Panicuason Hot Springs
A Concrete Hell in the Jungle
A Concrete Hell in the Jungle
The first time we visited the Panicuason Hot Springs,
two years ago, the place was a green jungle paradise
located in upland Naga City, that took our breaths away.
located in upland Naga City, that took our breaths away.
Stunning – that’s what Panicuason
Hot Spring was.
It lies under the forest canopy at the foot of Mt. Isarog.
It is nature at its best- where the air is fresh, the river
is crystal clear and the forest was dense and green. 
^^ 2 years ago
The radio of one of the guests was
playing a Don McLean song in full
blast- and interestingly, he sounded
like he was singing for Panicuason.
“….Hills of forest
green where the mountains touch
the sky, a dream come
true, I'll live there 'til I die….”
^^ 2 years ago
“…Oh, but how can
words express the feel of sunlight
in the morning in the
hills away from city strife…'
^^ 2 years ago
I was a little bit turned off by the way
they concreted the riverside, but that
they concreted the riverside, but that
was very minimal and acceptable then.
We returned after two years and we were
shocked by the desecration on the once
pristine resort in the middle of the forest.
It had become a real life concrete jungle,
...as they added more ill designed
and ugly concrete huts,
and ugly concrete huts,
…leading to concrete cottages
…and concrete buildings
There is really nothing wrong in building concrete structures
in the forest as they are sturdy and last long, but the design
should blend well and they may even use some materials
that could hide or camouflage the unsightly concrete.
I have seen similar developments in
other countries, like Singapore’s
other countries, like Singapore’s
Siloso Beach Resort Hotel, which was
built in the middle of the forest,
…where the natural pool
…where the natural pool
was built in a river course,
…but used wood and granite
…but used wood and granite
to camouflage the concrete base.
…instead of the unsightly galvanized iron
…instead of the unsightly galvanized iron
roofing, brown colored asphalt shingles
blended well with the woodland evirons.
Tugawe Cove in Caramoan also built
Tugawe Cove in Caramoan also built
concrete cottages, but they were tucked
in the forest and blended well naturally
with the beautiful mountainside resort.
The new zipline was a welcome development,
The new zipline was a welcome development,
but the towers they built were nothing but
additional concrete eyesores on the resort,
as they were sticking out like a sore
thumb in the middle of the forest.
I would have expected them to build structures
that would blend well naturally with the surroundings
like they did Forest Park in Dahilyan, Bukidnon,
as they were sticking out like a sore
thumb in the middle of the forest.
I would have expected them to build structures
that would blend well naturally with the surroundings
like they did Forest Park in Dahilyan, Bukidnon,
…or something similar to this faux log tower
in Disney’s California Adventure Park.
They also built a new Rope Obstacle Course
They also built a new Rope Obstacle Course
at the base of the tower but used a loud blue color,
…instead of a more natural colored rope
…instead of a more natural colored rope
California
Adventure Park.
While I like the new playground
they built by the riverside,
they built by the riverside,
and whoever thought of this idea never
considered child safety and well being.
The hotel building is located at the side of the mountain that
was (you guessed it right) concreted, and it is where the room
rear entrance is located and could make one claustrophobic.
Siloso Beach Resort Hotel was built the same way
but the mountain side was landscaped, it may have
been concreted to prevent erosion, but I did not see
any hint of cement and saw nothing but a green wall and
an open drainage that was made to look like a pond..
The room had very basic furnishings,
and had two single beds,
…a corner table,
…a toilet with a clean and free flowing water,
equipped with and pail and a dipper,
...guests are also provided with clean towels,
bath soap, shampoo in sachets and
a toilet paper tucked in the window sill.
The balcony had a stunning view of the river
and the forest but they really had to do
something to hide the ugly electric wires.
…a corner table,
…a toilet with a clean and free flowing water,
equipped with and pail and a dipper,
...guests are also provided with clean towels,
bath soap, shampoo in sachets and
a toilet paper tucked in the window sill.
The balcony had a stunning view of the river
and the forest but they really had to do
something to hide the ugly electric wires.
It costs about 2,200 pesos, well not really
very expensive but one could get a better
designed and a more furnished room in
Sogo Hotel Naga for a fraction of the price.
^^ Photo courtesy of Naga City Deck
With the tourism boom happening in the Philippines
and with Naga City leading the tourism statistics
in the Bicol Region it is about time that local tourism
sector start aiming for a world class development.
craze of Glamping, and may have never realized
the potential of this beautiful virgin forest
of being a world class camping destination.
The forest canopy remained
beautiful however so the view
at the top is still breathtaking.
When in Panicuason, always look up
to the sky to enjoy nature’s grandeur,
…never look down as the awful view of
…never look down as the awful view of
the horrendous concrete structures in the jungle
would haunt you in your nightmare forever.
This may be the Panicuason Resort
developer's own interpretation of heaven and hell.
The City's Environment Office may not be aware of
the environmental abuse happening in the forests of
Panicuason, or they may just be sleeping on their job.
would haunt you in your nightmare forever.
This may be the Panicuason Resort
developer's own interpretation of heaven and hell.
The City's Environment Office may not be aware of
the environmental abuse happening in the forests of
Panicuason, or they may just be sleeping on their job.