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Ditumabo Mother Falls

This is the best I can describe Ditumabo Falls: Majestic. Power and might at 140 feet high as it plunges to the wide basin of clear cold water.  It is unspoiled and breathtaking, which make it an irresistible lure. It is cuddled in a narrow secluded valley at the foot of the mountains encircling the town of San Luis. Droplets of water swirls around, from above and the back and there was mist all over since it rained.

Mist was all over the place after the rain

“Of course, I’ll go on ‘backpacking’ with you to Aurora Province!” was what I blurted out in response to Jay Jay’s invitation like it was some sort of a calling to take time out from job to the great outdoors on a stringent budget, so why not?

I would love to go places I’ve never been to. I may not be what you can call a certified “galaera.” It’s not that I can’t afford it, but my job sometimes won’t just allow me to. Since friends asked me to tag along, how can I resist.

the rich green forests of Aurora Province

Part of our Aurora Province two-day adventure was the Mother Falls at Ditumabo. This coastal province is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the east that offers a lot more than just beaches. In the western border lie rich green forests that blanket the rugged Sierra Madre mountain ranges. You will be surprised to know that Aurora Province is not just a surfing place but natural wonders lie beneath it.

So from the saltwater of Dinadiawan, we headed to San Luis to take a plunge to Ditumabo’s Mother Falls. The falls was supposedly our first stop. Since the weather was not so good on the first day of our road trip, we had to change plans instead and go there the following day. 

San Luis is a neighboring town to Baler and Ditumabo is one of its barangays. It is a good 45-minute hike to get to the to where you can rent the cottages, or you can take the tricycle for 50 pesos per head and enjoy the bumpy ride.  If you brought along with you a vehicle, then there is a paid parking right near the foot of the trail.

Parking lot

midway to the falls

San Luis can be like an entry and starting point of an ascend to the Mother Falls. Getting there requires hiking through a rough terrain. The trek itself is an experience. Although the rocky trail is flanked by tall trees on both sides, yet there are portions where there is none at all. So we really had to sweat it out.

Trekking under the scorching heat of the sun was somewhat agonizing. We had to endure the rocky though not-too-steep trail. It was a perfect test for our couch-potato-hiking skills, for lack of a better term.

Although we had a chance to see the bordering view of the hillside and listen to the rush of the flowing stream as we hike to get to the cottages to eat lunch and get some rest, we also have to deal with other physical challenges: having to experience soreness of the feet and aching muscles of the legs.

So once you reach the hub, you are halfway to the Mother Falls.  We hired a local tour guide. It’s not because we can’t go there on our own, but to let him earn a little extra on top of driving the tricycle. I believe it’s the major livelihood for folks out there.

Buddy, our tour guide

Before starting the second part of the hike is a small nipa hut they call the “registration center.” No fees are required, just donations. Most of all, it is a must to register.

The trek was taxing to the utmost even if there is no uphill climb.  You can feel the hike as a test of endurance.

The rough road leading to the actual trail head is some sort of a hydroelectric power plant.

As you hike your way to the falls, you will also see the huge water pipes leading to the stream running on strong currents. There were local officials who held ropes on both ends for trekkers to hold onto to get to the other side of the trail.

The trek traverses at least 1.3 kilometers through the river and over a few mountain trails on both banks to get to the falls. So depending on how fast you hike, it can take you 30 to 45 minutes tops. Total length from the parking lot to the Mother Falls is around 4 kilometers and an hour-or-so hike.

Unfortunately, it rained as we were following the river upstream, which made the temperature even colder.

We passed through huge boulders and towering trees. By the way, just take extra precaution for there may be some slippery boulders to step onto or climb over.

We passed vegetated pathways

and a number of smaller waterfalls. 

Really Mt. Danayag has a rich ecosystem that contributes to the natural beauty of the place.

Once you reach the make-shift ladder that takes you to a cemented path above the huge pipes, it is then easy to walk your way to the Mother Falls.

We occasionally wade through the crystal-clear flowing stream and made fun in between our trek. As you’re approaching nearer to the gorge, the temperature becomes even colder.  The thundering roars of the falls can be heard and felt, as well.

At the Mother Falls, you will find it hard to resist the lure of getting in the “spray zone.” It’s not just enough standing on the platform.  You would still want to take  a plunge and be right in the center. It’s the only spot to view it closer as the water from the falls gushes and thunders its way down to the catch basin.

I am a person who can’t stand the cold. It took time for me to decide whether to submerge myself into the water. I was so afraid to dive and swim and join the others in the center where it was shallow. There is a one-meter distance from the platform that is deep. But I kept hearing this voice in my head telling me to go take a dip, take a dip, take a dip.

Anyway, I still made it with the help of the tour guide.  He offered to carry me in his back. I still got wet all over, though.

A few minutes later, I noticed my arms and hands were numb.  I had to get out. The tour guide helped me again, but this time I had to walk my way through the three-foot deep and ice-cold water going to the other side and up the dam. 

The sun came out again. There was mist all over. 

I got as much sunshine on the way back to the cottage. I was able to dry myself up a little bit, but my hands still couldn’t feel anything.

So we decided to drink coffee.  I held the hot cup to keep my hands warm, but it seemed like hot coffee was just not enough. When we got to the picnic cottage, a few rounds of alcohol felt good.

There were shower rooms to use for 5 pesos. Instead to our full satisfaction and experience, we preferred to take a bath in the ice-cold flowing stream and enjoyed a few dips before leaving the place.  

