Would you like to take an adventure? If so, try reaching the place where I was born and nurtured into being. But in order to reach my place, you must follow these simple guidelines and directions I have for you.
From the City of Tagbilaran, take the highway eastward bound to Jagna-Ubay. Your journey will be smooth sailing because this highway has completely undergone a road widening courtesy of Hanjin Constructions. Then you will pass the following towns: Baclayon, Alburquerque, Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, and Jagna. After 15 minutes of driving from the Poblacion of Jagna, you will notice at the left side a road sign, You Are Now Leaving the Calamay Country of Jagna. This signifies the boundary of Jagna and Duero and it means that you are now in my town, 72 kilometers from the City of Tagbilaran
You will cross a concrete bridge as you enter the portals of Duero. Just continue driving for about 15 minutes and you will reach the Immaculate Conception parish church. This church at your left side was painted blue and white just last year. Beside the parish church stands Immaculate Academy, a catholic institution where I spent my high school days. Opposite to it is Duero Central Elementary School. A crossing follows this; then a series of houses and business establishments before you reach Duero Public Market at the left side of the road. From Duero Public Market, just count three alleys at your left before you take your left turn. At the right side of the third alley, you will see a concrete purok painted yellow with shades of red. You will also see a two-storey concrete residential building with a concrete fence at the third alley’s left side.
From the third alley, take the left road. Beware, this road is not cemented or asphalted. It is initially at level with the highway, then it goes down as it passes some rice fields, and then it goes up passing small huts, houses, some coconut trees, kaingin and other vegetation. Generally you will have a hard time driving because it is an uphill drive with an average angle of inclination of 37 degrees. The road is even muddy during rainy days.
You will feel a bit of relief upon reaching a wooden bridge because the road is less uphill after the bridge. You are now entering the bounds of Sitio Bugang. This time you have successfully climbed the first mountain and at the left side of the road you will have a panoramic view of the sea and the town below.
You will just go straight ahead until you reach the Bugang basketball court standing adjacent to a primary school. The school is very much conspicuous for it is the only building having a fully concrete material. Then you will proceed driving and beware this time, you will be passing Calvary as you pass the most difficult part of the road leading to my place. This road has a slope of 45 degrees and has large stones at the middle. I guess any taxi or van would have a difficult time passing this way.
Then you will take another curvy path that resembles a snake. You are now traveling on roads on mountain sides. Just continue driving until you come to a junction which is the center of Barangay Duay, the barangay that precedes ours. One path going up is cemented while the other is not cemented. Take the uncemented path and expect another difficult road. You will pass a cemented road 10 meters in length in a curvy path; then another rough and curvy road; and another cemented road 20 meters in length. After this cemented road, you will encounter another junction: one going downward is cemented while the other going upward is not cemented. Take the upward path and after a few minutes you will notice at the left side of the road a road sign that reads: Welcome to Payao.
You are now entering the heavens as you could feel the change in temperature. It is very evident that this place is colder than any other place in the province since it is elevated. You can hear the singing of the birds and you can see lots of trees along the sides of the road. Just go straight ahead but watch out for alleys at your left side. The first alley that you will see at the left side will bring you to the pride of Payao - the Payao Lovers Lane. It is a very nice place overlooking the towns of Gindulman, Jagna, and Anda. The place also offers a panoramic view of the sea and the island of Camiguin. Then, just few meters from this first alley comes a second alley, a cemented path that is going downward. This is the circumferential road of Payao. Now, take this curvy road.
From that junction of the second alley, you will pass six houses before reaching another junction: one going downwards and another upward. Take the upward path and after a few minutes you will see houses. At the left side of the road, the first house built with a firewall and a green steel gate is my residence. The house has a small sari-sari store and it is built lower than the level of the road. This is because Payao is basically a mountain and the residents just flatten some parts of it.
Here, you could have a glimpse of the sea below although it is partly hidden by trees growing profusely at the back of our house. If you spend your night here, when you wake up the following day you will see morning dew and fog due to the coldness of the place. Here, heaven is within reach because for me, this place is heaven in itself – uphill, elevated, cool, simple and peaceful.
