The Gentle Giant of North Cotabato "Matigol Falls" (Chasing Waterfalls)

Matigol falls one of the highest falls known in Mindanao. Matigol Falls stand at 500 meters high from peak to bottom. It has numerous unique layers of natural pools. Some of its natural pools are narrow and some are deep. Some are perilous but majority are gentle.

---

Photo credit by Martine Nanong (Canon DSLR)

---

1. Matigol Falls was once named as Bani Falls by the first dweller of the land. But only Datu Matigol have charted and mastered its perilous terrains and survive its brute force. As tribute of their respect and blessings, the people of the old land henceforth, called it Matigol Falls. One of their oldest traditions speak, the land covered by the mighty falls will be named after its master from that day until today.

---

Matigol Falls is known to many adrenaline geeks and outdoor goers for its picturesque view and landscape. One of its plus points feature is the gentle, calm and cold water. Perfect for dipping after the long trek or hike. Matigol Falls is situated at Sitio Matigol, Barangay Datu Landayan, Arakan Valley, North Cotabato, Mindanao. But most people pass through in Sitio Inamong, Barangay Datu Landayan for its friendly passage route.

As an adventure I myself dream to witness first hand its magnificent beauty. And share it to my fellow adventurers and outdoor goers. We rode a bus ride bound to south via Buda (bukidnon-davao) route for several hours. We drop off at kampo uno, katipunan. Hire a habal-habal ride to sitio inamong, barangay datu landayan.

Half of the road are cemented and concrete as we traverse the track of poblacion, arakan. But the tide went off as we enter the path leading to sitio matigol, barangay datu landayan. It became an uncomfortable and bouncy ride for almost 20 minutes. (Good thing my eggs didn’t break lol, just for laugh).

As we arrive at sitio inamong, the small, peaceful and country like ambiance greeted us with warm smiles from children and local folks. Their community leader and local datu (chieftain) welcomed us with warm smiles and hand shake. They assisted us to the registration area and conducted a short briefing to us regarding the matigol falls. He gave us tips and advice about the trail, short story of the falls, and the background of our respective trail guide.

As soon as the briefing ended, we started registering ourselves and pack up all needed materials so we can start our trek heading to matigol falls. After several minutes of quick preparation, we are good to go. But before disembarking to our adventure to simply offer a short prayer for protection, guidance and strength.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

It was a fine morning, the sky is perfect. It matches the cold breeze of the wind and ray of the sun, plus the lush green fields that calms the eyes and it range as far as your eyes can see. Traversing the footpath heading to our destination started to a friendly trail but later on, it getting a little bit challenging. Most of its pathway is descending. If you're planning to visit the place better prepare yourself with long walks, heat of the sun, descending and ascending. Particularly to climbers and hikers and non-climbers and hikers better condition oneself for this activity.

Hardly a few hours from trekking, picture taking and video taking, the matigol falls began boasting itself to its expectator’s. And it amaze us beyond words. Seeing its wonders from above make us want to go down below and see its magical beauty. Feel its very presence. But getting down to the bottom of matigol entails risky descent. The local guides were effortlessly running and jumping the perilous trail meanwhile we are cautiously tiptoeing.

The mind-blowing elevation and spectacle of Matigol falls compensated all the struggles going down. We settled down our gears and munch our trail food and eventually gone ourselves to picture taking and video documentation. After an hour we decided to ascend the walls and cliffs of Matigol falls and observe first hand its beauty in a closer perspective.
Ascending the mighty matigol falls requires a large amount of stamina and endurance in legs and knee power. Its high elevation makes it’s tough to master plus the life threating cliffs makes it more difficult to conquer. But with expert guide everything went well. And after few hours of walking we are satisfied by the view and scene offered to us as we arrived at the second natural pool of matigol falls.

---

---

Photo credit by Martine Nanong (Canon DSLR)

---

---

Out of exhaustion we drop our bags and plunge ourselves from the cold water to cool down ourselves. After the quick swimming, we grab our cameras and done several photograph's then went swimming to relax. After an hour we decided to pack up and ready ourselves for another terrifying ascend. And the guide was true to his word because we need to cross several heavy gushing flow of waters as we climb up to the last natural pool of matigol falls.

Truly the terrains are tough and terrifying but our determination and strong will out weight our fear and doubt. And we success cross all unsafe and hazardous trails leading up to the last natural pools of matigol falls. And the view is awe-inspiring. All those extreme and dangerous walks and hike content our hearts. We set aside our bags and enjoy the refreshing pool and dip ourselves for several hours. Like others i did jump at the pool. And it was awesome. We took our time picture taking and went swimming till the group decide to pack up and lead back to the community.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

As we move up to the community, i felt move by the experience acquired and breathe taking view and scene. Definitely I’ll be back here with other friends. And share to them the wonderful experience of Matigol falls. Watch out for more chasing water falls. Stay tune.

---

Friendly Travel Reminder

---

1. Dry Bag - Safekeeping of your gadgets, electronics and valuable matters.

2. Water - 2 Liters of water will prevent you from overheating and dehydration.

3. Trail food/Pack Lunch- Something to munch along the way to replenish lost energy during hike or trek.

4. Proper hiking or trek shoes/sandal - the trail is slippery. Advantage if your shoes have good grip in slippery trails and terrains.

5. Trek Pole - Enable you to balance in tough and extreme terrains.

6. Physical Conditioning - Work on your legs and knee. Good stamina and endurance is a good advantage in your part.

7. Enough Cash - All transaction are made in cash. No nearby ATM Machine.

8. Medicine - Bring with your personal medicine. No close by pharmacy.

9. Patronize local products. Create a rapport with the locals. They have a good collections of variety of fruits and other root crops and local made or indigenous crafts and jewelries.

---

Navigational Guide

---

1. If you're coming from CDO/BUKIDNON - Ride a bus bound for DAVAO. Inform the driver or conductor to alight you at Campo Uno, Katipunan, Arakan (Buda - Bukidnon-Davao National Road). Bus Fare Range 450Php. Travel time approximately 6 hours.

1.1 Hire a habal-habal to sitio inamong, barangay datu landayan. Habal-habal price range 100php. Travel time approximately 1 hour.

1.2 Register yourself at the local tourism office. Registration & Environmental fee is 50Php. Local guide is 150Php.

1. If you're coming from DAVAO - Ride a bus bound for CDO. Inform the driver or conductor to alight you at Campo Uno, Katipunan, Arakan (Buda - Bukidnon-Davao National Road). Bus Fare Range 200Php. Travel time approximately 2 hours.

2.1 Hire a habal-habal to sitio inamong, barangay datu landayan. Habal-habal price range 100php. Travel time approximately 1 hour.

2.2 Register yourself at the local tourism office. Registration & Environmental fee is 50Php. Local guide is 150Php.

---

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart sir @surpassinggoogle for being such a generous person, who possess gentle heart. His kindness have touch many lives.

---

Please support him as a witness by voting him at https://steemit.com/~witnesses and type in "steemgigs" at the first search box.

If you want to give him witness voting decisions on your behalf, visit https://steemit.com/~witnesses again and type in "surpassinggoogle" in the second box as a proxy.

---

Kindly support

@busy.org, @steemitph, @teardrops

---

Thank you

@resteemsupport
@steemunityph
@steemitfamilyph
@tilphilippines
@followforupvotes
@speedvoter
@steemph
@steemph.iligan
@philippines
@trufflepig
@steemitboard

---

---