It's Time to Say Goodbye For Now.....Northern Mindanao....

Promise!....I shall return....^_^
by lakwatserong tatay

As Douglas MacArthur, famous line....."I Shall Return", that was our pledge that time too....We have to go back and visit all what we missed, other tourist spots and the Province of Misamis Occidental. As i'm done with sharing all of the behind scenes and stories on each of our adventures on this provinces. Reminds me that i'm one of the luckiest person to set foot on this provinces. The experiences of different adventures is such truly rewarding and will be forever treasured to my mind and also into this blog. Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental and Lanao Del Norte of Northern Mindanao gives us so much....how we could ever say Thank You !!! Even though this would be the last of my Northern Mindanao Series.....surely we will have another journey to you....it may not be this year....but it will be surely coming soon.....^_^

It's time to go back to reality....our real world, back to our families, friends and offices...work mode again!!!
So this will be Goodbye's.....but wait let me share for one last time...Lumbia Airport of Cagayan De Oro, what is i used to share always when i have this backpacking adventures. All of us were first timers on this airport. So what could i say.....its just a typical airport with normal facilities. Four airlines usually flies on this airport...Philippin Airlines, Zest Air, Cebu Pacific and of course...our fleet AirPhil Express....^_^

check in stations....

So after doing check in procedures, we proceed straight to waiting area....we all of the passengers waiting on their designated flights. We arrived quite early on our time, so we had the place like our own...photo opps here, there and everywhere.....photomode fanatics that time...^_^

As the passengers arrived, all of us notice one person who got also on the waiting area....as you all know, all of us loves Basketball...and given the chance to have photo opps with any known players is such a memorable experience. So what happen, we've seen Rodney Santos....one of the Alaska Team superstar known as the slasher...all of us had group shots and of course solo shot together with him....^_^

X-plorerboyz with Rodney Santos

X-plorerboyz @ Lumbia Airport

So after waiting for an hour, our plane arrived and few minutes the boarding procedures started....once again thanks to AirPhil Express, in giving us such a wonderful and pleasant ride....(di po sponsorship toh!..^_^)

Upon entering, and got into our seats....next activity is photo opps parin....adik lang po talaga sa souvenir photos.....so after few minutes...our plane got up...up...up and away....^_^

X-plorerboyz: Johari (newbie daddy) & Jayson ('d eagle)

its me....Lakwatserong Tatay

X-plorerboyz: Melvin ('d tulis) & Regie (Inaki's)

One last look......goodbye Cagayan De Oro Airport....promise.....we shall return....^_^

Wow, at last i'm done with sharing all of the stories on our Northern Mindanao Adventures, a 6 Days of Full Backpacking Trips, had different activities, and fun full memories....Hope you love it and share my links to anyone you know, that wants to experience Northern Mindanao on its finest........^_^

One last thing.....i will include on this saga....Travel Guide : Northern Mindanao Adventure


Next on my bucket of backlog list is 3 Waterfalls, 2 Churches, and 1 Mountain in a 1 Day....^_^

This story is part of: X-ploreboyz Goes to Northern Mindanao

I'm done with Northern Mindanao...san naman ang next?

This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our fourth stop is Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, that is known as the "City of Majestic Waterfalls", the 4th province of Northern Mindanao.

Tours & Activities:

Iligan City Church: St. Michael's Cathedral
NPC Nature's Park
Maria Cristina Powerplant
Lumbia Airport: It's Time to Say Goodbye for Now.....Mindanao..

Chasing Waterfalls:

Enchanted with Maria Cristina Falls
A Hidden Treasure: Tinago Falls

Lanao Del Norte: A Hidden Treasure: Tinago Falls

by lakwatserong tatay

We just had a day tour in Iligan City, so we did not waste any time to see at least two of scenic waterfalls on this city, as we all know that Iligan City is known as "City of Majestic Waterfalls", so right after roaming around at NPC compound, witness its Nature Park, Power plant and Maria Cristina Falls. We immediately back on the highway and ride Buru-un bound jeepney. Together with my 3 co-xplorer buddies, Jayson, Regie and Johari explores the hidden treasure known as "Tinago Falls", a filipino term means "hidden", where the falls is hidden in a deep ravine.

our guides...^_^

Tinago Falls used to have a resort and a vast developed land area for a vacation trips. Unfortunately, the resort has closed down and what is now left is a rundown buildings and cottages structures, its just like a resorts ruins...^_^

The falls is still accesible and open to the public through old resorts property. You may ask some locals for directions or maybe accompanied by a guide, like we have some of the children playing around was our guide to overgrown grasses and bushes of the old resorts.

