Jigs and I always envisioned an awesome Trash the Dress photoshoot to incorporate in our prenup AVP. And we got just we wished for in July 2009, a month before our wedding, in Madlum, San Miguel, Bulacan, all courtesy of our equally awesome wedding  photographers, Blacktie Project (then known as Marco Malaca Photography).



A two-hour drive from the Bocaue exit through NLEX, past in-town routes, curves and dirt roads, brings us to the still-unpaved, primordial path to the caves and river of Madlum a little past 2 in the afternoon. There are no vehicular roads to the inner river and caves, and one must trek this path solely on foot, after parking their vehicle along the banks of the outer river. From there, they must cross a  river, tread a slightly uphill earth, stagger along rampaging mass of water, then climb past steep, edgy boulders to reach the inner river. 


Neither Jigs nor I knew what jaw-dropping sight lied ahead. Stunning runs a bit short of a description, even. 






After about a thirty-minute hike, we were greeted by a small land to the left that’s connected to a bushy forest and colossal boulders nestled on water to the right.





I wasn’t aware there was something this fascinating in the province. As far as I know, Bulacan is all about rice paddies, fireworks, the Barasoian Church, wave pools and that gardener’s haven in Tabang. At that time, I thought, man, I haven’t been anywhere in Bulacan.






I wouldn’t say the whole shoot was easy. We spent more than six hours transferring from one place to another as the rain trickled down, Jigs sweating like hell in his polos and slacks, and me tiptoeing with a trailed gown around bushes and treacherous rocks; our photogs tried to take advantage of every minute that slipped without rain. Iin the end, they had to make do with whatever plastic they have to cover their equipments along with a tiny umbrella while taking shots in almost total darkness. (Oh, I forgot to tell you. There are no street light or such improvisations anywhere in the area. Not even in the “parking” area).







We have to give props to these guys for being incredibly persistent about photoshoots. I couldn’t thank the team enough, especially Dio, the only babe in the team who assisted me during dress changes and helped me carry my gown.







We were all tired and hungry at the end of it. My slipper got carried away by the water (good thing there was a family living on the outer riverbanks who gave me a pair of pambahay slippers. Super bait!) Marco slipped bad in the mud after just being operated in the shoulder blades weeks before. But it was all well worth it. We all had a most thrilling adventure, thanks to Blacktie (BTW, they were the ones who suggested the area).







Too bad, though, we weren’t able to go to the cave because of the rain.
Here are some of our other shots:






The place is a nice place to conduct bouldering activities and is an offbeat destination for those who wish to explore a secluded, back-to-basics swimming/ trekking/ camping area near Manila. If you do plan to stay here, it’s probably best you bring food and water with you, as there are no stores, houses (except for about 2 or 3 scattered ones) or establishments in the area. The nearest sari-sari store is about a kilometer away from the parking area.


Oh, and flashlight.







Clearly, however, this is not the place for those who wish to unwind and pamper themselves silly. If you also have kids, the place would be a rather unsafe option for you.


But if you’re a backpacker, an extreme sports enthusiast, a person with no concurrent fragile conditions looking for an adventure, or simply one who’s looking for a creative concept for a prenup or an atypical TTD shoot, then Madlum is definitely a must-check out place for you.




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Gretchen is a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and essayist from the Philippines, where she embraces life while managing bipolar disorder and ADHD. Her confessional pieces unpack the complexities of grief, healing, motherhood, love, and intersections, garnering recognition from the Greg Grummer Poetry Contest and Navigator's Travel Writing Competition.

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