Balbalasang is a barangay within Mount Balbalasang in the town of Balbalan, Kalinga.
At the heart of this barangay is the Balbalasang Balbalan National Park, dubbed as “the green heart of the Cordillera”
From wikipedia:
“The Park belongs to the Luzon Biogeographic Region, a unique center of endemism in Luzon. It is composed of two mountain ranges within the Cordillera Central with numerous rivers and creeks all draining towards the Saltan River. Mount Sapocoy is the highest peak at 2,456 meters. It is located at the western boundary of the park overlooking the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley. The lowest point in the park, with an elevation of 700 meters, is at Balbalan in the eastern portion.
An important center for biodiversity conservation, the park is home to 89 species of birds, of which 39 are endemic to the Philippines and 2 of them can only be found in Luzon, the Isabela oriole (Oriolus isabellae) and flame-breasted fruit dove (Ptilinopus marchei). While none of the recorded species in the park is critical or endangered, four species of birds are categorized vulnerable (2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), among them are the whiskered pitta (Pitta kochi), Luzon water-redstart (Ryacornis bicolor) and Luzon jungle flycatcher (Rhinomyas insignis).
In addition, 23 species of mammals, 13 species of amphibians, 13 species of reptiles and 25 species of earthworms have also been documented. Among them are the Philippine warty pig, Luzon striped rat, Northern Luzon giant cloud rat, Kalinga narrowmouth toad, and Luzon narrow-mouthed frog. Two of these mammal species are listed as endangered, namely the Luzon pygmy fruit bat and the Luzon bushy-tailed cloud rat.
At elevations above 1,000 m., the park consists of hardwood, pine and mossy forests. A species of Rafflesia flower has also been discovered in the park. ”
boyplakwatsa chanced upon this beautiful site on way to Abra via the provincial road that traverses Balbalan.
A beautiful community sits beside the rice terraces
As I understand it, the mountain park is presently closed for climbers. But no one is stopped from visiting this beautiful, albeit extremely hard to visit, barangay.
An onward journey takes one to even more rugged, muddy mountain roads leading to a town in Abra for indigenous people.
LAKWATSA 