Discovering Malico via Villa Verde Trail

AS an adventurer, I always wonder what lies ahead beyond the end of a trail. A mountain peak, a hidden waterfall, or perhaps a remote village — all waiting for me to discover.

Thirty years ago, while exploring Imugan in Nueva Vizcaya, I was told by members of the Kalanguya tribe that a trail on the Caraballo Mountain range called Villa Verde actually existed between Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan, passing through the remote village of Malico. It has been in existence since Spanish times, used by the mountain people for trade with the lowlanders. When I asked how long it takes to cover the trail on foot, their reply was «about two to three days.»

A decade later, I heard again about Malico and its strawberry farms from a friend from Santa Fe. I attempted to drive past Imugan, but the muddy road made it difficult for my SUV to go further, and I had to turn back, giving up again my dream of seeing Malico.

Recently, I learned that the road between Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya is now fully completed. We drove there recently to finally explore the trail and see Malico for the first time. It was an awesome experience!

Villa Verde Trail

The Caraballo Mountain range is located between Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan. On the eastern side of the mountain is the Dalton Pass, which connects Central Luzon with Cagayan Valley. On the western part is the Villa Verde Trail, connecting the Ilocos Region to Cagayan. It was named after Father Juan Villaverde, a Spanish missionary who blazed through treacherous mountain passes to spread Catholicism to the indigenous Kalanguya people of Malico and neighboring villages.

During the tail-end of World War 2, the US Army crisscrossed through the Villa Verde Trail to reach Salacsac Pass in Malico to overpower the elite Japanese force stationed there.

The Kalanguya tribe lived peacefully at an elevation of 1,300 meters above sea level, planting vegetables and other valuable crops for many years. They are peace-loving people who have welcomed visitors to stay in their humble homes and enjoy the cool mountain weather of the Caraballo. Malico, with its breathtaking views of the mountains and cold all-year-round weather, is being compared to