Maragusan: Such a cool place

"Maragusan is a cold place just like Baguio and Tagaytay.”

“There are so many beautiful and exotic spots to visit. There are too many I can’t state them all.” “It is a cold region surrounded by high mountains.”

“In the morning, it’s really cold that even cooking oil would solidify. It’s like an ice candy in the freezer.”

These were just some of the remarks we heard from people who have been to Maragusan, a first class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley. Recently, my friend Jose Ray L. Subaldo (who works for Digilution) and I went on a two-day journey to the place located 138 kilometers away from Davao City.

It was almost lunch time when we arrived in Maragusan. A landmark with a message that reads, “Welcome to Maragusan, the summer capital of the Davao region” greeted us. You won’t miss the sign since all vehicles have to pass the circumference where it is located before entering the town.

Maragusan is located in the province’s highland region. I found out later on that the town is bordered by the mountains of Caragan to the east and Mabugnaw to the west. These mountains supply the townsfolk with cool and refreshing air 24 hour a day and provide protection from strong winds.

Our contact, Dennis B. Radin, who happens to be the municipal tourism officer, picked us up from the ultra-clean bus terminal. After some introductions, he immediately brought us to the Haven’s Peak Highland Resort, where we were billeted.

Haven’s Peak is nestled on Tarago Hills facing the town with 208 beautifully landscaped steps (with three stopovers for those who are tired!) leading to its tidy but beautiful lobby. This mountain resort provides a picture-perfec view of green foggy mountains appearing like a painting, somewhat like a stage backdrop.

“Although we opened this resort only in 2005,” said June Louie Ibañez (he wants to be called PJ), “we have succeeded in making it as one of the town’s tourist destinations.” In fact, it has already been featured in the bestselling The Lonely Planet.

Today, people from different walks of life come to appreciate the place. Its tribal huts and two-storey dormitories are the perfect place to stay. Both the Lantaw Barbeque and Seafood Grill House, and Terraza Adela Bar and Coffee Shop offer a great place to dine in and unwind while viewing the whole town. The ambience is just superb; at night, it is spectacular.

After taking our lunch, we immediately started our exploration. Our first stopover was the Marangig Falls in barangay Albay some 10 kilometers away from the town proper. We left our vehicle in a safe place and walked for about eight minutes before reaching one of the 13 series of falls. We had to climb to see the other falls. At the third falls where we stopped, I noticed the lush vegetation surrounding the area and the rocks filled with green algae. It was great to see nature’s beauty at its best!

From barangay Albay, we went to barangay Coronobe, the place of the famous Tagbibinta Falls. Unlike the first falls that we went to, this one had only a series of seven falls, the first one measuring approximately 70 feet in height. If you’re into trekking and climbing, then this is where you should go. There are cottages for rent not far from the first falls. It is only five kilometers away from town.

We were supposed to see other falls surrounding the municipality but as it was too dark to travel, we decided to call it a day. Among the falls which we failed to visit were Pyalitan (which we heard looked like a mini-version of Venezuela’s Angel Falls), Miyaya, Pyagabunan, Manabas, Tarago, Maputi, Lahi, Mabuganao, Kyalinawan, Kolon, Kasigpitan, Gipadpalan, and Tangcalao. “Some of these falls are too far to visit,” Radin said.

After eating our dinner at Haven’s Peak, I talked with PJ for few minutes and then feeling so tired, I begged off to sleep. I was so tired that when I hit the pillow, I fell asleep almost immediately.

I woke up early the following day. At four o’clock, I went out and to my amazement saw the town below me covered with fog. Watching the sight reminded me of the Californian fishing town in John Carpenter’s “The Fog”. Eerie but it was a sight to behold!

At 8a.m., we left Haven’s Peak and went straight to a mountain surrounded by a banana plantation. We were trekking when it started to rain. “We have to climb up to see the rafflesia,” our guide, Nestor A. Badilla, told us.

Yes, rafflesia, the world’s biggest single flower. Some people call it “corpse flower” due to the vile smell (“like rotting meat”) it gives off. The vile smell attracts insects, which transport pollen from male to female flowers. The diameter of the flower can grow to over 100 centimeters and can weigh up to 10 kilograms. Even its smallest flower specie (the ones commonly found in the country) measures 20 centimeters in diameter. It has a lifespan of five to seven days.

Had it not been for Bong – Badilla’s nickname – rafflesia would have never been discovered in Maragusan. He said that when TV host and former Miss Universe Margie Moran came to the town, she showed him the picture of the flower and was asked if that was the flower he had seen.

He answered affirmatively. After it was shown on television, some Filipino scientists came to the town and conducted a study. True enough, it was rafflesia and was a new species. There are about 27 species and all of them are found in southeastern Asia, including the Philippines. The species found in Maragusan is named Rafflesia magnifica.

The remainder of the day was spent visiting springs. The town has 300 cool and two hot springs! We took our lunch at the Aguacan Cold Spring Resort, an idyllic “all- in-one” resort located just a kilometer away from the town’s center. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a boating area, conference hall and restaurant, cottages for overnight stay, tent area, souvenir shop, billiard hall, videoke facilities, table tennis, and volleyball and basketball courts.

We visited the two hot springs: Kasilac and Kanlawig. “Kasilac is privately-owned and is open to our banana growers during weekends,” said Jelfriend Lamparas, who used to work with a government television station in Davao City. “During the weekdays, it is free to the public as long as they inform us ahead of time.”

Kanlawig Hot Springs Resort is just along the road going to poblacion proper. The great location offers a view of the wide plains in the background, as well as the mighty Mount Candalaga (which measures up to 7,880 feet above sea level). The resort has many cottages with a store that caters to the basic food needs of their visitors.

“Be one with nature and friendly people,” urged the Honorable Mayor Cesar ‘Loloy’ Colina. “Visit Maragusan and be our guest.”

Maragusan was derived from two native words of the first people (Mansaka tribe) who inhabited Maragusan. Mara means “dry” while agusan means “a flowing river.” Agusan is the longest river in Philippines and Maragusan Valley is located at the tip, the drier portion of the entire Agusan River.

As a town, Maragusan was separated from its mother municipality (Mabini) by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1247 on November 25, 1977. It was called “San Mariano” after Don Mariano Marcos, the father of then president, Ferdinand E. Marcos. On October 12, 1998, it was returned to its original and current name under Republic Act No. 6678.