Photo
by Jun Osano/December 2001. This is the nearest I can get
to the falls, around 75 feet.
Third and
biggest cascade of Tinuy-an falls.
Tinuy-an Falls, Borboanan,
Surigao del Sur
is the widest waterfalls in the Philippines.
This
is the fourth and lowest cascade of Tinuy-an.
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I've
been hearing a lot of stories about Tinuy-an falls. Most of
them say that it is the grandest falls or the widest in the
Philippines.
I love water, in any form. That's
why in hearing all those stories, I was so intrigued by Tinuy-an
Falls.
First, the name. Tinuy-an in
Filipino means 'Dried-up'. It was a name given to this
falls because during hot and dry season, it dries up to only a
trickle. It is located within the municipality of Borboanan
in Surigao del Sur and was said to be occupied by communist
rebels.
Accessible by land (four-wheel drive,
but one has to be a good driver because the road is very steep
and slippery), and by motorized boat (via Bislig River) that can
forge upstream. A little trekking is unavoidable in either
route.
We went there using Jun's Pick-up truck
with his wife Cha and several of his local friends.
My reaction at the first sight of this
waterfalls is inexplicable. This, by far is the most
magnificent waterfalls I have seen. The granddaddy of
waterfalls in the Philippines, unspoiled by civilization and
inaccessible from ordinary tourist. No photograph can
capture the power of this waterfalls and no description adequate.
We can only reach the third and fourth
cascade of the falls, because there was no established trail up
to the first three cascades.
At the third and biggest cascade, you
can't go near enough to emphasize its height. The basin is
very deep and several logs are protruding from the water.
A strange and wonderful characteristic
of Tinuy-an falls is its cemented-like floor. It was so
flat and leveled that you can lie-down without getting
hurt. Most waterfalls have rounded stones at the base.
Capturing the grandeur of this
waterfalls is harder because of the spray that it creates.
But I'd rather risk my camera than not to have a visual reminder
of the widest waterfalls of the Philippines.
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