When I was a kid, my family usually go to our hometown in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro during summer. There I enjoyed the fresh air, scenic landscapes, enchanting rivers and the beautiful sea.
One day, Bongabong was mentioned on a travel show on TV which featured an ancient shrine called Cuta Ruins. I was surprised that there exist an old shrine in my province. Neither my father didn't know any details about that place.
This time, I had the chance to go to Bongabong so we planned on exploring Cuta Ruins.
One day, Bongabong was mentioned on a travel show on TV which featured an ancient shrine called Cuta Ruins. I was surprised that there exist an old shrine in my province. Neither my father didn't know any details about that place.
This time, I had the chance to go to Bongabong so we planned on exploring Cuta Ruins.
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| Cuta Ruins |
Going to Bongabong is a 6 hour trip from Manila. Here's how:
- Bound a bus/van going to Batanggas Port. (2 to 3 hours)
(Buses going to Batanggas Port are available in Taft Avenue corner Buendia Avenue in Makati and along EDSA in Cubao)
- In Batanggas Port, ride a fast craft or Ro-Ro going to Calapan Port
(Fast craft trips may take 45 - 60 minutes depending on the sea condition while Ro-Ro may take 2 to 3 hours)
- From Calapan Port, ride a van or bus going to Roxas Port (2 hours)
- Drop off at Orconoma Junction in Bongabong then hire a tricycle that will take you to Cuta Ruins. I have no idea how much would it cost for a tricycle to take you to Cuta from Orconoma but it will take them 20-30 minutes. You can also ask them to wait for you because there are no public transportation going back to the highway or the town proper.
- Bound a bus/van going to Batanggas Port. (2 to 3 hours)
(Buses going to Batanggas Port are available in Taft Avenue corner Buendia Avenue in Makati and along EDSA in Cubao)
- In Batanggas Port, ride a fast craft or Ro-Ro going to Calapan Port
(Fast craft trips may take 45 - 60 minutes depending on the sea condition while Ro-Ro may take 2 to 3 hours)
- From Calapan Port, ride a van or bus going to Roxas Port (2 hours)
- Drop off at Orconoma Junction in Bongabong then hire a tricycle that will take you to Cuta Ruins. I have no idea how much would it cost for a tricycle to take you to Cuta from Orconoma but it will take them 20-30 minutes. You can also ask them to wait for you because there are no public transportation going back to the highway or the town proper.
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| I believe it is somewhere there |
Surprisingly, my relatives in Bongabong don't have any idea where the said ruins can be found. Good thing some elderly neighbors told us where to find it.
From my uncle's house, we passed through Bongabong town proper via the Western Nautical Highway then turned left at the Orconoma Junction. We drove straight along a paved road until we reached a junction in front of Anilao Elementary School where we turned left. Then we passed through a rough road between a wide rice field before reaching a banana farm. After a few minutes, we reached the entrance to the Cuta Ruins. Good thing the friendly locals are very helpful on giving us the directions along the way. It took us roughly one hour to reach the place from Bongabong town proper.
Someone told us that it is now privately owned and we need to ask permission to the owner before entering. So we drove further to the road at the right of the entrance gate until we reach a small community. Cuta is the name of the sitio in barangay Anilao where the ruins are situated. I was surprised when we noticed that this community is situated along a wide beach!
From my uncle's house, we passed through Bongabong town proper via the Western Nautical Highway then turned left at the Orconoma Junction. We drove straight along a paved road until we reached a junction in front of Anilao Elementary School where we turned left. Then we passed through a rough road between a wide rice field before reaching a banana farm. After a few minutes, we reached the entrance to the Cuta Ruins. Good thing the friendly locals are very helpful on giving us the directions along the way. It took us roughly one hour to reach the place from Bongabong town proper.
Someone told us that it is now privately owned and we need to ask permission to the owner before entering. So we drove further to the road at the right of the entrance gate until we reach a small community. Cuta is the name of the sitio in barangay Anilao where the ruins are situated. I was surprised when we noticed that this community is situated along a wide beach!
The caretaker of the ruins is Mr. Semio who lives in the house beside a basketball court in Cuta. There are no entrance fees collected when he gave us the permission to visit the place. After awhile, we head on to the place.
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| The gates going to the ruins |
It seems like the place is now a banana and coconut farm. But there were no people on that place at that time.
And there it is, the mysterious Cuta Ruins standing right before our eyes. It is surprisingly made of limestone and corals. Roots of the balete trees incredibly covered almost all of the remaining walls. Dried leaves covered the floors inside the walls and an altar is situated in front. Countless storm and earthquakes might have been to this place and it is evident on its overall look. We are all amazed on witnessing something like this which is made centuries ago. We wondered how the people from the past made this place. I'm sure that if those ancient walls could speak, we could learn a lot of amazing stories about the past.
Cuta Ruins is said to be a shrine built in the 17th century. It is also believed to have served as a multi-purpose hall by the early people before it was abandoned. Today, some locals are afraid to go near the place because of the balete trees found on the ruins which are popularly believed to have supernatural origins.
There were traces of picnics held on some parts along the ruins which means maybe there are still some tourist who visits the place. Or maybe those are from the farmers who harvest the crops on the place. We also saw some candles placed on the altar. Perhaps it still serves as a place of prayer for some.
Because of the limited transportation available going to the place and its remote location, the Cuta Ruins is rarely visited as a tourist spot. I'm not even sure if it is still regarded as one now that it is privately owned. Nonetheless, seeing these ruins made me think of what life was like at that place which ceased to exist years ago.
Because of the limited transportation available going to the place and its remote location, the Cuta Ruins is rarely visited as a tourist spot. I'm not even sure if it is still regarded as one now that it is privately owned. Nonetheless, seeing these ruins made me think of what life was like at that place which ceased to exist years ago.
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