EXCURSIONS INTO THE PHILIPPINES

[Karl Welteke]

The Zambales-Tarlac Road

3rd Segment

News report said, that it was being build and some even said that it would be completed in Nov. this 2017, this year.

I am interested in this area for many reasons as stated before.

On the 26th Oct. 2017 I walked along the road being constructed on the Botolan side as far I could go, about 10 km road distance.

Again, vice making an album, I present the first half of my walking pictures here (19)



Za419. My GPS tracks of the Zambales Tarlac Road.

These are my two GPS tracks of the Zambales Tarlac Road, Botolan side, from the 24th and 26th Oct. 20117.




Za420. My walking GPS track of the Zambales-Tarlac Road construction on the 26th Oct. 2017

My walking GPS track of the Zambales-Tarlac Road construction on the 26th Oct. 2017




Za421. The data of my walk on the Zambales-Tarlac Road

The data of my walk on the Zambales-Tarlac Road from my Garmin GPS device.




Za422. The GE Zambales-Tarlac Road big picture.

The GE Zambales-Tarlac Road big picture.




Za423. Crossing the Baquilan River Valley on foot.

Crossing the Baquilan River Valley on foot.




Za424. Vehicle Crossing the Baquilan River Valley

Vehicle Crossing the Baquilan River Valley




Za425. New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction

New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction enters the Baukok River Valley from the Baquilan River Valley. Her are workers that just arrived who do all the hand work additions to the road. I carry a plastic bag with older shoes, I put on the wade thru rivers, I had to do that 6 times.



Za426. . New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction on the Botolan side.

The road will make a sharp turn to the left and will enter the Baukok River Valley.





Za427. New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction on the Botolan side.

New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction on the Botolan side is going deep into the Baukok River Valley.



Za428. New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction material.

Construction material for the new Zambales-Tarlac Road is produced right there from the Baukok River.




Za429. New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction concrete trucks.

I assume they use those trucks also to mix the concrete but I am not sure.




Za430. New Zambales-Tarlac Road construction workers on bikes.

The sign of the times, more and more Filipinos are able to purchase motor bikes.




Za431. New Zambales-Tarlac Road Route out of the Baukok Rv. Valley.

Ways to go, the Zambales-Tarlac Road will cross that mountain ridge way ahead there.





Za432. New Zambales-Tarlac Road keeps going deep into the Baukok Rv. Valley

New Zambales-Tarlac Road keeps going deep into the Baukok Rv. Valley




Za433. People live along the Zambales-Tarlac Road in the Baukok Rv. Valley.

People live along the Zambales-Tarlac Road in the Baukok Rv. Valley; that surprised me, some even had cement and steel gates to their properties but I can’t show you all the pictures, too many.




Za434. People and Carabao are in the Baukok River Valley.

People live along the Zambales-Tarlac Road in the Baukok Rv. Valley; that surprised me, some even had cement and steel gates to their properties but I can’t show you all the pictures, too many.





Za435. New Zambales-Tarlac Road has no bridges or large culverts yet

I did not see any preparation yet for the bridges and large culverts required for this new road.




Za436. New Zambales-Tarlac Road Route out of the Baukok Rv. Valley.

I got a clear picture now where the Zambales-Tarlac Road will cross that mountain ridge out of the Baukok River Valley.





Za437. New Zambales-Tarlac Road, view back to Baquilan.

A look back on the new Zambales-Tarlac Road; in the distance we can see the Bucao River. It is about 7 to 8 km to this point from where I started.







_______________



Well, I did title the thread "THE BASTARDS" - Exo

[Karl Welteke]

The Zambales-Tarlac Road

4th and last Segment, this is mainly about graded dirt track to be concreted up to the top of the next ridge.

News report said, that it was being build and some even said that it would be completed in Nov. this 2017, this year.

I am interested in this area for many reasons as stated before.

On the 26th Oct. 2017 I walked along the road being constructed on the Botolan side as far I could go, about 10 km road distance.