It was just few minutes of walking inside the old resort's property, if im not mistaken it took us about 10 minutes walking thru, however after this walk thru experience. Trekking to the falls is required, i may say you may feel your both knees shaking after descending to cemented stairs that has more or less 500 steps, called the winding staircase.

start of winding staircase

within the winding staircase...^_^

The falls plunges 240 feet (73m) high from a cliff, with its very cold waters cascading beautifully into a deep and calm basin-like pool ehich appears like a blue-colored lagoon, which reminds me of Small Lagoon in El nido. Under the falls is a small cave where people can enter and just stay, chillax while listening to rumbling waters of Tinago Falls.

A legendary story is commonly heard about Tinago Falls...and here it is....

Legend has it that there once lived an influential and powerful Sultan Agok and his wife. They were appointed by their people as their king and queen. But they became too proud of themselves and became selfish rulers of their kingdom. When the sultan's wife was pregnant, an enchantress, disguised as a beggar, begged for their help but instead they exiled and rejected her. Because of this, the enchantress cursed the couple that the child will become ugly but they did not take it seriously and permanently banished the enchantress.

The child did become ugly. The couple was sad and disappointed, expecting the baby to be as lovely as her mother. They hid the child in a cave to avoid embarrassment and named the baby Tin-ag, which means "hidden face". They visited and took care of the baby in the cave.

When the child grew up, she came out of the cave and became amazed at what she saw. The enchantress, who cursed her parents, saw her and made an offer to transform her into something of great beauty and splendor. She accepted the offer and became the Tinago Falls.

It was such a tiring trek descend, however the lush green and fresh air scenery greeted us, was a great reward to our aching bodies that time....^_^. Even though the falls and the place that time was quite crowded with fellow tourists and locals swimming around.....we still enjoyed it, got souvenir pictures in each of its corner, and right after the photo sessions.....of course, what we should do.....swimming time!!!!!

the visitors that time...

x-plorerboyz in swimming mode...^_^

tara!!!! ligo nah....sa Tinago Falls...^_^

Entrance and Miscellaneous Fees:

Entrance :  Free or Donation would be fine.
Life Jacket Rental : php20
Bamboo Raft Ride Fee : php 10/per person
Cottages / Tables Fee : php 50-100

How to get there:

It is located 13.8 kms. away from city proper and accesible through two points, Brgy. Buru-un, Iligan City and its neighboring municipality, Linamon, Lanao Del Norte. Tinago Falls is can be found in deep ravine of Brgy. Ditucalan, Iligan City. From city proper take a jeepney bound to Buru-un. Tell the driver to drop you off at Buru-un Market (Talipapa). Fare is php 14.00. From there, take a habal-habal (single motorcycle) ride and ask the driver to take you at Tinago Falls jump off, fare is php 30.00 each.

Done with Chasing Two of Majestic Waterfalls in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, "Maria Cristina Falls" and "Tinago Falls". Even though we had limited time, and 2 of 23 waterfalls can be seen, we really had great time and experience, and surely go back if we were given a chance. Next stories are Farewell Time to Northern Mindanao, and Compilation of Itinerary, Accommodation, Expenses and each stories behind Our Northern Mindanao Adventures.

This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our fourth stop is Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, that is known as the "City of Majestic Waterfalls", the 4th province of Northern Mindanao.

Tours & Activities:

Iligan City Church: St. Michael's Cathedral
NPC Nature's Park
Maria Cristina Powerplant
Lumbia Airport: It's Time to Say Goodbye for Now.....Mindanao..

Chasing Waterfalls:

Enchanted with Maria Cristina Falls
A Hidden Treasure: Tinago Falls