5.4.

1 Flora Adventure Fortress

APAYAO RIVER: GRANDEUR WATER ADVENTURE

Having fun with a water adventure can be easy! Dacao will provide you

everything you need. Escape the city by a river adventure trip with the

boating, rock climbing and picnicking experience at the Dacao. Whether it’s a

family bonding, an office holiday, team building, or simply a casual gathering,

Dacao experience will assure you that your tour will definitely cease your day.

Going to Dacao is no joke. You will need to go through a bumpy ride but the

experience is priceless. You will definitely fall in love with the tranquillity and

grandeur of Apayao River by boating across fresh water and getting up close

to the river rocks for a climbing.

Dacao is a perfect place to go boating with plush rivers and inlets, you can

enjoy your river adventure and picnic by the riverbank. If you aren’t into back-

packing adventure, you can just spend a single morning or afternoon boating

or rock climbing to simply appreciate the natural environment. The fresh air

from the green forest surrounding the river will definitely give you chills and

relaxation. So come and dazed by the stunning Apayao River.

DACAO DAM: Beautiful man made

Dacao Dam is located at the Barangay Atok, Flora Apayao. It’s a regular Dam

that supply water to the neighbouring towns, but as water level decreased,

slowly become a picnic spot for the people to swim and dive in. Its charisma

lies in its peculiarity. Who would have thought that you’d be permitted to swim
in a dam? More importantly, how could a man-made dam be this stunning?

So come and experience the scenic overview of the Apayao River from the

Dacao Dam. The perfect sight-seeing spot to watch the loveliness of the river

surrounded by a green thick forest. Don’t miss a chance to see the charm of

the flowing water sparkling by the kiss of the sun. So before you go home, find

a time to shout your feelings, take a deep breath from the fresh air of the

mountain trees and let the wind blow your pains and sorrows away.

PINSAL NATURAL WATERFALL: Visit and enjoy everything nature has

to offer.

“Difficult roads often lead to a beautiful destination” Pinsal of Barangay Sta.

Maria is just one of the hidden precious of Flora, Apayao. For nature lovers, it

is the best spot in the municipality if you’re looking for a peaceful and calm

place to stay, at the same time enjoy fresh and pollution-free and

environment-friendly surroundings. Pinsal is only 20 minutes ride away from

Poblacion of Flora. It offers a range of activities from camping up to hiking.

Treks ranging from easy to difficult are necessary to get there. The hike

is 25 to 30 minutes depending on your pace but the Pinsal waterfall

adventures are worth the physical activity because you will be pleased with a

picturesque waterfall as the reward when you arrive. Be stunned at the scenic

view of the green environment and flowing waterfall. You’ll also get to see a

range of Flora at the surroundings while traveling the thick forest. Don’t forget

to take spring bath in the cool spring waters coming from the Pinsal fall.

For more exciting experience invite your friends and enjoy picnicking

beside the water falls. Enjoy listening to the sound of nature that will comfort
your soul while being hugged with the cold tender wind of the mountain.

“Take nothing but pictures, Leave no trace only memories”. Enjoy your

stay but remember to take home your waste with you. Be sure to observe

proper waste disposal to maintain clean and green environment. Pinsal

waterfalls have a hidden message to you. It says, “If you are a responsible

tourist, I’ll give all to you everything nature has to offer”.

From start to finish, we cover everything you need to have a great

experience. From a full day of tiring adventure at the Pinsal, the Marians’

Bignay wine is waiting to warm you. Don’t pass up an opportunity to taste the

sweetness of the wine being partner with the home-made delicacies of the

hard-working women of the barangay. Take a sip and refresh your soul but

don’t forget to take home with you the soul-refereshing Bignay wine of the

Marians.

