Bucari, located in the mountains of Leon, is a summer paradise 3 hours away from Iloilo City. Bucari greatly resembles destinations in Northern Philippines like Baguio and Banaue because of its cool climate and highland attractions such as springs, waterfalls, pine trees, rice terraces, wild flowers, high-value crops, and a breathtaking view of the verdant mountains.
Mt. Agua Colognia and the rice terraces seen in Bucari, Leon
Our first destination was Sitio Camandag to swim in the springs and watch the waterfalls. We left at around 3pm for Sitio Tabionan because we were supposed to spent the night in the campsite there. Going to Sitio Tabionan is a grueling 5km trek upland along a muddy road. When we arrived at Tabionan, it was already dark … too dark to be setting up tents in the campsite. Instead, we stayed in a nearby house and set-up our tents there instead.
Natural pools in Sitio Camandag
Imoy Falls
Rough road to Sitio Tabionan
Great view of the Bucari Landscape
Dusk at Tabionan
There were locals there who assisted us during our stay and cooked our food for us. Earlier in the town proper, I had already mentioned that I was curious about this delicacy they call “Linagpang.” I had heard of it during the Jessica Soho episide when they featured Bucari on National TV. I was head over heels when I found out that they were cooking Linagpang for us for dinner. I especially like that they pour fresh chickens blood in the soup to add a special taste, when its served you can eat the blood because it has already coagulated into one jello-looking mass. Leon’s Linagpang is delicious, a must taste when in Leon.
Grilled Native Chicken
Yummy Linagpang!
The next day, we set out to be among the pinetrees. There, we lounged around the picnic tables and made a shooting for the second installment of Connor Cunnings. Meanwhile, I had the chance to take self-portraits in between shootings.
Ferns and Pinetrees
Dozing off at the picnic tables in Tabionan
Picnic Tables
Cabbage Patches
I always ride on the roof of the jeep because it offers a great view of Bucari
Road-building equiptment neglected and overrun by grass
We had lunch at my friend’s house in Leon Town Proper, where another serving of Linagpang was prepared for us. Talk about Linagpang overload! I was already in a hurry to catch my ferry boat ride bound for Bacolod, Negros Occidental waiting for me at the riverwharf in Iloilo City.
Self-portraits in the Pines:
Urban in the Jungle
Flickr | DeviartArt
I have my eyes on you
Flickr | DeviartArt
Thinking of You
Flickr | DeviartArt
Forest fashion
Flickr | DeviartArt
A Verdant Death
Flickr | DeviartArt
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
Beautiful sites of Bucari. Cheers Leon, ILOILO, PH.
My Mom is from Leon. The last time I visited Leon when I was a college student there. Now I have a 25 year old college student here in the US. Cheers! : )
Okay, now it’s the time for Tourism Department to keep an eye to this beautiful Bucari, Leon. Barangay Bucari needs a face lift. Concrete Road or Asphalt Road is very necessary to this beautiful town as soon as possible. Once this road is constructed, the town will appear in the map lists as one of the MOST beautiful places to visit in the summer. Trust me for this one also. Bucari is ONE of the MOST beautiful and treasured places in the whole dang world I have ever visited, okay. Been a lot of natural scenic attractions here in the US of A, and Bucari is included in my 5 picks when it comes to natural scenic views. Now Cheers! :)
Bucari, Leon will be the next Cash Cow in the making when taking care of. Hala Bira! We need brainiac politicians in the Provincial Capitol, and NOT too corrupt ones, yanno what I mean? Cheers! :)
BTW, Marc VERY nice pics of you, and the place. And thanks for posting those in your website. God bless you, and the rests. Cheers! :)
You’re a trekker dude, Marcos! I’ve been to Leon in the early 80′s and reached only the town proper. I know most people there buzz about Bucari (being the “Baguio” of Iloilo) but I never got the chance to visit the place. What a shame on my part as an Ilonggo. I stayed in Baguo for 5 years studying in St. Louis U. but never set my sight to Bucari. Definitely, Bucari will be in my itinerary this Christmas!! Am pretty excited to see the place especially the waterfalls, streams and natural ponds. Great pics (I’m out of adjectives now), Marcos! More power to you!!!
as usual, kahilidlaw naman imo mga pics nonoy. naga dugang baskog ang akon dumot kag handum nga maka pasyar sa kasudlan sang iloilo pag bkasyon,hehehe.
need to go back also to sta barbara para ma praktis naman ako karay-a:)
continue to inspire us (even the non-ilonggos) with your piks…
slamat gid,
leon
as far as i know, ang linagpang is basically, sinugba nga bangrus or tilapya or siguro manok then ilunod sa nagabukal nga tubig nga may sibuyas kamatis. daw amo man lang ni maghimo linagpang. maski balingon uga, pde man? i think the other term for this is hinanggop?
