Dodiongan Falls: Expectation and Reality

Nice and sunny. That's what I woke up to while aboard Trans–Asia approaching Cagayan de Oro. Nice and sunny on the road to Iligan City from Cagayan de Oro City on a Super Five bus (Php 85, travel time of 2 hours; buses leave every 20 minutes starting 4AM with the last trip at 1045PM from Sunday to Thursday and 1245AM on Friday and Saturday). Nice and sunny as I dumped my bags in Jasmine Pensionne House. Nice and sunny when I entered Jacko's Kan-anan with the members of Iligan Bloggers Society and the participants of the Waterfalling Adventure Tour (WAT). Nice and sunny. Is what we were all expecting the afternoon we were to go to Dodiongan Falls, the first waterfall on this waterfall–choked 3–day itinerary.

Expectation

Dodiongan Falls on a sunny day

Photo by Pinay Travelista

Gray and drizzling as the old white van we were in navigated the road to Dodiongan Falls. Gray and drizzling as we bumped along the uneven dirt road to the jump off for the 20–minute easy hike to Dodiongan Falls. Gray and drizzling as we trudged over rocks and grass. Gray and drizzling as we crossed the river twice.

Brown and raging, the state of Dodiongan Falls was when we reached it after what seemed like more than 20 minutes. Brown and raging it stayed while we took turns taking photographs of Dodiongan Falls under the shelter of somebody's umbrella. Brown and raging still when we heard a lady call to his son, who had been leading our way, to come back. Brown and raging it persisted so we decided to turn back.

Reality

Steady and pouring, the rain was as we slowly traced our way back. Steady and pouring, the rain made the river swell. Rushing and rising, the river swallowed up the trail we had taken just a few minutes ago. Rushing and rising, the river widened and we carefully clung to rocks and plants in the hopes of not falling into the river. Rushing and rising, the river had risen to impassable depths and forced us to take another way up and down the side of the mountain, making the 20–minute easy hike into a 40-minute workout.

Soaked but happy, we all were. To have come back safe. To have seen Dodiongan Falls.

Dodiongan Falls is in Barangay Bonbonon, 14.5 km from the city proper of Iligan. For directions on how to get to Dodiongan Falls, please visit Pinay Travelista's blogpost.

Waterfalling Adventure Tour (WAT):

Hats Off to Iligan Bloggers Society

All in a Day's Eat in Iligan

Dodiongan Falls: Expectation and Reality (you're here!)
The Disappearance of Mimbalot Falls
The Powerful Maria Cristina Falls
The Hidden Beauty: Tinago Falls
Nagkalisod Para Limunsudan
WAT 3.0's Last Supper at Villa Sabarre

Waterfalling Adventure Tour 3.0 by the Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. would not be possible without the following partners: Iligan City Government, 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, IHARRA, and Iligan Chamber, and event sponsors:

 [Jacko's Kan-anan] [Jollibee] [Calda Pizza] [Jasmine Pensionne Home] [Tita Fannie's] [Tatay's Grill]

 

With the support of:

Keepsakes Iligan | Adventist Medical Center- Iligan | NPC Nature's Park | Bob NY USA | The Good Type | Margeuries House of Goodies