Last month, in May 2022, I went back home and stayed for a week only. But even if it was just a short vacation, I was able to enjoy it fully. I have eaten the food I've been craving, and I have visited the must-visit places in the city.
I was born in a small village in the province of Lanao del Norte, known as the Land of Beauty and Bounty. But I haven't traveled much in our province since I was in Iligan City studying and working for almost a decade. Even though I always commute and go home every after class and then work, I still consider Iligan as my home. It is where I graduated and had my first job.
Aside from that, what I also love in the city is the food and the tourist spots. Iligan City is just a small city compared to Cebu City and Davao City. But what this small city has to offer is its 24 stunning waterfalls and the free-flowing cold springs
Timoga Cold Spring Pool
Timoga Cold Spring Pool is a free-flowing icy-cool spring pool located in Buru-un, Iligan City. It is composed of five spring resorts you can choose from. From the city proper, they have El Lauriento Holiday Resort, Timoga Spring Pool, Mimar's Springway Resort, Dela Mar Resort, and Marvillas Swimming Pool. The four spring resorts are located along the highway, while the last one is at the back of the Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House - just beside Dela Mar Resort.
Each resort has something to offer, and they differ in business hours. Also, the swimming pool in every resort varies in size. There are fountains of different forms, slides in different styles and lengths, an Olympic-sized pool, a 16-feet pool with diving boards, and a flowing stream on different levels.
The water comes from the man-made Lake Lanao in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The cool and crystal clear water in the pool is said to be filtered beneath, making it one of the richest sources of fresh and high pH water. Unlike other pools, in Timoga, the water is drained and cleaned at night without the use of chlorine.
My high school classmates love the 16-feet pool, and that is why we always choose Dela Mar Resort. But for my colleagues and friends in Iligan City, we opt for the refreshing stream of Mimar's. And lastly, for my college classmate, it's either the Holiday or Spring resort because of the slides.
For slides: El Lauriento Holiday and Spring Pool
For flowing streams: Mimar's Springway Resort
For an Olympic-sized pool and 16-feet pool: Dela Mar Resort
For an exclusive event: Marvillas Swimming Pool
To avoid the crowd, it is recommended to go there early in the morning. They are already open at six in the morning.
Entrance fee: 100 PHP
Table and chair: 250 PHP
Tinago Falls
Tinago Falls is dubbed the Hidden Majestic Waterfalls of Iligan City and is considered one of the main tourist attractions in the city. It is situated between Iligan City and the town of Linamon. But geographically speaking, Tinago lies on the outskirts of Iligan City.
Its name is derived from a Filipino term meaning "hidden" because Tinago is hidden in the deep ravine. To witness the splendor and beauty, hiking is a must in man-made cemented winding stairs. In the Linamon route, it requires around 500 descending steps. In the Buru-un route, the cemented staircase is around 300 steps only, but the road going there is a little bit hard to navigate - steep and winding. The descending part is not a problem at all. The stairs are surrounded by towering trees, and the orchestra of nature is nonstop.
The water in Tinago is from the discharge of the man-made Lake Lanao of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The water drops into the deep emerald green pool-like basin and is said to be almost a hundred feet deep. The water is cold and refreshing - perfect to beat the heat of the sun. Near the main water drop, there is a small cave hidden behind the falling waters.
Aside from swimming in the small cave and staying there to listen to the reverberated sound of the falling waters, going near the main drop and having a water massage is also a must-try. There is a balsa or a Bamboo raft where the locals will pull the balsa. Lastly, climbing the rock formations and taking a leap into the cold water is also one of the must-do for an adventurous soul.
It is best to go there in the morning when the sun shines and hits the cascading waterfalls, forming a rainbow just a little above the water surface.
Wearing life vest is highly encouraged since the water is cold. Incident like drowning due to muscle cramps during swimming is highly likely to occur.
Entrance fee: 50 PHP (Life vest is included.)
Table: 50 PHP
When I went there last month, my friends and I started by taking a dip in Timoga as early as 7:00 AM. At 10:30 AM, it became more and more crowded, so we decided to transfer to Tinago Falls. At 3:00 PM, we went to the private beach of one of our classmates. We ended our day full of swimming sessions by strolling on the longest boardwalk in the region, at Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte - where my hometown is located.
It was definitely an exhausting day. Though my body was tired, my heart was warm and grateful.
If you plan in exploring Mindanao, consider visiting Iligan City. It will never disappoint you of the wonders, adventures, and even the food it offers.
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Sarap maligo sa falls lalo na ang init ng panahon! Dito rin sa amin may mga waterfalls pero it will take an hour dru=ive siguro from our town.