Again, vice making an album, I present the first half of my walking pictures here (15 each).



Za444. The new Zambales Tarlac Road work road, Botolan side.

The concrete section of the Zambales Tarlac Road ended at a larger side valley, I had to back track, get on this working road to catch-up with the graded section ahead.



Za445. Zambales Tarlac Road construction vehicle fords a river.

At the head of the Baukok River Valley, the new Zambales Tarlac Road has to cross two rivers, bridges are not built yet.




Za446. The new Zambales Tarlac Road at the head of the Baukok River Valley.

After I backtracked, found the construction work road I caught up with the new Zambales Tarlac Road which is at left and the graded portion ahead and right.




Za447. Zambales Tarlac Road banks are stabilized.

This road bank stabilization of the new Zambales Tarlac Road is at the head of the Baukok River Valley.




Za448. The Zambales Tarlac Road will have to cross rivers or creeks.

The Zambales Tarlac Road will have to cross rivers or creeks. Deep at the head of the Baukok River Valley are fences and gates.





Za449. The Zambales Tarlac Road will continue here.

I advanced up the Zambales Tarlac work road to this point where the concrete section will catch up with.




Za450. A residence next to the new Zambales Tarlac Road

A residence is next to the new Zambales Tarlac Road deep in the Baukok River Valley. A young mother and child are in a hammock.




Za451. The new Zambales Tarlac Road will cross this ridge.

I gained a significant height and am looking down and back into the Baukok River Valley where I came from.




Za452. Two backhoes at work on the Zambales Tarlac Road

The progress of the new Zambales Tarlac Road and I have reached the top of this ridge.




Za453. Bucao River view from the new Zambales Tarlac Road.

I have reached the top of the new Zambales Tarlac Road have a view of the Bucao River. I also caught up with two backhoes, it is time for lunch.




Za454. On the new Zambales Tarlac Road and a look back.

I have reached the top of the new Zambales Tarlac Road and have a look back. On the close ridge dead ahead we can see mining activities from the past.






Za455. Two backhoes on the new Zambales Tarlac Road.

I have reached the top of the new Zambales Tarlac Road and I am having a bite. Guess what, these two backhoes are also driving back and down about 3 00 yards for lunch.



Za456. On top of a ridge on the new Zambales Tarlac Road.

This is where the two backhoes had operated a few minutes ago. I took this picture it shows an old road track which the new Zambales Tarlac Road seems to follow.




Za457. At the Baquilan River slopes.

A few hours later I was back at my starting point and learned that other people like to come here for the view or to descend down to the river for recreation.

[Karl Welteke]

VFW 11447 Post Subic Bay 26th Annual Beach Bash 2018-02-09 to 11th.




Za596. EXO of the Corregidor Proboard Forum 2018-02-11.

Corregidor friends even showed up for this VFW 11447 Post Subic Bay 26th Annual Beach Bash 2018-02-09 to 11th. We will recapture the Rock from here.

Friends

This year the venue was at the Midnight Rambler Bar in Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City. I uploaded these pictures without description and name in order to get them uploaded as soon as possible. I did not stick around for the Beauty Contest. Many personal friends came to participate.

This album has 65 images at medium resolution in my Flickr account:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/7215769329080635

Karl

[Karl Welteke]

My Corregidor friends went sightseeing, 12 Feb. 2018.

Several friends visited me in Subic Bay before we marched off to Corregidor for the 73rd Anniversary to commemorate the Paratroopers of the 503d PIR raising the first flag of liberation Topside on Corregidor, the ex Fort Mills.

I added 5 pictures to these URLs:

On this Facebook URL, they are at the end of the album!

www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10212837361282533.1073741855.1643946293&type=3

In the Photobucket URL they are in the front of the album!

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Philippines/No%202%20Phil%20Events%20Group%20Albums/2018%20SB%20OC%20BB%20ZAM%20Events/2018-1st%20Album?sort=9&page=1

At this forum presentation I show only 2 images:




Za784. View of the north-west corner of the bay of Subic Bay.

