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!

BUNTOT PALOS FALLS, LAGUNA

Living in this exquisite world today is the finest feeling, merely because we got a chance to experience the genuine beauty of our natural surroundings. I've been travelling and visiting different places for years now, with confidence I can say "it's a great to live through travel". Now, let me share it to you my latest discovery. A new destination to savour our love for waters, rocks, trees, hills, mountains and even food. Yes indeed! There are lots of undiscovered places and allow me to take you in a hidden area that only few knows how to get there unless you have the power of being  a researcher. Whenever I feel dead beat in my day to day of working, I decided to take a trip from Metro Manila just to explore the places I've never been to especially to a place with what we call natural world. Natural because it really soothes me and bring the other side of me. Nature as define as the physical world and everything in it is actually fascinating and refreshing. The hidden area that I am referring with is none other than Buntos Palos Falls in Pangil, Laguna which is just few miles away from the city of Manila. I read articles about the place and it makes me thrilled when I saw the photos. It looks calm and very thirst-quenching especially for those people who matters most with nature.

How to get there:
Riding a Bus from Buendia-LRT Taft to Sta. Cruz is the most comfortable transportation before taking a Jeepney bound for Siniloan than crossing to Tanay Rizal, tell the driver to drop you at Brgy. Balian Outpost. From there you need to a register and pay a fee of 25.00 for day a hike while 75.00 for an overnight. One of the requirements before climbing to Buntot Palos is to hire a local guide for a fee of 300.00 for a day hike and 600.00 for an overnight.

We started the trek around 07:45 in the morning and the roads isn't easy going up to the mountain for it is too steep, full of huge rocks and shits of horses scattered along the way.

I can't even count how many times I took a rest on my journey to Buntot Palos falls. It was very humid you can't feel the winds at all. For those who wants to climb during summer days, bring lot of water with you to avoid sunstroke or heatstroke.

I feel relieved when I saw this greenly scenic view almost from the top of the mountain. The blue skies, the mountains, the rice fields and the overlooking Laguna de bay. It was very relaxing and peaceful to indulge.

After almost 2 hours of tiring trek, finally we've reached the hidden paradise of Pangil, Laguna.  Buntos Palos is extremely beautiful because of its majestic and exhilarating 80 meters high water falls.  I feel the fresh air, the sounds of birds singing from the trees and the whack of cascade from the top is extremely uplifting.

And I had fun plunging down the basin of this falls since no one was there yet and the water was so cold.

The catching basin of Buntot Palos

Another thing that is good in this travel is if you're hungry and probably thinking of where to devour before heading back to Manila after the tiring trek and the water falls soaking. There's a famous eatery located at the Main highway of Pakil Laguna, it's just a trike or a jeepney ride from Brgy Balian outpost called Manay's Eatery. They're serving plenty of Filipino cuisines that's surely suffice your cravings and it tastes really good at a very reasonable price. You may also try their halo halo for only 50.00. 

huge bowl of Steamed chicken in Tamarind for 220.00 (4-5 person)

ITINERARY & ESTIMATED EXPENSES

SLEX
Time		Description			Expenses
04:00		LRT Buendia Taft to Sta. Cruz Laguna			140.00	Bus Fare
		Sta Cruz Terminal to Siniloan			35.00	jeep
		get off Bgry. Balian Outpost
07:30		ETD l Registration
		Entrance Fee			25.00
		Guide Fee			300.00	group of 5
08:00		Start of Trek
09:45		Buntot Palos Arrival
10:00		Picture taking/ Swimming
12:30		Wash up/ Jump off Arrival
13:00		LUNCH	Manay's Restaurant
15:00		ETD to Manila			175.00
18:30		Manila
					675.00

It was a wonderful and life changing fund activity for a traveller like me for I experienced the real beauty of nature with head up high. With this travel, I can say "It is great to be on top of nature" and I am longing to see more.

Thanks for reading!

Special Thanks to:
Ms. Erma Acdal- My personal Editor in Chief :)

DARANAK FALLS, TANAY

While everyone was busy buying bouquets of flowers and preparing for there valentines dates last Feb 14, 2015. I was also occupied planning of where to head on that day since I don't have someone to meet to. I've been thinking of going to the beach a night before the valentines but I woke up very late so I decided to go nearby the City of Manila.

I've made some research about waterfalls within the neighboring urban of the Metro and I find Daranak a 2 hours FX ride from Starmall, Mandaluyong and a 15-20 minutes trike from Public Market of Tanay. If you are coming from the north, take a Jeepney/FX to Cogeo then take another jeepney bound to Tanay then tricycle to Daranak Falls.

Daranak Falls is a 14 meters high flowing waters directly to the deep azure catching basin that serves as its natural pool. Because of its majestic scene,cold breeze, eye catching and enchanting waterfalls you couldn't defy plunging down to the stream. This falls also offers a very relaxing free hard massage when you get to the mouth of the pouring waters. There are life saving devices (salbabida) available in the area  for those who doesn't know how to swim at a very reasonable rates.  Daranak is jam-packed during weekends and holidays as families and group of people gathered in picnic tables and rented cottages.

Daranak Falls is owned by the government of Tanay which is also a big plus for local residents whenever there are tourists coming in. On the other hand,camping and other activities are not available in the site because this spot only opens from 8 in the morning until 5PM.

If you aren't quite satisfied with this falls, there's another cascade located further up Daranak name Batlag as this waterfalls is set with thick forest and unique rock formations but you need to pay a hundred of peso before getting in. 

Expenses:

FX - 70.00/1 way

Trike- 150.00/1 way

Entrance Fee:50.00

Fees:

daranak cottages

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!