Category Archives: Waterfalls

Katibawasan Falls (Mambajao, Camiguin)

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After an early-morning breakfast at the resort’s restaurant, we left at 8:30 AM for our island tour.  The day before, we contracted our jeepney drivers, Rico and Charlie, to give us a tour around the island for PhP1,500. The 5 towns of Camiguin (Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao and Sagay) are all connected by a 64-km. long, almost all concreted  circumferential coastal road which can be circumnavigated in a 3-hr. drive.  While Jandy and I stayed inside the jeepney, the others sat on the roof, always on the lookout for trees while enjoying the cool breeze.  

Frolicking at the base of the falls

Our first stop was the 76.2-m. (250-ft. ) high Katibawasan Falls. Located 5 kms. southeast of Mambajao, on the 1,420-m. high Mt. Mambajao, a dormant volcano, it is one of the highest waterfalls in the country.  After paying the PhP10 entrance fee, we descended a 67-step concrete stairway, passed a view deck, and beheld one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have so far seen in the country.  The slim waterfall cascades precipitously down  to a rock pool teeming with fresh water shrimps and is surrounded by a massive granite mountain wall swathed with ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders.  Eden reincarnated!

Tall and slim Katibawasan Falls

We were soon down to our swimming attire but hesitated upon finding out that the waters were icy-cold.  What the heck!  Lest I change my mind, I quickly jumped in, shivering for some time until my body temperature adjusted to the coldness.   Jandy and the others soon followed suit.  The rock pool was shallow except at the area were the falls hit the water.  We stationed ourselves at the boulders underneath the falls, feeling the cascading waters massage our backs.  Nature’s hydromassage.  Near the falls is a resthouse for changing and a cottage for overnight stays.

Katibawasan Fall: Brgy. Soro-Soro, Mambajao, Camiguin.

Tamaraw Falls (Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental)

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Come morning, after breakfast, we packed up our swimming gear as well as a picnic lunch as we were headed for the Tamaraw Falls, the largest waterfall in the province and a popular swimming spot for weekenders.  The falls, located 131 m. above sea level, is a 15-km. drive from Calapan. We took tricycles to the Calapan town proper where we all boarded a jeepney bound for the resort town of Puerto Galera.

Tamaraw Falls
Once outside the city proper, the others went up the jeepney’s luggage rack to better enjoy the view and the air.  The narrow road towards Puerto Galera alternated from sometimes paved to mostly rough.   After about an hour, we espied the falls along the road and alighted beside the aptly named Waterfall Bridge, just a couple of meters from the falls.  At this distance, we could feel the mist of water from the falls as we posed by the bridge.
 
The waterfall’s natural pool
It being the eve of All Saints Day, we were expecting a lot of tourists at the falls but it seems we were the only visitors.  Passing jeepneys sometimes stop for their passengers to take pictures but, after a few minutes, continue on their way.  Just below the waterfall is a shallow natural pool, fed by waters coming from the forested ravine above.
 
Our cool  dip
There were some picnic tables and a changing room across the road from the waterfall and below it are 2 man-made pools fed by the waters of the falls.  Its waters were equally shallow as the wooden barrier which dammed up the water was removed.
 
The man-made pool
We quickly changed into our bathing attire and first tried the natural pool below the falls.  Later, we transferred to the man-made pools.  In both cases, the waters were bracingly cold but refreshing.  The rocks were also slippery so we had to watch our step.  Even after lunch, we continued frolicking at the pools.  After this refreshing dip, we packed up and hailed a Calapan-bound jeepney to get home.
 
Tamaraw Waterfalls: Brgy. Villaflor, Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental

Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort (San Pablo City, Quezon)

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It was time for our annual R.R. Payumo & Partners office outing and management decided on a  day tour of Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort, an exotic 450-hectare Class “AA” resort opened in 1981.  A favorite destination among local and foreign tourists, it is situated within a vast 800-hectare (2,000-acre), self-contained working coconut plantation that encompasses San Pablo City (where most of its land belongs) in Laguna and the towns of Dolores and Tiaong in Quezon.  A total of 18 office staff joined (Annie Guevara, Vangie Vargas, Nelson Valdez, Toots Gomez, Eric Tinio, Mario de Padua, Ading Aquino, Mario Nabor, among others).

Arrival at the resort

Our trip, via a chartered bus, took all of 2.5 hrs. via the South Expressway and the highway to Lucena City.  About 10 kms. (6.2 miles) south of San Pablo City, we entered the Laguna-Quezon (Tiaong) border arch and, a few hundred past the arch, on the left, is the entrance to the resort. Upon arrival, we were welcomed at the reception hall with a warm greeting and cool native sago or fruit drinks.

Our carabao cart ride

After our welcome, we were uniquely toured around the park-like setting of the resort via a large, festively-decorated and carabao-pulled cart (aptly named Macho).  Along the way, local female folk singers serenaded us with Filipino songs to the accompaniment of a male guitarist.  All are appropriately dressed in native costumes: the women in baro’t saya or kimona and the men in camisa de chino and colorful trousers. Truly a laid-back and unique countryside experience in a serene pastoral atmosphere.

Labasin Hydroelectric Dam

Later, we had a delicious native-style buffet lunch beside the man-made  Labasin Waterfalls, actually the spillway of the Labasin hydroelectric dam. We all sat at rows of shaded wood and bamboo dining tables with 8 inches of running spring waters swirling around the calves of our bare feet, a truly singular and memorable experience as we dined al fresco with the falls as a backdrop.  The Labasin dam also created a long, narrow and deep artificial lake or reservoir from the waters of the Lagnas River.  Filled with dalag (mudfish) and tilapia, fishing is offered here but we opted to avail  of the relaxing bamboo raft ride at this lake which was included in the day tour.

Frolicking at Labasin Falls

Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort: San Pablo City, Laguna.  Manila booking office: 1059 Estrada St., Malate, Manila.  Tel: (632) 521-0830, 523-0392 and 523-2944.  Website: www.villaescudero.com.