Top 10 Falls in the Philippines for Tourists

I have been exploring waterfalls in the Philippines 
since I was a  teenager. 

Every weekend, my friends and I will be going to the falls of

 either Tanauan City, Malvar or Sto. Tomas, Batangas. 

Along with my childhood friends, we explored the various falls in Batangas.

I started to explore the falls outside Batangas when I was already 30 years old. And to date, only the waterfalls in Cebu and in North Cotabato remains to be explored. 
And I am planning to visit these falls in summer 2015. 

Worthy of mention among the falls that I have visited are the Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna (included in my top ten rivers), Tamaraw Falls of Mindoro, Camiguin waterfalls, Ulan-Ulan Falls of Biliran,  Bomod-ok Falls of Sagada, Padusdusan Falls of Negros Oriental, Ditumabo Falls of Biliran, and the Maddela Waterfalls in Quirino (for its seven-stage falls).

Last April 2015, I made another waterfalls chasing in Mindanao, Cebu, and Bacolod. Among the falls worthy of mention anew are Tumalog Falls in Oslob, Aguinid Falls and Dao Falls in Samboan, Mantayupan Falls in Barili and Malatan-og Falls in Don Salvador, Negros Occidental. 

 For the meantime, these are my top 10 falls in the Philippines pending my visit to Cebu and North Cotabato! =)

1. Aliwagwag Falls, Cateel, Davao Oriental

According to my fellow bloggers, It is the tallest waterfalls in the Philippines. With its numerous cascading falls and its strength during rainy season, it is ranked number one.

my photo

Aliwagwag Falls during Typhoon Seniang last December 29, 2014.

2. Awao Falls, Monkayo, Compostela Valley

The 1.5 hours skylab ride, the river crossing, the three falls, 

and the trek towards Falls No. 3 makes this number 2! 

In case you are doubting, just look at the size of Falls No.1.

3. Bani Falls, Arakan Valley, North Cotabato

from Bundukiro.blogsot.com

The trek to the falls and the size itself!

4. Lake Sebu, South Cotabato 
  

Falls Nos 3, 4 and 5 (picture was taken while I was doing my zipline in Lake Sebu)

It has seven falls and the zipline ride to see falls no. 3, 4 and 5 is an adventure!

 Related link - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/lake-sebu-7-falls-3-lakes-1-tribe.html


5. Asik-Asik Falls, Alamada, North Cotabato

from ianpowell.blogpot.com

For its size and grandeur!

6. Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig, Surigao Del Sur

The base of the falls is best for your bamboo raft or boat adventure.

 7. Tinago Falls, Lanao Del Norte 

my photo

A sight to behold!

8. Maria Cristina Falls, Lanao Del Norte 

from zayzaeexplores.com

For its twin-falls and height

9. Maragusan Falls, Maragusan, Compostela Valley

The size of Tagbibinta Falls may not convince you 

but number may, the town has more than 20 falls! 

10. Lulugayan Falls, Calbiga, Samar (for its cascading falls)

Related link - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/eastern-visayas-tour.html

Note - This blog was first published April 18, 2013. It was revised January 2, 2015 after my waterfalls chasing adventure in Mindanao last December 25-31, 2014.

The previous ranking was:
1. Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
2. Tinago Falls, lanao Del Norte
3. Maria Cristina Falls, Lanao Del Norte
4. Ulan-Ulan Falls, Biliran
5. Bomod-ok Falls, Sagada
6. Katibawasan Falls, Camiguin
7. Padusdusan Falls, Negros Oriental
8. Ditumabo Falls, Baler, Aurora
9. Tuason Falls, Camiguin
10. Lulugayan Falls, Calbiga, Samar

The comments prior to the 2014 visit were not deleted.

