Kawasan Falls – An Introduction

Kawasan Falls is considered as the most famous waterfalls in Cebu Island with images prominently displayed among the best waterfalls pictures of the Philippines and frequently visited by island vacations enthusiasts, creationists and other tourists wanting to visit natural attractions and tourist spots for the purpose of sightseeing and taking pictures of nature. It is situated in Barangay Matutinao in the town of Badian, 105 kilometers away from Cebu City.

Kawasan Falls – Why I went There?

Upon invitation of my good friend Reynero “Tata” Escultor, Vice-Chairman of Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KNPMPC), I decided to include Kawasan Falls in the itinerary of the study tour of the staff of the Socorro Empowered Peoples Cooperative (SOEMCO) based in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.  On board 4 hired vans, we left  the Hidden Valley Resort in Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu at exactly 7:00 o’clock in the morning of April 22, 2011. We passed by the towns of Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjog, Ronda, Alcantara and finally Badian. We travelled  a few more kilometres until we reached Barangay Matutinao at 10:00 o’clock. From the junction we walked towards the direction of Kawasan Falls with Annabella Esbillas, KNPMPC Treasurer serving as our guide . . .

The SOEMCO staff walking their way towards Kawasan Falls

Along the way, we stopped on a stall to pay the Php 10.00 per head entrance fee. The SOEMCO staff  also took turns buying souvenirs such as breaded necklace, bracelets and  t-shirts prominently printed with “Kawasan Falls.”

We walked on gravelled road along tributaries crossing in the process three small bridges. As we went deeper into a rainforest, some of the female employees were already starting to feel exhausted. But the roaring in the distance announcing our approach to the phenomenal natural attraction had mobilized our strength to proceed. The roaring increased and became more and more thundering as we went on. Finally, after 30-minutes of walking on a 750-meter road, we reached the First Level of Kawasan Falls. Candidly,  it seemed I was hypnotized by the close encounter with this natural spectacle . . .

The firsl level 20-meter high plunge type Kawasan Falls

Since it was a Good Friday, the spot was on a festive mood full of local and foreign tourists enjoying a swim on the turquoise plunge pool . . .

Close-up view of the plunge-type Kawasan Falls with Korean tourists on the foreground . . .

I was preparing to settle and take more pictures but our tour guide signaled that we have to proceed to the second level 250 meters away as our billeting area was situated therein. Hence, we proceeded and maneuvered on sometimes steep and narrow  but oftentimes comfortable trails. On our way, my sight was glued at the enthralling view of a fan-type mini falls . . .

A female tourist, whom I befriended later, preparing for a jump at the fan-type mini falls. . .

Our tour guide signaled that we were already about to reach our destination. I stopped for a while as I was fascinated to see this spillway . . .

The Kawasan Falls Level 2 Spillway . . .

We were warmly welcomed by Ms. Myrna Divinagracia, Ms. Milagros Batongmalaki and Mr. Iasuro Belarmino, Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KNPMPC) Chairman and members of the board, respectively. After taking a sumptuous dinner prepared by the cooperative, the hospitable officers oriented the group on the cooperative’s history, governance and management. Afterwards, the staff engaged in a free-for-all swim into the plunge pool. . .

Some SOEMCO staff on board a bamboo raft enjoying the plunge of level 2 Kawasan Falls . . .

With raised hands...shouting victoriously... WE Conquered Kawasan Falls!

Scared with the thundering sound of the  falls and the plunge pool’s depth, some female staff were just contented with taking pictures of nature and posing with the majestic waterfalls scenery as background . . .

Ms. Racquel Kristina T. Ocon, CPA, SOEMCO Accounting Manager on her best pose with the Kawasan Falls plunge pool at the background . . .

To satisfy my curiosity, I decided to proceed to the Kawasan Falls water source. As I climbed on a steep and sometimes slippery trail, I passed by and took shots of this  enthralling  view . . .

Kawasan Falls' plunge into the pool viewed from atop . . .

I slogged further into slippery stones for 30 minutes until I reached the 3rd level cascading Kawasan Falls . . .

Turquoise, crystal clear stream pool of the cascade-type level 3 Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls – Final Thoughts

The sight of a flowing water rapidly dropping in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff is truly a wonderful experience among the SOEMCO staff. The lessons learned on how to operate a cooperative-run nature park are really worth the time, money and efforts.

