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| (Image Source: Rappler) |
Cavite, which is under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until the end of January, has something new for tourists, more particularly nature lovers who wish to experience breathing cool, fresh air outside of the polluted metropolis and it can be found in the upland town of Barangay San Agustin, Magallanes, Cavite which is 71.1 kilometers away from Metro Manila. And its name, if you might ask, is Buhay Forest.
An average of over 10,000 domestic tourists from different parts of the country have flocked to the 10-hectare breadth of thick foliage situated along the Magallanes highland to experience the cool weather and beauty of nature and eventually find peace and calmness amidst the problems and challenges they are facing with their friends and loved ones while staying safe from the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. A two-hour's drive from Manila via CAVITEX, Buhay Forest is a trekking paradise and can be an essentially perfect destination for those who aspires to commune with nature. After all, the province's new tourist destination began as an eco-tourism site back in 2012 under the helm of former Magallanes town mayor Napoleon Basilio.
In order to reach the highland's summit, one has to ascend some 178 not-so-steep steps and 248 steps on the pathway to a cleared site with a vantage position facing a cliff. For trekkers who wants to take the San Agustin route, it only takes a few minutes to go uphill. On the other hand, the other entry point at Barangay Ramirez is a longer route. Buhay Forest has picnic tables, a playground, ground birds nest perfect for souvenir photos, a bridge, a 500 square meter picnic area covered by trees and a view tower where visitors can glimpse and awe at the sight of the mountains situated around uphill, far and wide. The local government of Magallanes plans to put up a souvenir shop, a kubo hotel, a rappelling site, zip line and butterfly garden among others. Furthermore, the forest is also home to a number of wild animals including wild monkeys, kalaw or Philippine hornbill, and labuyo or wild chickens.
Buhay Forest opens daily from 5 am to 8 pm and guests aged 15-65 years old are allowed to enter as mandated by the health and safety protocols implemented and imposed by the Philippine government's Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). It has no entrance fee but guests are mandated to pay an environmental fee of Php50 for the safety and assured protection of the environment. Under the local government's camping and trailing rules, hikers and tourists must leave no trace of garbage in the area. Overnight stays are not allowed yet and wearing of face masks and face shields is mandatory. Tourists can also visit the secluded Utol Falls which is around 17 kilometers from the Magallanes town proper along the boundaries of Alfonso-Magallanes and Nasugbu, Batangas.