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Other links pertaining to water falls -
Daranak Falls, Tanay, Rizal - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/02/daranak-falls-tanay-rizal.html
Ambon-Ambon Falls, Pangil, Laguna - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/02/ambon-ambon-falls-natividad-pangil.html
Twin Falls, San Juan, Laguna - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/02/twin-falls-san-juan-kalayaan-laguna.html
Balete Eco Park Falls, Tanauan, City, Batangas - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/01/balete-eco-park.html
Alulod Falls and Calijon Falls, Malvar, Batangas - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/09/malvar-batangas.html 
San Vicente Falls, Sto. Tomas, Batangas - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/09/sto-tomas-batangas.html
Pinsan Falls, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Norte - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/06/sta-maria-ilocos-sur.html
Avis Falls, Burgos, Ilocos Norte - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/06/burgos-ilocos-norte.html
Catandayagan Falls, Masbate -http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/06/lets-explore-ticao-island-masbate.html
Cambugahay Falls, Siquijor - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/siquijor-adventure-in-three-hours.html
Tumalog Falls, Oslob, Cebu - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/whale-watching-in-oslob-cebu.html
Madella Waterfalls. Quirino - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/amazing-quirino.html
Bomod-ok Falls, Sagada - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/backpackers-trip-to-sagada-my-third-trip.html
Tamaraw Falls, Mindoro - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/puerto-galera-with-friends.html
Tinago Falls, Mimbalot Falls, Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City 
Tumalog Falls, Oslob, Cebu - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/whale-watching-in-oslob-cebu.html
Madella Waterfalls. Quirino - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/amazing-quirino.html
Bomod-ok Falls, Sagada - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/backpackers-trip-to-sagada-my-third-trip.html
Tamaraw Falls, Mindoro - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/puerto-galera-with-friends.html
Maria Cristina Falls, Mimbalot Falls, Tinago Falls - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/iligan-city.html
Eastern Visayas Falls - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/eastern-visayas-tour.html

Mindanao Falls - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/01/post-x-mas-tour-in-mindanao-5-days.html

Lake Sebu - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/lake-sebu-7-falls-3-lakes-1-tribe.html

Baler - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/enjoying-baler.html

Negros - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/exploring-negros-oriental-and-negros.html

Biliran - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/biliran-paradise-undiscovered.html

Samal Island -  http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/island-garden-city-of-samal.html

Camiguin -  http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mesmerized-in-camiguin.html

Pagsanjan Falls - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-thrill-of-rapids-in-pagsanjan-and.html

It's More Fun in Mindanao! - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/its-more-fun-in-visayas-or-mindanao.html

Beauty and Bounty of Iligan City

Lanao Del Norte is tagged as the Land of Beauty and Bounty.

For indeed, it is!

I went last summer 2012 in Lanao Del Norte, particularly in Iligan City to see for myself the beauty and bounty of Lanao Del Norte.

From Cagayan De Oro city proper, I went to the West Bound Bus Terminal and boarded a bus en route to Iligan City.

Fee for the aircon is P85.00 and for non-aircon is P70.00.

Travel time is 1 hour and 20 minutes or a distance of 89 kilometers.

Arriving at Iligan City, I chartered a habal-habal for my day tour of Iligan.

First in the itinerary was - Maria Cristina Falls

Before you can see the falls itself, you have to go to NPC's Nature's Park.

Park hours is 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Entrance fee is P35.00 and in case you want to do the zipline, the fee is P200.00.

While you are inside the park, you might as well visit the Botanical and Zoological Gardens.

It is part of the fee you paid, might as well take a peek while you are there.

And finally, the Maria Cristina Falls!

Maria Cristina Falls, sometimes called the "twin falls" as the flow is separated by a rock at the brink of the waterfall, is the landmark of Iligan City, nicknamed the City of Majestic Waterfalls, because of the presence of more than 20 waterfalls in the city.

The falls is located 9.3 kilometers away from the city. It is well known for its natural beauty and grandeur with an elevation of 320 - feet (98 meters) high waterfall.

Unfortunately, only one of the chambers is open for that day and I failed to see the "twin falls!"

Next stop was the Timoga Spring Pool.

Then, the Mimbalot Falls!

Well, the thing is, you have to ride a cable car to see the falls at the Iligan Paradise Resort.

Mimbalot Falls is located at Barangay Buru-un, Iligan City. It is approximately 90 ft. and 18 ft. wide.

From City of Falls site

And the last spot for the day - Tinago Falls!

from www.thinkphilippines.com

From the jump-off point, it took me 10 minutes of trek to reach the site.

Tinago is a Filipino term meaning "hidden", the falls being hidden in a deep ravine. Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase.

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 (from Wikepedia).

That afternoon, I went back to Cagayan De Oro, full of happiness and satisfaction.

Indeed, Lanao Del Norte is a place of Beauty and Bounty! =)