Where water falls: Palibgon FallsPangaoan, Magpet, CotabatoAn Extre...

Where water falls: Palibgon Falls
Pangaoan, Magpet, Cotabato
An Extre...: Palibgon Falls Pangaoan, Magpet, Cotabato An Extreme Experience We trekked Pangao-an River for four hours to reach Palibgon  falls, ...

Palibgon Falls
Pangaoan, Magpet, Cotabato
An Extreme Experience

We trekked Pangao-an River for four hours to reach Palibgon  falls, a pristine waterfalls. To present, there is no other  known trail except for the river that will lead you to its pool.

I beg  for courage to surpass the river trail .Every hour is survival. Stepping on the smallest stone to its biggest form. Rocks were virgin from human's touch. Waterfalls are facing each other from different mountain ranges serving one river to collect its water to flow. Like a road with blind curves, so as the river trail. Clingstones of  flora along the trail might get you mistaken that you are in a cave. Its a rock wall nearly touching each others surface. 

We passed by six thin waterfalls, viewed by  young adventurers from different hometowns. What have been witnessed from this hidden nature will be forever in their memories. Being no more years to count for more adventures, this quest for where water falls is so far the most extreme experience I had.

Where water falls: Hinulugang TakTakAntipolo, RizalNo more adventu...

Where water falls: Hinulugang TakTak
Antipolo, Rizal

No more adventu...: Hinulugang TakTak Antipolo, Rizal No more adventure but truly nature. When I was a kid, going  to Antipolo means going to Antipolo Chur...

Where water falls: Hinulugang TakTakAntipolo, RizalNo more adventu...

Where water falls: Hinulugang TakTak
Antipolo, Rizal

No more adventu...: Hinulugang TakTak Antipolo, Rizal No more adventure but truly nature. When I was a kid, going  to Antipolo means going to Antipolo Chur...

Hinulugang TakTak
Antipolo, Rizal

No more adventure but truly nature.


When I was a kid, going  to Antipolo means going to Antipolo Church, Adventure in Hinulugang TakTak, and eating Suman ng Antipolo. 

Growing up in Sta Mesa Manila, Luneta Park is the only ideal and accessible nature weekend gate away for children. Going to Antipolo is also  an out of town destination.

Now that I have the free will to take my adventure trips, I choose Hinulugang Taktak after my 2nd Ilocandia Road Trip. From Pasig , I  took a jeepney bound for Tanay via Antipolo. I was dropped at Save More (shooping center landmark along the highway) and asked a tricycle to bring me to Taktak Falls.

I was not able to pay my entrance fee since unknowingly i passed by the exit gate which was exclusively  for LGU Antipolo who were there for  their clean up drive at Hinulugang Taktak Nature Park.

The place is cool. While I'm heading down at its concrete trail, a heavy rain poured me wet.
I just let it go while i enjoy every step  going down. It's been said that rain is a good omen.
I had my pleasant time in one of the cottages with two sitting cats around.

The feeling is so refreshing. The air and water sounds healing. The place is naturally alluring.
I have been into many waterfalls in the country, and learned to appreciate rock formation.
The rock where water falls in Taktak looks like a king's throne with  his prince behind.

It was good too see Taktak Falls in its rehabilitated state. I highly recommend to spend your time with this  splendor gift of nature to invigorate your physical being. Also visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage to pay homage and pray for your safety travel. The taste of Suman ng Antipolo never fade. It still the best pasalubong for your special friends.


Say mythical creatures still exist,... my photo shots may show if its real. Or try if you can capture the same.

Where water falls: Hagimit Falls

Where water falls: Hagimit Falls: Hagimit Falls Garden City of Samal Davao del Norte To many it is a nice nature gateaway. It is a destination for family, corporat...

Hagimit Falls

Hagimit Falls

Garden City of Samal

Davao del Norte

To many it is a nice nature gateaway.

It is a destination for family, corporate, barkadahan adventure and fun.

Other describe it  as unexploited.

I Agree.

If I may technically describe it, Hagimit Falls is a Stream Water Falls.

As it was named after the vast Hagimit Trees that serves its forest cover,

Yes, it is still standing.