Finally, the view of a multi-step waterfalls, or a series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool, which characterized Kawasan Falls will surely go down as one of the most exciting trips I have had undertaken in my life.

Seaside Lagoon – Where Is It

A seaside lagoon, aptly named Lagoon Tiktikan and one of the best vacation spots having crystal clear water with floating rock gardens ideal for various forms of island water sports frequently visited by island vacations junkies and island getaways seekers wanting to spend unique vacations was my next stop during my February 14, 2011 sight seeing trip to natural attractions of Bucas Grande Island in Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

Seaside Lagoon – Why I Visited The Place?

As a backgrounder,  Tiktikan is a 2-hectare lagoon situated within the vicinity of Sohoton Cove in the southwestern part of the island. It is the site of the Community-Based Environmental Program for Lagoon Tiktikan Ecosystem Project, a three-year (2006-2008) undertaking funded by the Philippine-Australian Community Assistance Program (PACAP). The project encompassed direct protection of Lagoon Tiktikan and its environs, development of mariculture sub-projects and bringing into picture a fishermen’s cooperative  based in the town center, who originally developed the area, as well as a peoples organization  in Barangay  Sudlon and another in San Roque to co-manage the lagoon ecosystem themselves. Lagoon Tiktikan is situated between these two barangays’ boundaries thus the inclusion of peoples organization representations from these areas was a tactical move to ensure the project’s success. Since then, the area is  ably co-managed by The TANARIZ Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TAFIMCO), a cooperative based in the town center whose members hail from the three poblacion barangays of Taruc, Navarro and Rizal, hence the acronym TANARIZ; the Sudlon Environmental Protectors Association (SOEPA) based in Barangay Sudlon and San Roque Farmers and Fishermen Association (SAROFFA)  of Barangay San Roque.

Two years after the end of the project, I decided to pay a visit to the area to see for myself its current state. From the docking area, a visitor needs to thread the uphill and downhill trail. . .

The boat lag and weariness I suffered was completely vanished upon having a glimpse of the lagoon’s  azure waters seen  in between tree trunks. . .

The Reception Cottage . . .

I was enthralled by the breath-taking view of the islet within the lagoon as viewed from the Reception Cottage . . .

I maneuvered through the trail downwards to the lagoon and I chanced upon this wholesome  signage  . . . .

Towards  the comely lagoon-side cottage . . .

I managed to convince the visiting lovely ladies Angel and Ivy of  TV 5 Butuan to pose as Tiktikan Lagoon models . . .

I went into boating in the placid waters towards the lagoon’s view deck . . .

And was attracted with the sight of the turquoise waters viewed from the Tiktikan Lagoon View Deck . . .

SAROFA President Roberto Cortina took his time broadcasting Milkfish feeds. Note the waters being disturbed by rumbling movements of the fishes grabbing for their share of  food . . .

On my way towards the paddle boat docking site, I was inspired by the sight of this perfect symmetry between the mountain ranges and its reflections on the calm lagoon waters . . . .

As our boat was about to depart from the docking area on our way to the Crystal Cave, my eyes were glued at the two innocent children and the extra-ordinary thing they were doing . . . that of utilizing a piece of styropor as their paddle boat . . .

The elegance of the glittering white stalactites and sparkling stalagmites  inside Crystal Cave located near the Tiktikan Lagoon would surely catapult the spot into  the cavers’ map . . .

Seaside Lagoon – Final Thoughts

There were 2 things that made my trip to Lagoon Tiktikan memorable. For one, I cannot forget the ingenuity of the two kids on board the styropor. A scene depicting their innocent stares kept flashing on and off in my mind until nowadays. They were at the lagoon because it was the turn of their parents, who were members of the Sohoton Environmental Protectors Association (SOEPA) to guard the place. The environmental protection endeavors of their parents would surely imbibe in their psyche. They would eventually grow to become vanguards of environmental conservation not only in the seaside lagoon but the entire island town as well.

Second, I cannot help but admire on the way the peoples organizations had managed Lagoon Tiktikan in preserving its pristine state. Their courage and determination in driving out illegal tree cutters within the vicinity of the seaside lagoon are worthy of emulation. Surely, their efforts would go a long way in making Lagoon Tiktikan as a seaside lagoon listed as among the best vacation spots by nature lovers and adventure seekers like you.