I'm a man who takes pride in traveling to places I have limited knowledge or knowing nothing at all about the place. And recently, I put myself to test when I visited a cousin who used to study in Manila and is now taking a break after breaking a leg, literally, in a school cheerdance rehearsal . She's now in the recovering at their ancestral house in a remote area in Maragondon, Cavite.
I have been to Maragondon before, when my siblings and I together with our uncle did a mountain exploration in Bundok [Mt.] Marami in 2007 and Pico de Loro in 2008. Those are the only occasion I've been to Maragondon, until 2 days ago.
Going to Maragondon's outer barangays isn't a hard thing, but going deeper into it is like playing basketball with a square ball. The long and difficult travel, however, is all worth it. Once you get out of the car, start walking for the trails, reached your destination, and finally breathed its fresh air, your tired body will agree that it's the best place to relax.
It's no secret that Maragondon is one of those municipalities in the province of Cavite that is not being given proper attention, deprived of the progress they deserved. With all the beauty it has, with its great people and great food, especially the pulboron and the suman and other kakanins, it sure deserves recognition.
Well, I will bet that only natives, backpackers, mountaineers and explorers know such town exist. Having said that, I do hope that if ever economic progress will come at hand, the great beauty of its nature will not be affected. Afterall, it's the town's most prized possession.