The falls is featured with combination of

Segmented and Puchbowl falls from its water source to its cascading  stream.

It is developed as a tourist destination

but insufficiently maintained to keep its grandeur.

Sampao Falls, Talus, Sto. Tomas

Davao del Norte

with two unkown falls 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        We descended Mt. Megatong traversing Tibal-og River to Brgy Talus, Sto. Tomas.
It was not my first river trekking but it was different from my previous experiences.
 I was quite nervous seeing the river afar from the mountain ground.
The river is silent.

We crossed thirteen times and hiked for almost three hours
with another hour ascending Brgy. Talus.

The river is wide, still with unquarried stones .
In most part of our trek, wall of cliffs serve the river curves to its direction.

I was informed ahead that waterfall  destination was out of the way of the planned trek.
I was mentally contend to finished the traverse route
 from Mt. Megatong without seeing a falls.

The air sounds with splash of water from somewhere. It gave me excitement,

the usual feeling waterfalls affects my nerves.

It was hidden from a naked hill. The falls was covered by Bamboo groves.

Happy to see even if it is hidden, every step I take,

I keep on thanking the people who organized the Mt. Megatong Climb

for the impressive rescue team 

present  keeping an eye to each  traversing climbers.

The silent river, 

i feel, is so patient to hold its water flowing

that everybody can cross even in the middle of the two facing cliffs.

A high horsetail cascading water missed my sight

and only after crossing the first waist level water

I sighted the unseen beauty within.

From across I prayed, that in due time,

reforestation  will be initiated to keep the source of life 

alive in the Mountain ranges of Davao del Norte.

It gave me the feeling that nature denied me of a closer capture of the falling water .

But still with no regrets, it boosted my energy to continue  my aspiration

to see more places where water falls.

And with no doubt, a small stream come out of its way from another falls

that looks like a cave from behind.

The river crossing we had was another  waterfalling adventure I may not forget.

My quest for where water falls in Mt. Megatong

may continueto bless its vast agricultural land 

and its people who hosted us with sincere pleasure and hospitality.

Where water falls: Pidlanan Falls, Magpet Cotabato

Where water falls: Pidlanan Falls, Magpet Cotabato: Add caption   Pidlanan Falls , Magpet, Cotabato         Antoher Day of Adventure                                    August 2,2013 5:...

Pidlanan Falls, Magpet Cotabato

Add caption

 Pidlanan Falls,
Magpet, Cotabato        
Antoher Day of Adventure                                   
August 2,2013
5:30 AM
JOP - Kidapawan City

I wanted to post my Pidlanan waterfalling but I don't have enough words to describe it.
My last waterfallling was in Lapaan Falls
http://rinapadua.blogspot.com/2013/04/lapaan-falls.html?spref=bl
And it was one of my best solo adventure.

All I can remember  about this day was when I saw vividly the moon and the sun taking its place in the cloudy day sky.

As I try to recall the day I had this adventure, I  keep on wondering how I can best describe it as a tourist destination. It is accessible but  not even amazing, beautiful, nor inviting. From jump off point,  less a hundred steps of concrete stairway with some eroded portion guided me down where water falls. Hailing up with more or less 50 ft cascading water is walled by huge rock formation and a stream door beyond your immagination.

While writing this post, my tour guide coincidentally passed by my shop and had my chance to ask her  what "Pidlanan" means and where did it got its name? According to her, Pidlanan's name derived from the term "Paid Na Tanan" ( "All was paid for") and was formerly known as Pidnatanan Falls which later became Pidlanan. Still I am not contented with her answer.

As I rephrased my question, I told my guide that from all the waterfalls I have been to, I felt stranged, empty, and enclosed. It was a different feeling of adventure. There is a mystery, I believe.

Hesistant, she continued to tell more about what she heard from an old folk working with a logging company more than 50 years ago, that a woma's life was held to offer her blood to the "Diwatahan" ("place or home for the guardian spirits of nature casting blessings or curses upon those who bring benefits or harm to the forests and mountains") to stop road mishaps.

The story behind her explantion is ... yes, a myth. But as years go by,  the story behind its destination is a mystery of one of my adventure.

