LYCEANS’ TRAIL: The Beauty That is Aliwagwag Falls
by: Christine G. Guangco, BS Tourism Management
Some people, sadly even until now, still perceive Mindanao as a war-stricken area in the Philippines. This image is the result of the terrorist attacks that happened in some parts of Mindanao in the past. People believe that the island is not a safe place to visit. But the truth is, Mindanao is far from that. Aside from the various ethnic tribe’s very abundant culture and tradition, Mindanao is known for its well-preserved natural tourist destinations which makes this place perfect for your travel vacation. Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and it is composed of six different regions and all of these regions have beautiful tourist spots that you should visit, experience and appreciate.
One of these is the top tourist destination in Davao Oriental that I have personally visited, the Aliwagwag falls, located at Compostela-Cateel Road, Cateel. This falls is known for its staircase-like boulders and is considered to be the highest waterfalls in the Philippines. Local folklore says that this falls was a gift from the gods to the Mandaya tribe of Cateel. The tribe considers this as the source of their living and their fountain of life.
Also, they have developed the Aliwagwag Falls Eco Park and has charged tourists only a minimal entrance fee for the park’s maintenance. This park is intended for those tourists who wish not only to see the staircase-like waterfalls but also to experience some outdoor activities which they offer with a budget-friendly price, such as the zipline that is 180 feet above the ground strung across the Cateel river and the monkey bridge crossing. Tourists may experience taking a dip in the clean and refreshing water of Aliwagwag while enjoying its jaw-dropping view. During my visit in Aliwagwag, we were not really able to experience those activities since it was temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the future hopefully, when things get better I would love to try all of it.
Apart from the huge positive impact that Aliwagwag Falls contributes on the tourism industry of the province, this wonderful gift of nature also plays an important role in providing irrigation needs of the large rice fields around the area, and its great volume of water produces renewable hydropower that contributes to the sustainable energy needs of Davao Oriental and other provinces near the area.
When we went there we had our personal service from Bagangga, Davao Oriental that is just about an hour away from the falls. But if you are from Davao City, the convenient way to get there is by a bus at the Ecoland Transport terminal or hire a L300 service van.
I highly recommend Aliwagwag Falls to all travelers out there. The beauty it depicts will surely capture your heart. Personally, this place made me appreciate more on how blessed we are for having such a wonderful work of nature. It will make us realize how amazing God’s creations are.