Tagbong in Abra de Ilog is rural paradise!

Río Matabang or Matabang River is Abra de Ilog's main watercourse. From its mountain origins to the south, it snakes its way through the municipality's fertile plains all the way to Amazona Beach.

Matabang, a Tagálog word which means insipid or bland (pertaining to the tasteless quality of water), is actually at the core of a beautiful river valley system. It comes from two mountain springs south of the Población or town proper: the first bursts forth from Barrio San Vicente's forested western slopes; the second springs forth from the green uplands of Barrio Armado to the east. Both tributaries stream down from their respective slopes and join together in the midst of a lowland farm in San Vicente (just a few minutes away from the Mindoro West Coastal Road) to form the Matabang River. The water system then courses through Barrio Balao, passes by the southeast portion of the Población, crosses Barrio Lumangbayan, then empties itself onto the sea in Barrio Uauà. It is curious to note that the name Uauà —people spell it out as Wawa these days— is a rarely used Tagálog word for "mouth of the river".

A part of Río Matabang runs parallel to the Mindoro West Coastal Road somewhere in Barrio San Vicente (photo taken last 17 January 2016).

Beyond this bridge in Barrio Lumangbayan, Río Matabang empties towards the northern shores of Abra de Ilog. The river delta is in Barrio  Uauà (photo taken last 17 January 2016).

Matabang River has many shallow parts, the most popular of which is the one in Sitio Tagbong which is just a few minutes walk from the town proper of Abra de Ilog. From the Lauaan Bridge to the southwest, one goes down beneath it and follow the Lauaan —spelled nowadays with a W instead of a U— tributary downstream (this place is virtually dry during summer). The trek towards Tagbong may be grueling especially for a first-time visitor because the wide water trail is rocky. But it's a sight to see nevertheless because of the unique kinds of stones that you will step on. These stones, of various shapes, sizes, and even color, are washed down during the rainy season from the mountains of Abra de Ilog where the Lauaan stream traces its origin. Both banks of the Lauaan are filled with various fruit-bearing trees such as camachile (Pithecellobium dulce), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), and others.

Puente de Lauaan (left). The Lauaan water trail is virtually dry during the summer months. It only gets filled up with water during the rainy season.

After a good fifteen- to twenty-minute walk from the town proper towards where the Lauaan stream / water trail meets the river, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Matabang and its mountainous surroundings.

Sitio Tagbong. The name is probably indigenous (Mañguián or Iraya).

Those carabaos behind Jefe are also beating the summer heat. We're on our way to the other side of the river.

My most favorite part of town! I remember when, during my first time in Abra de Ilog, I used to bring a book here to read during mornings — that was in the summer 2001.

That stunning place where Lauaan connects to Matabang is called Sitio Tagbong. As such, many residents think that the name of the river is Tagbong instead of Matabang. The mountain ranges of Monte Abra de Ilog and Monte Cabignayan to the west and Monte Burburuñgan to the east serve as a spectacular backdrop to the shallow river's lethargic silvery flow. The air is filled with melodies from strange birds and insects hidden in the forests nearby. On the other side of  the riverbank, a small farm with coconut trees sits at the edge of a deep forest. Actually, it's owned by Yeyette's del Mundo and Calivara relatives. Its caretakers are a group of Mañguián natives headed by Aling Benita. We had a coconut picnic there last April 2nd, the day after Juanito's seventh birthday. Amidst the fresh mountain air surrounded by lovely trees, we feasted on the freshest coconut juice and tastiest coconut meat one could ever find. Aling Benita and her son Julius served as our guide and hosts.

Just crossed the river! Behind Yeyette and Junífera Clarita are the shapely mountain ranges of Mt. Abra de Ilog and Mt. Cabignayan.

Top left: Krystal, Junífera Clarita, and their mom with Tagbong's Mañguián caretakers. Top right: A pair of mother and child: Junífera Clarita and Yeyette posing with a protective carabao and her calf. Lower left: On our way to the coconut trees. Lower right: Getting ready for our coconut merienda! With us are John-John (Yeyette's teenage cousin) and our family reflexiologist, Ate Cora. Click here for the video!

Aling Benita's son 12-year-old son Julius climbs coconut trees like a boss. Watching him do this is both fascinating and scary.

Coconuts! Lots and lots of coconuts!

After a hearty coconut picnic, we trooped back to the river and enjoyed its refreshing waters till the sun disappeared behind Mount Abra de Ilog.

It pays to have an adventurous family.

The best time to feel Tagbong's divine beauty is during late afternoon, when the sun is about to set behind Mt. Abra de Ilog.

Krystal's failed jump shot that ended up cute. Behind her is Mt. Burburuñgan.

This friendly carabao and its owner had to go through us first before they could cross Matabang River.

Krystal, Mómay, Jefe, and Juanito with their Uncle John-John in a splashy water war by the setting sun!

Sitio Tagbong: ¡nuestro paraíso!

Yeyette has so many happy childhood memories in Tagbong. She tells me how she, her sister, and their playmates escape from their guardians to swim in the river and gather several kinds of fruits such as guava (Psidium guajava), camachile, cashew, duhat (Syzygium cumini), and sinigüelas (Spondias purpurea). They bring them home stacked on their wet shirts with their arms as handles (upon reaching home, Yeyette and her sister receive a scolding from their grandparents). Her late grandfather, the former caretaker of the farm in Tagbong, once had a nipa hut there. She remembers sleeping there with her sister and some uncles. My wife had an awesome childhood and I never hide the fact that I envy her experiences. That's why whenever we visit Abra de Ilog (a rarity, sadly), I want our children to create new memories there, and for them to have bits and pieces of what she had enjoyed as a child especially since we live in an urban setting, something I personally loathe.

A decade ago in Tagbong. Me and Yeyette had only two kids back then (Krystal and Mómay).

Surely, Tagbong is one place in Abra de Ilog that visitors should never miss. And you know what? Our family will never exchange its idyllic beauty for all the riches in the world.

Selfie for the ages! Click here for the complete photo album of our fun afternoon in Tagbong. And don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ¡Hasta la vista!