The Jungle Boys’ Journey to Nature

The Jungle Boys are set for a new and more exciting chapter in their Boracay Island Love story.  With the infamous Jungle Bar gone (for now), Jungle Boys Archie “Pakyu”, Jack “Bato”, Jack “Masterbater”, Bogs “Sabogs”, Tatay Bangaw and Roldan “Rabadogsty-le” are still here to captivate their followers with tribal sunset jamming sessions, guest performances in festivals all over the country, and through the reigning Boracay event, the Boracay Full Moon Party.

Stemming from a succession of memorable jamming sessions, starting at Bom Bom Bar in the late 90s to 2003 with veteran artists Perry Argel and Django Valmores, to the annual Dragonboat festivities, to Plazoleta in 2006 and to the Jungle Bars in Bolabog and Angol, the multi-talented boys of the Jungle are known for their mix of indigenous, African and Latin American sounds, orchestrated with the djembe, flute, didgeridoo, spell-binding fire dancing, and electronic dance music.  People find them every now and then, huddled together on the White Beach during sunset, giving praise to Mother Nature with each one’s own instrument, and by impulse, they let their hair loose and surrender to the boys’ sweet-sounding call of nature.

In the not so distant past, the Jungle Boys were regularly visible in their home base, the Jungle Bar.  Archie, also known as the Boss was managing the bar, meantime encouraging his guests to try his signature concoction, Jack “bato” was tasked in organizing events, Jack “Masterbater” was directing the performances on stage, Bogs was responsible for the imaginative adornments and illuminations in the bar, Roldan was busy entertaining guests with his contagious humor, and Tatay Bangaw, being the elder of the group was making sure his boys were having as much fun just as he was.  Now with the Jungle Bar gone, the boys channel their energy into arts, sports, adventure, fatherhood, and more Full Moon Parties.

As heirs of Mother Nature and of Boracay, the boys guarantee their sophisticated followers to uphold the untouched vibe of the island with continued Full Moon Parties.  Last month, the boys held the 40^th Full Moon Party in three different venues.  Host bars Moonzone, Levantin and Area 51 in Bolabog, and Tiki Bar in Station 3 added their names to the Full Moon Party’s legacy, highlighted with sunset jamming, hip-swaying performances by La Carlota, local and foreign DJ performances, fire shows, drinking games, and the boys’ full moon ritual performances with indigenous tribal drum circle.

Thus with the bar closed, the Boracay Full Moon Party is brighter and will stay brighter for three days until well, of course, sunrise.

To get in touch with the Jungle Boys, visit their page on facebook: junglebarboracay@groups.facebook.com

The 7 Waterfalls of Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan

Swim in seven swirling basins and suffuse your body in a chain of lush waterfalls all around Jawili’s picturesque montage of naturalresources.

Known for its Seven Basins, Jawili Falls in Tangalan, Aklan maintains a mesmerizing composition of crystal clear pools and waterfalls, balanced with indigenous plants and multihued limestone rocks to provide the perfect getaway from the most in demand tourist destination in the world that is Boracay.

In just an hour road trip from Caticlan (Boracay) to Tangalan, one can by far absorb the radiance and realism of Mother Nature’s work of art, which is abundant in the island of Panay, much less in Aklan. Thus with the fervent support of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the name, “Project Bugna”, Jawili Falls’ maintenance is relentlessly executed while reforestation projects are sustained especially at the watershed of the falls to accommodate the inevitable upsurge of tourism that seeps from Boracay to the Mainland. Furthermore, with the scenic and dramatic flow of fresh water pools ranging from 130 square feet to 540 square feet and with the depth of 8-10 feet, families and barkadas can either luxuriate during the daytime or overnight in any of the quaint cottage, indisputably providing a dreamlike atmosphere for relaxation away from the vigorous lifestyle of cosmopolitan sites.

The sight of clear water cascading on colorful rocks along the entire shores of Aklan’s prominence is irrefutably therapeutic. Its water and biodiversity eliminates the mental and physical toxins that mere mortals like us are vulnerable to. One only has to admit the breath of fresh air that emanates from its rich natural resources, which consequently eases away one’s possibly disquieting mindset plainly influenced by one’s own environment.

Once when I set foot at the bottom of the 100 meter high falls, I heard a voice telling me to “let go” of unimportant things that was invading my entire being; things that were withholding me from appreciating the totality of nature.  Yet, with just the sight of Jawili Falls, my senses quickly sharpened and instantly unearthed the sanguinity that was deeply embedded in me.

The need to swim is unimportant. What is important is one’s surrender to such bequests for an hour or two in order to appreciate life’s wealth, which is what nature’s all about. Modern accommodations are also provided within an arm’s length away from Jawili’s raw structure to cater to everyone’s comfort needs.

Tourists coming from Manila and abroad can take a plane to Kalibo where mini buses to Tangalan are available.  And for those spending a holiday in Boracay, simply take a pump boat to Caticlan and ride a van or a jeepney that navigates towards Tangalan.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the raw beauty that still exists in the island of Panay before it’s too late.