Now that the internet has brought so much of the world to living rooms, many people take life for granted. But it is one thing to read about life on the farm online and it is another thing altogether to experience it.
This is the thought that was running through my mind as my nephew was enjoying last Sunday’s Balik Bukid event at the Santa Elena Farm. Even if he had seen Carabaos, Cows, Pigs, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Chickens, and Geese on the internet, being able to touch them put a priceless look on his face.
Table of Contents
What is Balik Bukid?
The Filipino term Balik Bukid means Back to the Farm. In this case, it’s country fair within Santa Elena Farm in Cabuyao, Laguna that is open to the public only twice a year.
Balik Bukid Sign
The first event takes place during summer and the second one is during the Christmas season, which can be anywhere between September to December in the Philippines. For the second time in 2013, the gates of the farm were opened to the public on November 24 between 8 AM to 8 PM.
The entire place is manned by a huge staff. And in keeping with the spirit of the even, I shall take the liberty of refer to the ones who assisted guests while in uniform as farmers, even though they might not be the same ones who till the land on regular days.
There are also booths that sell food and handcrafted items. Visitors can get massages and even watch a concert while they are there.
How do we Get There?
If you’re taking your own vehicle, you’ll need to get on the South Luzon Expressway, or SLEX, and head away from Manila.
Take the Cabuyao Exit then turn right at the first intersection. You’ll find the Santa Elena Village Gate on the right. Enter the gate and follow the signs until you get to the Balik Bukid fair grounds.
Balik Bukid Sign
All the roads to the farm were in excellent condition. In fact, I found them to be even smoother that that of the SLEX, which itself was smoother than many roads in Metro Manila.
Parking is not a problem as the place is huge. If it rains the day before, like what happened to us, parts of the road will be muddy.
Even if you have a 4×4 with you, I would not suggest taking a chance. A six-wheeler truck got stuck in the mud a few meters away from us and needed help to get out. You may not need assistance getting out yourself, but then it’s better not to gamble. You just might end up spoiling your day as you try to find someone who can toe you out.
Finding a more suitable spot is as easy as asking one of the security guards for help. Not only will your vehicle be free of mud, but your passengers won’t have cakes of the stuff on their shoes and pants.
What Animals can we See There?
I don’t know about you, but the first thing that always comes to my mind whenever someone talks about a farm are the farm animals. Vast tracts of land where vegetables are grown is only the second thing that comes to my mind because… well maybe because they don’t moo like Carabaos do.
[They just kinda sit there… quietly… growing… slowly…]
And since Santa Elena Farm is a real working farm, and not one of those faux farms that are used mainly for show, there was no shortage of farm animals to interact with.
Horses
The first thing that greeted us upon our arrival were three horses. And just like the bears that Goldilocks met, there was a big, a medium, and a small horse to choose from. Since the big and small horses were already taken, my nephew was assigned the medium-sized one.
Horse
[It actually was just the right size for him.]
Since it was his first time to actually ride a horse, he had one of those worried looks as he was helped up the saddle. Then after being given a few quick instructions, a farmer led his horse through a short path around the fair grounds.
When it was time for him to dismount, the worry on his face had turned into fascination. I guess we’ll be riding horses when we eat at Hawaiian Bar-B-Que when we head out to Tagaytay or stay at the Pines View Hotel when we go up to Baguio in the future.
Carabaos
The second activity for my nephew was to ride a Carabao-drawn carriage, or Kareton. After the horse, one would expect my nephew to be gung-ho about hopping on the Kareton. But that didn’t happen.
Carabao
While it didn’t look as ugly as the Goat from Hell, its mean looks and long horns were something that would give any first timer some pause. And like I mentioned earlier, it’s one thing to view these beasts of burden on a tiny computer screen and its another seeing one up close and personal.
The good thing was even if he was worried again, he climbed on the Kareton after a little encouragement from his parents. And after peppering the driver with non-stop questions, my nephew finally relaxed enough to sit at the front of the carriage, which happened to be right behind the thick tail of the Carabao pulling it.
As he got to know Chocnut, which happens to be the eight year-old Carabao’s name, my nephew started giving him commands like “Stop” and “Go,” just like the driver beside him did.
Speaking about experiences, smell is one thing that people are hardly prepared for when they interact with live animals. And since this is a farm, Chocnut did have the smell of Carabao dung about him.
[Oh yeah! Can you smell that?!?]
I will admit to having seen Carabaos in person in the past. But I have never had the opportunity to actually touch one of them. You’re probably are wondering, “Why the heck would anyone want to touch a smelly Carabao anyway?”
Curiosity, my dear Watson, curiosity.
Haven’t you ever wondered what the skin or hair on a Carabao feels like? Well, the skin is tough; probably much tougher than the hardest and most uncomfortable shoe I have ever worn.
