Tinago Falls- Iligan

My Tinago Falls adventure was part of my Cagayan de Oro trip last September 2012. I cant recall why this was stock on my draft like forever and Im thinking of just deleting. But you know, I cant afford not to share my first time falls adventure. So here it is.

Before leaving CdO, we had our late lunch at Mykarelli's Grill. This place was worth mentioning the second time around. I cant and will never forget the yummiest chicken inasal I've ever tasted.

It was already seven in the evening when we arrived in Iligan. We contained ourselves from an exhausting but a delightful day at the Famous Pension House.

We have settled to leave the pension house as early as 7am so that we can have all our time to see the two most famous falls in Iligan. But our driver slash tour guide who had a convention at the same area got himself drunk the night before. I had already detailed this story on my bacon series post so lets move on.

Unfortunately with all the delay that happened we didnt get to see Maria Cristina Falls but I promised to myself that I will, one of these days.

Iligan is known to its majestic waterfalls which, of course includes Tinago. We almost got lost before we finally reached the mystifying trudge to the falls.

When we climbed out of the car, we're immediately approached by two local in their teen age, who claimed themselves as tour guides. They said they're gonna help us carry our things and guide our trek down to the falls. Since its our first time and we have yet to be familiar, so we agreed.

Beside the signage was the registration area. We paid 50 pesos for the entrace including the life vest.

On our trek, we passed by this unfinished structure. According to our teenager guides, it was supposed to be a hotel but before it was done the owner faced bankruptcy and now it was on the government's trusteeship. It looks creepy. Even when its done I wouldnt want to stay here.

Our guide led us to the 400+ stair steps down but they mention that there's another route which has more than 500 steps.

My legs were wobbling while descending.

The falls was literally hidden.

I really cant hide the excitement running through me as I hear the rushing sound of falling water growing loud as we get closer.

When I saw that view, I wanted to dive straight to the water as if I know how to swim.

I was stunned the moment Im standing in front of this strong falling water. The sound of him was like music to my ears and thats the only thing Im hearing. It was like I fell in-love again for the first time. And Im not amplifying, that was really how I felt when I saw this marvelous falls.

We took photos endlessly and filled our hearts and eyes with the view.

We rode a balsa that took us beneath the falls. Some locals were kind enough to assist us and helped us explore the falls. Though it was not compulsory, we gave them monetary tips after.

Locals told us to climb the rocks. They said the view was more striking up there. No one dared but me! I felt so overwhelmed by the strong sound of falling water so I accepted the challenge. The rocks were slippery plus the water falling through my face was destructing my eyes. It was really formidable but Im fearless!

That boy was telling me to enter the small cave he was pointing  at. I was hesitant because the cave was so small and was very dark inside but I thought andun na rin naman ako why not try. 

I found my love team here. I forgot his name but he was very kind assisting me all through out my falls exploration.

on another part of the falls

Dyosa ng Tinago Falls

Afternoon came and we have to fix ourselves cause we have a flight to catch (which unfortunately we didnt). While we were climbing back we came across people going down the falls. I can say that it is best to go there by morning when it's not yet crowded.

There's a shower room near the registration area where we rinsed ourselves. We paid 20 pesos each for the clean water.

This was another great adventure I would never forget.

Si Lola Natalia sa Bahay ni Maria

Bago ang lahat gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat na naging bahagi ng 2nd outreach ng PBO na ginanap sa Bahay ni Maria, Calamba, Laguna noong nakaraang Sabado. Sa mga cash donors, mga volunteers, officers and members, maraming maraming salamat. Kung wala kayo alam kong hindi possible ang gawaing ito.

Ang totoo wala na kong makukwento pa dahil naikwento na ng mga kasama kong bloggers ang mga naganap nung araw na yun sa Bahay ni Maria. Heto ang mga kwento nila:

Pinoy Bloggers Outreach, Bahay ni Maria, Couples/Youth for Christs atbp by Bino of Damuhan
PBO shares love to the grannies at Bahay ni Maria by Marge of Coffeehan
A Heart Bigger than a Home: Bahay ni Maria by Kulapitot
PBO Outreach Program: Bahay ni Maria by Sunny Toast
PBO 2nd outreach: Bahay ni Maria by Kol me eMPi
Si Lola Binay sa Bahay ni Maria by Nutty of Nutt Cracker Presents
Laruan! PBO's 2nd Outreach by Mar of Unplog
2nd PBO kick-off by Rixophrenic
Bahay ni Maria by Glentot of Wickedmouth

So bye bye na nag-thank you lang talaga ako charot! Syempre may kwento din naman ako, naks parang totoo.

Ako ata ang pinakahuling dumating sa mga volunteers, galing pa kasi ako sa bahay namen sa Batangas kaya hindi ako nakasabay sa kanila. Akala ko nga late na ko pero pagdating ko may nauna pa palang event. Hindi ko na ikkwento kung ano yun. Nakwento na rin ng ibang bloggers at ayoko na alalahanin naiinis lang ako ng slight.