I will be hoping for your visit and may you have a good time as you spend your time in my heavens.
From the City of Tagbilaran, take the highway eastward bound to Jagna-Ubay. Your journey will be smooth sailing because this highway has completely undergone a road widening courtesy of Hanjin Constructions. Then you will pass the following towns: Baclayon, Alburquerque, Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, and Jagna. After 15 minutes of driving from the Poblacion of Jagna, you will notice at the left side a road sign, You Are Now Leaving the Calamay Country of Jagna. This signifies the boundary of Jagna and Duero and it means that you are now in my town, 72 kilometers from the City of Tagbilaran
You will cross a concrete bridge as you enter the portals of Duero. Just continue driving for about 15 minutes and you will reach the Immaculate Conception parish church. This church at your left side was painted blue and white just last year. Beside the parish church stands Immaculate Academy, a catholic institution where I spent my high school days. Opposite to it is Duero Central Elementary School. A crossing follows this; then a series of houses and business establishments before you reach Duero Public Market at the left side of the road. From Duero Public Market, just count three alleys at your left before you take your left turn. At the right side of the third alley, you will see a concrete purok painted yellow with shades of red. You will also see a two-storey concrete residential building with a concrete fence at the third alley’s left side.
From the third alley, take the left road. Beware, this road is not cemented or asphalted. It is initially at level with the highway, then it goes down as it passes some rice fields, and then it goes up passing small huts, houses, some coconut trees, kaingin and other vegetation. Generally you will have a hard time driving because it is an uphill drive with an average angle of inclination of 37 degrees. The road is even muddy during rainy days.
You will feel a bit of relief upon reaching a wooden bridge because the road is less uphill after the bridge. You are now entering the bounds of Sitio Bugang. This time you have successfully climbed the first mountain and at the left side of the road you will have a panoramic view of the sea and the town below.
You will just go straight ahead until you reach the Bugang basketball court standing adjacent to a primary school. The school is very much conspicuous for it is the only building having a fully concrete material. Then you will proceed driving and beware this time, you will be passing Calvary as you pass the most difficult part of the road leading to my place. This road has a slope of 45 degrees and has large stones at the middle. I guess any taxi or van would have a difficult time passing this way.
Then you will take another curvy path that resembles a snake. You are now traveling on roads on mountain sides. Just continue driving until you come to a junction which is the center of Barangay Duay, the barangay that precedes ours. One path going up is cemented while the other is not cemented. Take the uncemented path and expect another difficult road. You will pass a cemented road 10 meters in length in a curvy path; then another rough and curvy road; and another cemented road 20 meters in length. After this cemented road, you will encounter another junction: one going downward is cemented while the other going upward is not cemented. Take the upward path and after a few minutes you will notice at the left side of the road a road sign that reads: Welcome to Payao.
You are now entering the heavens as you could feel the change in temperature. It is very evident that this place is colder than any other place in the province since it is elevated. You can hear the singing of the birds and you can see lots of trees along the sides of the road. Just go straight ahead but watch out for alleys at your left side. The first alley that you will see at the left side will bring you to the pride of Payao - the Payao Lovers Lane. It is a very nice place overlooking the towns of Gindulman, Jagna, and Anda. The place also offers a panoramic view of the sea and the island of Camiguin. Then, just few meters from this first alley comes a second alley, a cemented path that is going downward. This is the circumferential road of Payao. Now, take this curvy road.
From that junction of the second alley, you will pass six houses before reaching another junction: one going downwards and another upward. Take the upward path and after a few minutes you will see houses. At the left side of the road, the first house built with a firewall and a green steel gate is my residence. The house has a small sari-sari store and it is built lower than the level of the road. This is because Payao is basically a mountain and the residents just flatten some parts of it.
Here, you could have a glimpse of the sea below although it is partly hidden by trees growing profusely at the back of our house. If you spend your night here, when you wake up the following day you will see morning dew and fog due to the coldness of the place. Here, heaven is within reach because for me, this place is heaven in itself – uphill, elevated, cool, simple and peaceful.
I will be hoping for your visit and may you have a good time as you spend your time in my heavens.
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