Where water falls: Pisan & Usok Falls, Kabacan, North Cotabato

Where water falls: Pisan & Usok Falls, Kabacan, North Cotabato: Pisan & Usok Falls , Kabacan, North Cotabato A waterfall cave connection Waterfalls is defined as  a place where water flows ove...

Pisan & Usok Falls, Kabacan, North Cotabato

Pisan & Usok Falls, Kabacan, North Cotabato

A waterfall cave connection

Waterfalls is defined as a place where water flows over the edge of a steep cliff or rocks and falls into a pool below or a  mass of flowing water rapidly dropping over a steep cliff.

Pisan falls is  best defined as place where water flows not from a steep cliff but from an underground river.  Its wide pool serves as the head stream of  the  water that flows along the irrigation canal of Barangay Pisan.

Cascading water along this rock formation depicts another purpose of  the healing wonders of nature. Attempting to feel the energy of such falling waters into your body will give you a natural body massage. Allowing the water to flow your back by lying down the rock gazing at the leaves of the trees will give you a different angle of how nature was kept as a reward for those who seek adventure with it.

Beyond the undeground river is another waterfall from a cliff.
A hiden waterfall they call Usok Falls.
Usok falls is at the heart curve of Pisan Cave connection.

Where water falls: Lapaan Falls

Where water falls: Lapaan Falls: Lapaan Falls Brgy. Perez, KidapawanCity This is one of my best water falling adventure. I enjoyed the hike. I feel blessed. And it was...

Lapaan Falls

Lapaan Falls
Brgy. Perez, KidapawanCity

This is one of my best water falling adventure. I enjoyed the hike. I feel blessed. And it was even tough.

I hired a single motorcycle and the ride was 30 minutes from Kidapawan City Mega Market.
Arriving Brgy. Perez, we passed by the Barangay Hall for registration . No environmental fee was charged. I had a minute chat with Kgwd. Bejamin Peninoy, Daisy Tamon,(brgy Midwife),Elena Perez (Brgy Health Worker) and Cherrie Abellano (Brgy Secretary). I was informed that they have no passed eco-tourism ordinance in their area, and they were assured of development plan to promote Lapaan Falls as tourist destination of the late tourism officer.

I just hope that Lapaan falls will be preserved as a  destination for nature lovers not for tourists and fun loving people who do not understand "our creed".

Friends, i really enjoy the 45 minutes moderate hike. Once again I am in the shelter of the forests. Birds hum, with  butterfly around, I missed some photo opportunities.

I was blessed with a sunny day drying up the slippery red road from Lapaan Sudsuhayon intersection. Upon reaching the Metro Kidapawan Water District Gate, we followed the right pathway leading to the wide trail about 300 meters. Here you will be walking along forest humus while feeling the cool air till you reach the descending narrow trail.

Careful with my healed knee injury, every step is a God's given favor. Just hearing the water falls rejuvenate every nerve linings connected to my heart. And what a relief, seeing the water plunge my eyes.

Acsending back, was about 30 

steps of 80 degrees slope  to reach the hill top. Tough but fulfilling.Ascending back, was about 30 steps of 80 degrees slope  to reach the hill top. Tough but fulfilling. 

 

Tandag Falls

Busay Falls, Brgy San Isidro, Tandag Surigao del Sur
Bugsukan Falls & Tagbak stream, Brgy. Pangi, Tandag SdS
Maticdum Falls, Water Spring, Cave Forest & Wild Life Conservation Maticdum, Tandag Sds
Andap Falls & Spring, Brgy Rosario, Tandag SdS

Above lists  were  Wikipedia's enumerated  potential tourist attraction  in Tandag, Surigao del Sur. I attempted to ask locals if they knew the place, and I got the following answers:

..."never heard of it"

..." why go there? its a red spot" (with Nice People Around)

..."its far, and not developed"

As a waterfaller the third answer somehow satisfied my inquiry. Of course I cannot go on my own. Along the national highway leading somewhere at Tandag Point, I happened to see a cascading water in between a hillside vegetation. It's just there. Obviously the water falling from its bed rock where not waste water. 

Can this be classified as waterfall? 