sa amon sg una sa uma ang usual nga ginalagpang ang pantat, daro kag puyo. mga isda bala usually makita magtigtalanom (daw taga-uma gid ko ya no). ang hinanggop namon ang init nga kan-on nga butangan tubig kag asin. kun la sud-an namit man kag. hehehe
Actually, the first time I heard about Linagpang was on the Jessica Soho Episode of Bucari. It’s just recently that I heard from you guys that it’s actually quite a popular dish and that it doesn’t always have to involve chicken. Hai ah, ka manol guid ya sa akon :)
yes its quite common sa silay where i grew up. originally pantat or puyo pero tilapya namit man, anyway 30days to go, will get to visit st. barbs, iloilo, (hope no changes sa mga plano,hehehe)
wapo wafo gid ah!
pwede ka pangayo sang picture mo, ibanner ko lang sa site ko ah,
ang green gid katama.
Aw. anu na mean mo nga green gid?
I agree with “leon”. he gave the exact description of linagpang that i knew. I own a resto in Makati specialty in Ilonggo dishes and that’s how we make it. Yummy!
ah te mayad gid kay nakakadto ka na sa bucari. gusto ko magbalik da liwat. its been almost 3 years. gusto ko liwat mang picture kag magpa picture.
btw, ever hear of the composo song nga turagsoy? lyrics include:
ginsag-a ko ang sapa-sapa
didto sa may talamnanan…
that where i first heard the term linagpang… linagpang nga turagsoy… when we transferred to tigbauan, didto na ko katilaw sari-sari nga linagpang… manok, pantat kag even bangrus….
namit gid kapin pa kung sa kanta pa nga turagsoy…. ‘sampat gid ang timplado…’
sa leon ni?!!! huwaw!!!
Awesome dish…”linagpang”….spicy delicious…hmmm…i tried linagpang bangus not chicken..hehhe..but will try it soon…Cheers
Wow !!!
Linagpang nga manok (native) ang akon nga paborito nga dapli (ulam) kauna nga tiyempo kang ga-istar pa ako sa uma, sa isa ka barrio kang Leon. Hasta tulad wa-ay gid paglubad di-a. Kag ang linagpang nga manok mas manamit kung may katumbal nga kahang (siling labuyo), kag may itlog nga ginlisag (scramble) ang lunod.
Kapin pa kung bag-o ang bugas nga tig-angon (hindi la-on), manamit gid nga isamo sa linagpang ( native chicken is better than bangus, try it).
Kag may (green salad) repolyo nga may kamatis kag sibuyas dahon, kag ang pinaka-dessert, ………………ang luto nga paho (hinog na mangga).
Hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………… perfect!!!
baw daw mkadto mn ko sa bucari ba?bay_i lang ky ibutang ko gd na sa lists of destinations ko together with m family.Ugaling basi damu da npa?Bot ah,safe man da?ga outreach program kmi da sang una sa leon, kag di ko pa malipatan nga damu da sang una,sang ehem.hehe.anyway,para sa akon namit gd ya ang linagpang nga bangros ah.hehe
I think hindi gd ma deny nga may NPA sa dira nga parts pero indi man as violent and aggressive as their other counter parts. Its a beautiful place pero but na affect gd siya sang typhoon frank and na tabunan sang lutak pa so maybe after several months pa before ma kad2 didto unless you want to see how the typhoon has affected the place and would possibly also want to know how to help out.
Namit gd man linagpang galing wala pa ko ka tilaw sang isda … manok lng
Hi. I would want to know if you ever asked for Linagpang’s history.
hi,
waay pa guid may nagapuyo didto? kay nga-a wala ka guid pictures sang mga balay didto sa sulod guid bala.
may tag-iya na sang mga duta didto?
dugay pa ko kapauli, late next year pa. basi makapamasyar man didto. nami guid.
Bucari is my native place,its nice to live.
lamig2x ktama ya.tha’s why, they called it as Little Baguio….
daw sa cordillera man cya noy no.
nauna ko pa ang Northern Luzon sa Iloilo man lang ko nag eskwela sang una.
cge puli ko da liwat ah
nice place gd man ang bucari..iam proud to be a bucarinian…
Hey, I must say i really enjoy this web site design plus the blog posts you have penned is excellent. Keep up the excellent website mate.
bucari. leon is definitely in my sight maybe this year(2011) i’ve hang around iloilo city savouring robertos siopao n hong kees sotanghon, next time we’ll take a hike up there God willing
me and my friends are planning to go to bucari……can u give me detail i info on how to get there??? how much ang expenses??? cnu need e contact na person??? like how many days and nights suggested na e stay?? itenerary..pplleeeease…thanks
The jeeps to Bucari can be found at the Leon Plaza area, just ask the locals where they are parked. There are limited trips per day and they usually leave Leon town proper early morning … best to be there by 7am. Its best to contact the Leon tourism office (c/o the Mayor’s office) for your inquires.