by: Xyza Cooks
This place has a special place in my heart, in my childhood.TUBOD meaning flowing water, that is what we call it.
It is one of the few sources of water in the Barangay of Mitazan, Aloran.
To get here, you have to slink through the muddy trail and master deceleration as the way is steep or you will be a cartwheel down the rocky rivers.
If it is dry season, the path is friendly and you only have to worry about snakes or frogs that occasionally meanders in the forest.
I still remember my cousins and I would bring empty gallons to make our trips up and down the hill worthy, and fill the big tubs at home.
The water is also used as a drinking water.
My grandma would be so disappointed if we can not bring some water back.
The spring is about 300 meters away so we always make it sure to bring our gallons or dirty clothes to wash.
Every morning, before the sun goes up, we come here, each bringing our own dippers.
If we are lucky, we would the first one to arrive and own the spring to ourselves, or if not, we would be greeted with basins of dirty clothes and splashes of water as other kids are already enjoying.
There are probably hundreds of shampoo and soap sachets littered.
If it rains, we expect the pool to look like a deep puddle but we are kids and it is all about fun.
The best part is after washing, we would unpack our lunch and eat nearby the spring.
My aunt would put a little rice on the stone to share it with the so called Encantos, it was believed that they existed and they watched us every time we went there.
There is just lots of memories to share with the kids nowadays, kids that enjoy the convenience.
Water is so precious and it used to be hard to have before.
Hard but fun.