SUBSCRIBEQuezon National Park
It has been years since I have gone back to Quezon National Park in Atimonan, Quezon. During my college days, I used to frequent this place to trek as well as collect butterflies. I first read about it back in 1988, in our high school library, Tiny Nuyda’s article “Jewels in the Wing,” in the Filipinas Journal about his butterfly collecting “pilgrimages” to this park, and I have been fascinated by it ever since.
When I had my tertiary education in Don Bosco Mandaluyong, it gave me the opportunity to visit as well as enjoy its offerings.
The photo above used to be the park’s only structure within the recreation area, circa 1940s. A few years back, CAFGUs (Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit, a military group that tapped local citizens) used to have this area as their base since the place is known to harbor Maoist rebels, the NPA). I used to stay here also when I collected for a few days.
The now cemented established trail going to Cueva Santa and Pinagbanderahan. This trail has provided me before with beautiful butterflies ranging from the different Lexias species (satrapes and panopus), Dophla evelina, Idea leuconoe, Faunis phaon, to the different and beautiful species of the Lycaenidae (Arhopala, Virachola, etc.) and Hesperidae families.
The signage, Cueva Santa (Holy Cave) is said to be visited by faith healers during the peak of Holy Week to recharge their powers or look for amulets and Pinagbanderahan, have special historical significance since this was used by the Filipino revolutionaries during the struggle against the Spaniards.
The famous “bitukang manok” (chicken’s intestines) that aptly describes this short but winding road.
