Even before the two dogs moonlighting as our unofficial hiking guides plodding the muddy trail, paused, and looked back at me, I already figured out what they wanted to tell. Surely if they could talk, I'd hear them tell me, "here we up, look up." Taking cue from their excited body language, I directed my eyes upwards. A massive wall covering the length of my vision revealed an unimpeded view of Asik-Asik Falls.

Our two canine companions wiggled their tails, echoing my own enthusiasm and overjoy at finally being able to visit this spectacular waterfalls.

A Hiligaynon word, “Asik-Asik” translates to “sprinkle-sprinkle” in English and towers 60 feet spreading more than 140 meters wide. Known to a few locals before it was discovered as a hiking destination in 2010, Asik-Asik Falls wowed the world when it became the subject of a winning entry for a photography competition in 2012.

Since then, travelers have set out to this sleepy town of Alamada in North Cotabato for a rugged two-hour habal-habal ride and another hour of hiking just to reach this exceptional nature spectacle.

Fortunately nowadays, getting to the jump-off point to Asik-Asik Falls no longer necessitates an agonizing motorbike ride, thanks to the paving of the roads going there. The waterfalls can now be reached after a steep 30-45 minute descent over an established trail.

Hurrying ahead of the rest of our group, I picked up my pace right as I hear the streaming water reverberate louder in the mountain. Making my way across verdant meadows and into a forest, I soon realized I was drawing near the waterfalls.

My two canine companions suddenly quickened their strides as they sense our close proximity to our destination. True to form, the jaw-dropping image of Asik-Asik Falls that I used to ogle at on glossy magazine pages and travel blogs, uncovered itself to me.

Despite wearing a hiking pants and only a boxer shorts underneath, the temptation to gaze closely and enjoy the soothing cool waters of Asik-Asik became irresistible, that I hurriedly stripped down to my short-shorts and dove waist deep for a pleasant dip.

Hearing nothing but the sound of the sprinkling water oozing from the cracks on the wall, I can’t help but marvel at the uniqueness of Asik-Asik, as there’s no body of water flowing from a stream. Instead, water emerges through the holes on a curtain of rocks, like how water from a balloon pricked with needles would flow while gripped tightly.

Asik-Asik, which is surrounded by the waving hills of Barangay Upper Dado in the town of Alamada, is Mother Nature's version of a valuable treasure, veiled in this case by a thick curtain of lush vegetation and steep cliffs.

One by one members of our small group started arriving. I’m already in the water when a couple of drones flown by content creators who were with us starts flying overhead. I wave my hand each time it would hover over me.

Inching my way to the wall and waist-deep in the plunge pool, I started feeling the current getting stronger. Ditching the idea of at least touching the wall of the waterfalls, I opted to sit on a rock and enjoyed dipping half of my body for a rejuvenating dip instead.

Lost in the exquisite harmony of nature; an orchestra of the cascading water, the chirps of the birds and faint sounds of “ohhs and wow” from our group, I remained in the embrace of the gushing water while deeply concentrating my stare on the majestic Asik-Asik Falls.

Even as I am in the middle of a Zen state of existence, the thought of the upward hike came to mind, I immediately dismissed it and with good reason. Blessed to have finally seen the misty beauty of Asik-Asik Falls, it makes sense to free my mind of all the worries in the world. For several precious minutes, I cleared my thoughts to soak at the moment and let a fantastic remembrance with Mother Nature be engraved in my memory vault.

I was swept up once more into the vintage atmosphere of Casa Simeon, as if my return were a physical embodiment of my manifestation to return here and spend the night rather than merely dining in — which what I only did my first time here. Wasting no time after having a bit of downtime after exploring numerous spots in Albay, I barefooted across the polished wooden floor of Casa Simeon, gaping at the various architectural marvels and delicate details that set it apart from the more contemporary lodgings.

There's always something special about old houses that have been transformed into a haven for travelers seeking solace. Casa Simeon, in particular, has a long history, beginning as a modest home for Simeon and Beatrice Alpace in the 1920s to miraculously being spared in the aftermath of World War II, after it was abandoned by the couple following a blitz by Japanese forces in the town of Bacacay in Albay.

As I already have written on my earlier blog post about Casa Simeon, the property features 9 rooms of Family Room, De Luxe Queen and De Luxe Twin classifications, a second-floor dining room, and a library and coffee shop on the ground floor near the outdoor garden.

Today, Casa Simeon is being ran and managed by Enrico Alpace Calleja, the grandson of the Simeon and Beatrice, and his wife Jessica Noelle Wong. The couple also restored the old house and turned it into this current bed and breakfast form in 2018.

"You not only sense the warmth of the wood beneath your feet, you also get a feel of the culture and history of the Philippines", Jessica points out.

The cultural aspect was on full display during my first visit to Casa Simeon. A troupe of performers entertained us with their elegant rendition of the traditional "Sinakiki" dance, a wooing dance with roots in the Albay town of Rapu-Rapu.

Not only did we get to enjoy the enchantment of staying at a place like Casa Simeon, but the delectable cuisine they served us left us wanting more. According to Jessica, the recipes from Casa Simeon are passed down through the generations with each dish comprising of a backstory.

They are then enhanced to cater to modern diners' tastes while retaining the traditional flavors of the cuisine. Just like the feast that Simeon and Beatrice threw for their friends and family in their day, every meal eaten at Casa Simeon is an intimate gathering of family and friends.

With a medley of savory plates, chosen by our group from their menu, I went back to my room to cap a wonderful evening with a massage from an on-call therapist. Given to say, I awoke the next day feeling rejuvenated ready to spend another day of traveling around the province. But first, a nice breakfast is in order.

Till next time, Casa Simeon.