Tanay, Rizal Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco said camp sites in the upland villages of the town are expected to draw huge crowds this upcoming long weekend.
Jeff Pino, the town government’s municipal administrator, told Manila Bulletin that one of these mountain camp sites is the Apiary Mountain Camp and Farm located at Sitio Maysawa in Barangay Cuyambay.
Pino said the more than three hectares camp site, which has several nipa huts, 10 dome-type airconditioned tents with rest rooms, complements the beauty of the upland village of Barangay Cuyambay, which is one of the 11 mountain barangays in the municipality.
(Photo courtesy of The Apiary Mountain Camp and Farm)
The municipal administrator added that the area, where The Apiary Camp and Farm is located along with other camp sites and farms, is part of the vast Sierra Madre Mountain range which is home to various species of flora and fauna.
It is during the so-called “Ber” months that most tourists troop to the mountain camp sites to experience the cold weather, explore the terrain by hiking or riding an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) offered for rent by some tourist establishments in the area or witness the occurrence of the so-called “sea of clouds” or the vast clouds that linger on the mountain, that looks like a sea when viewed from above, especially in the early morning or early evening.
(Photo courtesy of The Apiary Mountain Camp and Farm)
At the camp site tourists can pick some fruits in season including lemons, vegetables and edible flowers to make a salad or buy bottled honey taken from its apiary as they enjoy the cold breeze.
Nica Mandilag, owner of the camp and farm site, said the area is 100 percent solar powered and the crops which the guests can pick from its farm, are all organic, with some flowers ready to be eaten fresh or mixed in foods or drinks or have it prepared for visitors at the camp site’s farm to table restaurant.
As Tanay practices pro-environment policies, the camp site is strictly into segregation and composting of wastes for fertilization of its vegetation. Recyclables are either upcycled or surrendered by the camp site to the local government unit for recycling.
Although most of the camp sites operate all year round, some of the roads leading to those areas get muddy and may be inaccessible by motorcycle during rainy season.
The long weekend this month starts on Oct. 28, Saturday, until Oct. 30, Monday, which is a special non-working day since it is election day for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan.
Aside from the October's long weekend, Nov. 1, Wednesday and Nov. 2, Thursday, are both special non-working holidays.