So if you have plans to go on a road trip to Aurora Province, it would be nothing great unless you pay a visit to Ditumabo Mother Falls.

Make sure to do these things before proceeding to the next half of the trek:

1. Wrap your cameras and cell phones in a sealed plastic bag so it won’t get wet in case it rains or if you slip.

2. No food allowed, only water.

3. Only wear light footwear.

4. Observe cleanliness.

5. Donate. A few pesos won’t hurt.

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Maharlika 88 Beach Resort

  

Assembly was in Pampanga. Since I was the only one coming from Manila, I had to be there Saturday. Going to Baler is an eight-hour road trip from Angeles City, Pampanga. We hit the road on a Sunday morning, at 2 a.m. Having few hours of sleep, I had a perfect plan, to sleep the whole stretch off.  It was just normal for me on long road trips, so this was what I did. It was actually working had it not been for Jay Jay‘s occasional hollering, “Ms. M. Wake up.  Take care of your lungs.  Wake up,” meaning, time to smoke. And that I heard on our first stop, Cabanatuan.

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I don’t know how long it was to reach the first town of Aurora Province from Cabanatuan. All I know when I opened my eyes again was that we were going slow. I think we have already entered Baler (don’t know much about geography, though). Since the road was built from the slope of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges going up, it’s not unusual that it was very steep and the zigzag seemed endless.

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The roads to going to Bicol and to Baguio are nothing compared to Sierra Madre’s anaconda-type roads. And that just made our trip more exciting. It was quite an obstacle, though,  on some portions because the road was rough and rocky let alone under construction due to Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. Judging from it being muddy and wet, it must have rained hard. 

Occasional jolts and swerving, lots of going up and down, made it impossible to be sound asleep.  That’s how our trip went. Despite there being no electricity at all — I don’t even remember if there was lamppost at all — we manage to look through the window to see what it was like out there in the dark and to think it was almost dawn. The only light on the road were the van’s pair of headlights.

Our only light as we go up the Sierra Madre mountain

Since there were a lot of inclines, there was a portion on the road that we have to get off the van because the vehicle was stuck while going up on a steep incline. There were 12 of us and we were quite heavy, so we walked a few good hundred yards of muddy, rocky road. We can feel the cool breeze being high up on the mountains on an early morning. Then as we continued to walk, the sun started to rise and lightened up the sky.

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Specifically, I couldn’t tell you what time; but it was sunrise, if you can call it that. The view was perfect with all the foggy mountaintops at eye level. Looking below, the cliffs were just fantastic. This also gave us the opportunity to see how high up we really were.  With nature and all its complexities, never mind how dangerous the trip was on the mountains — drive with care, though — the sight was just awesome.

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Finally, low lands, Sitio Bulos. We had to stop at some place for coffee or breakfast. And, again, Jay Jay was yelling, “Ms. M, take care of your lungs. Let’s have coffee.” As we were trying to find a place at least a small eatery where we can pee or use the bathroom, I chanced upon a small sari-sari store.

I got in; but before I could even ask for a place to eat, my eyes were caught by pieces of Narra furniture on display — dining table for four, a Cleopatra chair, a couch bed and a china cabinet — for sale at really cheap prices.  Anyway, wishful thinking was good enough. And we were directed by the furniture shop owner that there’s one we could go a few meters ahead.

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We hit the road again to head to our destination. Since it was drizzling, we had to postpone plans of going to Ditumabo for the next day. I thought going steep climbs on the mountain range was over; but, surprisingly, it was not. Only shorter this time, though, and at least the road was paved. Seemingly noticeable about Dinadiawan, I don’t think public transportation buses still reach this place. I didn’t see any on the way there. But I tell you, streets are very clean so is the air!

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Around 11 a.m., we were in Sitio Bulos, Purok 1, Barangay Dinadiawan, Dipaculao, Aurora Province. We scouted for a place to stay, but some of the resorts out there were fully booked. We were lucky to find one, the Maharlika 88 Beach Resort.

Maharlika Resort

It is not as big compared to the others, but one thing I admired the most about this place was it was cheap and very clean. So after a few haggles with the owners, Kuya Rudolfo Villaluz and Ate Puring, we decided to stay the night there and prepare for the second day of our adventure, hiking to the Mother Falls.

The room cost PhP2,500 and could house at least 15 people. It has a loft good for another 15 people. Since we had the resort to ourselves, we rented the function area with a videoke at PhP500. There are cottages which they also rent at PhP500, shower rooms in the back and a number of restrooms in strategic places.

A big kitchen with a freezer to store our food for another PhP500; however, gas range not allowed — just kidding — actually, expect a provincial setting, cook with firewood supplied by the owners. Utensils were also made available for us to use. Buco was free as welcome compliments from the couple.

The kitchen area

As soon as we were settled, the others found themselves sleeping after lunch; while some of us enjoyed the beach; and some enjoyed singing, dancing and getting drunk.

Fun time

Fun at the beach

By the way, the only cell phone provider in Aurora Province is Smart. In case you may want to go Maharlika 88 Beach Resort, you can call Kuya Rudolfo Villaluz at 999-961-3449 or Ate Puring at 930-541-1513. Not only that you will love the place, you’ll love the couple, as well.

THE BUDGET: PhP 20,000 for 10 people

Rent for van two days with driver                     PHP 10,000

Accommodations                                                                      3,500

Food                                                                                                     3,000

Gasoline                                                                                            2,500

Miscellaneous                                                                               1,000