BALASI NEGRITOS’ VILLAGE: Home of the great hunters and basket-

weavers

At the heart of Flora, lies a small barangay called Balasi. The home of the

Negritos. Through the Proclamation No. 766, s. 1996 which is the, “reserving

for settlement site purposes for the Aetas of Flora, Apayao, certain parcel of

land of the public domain and declaring the same open for disposition to the

actual occupants thereof, situated at Barangay Balasi, Municipality of Flora,

Province of Apayao, Island of Luzon” the Negritos are now peacefully living as

the dwellers of the land. Negritos are known for having a dark skin and kinky

hair walking on street with bare foot but their survival skills and knowledge is

exceptional.
In order to get there, the travel will be 30 minutes from Poblacion. Despite

that, the escapade is truly thrilling experience for any adventure explorer,

particularly the people who wants to discover and experience the life of the

native Negritos. As soon as you enter the village, you will notice small huts

surrounded by shady trees. There is also a small creek rich in fishes and

shells well known in the name agurong, tukmem, leddeg etc., giving the

negritos a source of food and living.

But once you explore the village, you will see how Negritos skilled in weaving

baskets. You will see the innate skills of the community as well as the hidden

artistry of the weavers. As a tourist, once you get there you will realize that

those weaved baskets are not just a weave products for remembrance but

those are the products of their culture helping their village to continue a

tradition that has been passed down for generations.

So come and experience the life in the Negritos Village. Let’s help the

villagers by increasing the market of their handicrafts that serves as their form

of lifeblood and livelihood.

MALAYUGAN CAVE: UNDISTURBED HIDDEN GEM OF FLORA

The peaceful municipality of Flora holds a lot of natural wonders that are just

waiting to be discovered. Malayugan cave is such a gem that one should not

miss exploring during vacation in the municipality. This is the longest cave

surveyed by the DENR CAR so far in the region.

Malayugan cave is quite undisturbed. It has two entrances, the exit of the

underground river and a dry passage located at the upper portion of the cave

which ultimately connects with each other. The lower entrance shows

promising feature as to its geological formation and a nearby fall. To enter

you’ll have to wriggle yourself through some passages. But once you get

inside you’ll be rewarded with some sparkling stalagmites and stalactites. The

cave is also abundant in Speleothems and Speleogens. The cave zone is

dark but you will be stunned with its sparklings.

There is such mystery to be discovered and one of this is the sound of

running water that it is nowhere to be found where it came from. This cave is

the home of some animals which have adapted to a life underground, such as

bats, spiders as well as eels.

Malayugan cave adventure is not all about just discovering the undisturbed

cave but it’s all about experiencing the culture of Flora, Apayao. On your

journey toward the cave, you will be passing through rice paddies and you

can also experience cooking using the indigenous method. The fauna consist

mainly of wild pigs, wild chickens, and hornbills among others.

The cave is safe to visit since its location is a nature preserve protected by the

municipality in a careful attempt to preserve the natural beauty of the place.

KABINNULIG FESTIVAL

“Flora, our native land; as stewards of your riches, to you we pay homage.

Our legacy from age to age, our enduring heritage”

Indeed, Flora is a boon of nature’s goodness and we Floranians as His

stewards of his richness, pay homage through the Kabinnulig Festival. A

festival that serves as reminder for the people to value the fruits of their

labours. The festival that merges and nurture, history and camaraderie of the

leaders of this municipality and its constituents and a time for the community

to come together in thanksgiving and reaffirm their dedication to collective

prayers through solidarity.

Kabinnulig Festival features the farmer’s “Kabinnulig”or partner in agriculture

which is the Carabao considering that farming the main source of Livelihood

in Flora. The Kabinnulig festival showcase the Unity of the people and officials

of the Flora. The festival strengthens the bond that was forged through years

so that the people can continue safe guarding the grains from the past. It

provides stronger and renewed sense of cooperation unity and harmony

among the people so that the collective dream of a truly progressive Flora

where no one is left behind will be easier attained.

The festivity reminds us of the need to keep the spirit of unity and cooperation

as we the people of Flora set to hurdle the challenges, surmount all odds in

pursuit of bringing about the developed community that is able to sustain and

nurture the need of its people.