My opinion is yes. If it will be based on the definition on how waterfalls are formed.
Yes there is a cliff, from where the water falls. My ocular impression of the location is that, water is from  a stream. Height is approximately 15-20" feet, slope is around 50 degrees.  Hill top's vegetation is a coconut plantation.

"The explanation as to what makes a waterfall is controversial among the waterfall lovers of the world. The commonly accepted answer is that a watercourse (any stream, river or creek) that falls from a height of at least three meters (around 10 feet), having a slope of 30 degrees is a waterfall.Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-are-waterfalls-formed.html"

Can this be developed as a tourist spot? My answer is still yes.

It is along the semi zigzag road of Tandag-Cortes Highway where Tandag Point is marked.

The Local Tourism Office could just put landmarks and tourist on a road trip can just drop by for pictorial and view the spectacular blue lagoon facing   Pacific Ocean.

On my road trip searching for possible accessible waterfalls in Tandag City , it made me almost frustrated. When I noticed this spot, I wonder why nobody mentioned  this place.

Friends, this spot is indeed a potential, just drop by and look around. We don't have to defined a tourist destination as an altered, constructed, and expensive project development to  promote it  as an  attraction.

Matho Falls

Matho Falls
Cortes, Surigao del Sur

 

Second to Kaibigan Falls of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, I find Matho Falls, a friendly destination. A five minutes walk from the National Highway,  you will pass a toll gate manned by locals with an entrance fee of PhP10.00.

Enclosed with rock shelters, the falls is approximately 70 ft tall, with 10ft deep plunge pool. As  cool water cascade , rays of sunlight create shadow images of  trees on water stream.

Egay Falls

Egay Falls,
Indangan, Kidapawan
A Nature Healing Park Gateaway

A walk beyond this farm stand a remaining forest cover that hide a water cascade potential for therapy.

Have you tried walking in a grassland feeling the early morning dew, bare footed, and  inhaled the freshness of the morning breeze? In water therapy they call it "Wet grass Walk".


Have you tried sitting in a rock, water cascading and splashing  at your back, head, arms and legs? That is natural body toning . The effect of combined sunlight, fresh air and water upon the skin.

This destination was once saved from exploitation. My tour guide a local resident shared to me some information that made me conclude that in any development plans ( be it designed by a private entity or in collaboration with concerned government agency) if God will not allow it, whatever it takes, it will always be His will.

The falls  is located adjacent banana plantation of a big agri-bussiness company.Way back years ago some rubber plantations and orchard farms were converted to banana plantation making its terrain bald and prone to soil erosion.

All waterfalls destination is God's  healing gift to man. Sad to say, most development  concept and design for eco- tourism project create environmental impacts that fails to protect its natural state.

Where water falls: Hikong Alo Falls, Lake Sebu

Where water falls: Hikong Alo Falls, Lake Sebu: Hikong Alo Falls (Falls 1), Lake Sebu South Cotabato Your ROAD TRIP    Travel Guide ( VIA Coastal Road Southern Mindanao ) D avao C...

Hikong Alo Falls, Lake Sebu

Hikong Alo Falls
(Falls 1), Lake Sebu
South Cotabato

Your ROAD TRIP    Travel Guide
(VIA Coastal Road Southern Mindanao)
Davao City - GenSantos 152km
GenSantos- Polomok-Tupi-Marbel-Surallah-Lake Sebu -  100km

(VIA In Land -Central Mindanao)
Davao  City-Sta Cruz , Digos, Bansalan Davao del Sur -  Makilala North Cotabato 115km
Makilala -Mlang, Tulunan, North Cotabato - Datu Paglas, Buluan, Maguindanao Province (ARMM)
Pre. Quirino, Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat Province - 55km
Tacurong SK- Isulan 11km
Isulan SK - Sto Niño, Surallah, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato -47 km. 

passing by Tulunan, North Cotabato

Surallah Landmark

a 35ft cascading water from Lake Selotun

I actually travelled about 120km only from my jump off point, Kidapawan City.

Taking the public transport, it took me 5 hrs to reach Lake Sebu. I arrived in time for lunch. It was my first time to stay long and enjoy the air breeze of its secluded nature.

Inside the Hikong Nature Park, I enjoyed  every fauna & flora i can capture. What I enjoyed most was its distinct potential flora landscape.