Za784. View of the north-west corner of the bay of Subic Bay. . A view across the mouth of the Cawag or Cayuag River towards the Hanjin Shipyard. This is the NW corner of the bay of Subic Bay.







Za785. View of Mt. Pinatubo and the Santo Tomas River.

Za785. View of Mt. Pinatubo and the Santo Tomas River. A view from the Santo Tomas River Dike towards Mt. Pinatubo.

[Karl Welteke]

Biak-na-Bato National Park

I live in the Philippines and its history interests me. On the 26th Feb. 2018 friends and I visited the province of Bulacan. Our first stop was the Biak-na-Bato National Park. Obliviously it is a large site and we only checked on the location, because we had other goals. But we made these few images at the entrance area.

Here is the history from Wikipedia:

Republic of Biak-na-Bato

The Republic of Biak-na-Bato (Tagalog: Republika ng Biak-na-Bato, Spanish: República de Biac-na-Bató), officially referred to in its constitution as the Republic of the Philippines (Tagalog: Republika ng Pilipinas, Spanish: República de Filipinas), was the first republic ever declared in the Philippines by revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo and his fellow revolutionaries. Despite its successes, including the establishment of the Philippines' first ever constitution, the republic lasted just over a month. It was disestablished by a peace treaty signed by Aguinaldo and the Spanish Governor-General, Fernando Primo de Rivera which included provision for exile of Aguinaldo and key associates to Hong Kong.

This is the Wikipedia URL:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Biak-na-Bato



Zc022. This picture is the entrance area of the Biak-na-Bato National Park in San Miguel Municipality in the Bulucan Province, on the 26th Feb. 2018.





Zc023. This is the actual entrance to the Biak-na-Bato National Park in San Miguel Municipality in the Bulucan Province, on the 26th Feb. 2018.





Zc024. This Biak-na-Bato National Park Caves and Trails Map is located at the entrance to the Biak-na-Bato National Park. It is a very large area, one needs at least one day to explore it and guides are available. We engaged one knowledgeable guide who was also very proud of his history. Because we had other goals we only made this a lunch stop on our trip to explore Bulacan Province.





Zc025. The big picture from Google Earth as to where Biak-na-Bato National Park is located.






Zc026. This picture is the entrance area of the Biak-na-Bato National Park in San Miguel Municipality in the Bulucan Province, on the 26th Feb. 2018. That is the direction we came from.





Zc027. My friend Charlie is a very old Philippine Sailor hand, we served together on 4 different duty stations in the Pacific. He enjoyed very much engaging our Filipino Friends at the entrance area of the Biak-na-Bato National Park in San Miguel Municipality in the Bulucan Province, on the 26th Feb. 2018. He enjoyed his chicken meal also!






Zc028. We enjoyed engaging this group of students in conservation about the Philippines. I was glad to see this group of students come up all the way from Manila to the NE corner of Bulacan to study their history. This is the entrance area of the Biak-na-Bato National Park in San Miguel Municipality in the Bulucan Province, on the 26th Feb. 2018.

[Karl Welteke]

Trip to the Ipo Dam in Bulacan

This was a trip with a friend to explore the eastern province of Bulacan. We wanted to look at all three water dams of the Angat River System because they are so vital to life of the people in Metro Manila. During WWII the liberation and capture of the dams was vital before the Japanese destroyed them and made Manila unlivable. So we wanted to have a look and this album is about the Ipo Dam.

If you want to read about the WWII history about the liberation of the dams and so the survival of life in Manila, read this, it is a very good source:
United States Army in World War II
The War in the Pacific
Triumph in the Philippines
by
Robert Ross Smith
Chapter XXII

The Reduction of the Shimbu Group

Phase II: The Seizure of Wawa and Ipo Dams
This is the URL, click here:
www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Triumph/USA-P-Triumph-22.html




Zc030. On the road south, from Angat on our way to the Ipo Dam, to our left we see the Sierra Madre Mountains. They are valuable source of raw materials, we see a plant.





