Hidden Wonder

In 1998, I traveled to Iligan City with some of my colleagues at the Office of the Peace Process for a local conference. On our last day of the trip we were invited to visit the local scenery.  The introvert and lazy bones that I am, it took some time for me to warm up to the idea of roaming the market place and from what I heard, take a dip into one of Iligan's waterfalls.

Am I glad I did not stay in the hotel! The trip to TINAGO FALLS was exhilarating!

Tinago Falls is a waterfall in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The falls is located in a deep ravine in Barangay Ditucalan, Iligan City. The falls plunges 240 feet (73 m) high from a cliff.  It is one of the main tourist attractions in Iligan, a city known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase, hence the name. Literally, the falls being hidden in a deep ravine. The falls is high, its very cold waters cascading beautifully into a deep and calm basin-like pool which appears like a blue-colored lagoon. Under the falls is a small cave where people can enter and listen to the rumbling waters.

The water was so inviting that I gave in to the temptation. Not a very good swimmer, I was content floating around the basin, using a rented "interior". The more brazen among us went as far as climbing up the caves and swam under the falls. And, as if on cue, a rainbow appeared. It was quite a sight, captured only in my mind.

By mid afternoon, some of the guys feasted on "iniihaw na pusit" as pulutuan for their ice-cold beer and... gin!  I was happy with my Coke. A couple of hours later, some of them were already tipsy and red from the alcohol! I was wondering how could we go back to the hotel if our driver was drunk?! Ah, but I had my Coke and the majestic view of the falls, I need not not fret, I told myself.

And so it was time to go. I noticed how some of my companions were too hesitant to leave. Was it the falls? Was it beckoning them like a temptress begging them not to go, not just yet?  Nah! It didn't take long for me to realize they were all just too hesitant to take 500 steps up back to the peak!

I cannot remember how long it took me to climb up the winding staircase, but I'm sure I made it to the top not after several stops and heaps of panting and heavy breathing that put all porn-stars to shame! Nevertheless, I was happy to be back on level ground, in one piece! My legs were wobbly and weak, but I felt a good rush!

I noticed nobody was behind me so I walked to the van and waited for my companions. Five burly men, to be exact. I was beginning to wonder, did they take a detour? Was there an easier track and that I was foolish enough to climb the steep ravine? How stupid of me, I thought.

Some thirty minutes have passed after I saw some bobbing heads emerging from the cliff. One by one, my companions emerged from the ravine. Silent, sweaty and...sober!  A few moments passed before anyone of them could speak, trying hard to hide the panting and loss of breath. And then just suddenly, we all broke into loud laughter realizing that indeed, "nawala ang pagkalasing nilang lahat!"