Our Lakbay Norte stickered bus has been rumbling through open highways and crowded streets for hours now. I checked my watch and it was almost five in the afternoon, I don’t think we’ll be reaching Pantabangan in time for fishing activities.

I don’t actually care much for fishing, but the constant time checking was really for the sunset, water plus fiery skies really makes for a good photograph. I was egging our bus driver in my head to drive faster, and soon enough we arrived at the dam an hour before the sun bade goodbye.

One interesting spot we passed at Barangay Maasim in San Rafael was a mini-dam built in the middle of the river that runs beside the road.

According to its marker, it was built in 2002 through the aid of Rotary International. It’s a simple enough structure, basically a concrete rampart that traverses the stream’s width. The purpose of the dam entirely escapes me. I guess it might be used to control the river’s flow and the high water utilized as irrigation for the nearby fields, but I’m just speculating here.

The din of rushing water was getting louder as we passed a metal bridge crossing a ravine. The sight of the mighty Wawa Dam was steadily rising through the huge boulders that dot the river below. It was a sunny day and everything looked good; this was going to be a fun shoot.

We immediately headed down a rough path that descended into the river to get an ant’s view of the dam. Navigating the rough trail was no easy task though and my old worn-down slippers were not making it easier. Carefully circling the boulders to get a good view of Wawa Dam, I had to take it very slow; one wrong move could easily have me sliding down the water. Even though it doesn’t look that deep, I worry about my cameras.