Zc031 Our GPS track, driving in Bulacan Province on the 27th Feb. 2018.





Zc032. We arrived at the gate to the Ipo Dam but they would not let us in, it is not open for visitors.






Zc035. A new and big tunnel project to provide more water to Manila, the water goes from here to the La Mesa Water reservoir in Quezon City.






Zc037. A WWII map about the seizure of the Ipo Dam from the above webpage: The Triumph in the Philippines.





Zc038. A WWII image about the seizure of the Ipo Dam from the above webpage: The Triumph in the Philippines.





Zc039. A WWII image about the seizure of the Ipo Dam from the above webpage: The Triumph in the Philippines.





Zc040. Monument dedicated to all those who died in the Battle for Ipo Dam. It is located along the road leading to the dam. Credit to this web page for this picture: kontedstories.blogspot.com/2014/07/general-yamashita-and-his-glittering.html





Zc041. This is our view to our right from the Ipo Dam to the Angat Dam.





Zc042. This is our view to our right from the Ipo Dam to the Angat Dam.





Zc043. We got a view of the Ipo Dam after all while we are on our way from the gate to the Ipo Dam going to the Angat Dam.





Zc044. We got a view of the Ipo Dam after all while we are on our way from the gate to the Ipo Dam going to the Angat Dam; zoomed in.




Zc046. The bridge over the Angat River (down river from the Ipo Dam) is in sight. We have to go across and up and over the next ridge or mountain to reach the Angat Dam.




Zc047. A view towards upriver from the bridge over the Angat River, we have to cross it, go up and over the next ridge or mountain to reach the Angat Dam.




There are original 17 images and they are all in this album at the Philippine-Sailor web page:

philippine-sailor.net/visit-to-the-ipo-dam-in-bulacan-2018/

[chadhill]

Great post, Karl. You the man!

[Karl Welteke]

Trip to the Angat Dam in Bulacan 2018-02-27



This was a trip with a friend to explore the eastern side of Bulacan Province. We wanted to look at all three water dams of the Angat River System because they are so vital to life of the people in Metro Manila. During WWII the liberation and capture of the dams was vital before the Japanese destroyed them and made Manila unlivable. So we wanted to have a look and this album is about the Angat Dam.


Wikipedia says this about the Angat Dam:

Angat Dam is a concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam that supplies the Manila metropolitan area water. It was a part of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system. The reservoir supplies about 90 percent of raw water requirements for Metro Manila through the facilities of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and it irrigates about 28,000 hectares of farmland in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga.

If you want to read about the WWII history about the liberation of the dams and so the survival of life in Manila, read this, it is a very good source:

United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific, Triumph in the Philippines
By Robert Ross Smith


Chapter XXII, The Reduction of the Shimbu Group , Phase II: The Seizure of Wawa and Ipo Dams
This is the URL, Chapter XXII:
www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Triumph/USA-P-Triumph-22.html

In my previous album of the Ipo Dam I used images the Triumph in the Philippines web page; this is the URL:

philippine-sailor.net/visit-to-the-ipo-dam-in-bulacan-2018/


I have established an album about our visit to the Angat with 16 images, this is the URL:

philippine-sailor.net/trip-to-the-angat-dam-in-bulacan-2018-02-27/

In this forum presentation I only show 7 images:





Ca048. The Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27.






Zc051. The Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27.





Zc052. Karl at the Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27, standing at the visitor viewing deck.






Zc054. This is a graphic information image of the layout at the Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27.





Zc055. Information about the Dumagat Tribe at the Angat watershed at the visitor building near the viewing deck of the Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27.





Zc061. Authority and mandates to manage the watershed areas that surround about 17 water dams and hydroelectric power plants. This information and image is posted at the visitor building near the viewing deck of the Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27.





Zc062. This is a graphic showing the watershed areas that surround about 17 water dams and hydroelectric power plants. This information and image is posted at the visitor building near the viewing deck of the Angat Dam and Hydro Power Plant 2018-02-27.

