“An Early Morning Drive to Candaba Swamps and Bacolor, Pampanga”

Two years ago, the migratory birds in the Candaba swamps made it to the headlines of the national newspapers for being suspects in transmitting the dreaded bird flu virus which affected the local poultry industry. The avian visitors believed to be coming from Mainland China seek refuge in the Candaba swamps during winter. They could not survive the below 0 degrees Centigrade temperature in China and have to fly all the way to the Candaba swamps making it their temporary habitat. The local government has declared the swamps as bird sanctuary. I was curious about these avian visitors and had promised my wife and my daughters that we will go on bird watching in Candaba swamps. That was two years ago. I was not able fulfill my promise and was afraid I will never fulfill it until last weekend.

You see, last year, thanks God, I was blessed to pass the audition and be casted in the very popular teleserye “May Bukas Pa”. The producer-ABS-CBN selected the San Guillermo Church in Bacolor, Pampanga as its location. Three times a week, I drove to Bacolor for the tapings using the North Luzon Expressway. Each time I passed by the portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Pulilan where there is a big billboard advising the motorists that to go to the Candaba Swamps Bird Sanctuary one must take the Pulilan Exit, I kept on telling myself that one day I will take that exit and go on bird watching in the Candaba swamps.

When “May Bukas Pa” finally ended last 05 February 2010, I told my family that finally I will fulfill my promise to them for us to go Candaba wamps for bird watching! Moreover, I told them that I will also show to them our MBP location in Bacolor, Pampanga.

So, finally, last sunday, 07 February, we woke up at 3:30 in the morning, had an early breakfast , took early morning shower and finally hit the road to Candaba at 5:00 a.m. We took the Marilao entry of the NLEX. We drove along NLEX and took the Pulilan Exit. I asked the teller at the exit booth for directions to Candaba. She told me to turn right and drive all the way to Baliwag town. Upon reaching Baliwag, we asked for directions to Candaba. We were told to turn left at the Shell gas station under the Overpass.

We continued driving and passed by the town proper of Candaba, when the concrete road ended, I made a stop when I saw a flock of birds on the left side of the road. It was 6:50 a.m. I was delighted to see the birds. However, a guy riding on a bicycle approached us. He told us that the birds where not migratory birds but local ducks raised to produce eggs for balut making. He was the duck caretaker! He pointed to us to the left as the trail leading to the bird sanctuary. My Ford Lynx sedan was able to pass the trail and in a few minutes we were already in the bird sanctuary! Cover wall made of bamboos line the trail with few windows. Bird watchers will peep through the windows so as not to disturb the birds.

We were lucky, we were able to see at least six different bird species. There was a flock of white egret, herons, and black birds which I am not sure their species are.

After spending some 15 minutes bird watching, we moved around the swamps passing through the trail. We passed by blooming lotus plants and water lilies on the swamps. There were birds perched on the soft leaves of the lilies. There were two yearling cattle which my daughter (a 25 year old certified urbanite) took a lot of fancy. She said, she used to raise them in her Farmville on Facebook, but that time they were real!

We stopped by a building which is actually a rest house for bird watchers donated by the GTZ of Germany.

We left Candaba and headed for Bacolor at 8:20 a.m. We passed by the towns of San Luis and Mexico. Be bought mangoes along the way. We passed by San Fernando City and finally reached the town of Bacolor at 9::20 a.m. I introduced my family to Father Jess Manabat. We had photo session with Father Jess. We toured around the San Guillermo Church. Later, we walked to the Mansion of Dona Anita. We drove to the monument with the “Bayan ng Bagong Pag-asa” marker passing the store of Ato (Ogie Diaz) and Baby (Arlene Muchlach).

We had lunch at Jun Jun's Restaurant along Mac Arthur highway in San Fernando. We were on our way home before noontime. A promise fulfilled. A family bonding time. A unique experience.