A Journey to the Hidden Falls

The Beauty of Tinago Falls

Yesterday was a great day and I get to discover the things I haven't seen yet and experienced. I decided to go into an outing with my friends but it was too late for me because they already left the meeting place and headed to this hidden falls called "Tinago Falls" with a guide that only he knows the place. The sense of being left alone was very crazy cause how am I going to reach that destination given that the name itself is hidden falls. How am I suppose to find the falls that God has hidden for many years? Well that doesn't stop me, for some reason I want to go out and forget all the problems and misery I left in our house.

I continue walking till I found a jeepney that can take me to that place, at least near to that place I say. Along the trip, I was really thinking about how and where am I going to start? Well, I had enough money but not prepared about the circumstances that occurred. The whole trip was all about planning how to get there safe and sound, without scratches and injuries cause they said that the place could be dangerous for people like me who is stupid and left behind with his friends who knows a safe route to this place.

Finally I arrived at the place where they said the hidden falls was located nearby. I was laughing at myself looking at the green mountain because I cant believe I made myself come to this place which for me was a suicide and I may not come out alive, LOL. I den continue to walk and asked couple of people how to get there. I even said I will pay you just take me to that place cause I am not familiar with the place and if I go alone, the boar will devour me or a snake will suffocate me to death then swallow me. Of course that was just in my head. What I am really afraid of is the sense that I am alone and I got nothing and no one to count on.

I met this woman who is staring at me and I think she wants to tell me or ask me something. I walked into her and asked her are you from this place then she replied I am, how about you? I answered her that I want to get to the hidden falls, that maybe she can help me. Luckily she was the one I am looking for and she guided me to ride a jeepney to take me at least close to the hidden falls. Well that sounds great to me, at least I am half way there or not close but at least I am getting good directions and the feelings and excitement was intense. The woman didn't come with me, she just gave me directions and I did manage to ride on a jeepney.

The one operating the jeepney asked me where I am about to? I told the operator that I am on a on foot journey alone to get to the hidden falls and he just said "Okay". So I was relief that the woman was a blessing and the jeepney is my ride to get to the falls. Well, I had some passenger mates too, the others are children and they just had their "Tuli", tuli is circumcision of the male genitalia. I was enjoying the ride and some of them are friendly then I get to talk with some of them about their destination. I was the only one who is going to the hidden falls and then the problem occurred. The operator of the jeepney didn't really took seriously our conversation because of the noisy engine trying to run up the mountain and he said he can't take me there cause I am the only one. They insisted to not because if they will take me there, they will charge me for about 800 pesos and that's crazy.

A closer look of the Tinago Falls.

I talked to them to take me somewhere else that is almost near to that place so I can take a walk to the location of the hidden falls. They did manage to take me there and they left me alone somewhere, I have no idea where am I and have no guts to continue walking at that time. I just stood there for 2 minutes and at the back of my head there was an argument going on about turning back and chase the jeepney that will take me to the town then the other side is telling me to walk forward, use your instinct and skills to locate that hidden falls. I was really pissed at myself why I put myself into that situation where its too late to turn back.

I so then decided not to turn back cause it was too late, I didn't have a choice either so what I did is took my first step towards this hidden falls. What I did was first follow the tracks to where it is headed then after 20 minutes of walking I finally found houses, a group of houses in one place with people of course. I was so thrilled and happy and I just want to go home because my faith in getting to the hidden falls had already vanished. A lady came to me telling me do I need water and I said yes, then she replied we sell bottle of water here for 40 Pesos and I was shocked. Not that the bottle of water was too expensive but the sense of selling something right away from a stranger. I then asked them where is this place and do you have any phone around so I can make a call. They answered me that there are no phones in the hidden falls and then I asked the lady, why would I call from here to the hidden falls? She replied I don't know but suddenly It came to my mind that maybe they know where this falls is, then a girl came along and asked me if it is my first time to be in the hidden falls? I then answered yes for sure and why? Then she replied to me that I will be your tour guide today and she explained me everything that I need to pay for their services and along the way there is a donation box and I have to put something.

That was a very good call for me because I thought I'll never going to reach that place but then there it is. I actually paid about 200 Pesos all in all for everything and finally I can make it to that place. I was so happy, the sense of going home was gone and everything was so exciting. They walked me through the place and I placed some marks so I can remember how to get back here again on the trees, hoping they wont cut off those tress anytime soon. Along the way, I saw old buildings that resembled as a hotel and I asked them what was it and they told me that was the old hotel there in the hidden falls but it was closed long time ago. The place was big and everything is covered with leaves and tree branches. Along the way too we found a pool that is filled with leaves, woods, trunk and so on and the water is dirty. They told me that before the place was great according to their elders who witnesses that event. They had a small restaurant there, a good and cool swimming pool, rooms for people who want to standby for a night or so. Well I felt sad about it, that could have helped them raise their families and feed them too. It was just too sad that everything just vanished and everything was back to as it was.

I arrived at the hidden falls and I was so amazed at the beauty and its magnificent location that I had to take more than 300 steps just to get down. I also noticed that the stairs are almost about to collapse but when I was there it was still intact so I felt safe. The hidden falls did manage to restore its natural habitat for animals who lived there near by and environment that the name itself hidden falls was restored back to its real meaning. The people in there are the visitors of that place and we all understand it so we gave respect to the beauty of that place and gave our adoration to the place deep inside our hearts. The experience was very amazing and the journey was worth it and I thank God that he guided me along the way. My friends and I enjoyed the place, we enjoyed the cool weather and the water is so clean. We were thinking about going back but I was thinking to take them back for a walk.

Me on orange life vest and my brotherhood!

On our way home..