The Fascinating Curtain-like Asik Asik Falls of Alamada, North Cotabato

The island of Mindanao is incredibly blessed with natural attractions and resources like pristine beaches, virgin forests, bountiful fruits and majestic waterfalls. Mindanao generally misjudged by some as the most dangerous place in the Philippines especially when they heard the Province of Cotabato but no one can hinder for a traveler like me to explore of what this beautiful Province has to offer. One of the most visited site and now famous in Cotabato is the Asik Asik falls and if you happen to read a lot of articles about the best chasing waterfalls in the Philippines, Asik Asik is always on top of the lists.

How to get there:

Asik Asik Falls is located in Upper Dado, Alamada, North Cotabato. The Province can be access by taking a flight from Manila directly to Cotabato, General Santos City or Davao City and take a van bound to Midsayap before taking a "habal-habal" or Motorbike to Asik Asik Falls.

1. Travel time from Davao to Midsayap would take  4 hours and another 2 hours motorbike ride from Midsayap to Upper Dado while more than 500 steps or about 25 minutes walk from drop off point to the waterfalls.

2. Gaisano Van Terminal's first trip to Midsayap ordinarily leaves at 7:00 and since we are taking the Asik Asik only for a day tour,we took the Kidapawan bound at 4:30 in the morning before taking another Van to Midsayap.


Tip: Make sure that you are good on how to negotiate with the Motorbike owners, they're usually asking from 1,000.00-1,500.00/RT but we asked it for 700.00.

Getting to Asik Asik Falls from Midsayap is quite challenging  because of rocky uphill and downhill roads but we didn't mind any of it since we're too excited to see the waterfalls.

Asik Asik drop off and registration area

 stairs  down to the waterfalls

greenly hills and trees 

After the exhausting trip we were rewarded by a fascinating curtain-like waterfalls and it is extremely amazing since there were no stream running above the hill. This cascades is exceptionally stunning because of its greenly leaves hanging from the wall with flowing waters crashing to the river.

We were so luckily when we get there because there were only few people visited the rediscovered waterfalls.

w/ Karen

The breathtaking Asik Asik Falls stand 200 meters wide. 

Don't leave the Province without trying their local cuisine that is made of sticky brown rice and native  chicken wrapped in Banana leaf called Pastel for only 10.00


There's a lot of places to visit in this huge Province but our time was atrociously insufficient to take a trip in all those sites. It was a fun-filled day trip despite the four hours and a bouncy two hours motorbike ride heading to the falls.

Expenses:

Gaisano Mall Terminal to Kidapawan      150.00
Kidapawan to Midsayap                           100.00
Midsayap to Asik Asik Falls                    800.00 for 2(he actually asked an additional of 300.00)
Asik Asik Falls Entrance Fee                    30.00
Midsayap to Davao                                  248.00


Thank you for reading!

SAGADA, MT. PROVINCE

Hanging Coffins

Sagada is a small town in Mountain Province,a 275 kilometers north of Metro Manila. Sagada is famous for its hanging coffins. This is a traditional way of burying people that is still utilized. Popular activities include trekking, exploring both caves and waterfalls, spelunking, and participating tribal celebrations. (Source: wikipedia).

Last 15th-19th of January 2015 was declared as long weekend holiday when Blessed Pope John Paul II visited the Country as his way of commiseration for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City. And since I won't do nothing during that particular days I joined an event who will be travelling to Sagada called Trail Madness. Trail Madness is an adventurous team which offers their participants to explore and discover the places away from the hassle bustle City of Manila.They are delivering high-end experiences like mountaineering,spelunking, camping, beach bumming and other extreme activities. I paid an all-In expense package tour from them worth Php4,500.00 since it was a rapid decision. Inclusions are as follows.

--3D2N Accommodation (Room Sharing)

--Round trip transportation

--2 day tour: Kiltipan, Echo Valley, St. Mary’s Church, hanging Coffins, Bomod-ok Falls,Pottery House, Sagada Weaving, Orange Farm, Cave Exploration (Sumaguing & Lumiang Cave)

--All tour guide Fees

--All permits and entrance Fees

--8 meals

We departed at exactly 07:00PM in Manila and almost 01:00AM when we arrived in Baguio City. We've waited for almost an hour at the Bus Terminal for our rental service to come since the temperature was down to 10*C. It was freaking cold when we get there and I am expecting more freezing weather going to Sagada. And I wasn't wrong!

Joining an event like this is quiet challenging especially if you're signing up alone. Firstly, you have no one to talk to(nakakapanis ng laway) and secondly it's a bit difficult to make friends in an instant with  different groups of people. But it's a matter of how will you start & flavor  the conversation. Be gentle and be nice, Mate!  Anyway, It was nearly 9:00AM of Day 2 when we reach the little town and the frosty weather of Sagada welcomes us candidly. We rested for a couple of minutes and ate our breakfast before we headed to our first errand.

BOMOD-OK FALLS

Bomod-ok Falls or Big Falls is located in Brgy. Aguid, Travel time is approximately 20-30 minutes ride from the the proper town of Sagada and an hour and a half trek from the Main road. Information Center going to the Falls is situated in Bangaan where you need to register your names and a required local tourist guide because you can't start the trek without them. 

Registration Fee -  85.00/person

Tourist Guide     -500.00

Bangaan Information Center

(top of the Jeepney experience with Arun, Lorraine, Gochi and Ralph)

(Empe lights session with my new found friends Nikki, Rein, Kim, Jay, Mel, Dan, Ralph & Gochi)

SUMAGUING & LUMIANG CAVE

A trip to Sagada would not be complete without risking the most visited place of the town, the Caving. Caving is one of the main attraction here where you can see the best formations of stalactites and stalagmites carved by nature which thousands of years to form. Sumaguing is connected to Lumiang Cave this is like a test for every individuals of how physically fit you are because you need to mount yourself in tiny holes along the way. And be ready to get wet and chill with your adventure as temperature inside the cave aren't pleasant. 

Getting there:

There are two information centers where you can find local guides, one in SAGGAS beside Salt & Pepper and in Municipal Tourist Hall.

Registration Fee: 35.00/person

Guide                 :400/per guide

Photo Credit: Mr. Francis Ansing

We started our spelunking at 9 in the morning and due to ample of tourists during that days we reached the tail of Lumiang Cave at 4 PM but the normal caving will just take you from 3-4 hours only.

ST MARY'S CHURCH & HANGING COFFINS

We  decided to skip the other places included in our itinerary since we do not have much time to visit all of them. But one thing is for sure I had so much fun with this split second decision trip. 

For inquiries & questions with the event organizer. Please visit

Website: www. trailmadness.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/trailmadness/

Thanks guys!Thanks for the awesome experience Sir Francis!