Chasing Waterfalls: Face-to-face with the loud and proud Mantayupan Falls

Waterfalls are one of nature’s many gifts that touch us deeply from the senses to the soul. The sound of water splashing and birds chirping, backdropped with a lush greenery around, make up a transformative vibe for any traveler. There is something rather special about them. It feels a little more personal — like a secret only you know about. This is why a hike that ends in a waterfall is considered pure bliss by many.

Four years ago, I decided to start a mini-blog series titled Fallin' Down South in my WP account which documents some of my travels to different waterfalls in the south of Cebu. Back then, I only gave a brief rundown of my experiences and observations since that site was primarily reserved for my poems. A Facebook memory led me to one of those old posts and it got me thinking that maybe I should share it here on Hive too — in greater detail this time.

Hence, this post. The first of, hopefully, many chronicles about chasing waterfalls in the Philippines.

The Loud Roar of Barili

It was back in 2018 when James and I took the 61-kilometer travel to the quaint town of Barili in the southwest of Cebu. As we were (still are) both working in a demanding desk job, doing routinary tasks and solving other people’s problems, we try our best to make some time to recharge during weekends.

And what better way to escape the city than to reacquaint with nature?

Mantayupan Falls, locally known as Ambakan, is a two-tiered cascade nestled in Brgy. Campangga of Barili, Cebu. At 321 feet, it is considered as the tallest waterfall in the province.

From the bus drop-off, we chartered a motorcycle to take us to area. It was still early in the morning when James and I arrived so were lucky to have the place all to ourselves. Upon entering the gate, we were treated right away with an interesting view. Above our heads are draped vines adding accent to the tropical vibe.

We giddily walked on cemented footpath which finally led us to the base of Mantayupan Falls. Since the catch basin here is relatively smaller, most guests choose to swim in the main falls. Those who want to swim with less crowd though are free to take a dip in this part of the falls.

If only there was enough shade, I would have wanted to swim in the smaller pool. But since the sun's heat was becoming hotter as time passed, we decided to moved to the main waterfall which can be accessed by crossing the man-made hanging bridge.

To the faint-hearted, it can be scary since the bridge rocks ansd swings with every step. To others though, it can be an awesome experience — especially if they focus on the scenery ahead. Every step could feel like a step closer to paradise.

After a few minutes, we finally got to see the horsetail waterfall located at the foot of the rugged mountain.

Loud and proud. The first time I set my eyes on Mantayupan Falls, I was in awe of its loud roar. Even from afar, one can already hear the strong gush of water plungging on the catch basin. It used be a source of hydropower for local households but for some reason, it was discontinued. Now, it serves as one of Barili’s tourist spot. And rightfully so.

There are several activities one can have in Mantayupan Falls. The most iconic of which is bamboo rafting. The coop managing the place allows guest to use the bamboo raft for an hour for the price of Php 150. This is a perfect way to get the the center of the pool and closer to the waterfalls. As for James and I, we content ourselves with a dipping in the cold water, drowning our worldly worries with the sound of the water.

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Fun story:
_{James and I were has just started dating when we came to this falls. I think, if my memory serves right, it’s our first out-of-the-city trip together without our friends. It was a fun time and we had more energy to cover many places in a day then. Fast-forward to five years later, we’re tito and tita who barely have time in our hands to travel. So here’s a lesson to my younger readers: seize the day. Don't let the chance to experience life in its fullest slip away. Live. Love. Laugh. 🤗}

Now back to Mantayupan. Guests can also opt for overnight stay or day use. For overnight stay, rooms are priced at Php 500 pesos (maximum of 4 people). For day use, they have a table and chair set with umbrella for only Php 150. James and I neither reserved a room or rented a table set since we have two more waterfalls to chase.

Chase. Aside from the obvious reason that waters run endlessly, why do we often call the act “chasing”? Is it because waterfalls change with seasons and yesterday’s scene may not be the same as today's? Or are we in pursuit of something intangible? Something like our becoming?

I wonder how many waterfalls it would take for me to find the right answer. Ten? A hundred? Or maybe the next trip? For now, I'll end this post with questions. Until next "chasing waterfalls" time!

_{Hello! I'm Maria, a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. I hope to share my love for words and the world with you here in HIVE.}

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