And as far as the hair is concerned, it is coarse and hard, kind of like wire. Which makes me wonder how a girl in the shortest shorts could get on its bare back for a photo opportunity.
[That must have hurt on the dismount.]
Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Rabbits
Before your kids decide have become an authority on farm animals, please remind them that Rabbits and Guinea Pigs are considered farm pests. Just like those cute little Crayfish, they eat farm produce like there is no tomorrow. And not only are they eating machines, they breed faster than kids can go through candies on Halloween night.
However, since they are cute, fluffy, and gentle, Rabbits and Guinea Pigs are a staple of many petting areas the world over.
Guinea Pigs
There’s no need to bring or buy food for this activity. Tiny chopped carrots are provided for free by a farmer with a basket near the cages. And as expected, they were so docile as they nibbled on the carrot offered to them.
Incidentally, it might be best to offer the carrots by the tips of the fingers. Avoid putting them on the palms as their teeth may nip the skin by accident. Better to be safe than sorry.
Geese
While the Roosters and Hens weren’t afraid of the large number of visitor, it was far more entertaining to feed the Geese.
The experience can be summed up in a simple formula:
Geese + Water + Food on a String = Tons of Fun
Yup, nothing is more fun than seeing a gaggle of Goslings, or baby geese, splashing around in a tiny lake as they jostled for food.
Feeding of Geese
The enjoyment starts when one of the farmers attaches food to strings tied to the tips of bamboo fishing poles. The kids then lower their rods over a small lake full of cute Goslings, which swim over to the string and peck the food off.
[Heck, even the adults were having fun.]
So where was Mother Goose in all of this? She was in the middle of the lake pecking away at the food too! In fact, she was eating more than her fair share because she could swim faster.
[Like I said, even the adults were having fun,]
Don’t worry about injuring any of the Geese. There are no sharp hooks at the end of the string to hurt them. And should a gosling get entwined in string, a farmer was on hand to make sure they were untangled and returned safely to the water.
Pigs
This farm probably had some of the biggest pigs I have ever seen. The usual one that I see are pink and look soft. However, the ones in the viewing pen were big, black, hairy, and mean looking. They looked just like the Carabaos.
Pigs
I initially thought they were wild boar but after a close inspection noticed they were missing those dangerous teeth they use to gore their enemies. Overall, they just looked like a hairier version of the ones I’m more familiar with.
Which probably is why they weren’t aggressive. Although I wouldn’t have put my nephew in there because they look like they could sit on him and never notice his struggles. Then again, these pigs might roll over and let him scratch their tummies.
Outside their pen was a piglet, or baby pig. I had a leash and was quite excitable because it squealed whenever I patted it. I was trying to talk my wife in to taking it home but reconsidered. Looking at its parents, this little piggy will end up weighing more than four Golden Retrievers put together.
Other Animals
I did notice a couple of Carp in the lake the Geese were swimming in. At some point, a farmer threw in a hand full of fish feed to elicit a few nibbles from under the water.
Rooster
While the Roosters may have been considered boring when compared to the Geese, there was a particular white one that I found interesting. Whenever I approached him, he just stood up straight and looked down on me from his perch. The Comb, or the skin at the top of his head, made him look like the proud owner of the domain around him.
Cow
There was also a corral with several cows beside the food booths. My nephew wanted to approach them but I persuaded him to stay put as there were no farmers nearby. They might not respond too kindly to unfamiliar faces, and the one with the pig horns might decide to use them on us. So the two of us stayed by the fence as they ate lunch.
Even though they were close to the dining area, I didn’t notice the smell of organic fertilizer. It looks like the corral was cleaned out before the farm gates opened at 8 in the morning.
Final Thoughts
In just a few hours, my nephew had interacted with various animals. And seeing the look on his face, the experience has been priceless. And he was not the only child enjoying himself. All the other kids were squealing and shouting with delight as they interacted as well.
Pig
For the convenience of the farm’s guests, there is a wash area they could use to clean their hands and feet. It had liquid soap, paper towels, and a trash bin conveniently located on the left side. It was actually more complete than some malls.
For those needing to empty out their bladders and clean out bowels, a short row of portable toilets was off to one side. Judging from the toiletries by the sink, I am assuming they were just as complete. And typical of most modern portable toilets, it looked sturdy enough to prevent a curious cow from trying to barge in on people’s private businesses.
There were still a few things to do, such checking out the boats, the zip line, the obstacle course, the local crafts, and the organic food, but we’ve already run out of time. Don’t worry though, I’ll be tackling them in the second half of this series entitled Balik Bukid, Part 2 – The Activities.
Must Do’s
- Try to get there early to avoid the heat and crowd.
- Hiking Boots or Rubber Shoes with socks are a good idea.
Bring a change of clothes. - Don’t risk going through muddy areas as your vehicle may get stuck.
- Bring your camera.
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