Anyways gusto ko lang ikwento ang tungkol sa isang lola na nakakwentuhan ko ng matagal, sya si lola Natalia. Kinuwento nya saken kung paano sya gumaling sa pagka-bed ridden. Sabi nya nagkasakit daw sya noon na halos hindi na sya makabangon, hindi na nya maigalaw ang buong katawan nya. Pero sinabi daw nia sa nanay nya noon na pahiran ng gas yung tuhod nya. Ilang linggo lang daw lumakas na sya. Noong narinig ko yun, I was like "talaga lola?!". Hindi ko talaga alam kung maniniwala ako. Then I asked her, "paano nyo po nalaman yung tungkol dun?". Sabi nya nadiskubre lang daw nya sa sarili nya. Until now I have yet to discover if that was true. Ano sa tingin nyo? (tamad mag-google).

lola Natalia and me

Ganun lang daw kasi ang ginawa nya, ang pahiran ng gas ang tuhod nya, hanggang sa makatayo na sya ulet at kahit pano ay makalakad. Sabi nya kaya pa naman nya maglakad pero may suporta.
"Humihingi nga ako ng gas kay sister kasi sumasakit yung tuhod ko minsan kaya lang ayaw nya ko bigyan".
"Bakit daw po ayaw kayo bigyan?"
"Hindi daw pwede baka daw kasi masunog kami dito." May point naman si sister.
"Haha ganun po ba? Ok lang yan lola lakad lakad ka lang ng madalas pag nagtagal magiging maayos din pakiramdam ng tuhod mo". Yun na lang nasabi ko. Tumango naman si lola hehe. Napansin ko na dumaan sa harap namen si sister sabi ni lola, "andyan pala si sister hindi mo sinabi hehe".
"Ok lang yan lola hindi naman nya narinig eh hehe".

Lola Natalia reminds me of my own lola. May katarata kasi ang kanang mata ni lola Talia. Pareho sila ng lola ko. Mula kasi ng magkaisip ako bulag na ang mga mata ng lola ko. Sabi ng mom ko katarata daw yun. Hindi nila napagamot agad noon kasi kapos sa pinansyal. Noong may sapat ng pera para mapagamot sya hindi na rin kaya pang magamot. Hopeless case na daw yung sa lola ko. Nalungkot ako kasi ramdam ko na gusto pa nya makakita. By the way namatay ang maternal grandma ko at the age of 82.

Balik tayo kay lola Talia. Nakakaaninag pa naman daw ang mata nya. Nililinis lang daw nya palagi para kahit pano ay makaaninag pa. Marami pa kaming mga simpleng bagay na napagkwentuhan. Marami rin sana akong gustong itanong sa kanya kaya lang hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang itanong yung mga yun.

"Gusto ko sana kuhanin na ko ng pamilya ko dito". Bigla ako nalungkot. Parang may kumurot sa puso ko. Hindi ko maiwasan na makaramdam ng awa kay lola Talia dahil sa sinabi nia. Ilang sandali din akong natigilan. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Minabuti ko na lang na wag magtanong pa tungkol sa pamilya nya ayoko ng dagdagan ang bigat na nararamdaman nya. Hanggang sa niyakap ko na lang si lola at sinabi ko "wag ka na malungkot lola, kaya kami nandito ngayon para kahit pano mapasaya kayo". Tumango na lang sya na bakas pa rin sa muka ang lungkot.

Siguro nga kahit papano napapasaya sila ng mga katulad naten na dumadalaw sa kanila. Pero at the end of the day maghahanap at maghahanap pa rin sila ng pamilya. Sa ganitong mga sitwasyon matatanong mo na lang sa sarili mo bakit kaya sila iniwan ng mga pamilya nila. Sigurado naman ako na may mga dahilan pero kahit ano pa man ang mga dahilan na yan hindi pa rin tama na abandunahin sila ng tuluyan at kalimutan.

with lola Natalia and the other lolas

Wala na akong grandparents ngayon. Kasama na sila lahat ni Lord. Ang huling grandparent na nakasama ko ay ang maternal grandma ko. Namimiss ko na ang paghiga sa lap nya habang sinusuklay nya ang buhok ko. Namimiss ko na ang pagkanta nya sa tuwing magrerequest ako ng kanta. Namimiss ko nang makita ang mga ngiti nya sa tuwing bibigyan ko sya ng regalo tapos hahalikan nya ako at magpapasalamat. Sobrang miss ko na si lola ko at habang tinatype ko to hindi ko mapigilang hindi maluha. Kung gano ako natutuwa sa mga babies ganun din ako natutuwa sa mga lola kasi naalala ko ang lola ko na kahit kelan hindi ko na makakasama.

Bago kami umalis sa Bahay ni Maria niyakap ko ng mahigpit si lola Natalia.



*Thanks kuya Mar and sis Marge for the photos I used.