Binarabudan Cold Spring - Gulang-Gulang, Irosin, Sorsogon

Mount Bulusan

Lush Vegetation 

the path

Some say the best thing in life is free. In Irosin, Sorsogon  and nearby towns there are natural springs that are open for public without entrance fee. One of them is the Binarabudan Cold Spring, which is located in Brgy. Gulang-Gulang, Irosin, Sorsogon. Binarabudan is a local term for spring, it is derived from the word burabod meaning spring. No trail signs to go there, one can ask a local to guide them in going to the spring. It is nestled on the foot of the Bulusan Volcano. Along the Maharlika Highway near Guest World Resort and Inn, in front of Soreco II office there is a path leads to the spring. Just ask the locals along the way they are helpful and gracious to give u  the direction.

Natural Pool

Salog means river

We had more or less 20 minutes trek. Our nephew was gone to the place but he forgot the exact way. It was fun for we don’t know where the right path so what we did was followed the passage of the water. We knew at the end of that water is the spring.  Along the way we were looking and were in awe of the beautiful  scenery, lush vegetation, butterflies flying over us and of course the full view of the Bulusan Volcano.

While walking we could hear the laughter of the people enjoying the water. The deep of the water is more or less 2-4 feet. It is surrounded by trees, ferns, wild plants and boulders. There is a huge stone serves as diving spot.

Diving Spot-Dive on your own risk

At first the water is cold but as time goes on, it’s so refreshing and relaxing. The water is crystal clear and there are fish in it. Why not experience swimming with the fish in a natural spring. We tasted the water right on the spring, it's cold and refreshing one. There is another spring nearby which the water supply of the Barangay Gulang-Gulang is coming from. This is the water reservoir of the community.

Great to explore places that not the usual destination for tourists. Hope the picnic goers and the local officials can maintain the cleanliness. Till next time.

Manunugtog Kawayan – Las Piñas National High School (1966), Las Piñas City

I am always fascinated with indigenous materials used as musical instruments. They make me proud of my heritage. We Filipinos are really inclined to music. I, myself really love to sing although I am not a good singer.


One Saturday afternoon, Oct. 4, I was off from work so I decided to do malling in SM City Sucat, which is a walking distance from my place. As I was going to the ladies’ room I heard ethnic and very nice music and when I looked, where it was coming from I saw the group of teenagers from Las Piñas National High, school performing. Their group is called Manunugtog Kawayan. Basically their musical instruments are made from Bamboos (kawayan). They’re using a xylophone and anklongs made of bamboos. As they play the instruments they have dance choreography, very entertaining. If only Joey de Leon, who sang and composed the song, Itaktak mo, could hear them perform their own version. I bet he would be fascinated how they perform it. The repertoire of songs varies from folk songs to contemporary. Hope more Filipinos could preserve this kind of musical instruments.

The Bamboo Organ-A National Treasure

My sister and I are really wanted to attend and watch the concert of The Bamboo Organ but sad to say the concert tickets were very dear. We could not afford to buy although we are hoping someday we can watch the concert. Instead we chose to visit it in the Church, where it is in housed. The entrance is 35.00 for adults and 20.00 for children.
One Sunday morning we decided to visit the St. Joseph Parish Church at P. Diego Cera Ave., Poblacion, Las Piñas, where the Bamboo Organ housed. It is two rides away from our place. We were feeling blessed because it was a gloomy day and few tourists were there. So we had ample time to explore the place. The church is made of adobe stones, which was constructed between 1797 to 1819. Its architectural design is Baroque; I felt I was in another era.
The only pipe organ in the world which pipes are made of bamboo is The Bamboo Organ of Las Piñas City. It took Fr. Diego Cera dela Virgen del Carmen, the first parish priest, 8 years to finish the bamboo organ (1816-1824). It was destroyed in the 1880’s by typhoon and earthquake, which made it unplayable for several years. The pipes were kept till 1917 in the old sacristy when tourists discovered it. The total restoration contract was awarded to Johannes Klais Orgelbau in Bonn, Germany in 1972 and the organ was shipped to Germany in 1973. In March 1975, the restored Bamboo Organ returned home. Since then, every February the yearly International Bamboo Organ Festival is held attracting both local and foreign music enthusiast. After a panel of evaluation of this famous Bamboo Organ on November 24, 2003, the National Museum of the Philippines declared the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ as National Cultural treasure because it is the only 19th century bamboo organ in the Philippines that has survived and is still functioning.”
The Antillan House, which is adjacent to the church, is where the entrance for those who want to have a clearer view of the Bamboo Organ. In this house u can see the gift shop as well as the Museum.
Have fun in visiting this National Treasure, very nice one.