[Karl Welteke]

Trip to the La Mesa Dam, Reservoir and La Mesa Park.



This was a trip with a friend to explore the eastern side of Bulacan Province. We wanted to look at all three water dams of the Angat River System because they are so vital to life of the people in Metro Manila. During WWII the liberation and capture of the dams was vital before the Japanese destroyed them and made Manila unlivable. So we wanted to have a look and this album is about the La Mesa Dam, Reservoir and Park.


The La Mesa Dam and Reservoir is an earth dam whose reservoir can hold up to 50.5 million cubic meters and occupying an area of 27 square kilometers in Quezon City, Philippines. It was built in 1929 under the supervision of the construction firm Pedro Siochi and Company.[1] It is part of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system, which supplies most of the water supply of Metro Manila.

From Wikipedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Dam_and_Reservoir



La Mesa Park

Covering an area of 33 hectares (82 acres) the public park is located along the natural boundary of the La Mesa Watershed Reservation and its elevation is about 40 meters (130 ft) below than the reservoir.[2]
After years of neglect,[3] the park underwent a renovation under the "Save La Mesa Watershed Project", a collaboration between Bantay Kalikasan, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the local government of Quezon City.[2] A fund amounting to ₱247 million was raised for the rehabilitation of the park.[4] It was reopened in September 2004 and was renamed as "La Mesa Ecopark".[2]


From Wikipedia:


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Ecopark

I establish this album with 19 images at the Philippine-Sailor webpage:

philippine-sailor.net/trip-to-the-la-mesa-dam-reservoir-and-la-mesa-park/

In this forum presentation I show only 8 images.




Cc064. This is the La Mesa ECOPARK entrance and visitor reception area, 2018-02-27.





Zc066. This is our GPS track to the three water dams supplying 90% of the water to Metro Manila, 2018-02-27, Angat, Ipo and La Mesa Dams.





Zc068. This map of the La Mesa Park came from this Facebook page: www.facebook.com/La-Mesa-Eco-Park-334461646643820/





Zc072. This is an information stand, image at the La Mesa ECOPARK visitor reception area, 2018-02-27





Zc074. This is an information stand, about fees, rules and regulations at the La Mesa ECOPARK, 2018-02-27





Zc075. This is a typical walkway in the La Mesa ECOPARK, 2018-02-27






Zc081. This is the outside of the earthen dam of the La Mesa Reservoir and the La Mesa ECOPARK, 2018-02-27




Zc082. This is the outside of the earthen dam of the La Mesa Reservoir and the La Mesa ECOPARK, 2018-02-27. We are looking down the steps to the fishing wharf. It was not allowed to take picture on the top of the dam.

[fireball]

Mt. Pinatubu and Lahar fields - apologies for no pics and coords for info.

With a few days in Philippines between flights I decided to head to Subic and then have a wander around the Lahar fields and possibly / hopefully reach Mt. Pinatubu. Turning up at the front gate of Casa Karl i spent a few hours gathering information on the routes and knowledge Karl had gained in the area and then with a few GPS Coords and Google Earth screen shots on my mobile (oh and with three cans tuna, two packets biscuit and one loaf bread per day for an anticipated three day trip) i headed off.

Going by bus to SAN MARCELINO (about P40) then Jeepney to the foot bridge east of the town (14° 59'25"N 120°15'19"E and about 12km by road - tricycle P200) i then started walking and by about 2pm (or a bit earlier) ended up at 15° 6'19.95"N 120°18'38.83"E at which point the route along the riverbed became impassible as it entered a narrow gorge / waterfall. Now Karl had mentioned a narrow gorge which had required climbing around so this was not unexpected (although subsequently on discussing the trip Karl believed that gorge to be closer to Pinatubu which given the time gap between our two trips is quite possible with the soft volcanic material being rapidly eroded). But one thing worried me and that was the stretch leading up to this furthest point I had reached would be impassible with any rain so I quickly scuttled back to 15° 6'6.00"N 120°18'21.31"E to make camp overnight - this spot was highish enough above the river to give sufficient warning to move even for a severe flash flood and there were remnants of two camp fires (one a small fire possibly from a single hunter and the other from a larger group).

