FOR THE FIRST time since I
embraced photography as a hobby
(about 14 years ago), I was in a scenic
spot but failed to shoot any pictures.
Worse, I was in front of a waterfall that has not even been
documented by the tourism office of Iligan City, which claims to
be the country's ''City of Waterfalls.''
I wasn't alone though. With me was long-time friend and fellow
Inquirer correspondent Julius Vacalares, who's also a
shutterbug as I am.
''Pastilan! Pagkasayang! (By golly! What a waste!)'' we cursed
upon reaching the foot of Ikog (Tail) Falls mid-afternoon of May
13.
We had every reason to feel bad.
To get to Sitio Magayad in Barangay Rogongon, we traveled
nearly 300 km in a Toyota pickup truck and had to pass through
Cagayan de Oro City to get to Iligan's outermost barangay. We
walked in the mountains for nearly an hour, crossing creeks and
forests.
We actually brought our cameras. When we were watching the
falls only eight meters away, our cameras were by the river bank
some 30 meters farther.
All my photo equipment--two Canon bodies, three lenses, a big
flash, some filters and tools--are usually packed in a bag so that
I could just pick it up when I go out for a pictorial, even when in
a hurry.
I carried them, all five kilos, in the long mountain walk. But when
I needed my camera most, where was it?
Upstream trek
Following the creek upstream, which eventually led to the falls,
was easy, but it was a bit risky with my photo equipment. The
current was much stronger in the final 30 meters. That would
have been a safe distance to take pictures.
But Ikog Falls is so hidden between high cliffs only four meters
apart that you see nothing from 30 meters away. I was resigned
to the fact I won't be bringing home pictures of this yet
unknown waterfall, so I just sat by the bank, watching our
guide, Raul Habinio, a native Higaonon in his late 30s,
negotiating the strong current.
Our other companions--Agnes Clerigo, one of the mayor's aides,
and her friend Jon Maingat--dared to see the falls. Agnes, so
short at probably under 5 feet, fell a few times as she crossed
the rapids.
I stayed behind with Julius and Arnold, another city
government employee.
Sight to behold
The moment Agnes and Jon saw the falls, they beckoned to us,
signaling with their hands. Though we couldn't hear them, it
was written in their faces: The falls were a sight to behold.
''Well, I've been this far, so why not go see the falls even
without the pictures?'' I told myself.
Julius moved first as I secured our camera bags, covered these
with a jacket in case it rains.
I heard about the waterfalls only a few hours before when it was
described by Dr. Jessie Diamante, liaison officer for medical
concerns at the mayor's office. ''You've got to be wet to get to
see the falls.''
The first 20 meters was fine, just walking and swimming through
the waist-deep narrow creek. From 10 meters away, still nothing.
I climbed the slippery rocks on the left side but could only see
the tip of the falls, the part touching the waters below.
''Oh, no, we're this close and still nothing!'' complained Julius.
So amid the rapids, we took a few more steps. To be safe, I
stayed by the side, my left hand resting on the cliff. Suddenly, it
got deeper and I had to move to the middle of the creek.
Make a right turn, and lo! There it was--Ikog Falls.
It may not be as majestic as the famous Maria Cristina, but it
sure is more hidden and harder to reach than Tinago (Hidden)
Falls.
Probably 25 meters high and three meters wide, Ikog's waterfall
is so strong that it could be tapped to generate power. But
please, Iligan has lost Maria Cristina Falls to ''development.''
The rains poured as we were leaving. I wrapped my camera bag
with my jacket and clutched it like a baby as we walked through
the forest. It was like a scene out of a Vietnam War movie--our
guide walked ahead with a homemade rifle.
We stopped by an abandoned nipa hut near the river, but the
rains continued. Some 30 meters away, we saw the river swell.
Had we been late a few more minutes, we could have drowned
or swept away with the logs in the river.
We continued walking, the foot trails now covered with water.
Raul, our guide, said another waterfall was nearby. A little
detour would bring us to Digkianlao Falls which, he said, was
over 90 meters high.
No thanks, we all said. We were so tired, and I wasn't so sure
how I could carry my body back to our base at the house of
village chieftain Datu Avelino Pauran. My camera bag had
become heavier with the rain.
Not in list
At her office a few days later, Donna Belle Olado, head of the
city tourism office, said Ikog Falls was not in her list of 22
waterfalls in Iligan.
The list, she said, was based on information gathered from
barangay captains and employees of the city engineer's office
who had seen the waterfalls while on field work.
Diamante said the waterfalls at Magayad might not have been
listed because until recently, the city government and even
residents there believed it was part of Cagayan de Oro.
''This could be Iligan's last frontier,'' Diamante said.
Residents swear they often hear eagles cry and flap their wings
in the area.
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