MInalungao National Park (General Tinio, Nueva Ecija)

Minalungao National Park is indeed a natural wonder - with a very clean river, limestone cliffs, caves to explore, birds to see and trees hanging precariously on the rocks. However, the park appeared to be overcrowded and there were several man-made improvements totally inconsistent with the natural landscape. Getting relieved from the public restroom is almost impossible. Commercial stalls have likewise added to the confusion of a huge flock of visitors trying to escape the urban stress. Ironically, this park is supposed to be a protected area.

There is a hotel where guests can stay overnight. Part of the adventure is crossing a hanging bridge to get there. Safety wise, I think it is better to simply drive back to Manila or stay at 8 Waves Hotel in San Rafael, Bulacan.

We are blessed with natural wonders that practically 
all we got to do is be grateful and preserve it.

I was expecting Minalungao National Park to be a "deserted" type kind of river park where you can commune with nature and not be bothered by throngs of people. I thought that the park is a very serene place where you are practically left alone. Perhaps, my expectations were a little bit high after seeing those social media photos where there is a big river with only one raft on it. This kind of situation happens only in the morning. Thanks to the excitement of summer where, more often than not, the river is full of bamboo rafts that you can rent for P700.00 for four (4) hours. There is hardly enough space to swim.

The Philippines is one country that is definitely worth the visit. Its natural wonders are something to behold and leave travelers in awe. We got everything - from mountains, waterfalls, white sand beaches and endemic flora and fauna. And all we got to do is to protect and preserve it.

When I visited this park, I immediately saw how nature blessed this place. The very clean river nestled between those limestone rock formations has indeed qualified Minalungao as a national park and a very ideal eco-tourism destination or a momentary escape from the urban life for Metro Manila residents. The Municipality of General Tinio in Nueva Ecija is just around four (4) hour drive from the Sta. Rita Exit in NLEX.

There are several things to do in Minalungao such as having a picnic, swimming, cliff diving, fishing and bird watching. I only hope that commercialism should always be regulated. This park should remain as a national park where preserving nature is the foremost objective, which I think the municipality is trying to do. One good thing I saw is that all bamboo rafts are equipped with a sack to serve as a trash bin. Nonetheless, it is perhaps a better idea to totally prohibit the use of plastics that take years to decompose.