters are in their clearest state.
1. Don’t ever litter. As much as possible, bring back your waste/garbage to where you got them. Let’s help in maintaining the pristine beauty of the falls and the area.
2. In case you run out of water, there is a nearby spring. Just ask the local guides for direction.
3. Bring zip locks to protect your gadgets from the waters.
4. Be sensitive to local culture. This means, avoid actions or utterances that may be offensive to the community. Among these include public display of affection (PDA) or wearing of revealing clothes. 5. Don’t ever use bikini here, please!
6. Don’t use shampoo or soaps when bathing on the pools. These could contaminate/pollute the waters and affect the fishes. Unless your soap/shampoo is certified organic.
7. If you are not used to swimming, make sure you are always visible by the local guides so they could immediately respond in case untoward incidents happen.
8. For other needs or assistance, again, don’t hesitate to ask the local guides for help.
9. Bayokbok falls closes by 4:00 pm.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Where to Eat?
There are locals offering budget meals, desserts, and snacks. Several sari-sari stores can also be found in the adjacent community. The local authorities are encouraging tourists/visitors to dine on the local establishments instead of buying from the outside. This is to help boost the local economy.
One of the few locals serving budget meals is Ms. Juliana Quindao-Mara. Among her servings are bulalo, pinapaitan, and other meat delicacies. Inclusive of rice, the price of each meal ranges from 70-85 pesos. She is also serving halo-halo for 30 pesos. You can order meals from her in advance when you plan to visit Bayokbok falls. Here is her number: 09467394184.

For your information needs:

If you want to know more about Bayokbok falls that may help in setting up your itinerary, you may contact the following:
Mr. Marco Macay, one of the local guides – 09508621847
Mr. Freddie Laron, Tourism Officer of Tublay, – 09998802688

For other queries, kindly leave them in the comment section below. You can also message  Daniel’s Eco-Travels facebook account were the students based and it also serves as the students reference on this travel blog.

We would be more than happy and willing to help you:) For more meaningful travel experiences, We remain.

TRAVEL BUDDIES

CATANO J.

SARTE  A

References:  Your Complete DIY Travel Guide

Its Inhabitants

The municipality has a total population of 13,504 recorded by the National Statistics Office in 1995. The population is distributed to 2,443 households with an average household size of 5.43 and an annual population growth rate of 2.74% covering the year 1990-1995.

Most of the populace are Ibalois, Kankanaeys and Kalanguyas and speaking Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Kalanguya and Ilokano.

Tublay, officially the Municipality of Tublay, (Ilocano: Ili ti Tublay; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tublay), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 17,892 people.

Its Economy

Agriculture being the major industry of the people, has a total area of 3,713 has. Of the total agricultural land, only 1,671 hectares are irrigated while 2,042 hectares are rainfed. Key crops include vegetables, root crops, palay, banana, flowers and coffee.

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest

Bengaongao Cave

Bungis Cave

Tey-tey Cave

Ketong Cave

Asin Hot Spings

Knowing more about Tublay

History

The municipality of Tublay started as a township which was organized by the American Government under Act No. 48 in November 1900.

In the middle of 1899, although not yet a town at the time, Tublay figured prominently in the Hispanic-American History of the Philippines and the province of Benguet when one of its prominent sons by the name of Juan Ora Cariño was appointed and became the first Governor of Benguet when the Province was organized under the albeit short-lived, Republic of the Philippines, when headed by President Emilio Aguinaldo.

In the early 1900, near the end of the First Philippine Republic, Tublay became the evacuation site of the Benguet Provincial Government headed by Juan Cariño. Pursuing American Forces forced the Provincial and other Katipunan officials out of La Trinidad. It was in Tublay, that the head of President Aguinaldo’s cabinet, Pedro Paterno and his assistant secretary, Julian Gorona, were captured in April of 1900 by the American Forces. Governor Juan Cariño, who was shot in the leg, managed somehow to escape but was later captured in May of the same year near Bucao, Kabayan. 

Following the capture of Benguet province leaders and other officials of the Revolutionary Government of President Aguinaldo, peace settled very quickly within the province. Towards the end of 1900, the Americans established in Benguet Province the first Provincial Civil Government in the Philippines under the American Government in Baguio as the capital town. With this continuing development, popular representatives of the people to the American Insular Government were installed towards 1901 and another son of Tublay, a younger brother of Juan Ora Cariño, by the name of Mateo Cariño, who was a resident of Baguio, was elected as the first popular representative to the chief executive of the American Insular Government.