The night was peaceful although slightly unnerving as a fairly full moon meant it was quite possible people could be moving around at night and being surprised (however peaceful the intentions) while sleeping never makes for a deep sleep. There was a couple of drops of rain and in the morning when I headed back towards Pinantubu the water levels had indeed risen and it was a bit ify at times and requiring crossing up to my waist in quite strong currents at times as some of the boulder leaps from the day before were not possible. From my previous furthest point if you look at GE then it all looks pretty easy but this was not the case and while from this furthest point there was a slope up to the left my attempts showed it to be potentially unstable with a couple of levels due to slippage. Being on my own I decided against it (two people and a rope in case of issues would have little problem I think to get up the slope in probably less then 10 minutes). The other problem, and in fact a bigger issues, was that the hillside was seriously overgrown and would need a bush knife / machete to get through and even so progress would be painfully slow and would need to be undertaken with the understanding that were rain to fall the short section back to the campsite would be impossible to pass. So, i then took a side channel heading north (about a 1/3rd of the way back to my campsite) and this actually does seem to possibly lead to higher ground and a way forward but with rain starting to fall I once again turned tail. Interestingly there were quite a few animal tracks and droppings - some of which from tracks close to my campsite appeared to be Civit and the others a more substantial animal. Returning to my campsite i then headed up to a point 15° 6'27.88"N 120°18'21.08"E in an attempt to find a way what to a possible track (or maybe its a slippage line & immediately obvious on GE) just to the west. This was not possible due to the high unstable lahar cliffs and so I headed back towards San Marcelino via a detour up to 15° 4'26.75"N 120°18'14.53"E which is the approach Karl had unsuccessfully tried previously to reach Pinantubu. The view of the steep valley and mountains to the east here conjures up images of the lost worlds of Conan Doyle but again due to water levels I headed back again. By this time even with little rain the wide river had expanded beyond its narrow channel and while shallow was surprisingly swift and powerful. That night I slept ivo 15° 1'55.61"N 120°16'27.73"E.

Now up to this point I had not come close to anyone just having seen a few motorbikes from a distance, an unattended tricycle and cart, as well as footprints. The morning brought contact with caribou cart and driver, female (contract) goat minder and children and then a few families in their houses (all Aeta) and while seeing lahar is impressive in the end it becomes all the same and so this was the highlight of the trip.

On getting back to the road I managed to wave down a tricycle and get him to agree to turn around and take me to San Marcelino but I baulked at the requested P400 fee so i continued walking. Trust me when I say this, just pay what ever they want as the road is reflective white and mainly lacking shade. Luckily a very helpful family offered me water and rest before offering their private motorbike (at no charge) to take me to San Marcelino.

So on return I quizzed Karl and options and planned another route but in the end other commitments prevented that. But, most interesting as part of my GE investigations I came across this: enter Street View at 15° 10'55.9"N 120°14'48.8"E (coords selected random along the route) and you can view the actual street view path through the lahar to Pinantubu. Its actually easier on a mbl phone as by entering street view (in the general area not by coords) the whole route is shown.

Now, given the high price of Corregidor why not spend three days meandering through the Lahar to even out the expenses. Indeed, aside from a better prepared attempt on Pinatubu (allow three nights and prepared to get stranded in case of rain) a five day wander would be quite worthwhile and allow far more to be seen and experienced. But, walking on the lahar and in the sun is hard work so if I return next time i will keep the water filter as thats essential (as well as lightiweight bivy bag and walking sandles for use during river boulder sections) but cut back on food to one tin tuna a day with crackers not bread as slight starving is easier than carrying weight over quite long distances and, with a backpack on, nothing quite says old age like clambering over boulders as you move along a river.