Bongolanon Falls Adventure

Agco Mahomanoy, Climber's Den Park, Paniki Falls --- all a part of Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan City. Here is the continuation of living at the foot of Mt. Apo.

It was a summer of 1998, a couple of us went to an adventure looking for a waterfalls we heard from the elders. A clean and cold waterfalls we wanted to experience ourselves --- the Bongolanon Falls.

From the town, we hitched a ride in an old truck, through a stranger's generosity, going to Barangay Ilomavis, a good 17.6km from the town. We got off at the center of Brgy Ilomavis and trek on foot to Bongolanon Falls for 5km more. The road then was stony and uneven. We had no money but we brought food (rice, dried fish, cooked banana, dry chicken adobo, more rice hahaha), cola and chips.

Yup, we ate first after arriving. There were cottages there. Back then, there was no entrance fee, no cottage fee, no water from the faucet. We brought 4 bottles of cola, we soaked the other 2 bottles in the river to cool it. We were the only ones swimming that day.

And the fun continued.

Clear, clean, fresh and VERY cold water. It was all what the elders said and more. We loved it. No drinking water? No worries. We drank from the waterfall.

We went up the falls through climbing on the sides; using vines, tree branches, grasses to climb.

There were three cauldron-like area where the water flows in. We used it as pools. The elders said those were big rocks which formed like a bowl. Some said those were formed from lava. The bottom of the pool is a smooth, so it must either be a big stone or lava.

We were treated to beautiful views and amazing swims. It was really a fun day.

We walked home at 4pm and arrived at 8pm in the evening. We were not able to hitch a ride since there were no vehicles anymore. But we didn't encounter any danger, luckily. We had a particular experience that afternoon though. While swimming, a group of armed men with no uniforms came. They rested, drank water from the falls, and we gave them food to eat. They were a group of rebel army. Me and my friends were scared but we acted naturally. They were nice to us though, and told us to not go in certain areas because there were large deadly snakes. They also gave us a hunting knife, 3pcs 20-peso paper bill, and instructed us to go home before 5pm.

It was just one of the many experiences I had encountering a group of rebel armies because of hiking, trekking, and going to the mountains. Part of the adventure, they say. Well, til next time!