In the post-Commonwealth period (1946-1982), with the Philippines as a sovereign state, Tublay continued to provide political leaders for the province of Benguet and the city of Baguio. Hence, it was dubbed as the “Athens of Benguet”. 

In 1971, a native son of Tublay, Baltazar Acop Depaynos, was elected and served as member of the Benguet Provincial Board up to 1979 when he retired from the government service. He was a grandson of Bangilan Acop and a son of Fernando Cosalan, both of whom were former town presidents of Tublay under the American Government. Prior to his service with the provincial board, Baltazar Depaynos also served for three consecutive terms (1956-1967) as mayor of Bokod municipality.

Another native son of Tublay who was also a grandson of Bangilan Acop, Poredo Acop Depaynos, after whom Acop’s place in the Poblacion was named, was also elected and served as mayor of Kabayan. 

From 1965 to 1982, the province of Benguet and the city of Baguio were represented in the Batasang Pambansa by a native son of Tublay. He was Andres Acop Cosalan, youngest son of Fernando Cosalan, and also a grandson of Bangilan Acop.

From 1988, Tublay was headed by Mayor Joseph Cosente. In 1998, Willy Velasco was elected as mayor for a period of three years (1998-2001).

Tublay is politically subdivided into 8 barangays, namely: Ambassador, Ambongdolan, Ba-ayan, Basil, Caponga, Daclan, Tublay-Central, and Tuel.

Geography

Tublay is located at 16°31′N 120°37′E, at the central portion of Benguet. It is bounded by Kapangan on the north, Atok on the east, Itogon and Bokod on the southeast, La Trinidad on the west, and Sablan on the northwest.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 102.55 square kilometres (39.59 sq mi) [2] constituting 3.70% of the 2,769.08-square-kilometre- (1,069.15 sq mi) total area of Benguet.

The topography is generally mountainous with an elevation of 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) above sea level. It has two pronounced seasons - the dry and the wet seasons with a temperature coldest at 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) and warmest at 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). There are 2 seasons for Tublay, Benguet will be wet season from May to October and dry season from November to April.

The municipality is located 263 kilometres (163 mi) north of Manila and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Baguio.

Education

As of 2014, Tublay has 19 public elementary schools and 2 public secondary schools.

Elementary (2013-2014) School Barangay Albis Elementary School Daclan Ambongdolan Elementary School Ambongdolan Ba-ayan Elementary School Ba-ayan Ba-ayan Elementary School - Annex Ba-ayan Balangabang Elementary School Tuel Basil Elementary School Basil Ciriaco Magno Elementary School Daclan Dackias Elementary School Tuel Dorencio Elementary School Ambassador Langbis Primary School Ambongdolan Luisa Becka Elementary School Ambassador Mamuyod Elementary School Ambassador Moran Elementary School Tuel Palew Elementary School Caponga Pangablan Primary School Basil Paoad Elementary School Caponga Pontino Elementary School Ambassador Santo Niño Elementary School Ambassador Tublay Central School Tublay Central

Secondary
(2013-2014)SchoolBarangayTublay School of Home IndustriesCapongaTublay School of Home Industries - Central ExtensionTublay Central

(2013-2014)^[

School	Barangay
Tublay School of Home Industries	Caponga
Tublay School of Home Industries - Central Extension	Tublay Central

REFERENCE:

CORDILLERA ALMANAC

By: DILG-CAR, Copyright 1999

Vol. I - Local Government Unit

SOCIO-CULTURAL PROFILE

1. THE PEOPLE:

There are three major linguistically groups in the municipality. These are the Kankana-eys, Ibalois, and Kalanguyas. 

Due to intermarriages, there are other dialects spoken like Ilokano, Tagalog, Bisaya, and other dialects of Cordilleras.

The percentage distribution to the total municipal population, of these three major ethnoliguistic groups are as follows 76% are Ibaloi, 21% Kakana-ey, 2% Kalanguya, and others – Bisaya, Tagalog, Ilockano, etc. (1%). (SOURCE: TUBLAY Edited Profile)

2. DEMOGRAPHY

TOTAL POPULATION

POPULATION GROWTH RATE

Crude Birth Rate

Death Rate

Population Density 

15,096(NSO-PopCen 2007, 15,390(CBMS 2010)

2.74

.013/1000

.002/1000

127 persons/sq. km

Male-Female Ratio: 109.6 males/100 females

No. of Households: 3,096(PopCen 2007)/3.142(CBMS 2010)

Average Household Size: 5.2

(Source: Municipal Planning and Development Office)