bangued's posts with tag: calaba river
|  | I know, these pictures don't (and won't) do any justice to the true beauty of Abra. So come over and see these sites for yourself.
Anyhow, spiff up your computer with these downloadable wallpapers. You can also send them as e-postcards to your family, friends and relatives.
Thanks to Richard, Kuya Godo and Vianne for their wonderful photos!
Sunset over Calaba River and Sunset over Downtown Bangued by Richard (http://rgba.multiply.com)
Clouds over Bangued, Sunset over Bangued, Calaba Beach/Beach Buddies and Tubo, Abra by Godfrey A. Tacadena (http://gadstech.multiply.com)
Malita Hanging Footbridge by Vianne (http://vianneyanzu.multiply.com) |
 Info Source: http://www.abra.ph (a dead link already)
Photo Credit: Jappy
A long time ago, there once roamed a beautiful lady named "Maria" in search of a place to stay. The old folk tell us that she had a beautiful face, with long flowing blond hair and wearing a white dress. Some people call her "Maria Clara" or "Maria Karamot" (because she had long nails), while others simply called her the "Sirena" or mermaid. It is believed that she has chosen the big rock by the Calaba River as her home.
Legend tells us that her nails could extend and reach far across the river to wrap around humans she wished to play with.
Like ordinary people, Maria is playful and knows how to love. Unfortunately, the people she loves or plays with often end up drowning in the river.
People living by Calaba River often strange sounds coming from the big rock. Sometimes they hear the Sirena singing, when she is in a good mood. There are also times when they hear her in the middle of the night washing clothes using the local "pakpak." The "pakpak" is like a small paddle used to pound clothes while washing. But what the people fear the most is when they hear the mermaid cry. This only means that another person will soon drown in the river.
She cries because she is lonely and is in search of someone to be with, thus taking a human to join her in the deep. It has been told that she is usually heard crying when the river swells especially after a typhoon.
Some people claim that Maria sometimes walks around the town of Bangued, going to market or joining the procession during Holy Week right beside the image of the Blessed Virgin Mother.
By the big rock people have discovered a cave submerged in the water. They believe this is where she actually lives but no one dares enter.
To this day, many still believe she is there. Every year, a life is sacrificed in the Calaba River believed to be the doings of the legendary mermaid named Maria of Calaba.
| | How Calaba River got its name is still a mind-boggling question. It could either be a name of a plant which was abundant at that time, or from the Ilocano word, kallaba or fresh laundry (the river is still popular for washing clothes), that has been carried on/changed over the years.
On the other hand, kalapaw or cottages, typically found in lapog or farms, are used as a retreat house for weary farmers. Here though they are used as cottages where picnickers pay a mininum of P100 as rental fee.
Come, take a picnic by the riverside, swim on its cool waters, get enchanted by the Big Rock or catch the beautiful sunset...Calaba River, naturally captivating!
Big thank-yous to the following people for their contributions to this album:
Kalapaws and Calaba River Photos courtesy of Marjun Bisares
Sunset over Calaba River Photos courtesy of Richard
Home of Maria of Calaba Photos courtesy of Jappy |
Images of Bangued in 14 seconds, 14 heartbeats...Special thanks to Godfrey Tacadena, Lefords, bigberto.blogspot.com and vianneyanzu.multiply.com for some of the pictures. i heart bangued 1.wmv (913 KB)
Calaba River Beach or Calaba Riverside is located in Barangay Calaba, Bangued. This place is so popular that every summer the local government sets up a handful of cottages along the beaches of this mighty Abra River.
Now we, Banguedenios no longer need to travel to nearby beaches of Ilocos Sur because Calaba River Beach is just minutes away from our homes. calabariverbeach.wmv (3.5 MB)
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