Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig City

Tinuy-an Falls. Borboanan, Bislig, Surigao del Sur

So okay.., as I constantly reminded my self last night and early at dawn, I had to go see this waterfall as early in the morning as I could. Not that it was what I wanted to do. That was the expert advise of Casa De Babano staff, the folks at Barobo Bus Terminal.., and a friend who recently visited this place!

As soon as I arrived from the baywalk, I had to quickly chomp down on my free corned beef silog that hotel staff already prepared (there's a funny twist to their version - see it in my Casa De Babano story).

Since I kept bantering with them even as I ate, they told me "no need to take a bath" - as I'm supposed to get wet or even willingly go swimming at places I am visiting. One bright bayot even told me (mixed Bisaya and English) "if you want, pag-change lang og shirt sir, para lahi ang outfit sa baywalk, lahi pud sa Tinuy-an"! I was already laughing out loud when he continued with "di man manimaho ang picture"!

They asked me about food and I told them since I was alone, I will just grab it wherever and whenever. And my habal-habal driver (arranged by these hotel staff) looked stunned or somewhat worried hehe! To assure him, I said "ikaw mag-guide asa ta mangaon ha"? Ah he smiled and gave me the thumbs up!

Off we went, and it started to rain! OMG! But I had to take a pic as we crossed this bridge..,

I just did not know, therefore I did not expect, that there are still long bridges made of wood like this!

Wooden bridge, slippery when wet, I know right? Driver was careful, but I was alarmed looking at this!

On foreground, that is the bridge's barrier-cum-railing (made of wood of course). Why is it broken? Did a vehicle recently ram into it and plunged into the river? Or did someone lean on it dayon natagak? Ak!

Still on foreground, that black thing (tube?) is a water pipe, adding weight to this wooden bridge. Duu!

Now look beyond, to that crazy new concrete structure. What is that? The beginnings of a new bridge? Or a new concrete irrigation canal crossing a river? Whatever that is, from the looks of it.., Oh My Gee!

Look here, as my habal-habal reached the end of our wooden bridge.., that looks like for human use!

Haha.., I am no engineer nor a road expert, but I think that's something we should worry about. Isn't it?

Oh hey, another skylab sighting! This time the load is firewood. Kawawa, it was raining..,

Or is that really firewood? The photo is blurred (due to our speed and the rain) but somehow I doubt a little bit. The strips of wood seem to be uniformly cut. It could be for industrial or house-building use.

Ahh, eto na! At 8:09AM, we arrived, and the road leading to the entrance already replete with vehicles!

Was it even already open at 8:00AM? Oh well, apparently yes! My driver told me, visitors line up at the entrance even before the gates open. M'golly gee! So this was/is the reason why everyone was telling me to be as early as I could be. And look at what you'll have to walk if you came on a van or car. Gosh!

Forget about pictures of/at the line I had to creep with, just to enter this place. And it was raining!

In fact, my driver even already did some "magic" just so I could enter faster! Yet still, it was as if I was entering Disneyland. What was the magic? He asked a big group up front to add me in as I was alone!

Hey let me "qualify" that, the "magic" was without my knowledge. Hmm hehe, peace na.., please?! 😇

Just back of that welcome sign above, I saw this.., [this is natural by the way, not man-made]

So that's it? Well.., yes and no haha! That is just the lower downstream washboard (terrace) after the big plunge that is back there behind the trees (upper right corner of photo). But a beauty by itself 'no?!

And this is the final real "sure na" entrance! This is after the entrance payment counter! You write your name on the visitors' logbook and you present one arm to be stamp-pad-inked by the lady in yellow..,

Above the two ladies, the sign says "Ngadi Kita" - that means "let's go this way (inside)", "pasok tayo", "dito tayo (pumasok)", "ngari ta", "taralets"! It is just a short walk on that path behind them. You'll see!

And I like this "thing" along the pathway, where the real waterfall is already seen in the background..,

It tells about the legend of Tinuyo-an or Tinuy-an Falls. The word means "by intent" or "intentional".

Trivia: I noticed, as I've been hearing (and seeing various signage) since yesterday, that the Kamayo or Kinamayo language that they speak herearounds has many words common with the Waray language.

Alright! Here it is. Tinuy-an Falls of Bislig City, Surigao Del Sur! But let me describe this place for you!

That big 'drop' that you see back there is the main falls. It's wide, but don't worry, we'll get nearer later. This path on the right is where most visitors go (especially the big groups) as cottages are located in there, under the trees. The path going to the "upper-deck" (yes that's how they call it) is also out there.

What is that "upper deck"? The top of that big drop which is also a fascinating instagrammable space! I did not go there, but I have seen pictures of that terrace-like cascades up there. Interesting place too!

The makeshift bridge on foreground is used to cross to the other 'bank' that has just a few cottages. I saw that the entrepreneurs in this area also place tables and chairs there (I believe the views are even better on that side) though there are no roofs to cover your heads and food on a drizzly day like today!

This "bridge", made of rafts topped with planks, moves and wobbles when you stand or walk on it!

Since the floating connected rafts are constantly dragged by the water current, the whole 'bridge' keep pulling away, ready to break free anytime! I saw it being secured (a number of times) by big burly men!

Not to mention that the wood planks are slippery when wet, right? Look again, there is a man carrying a white monobloc table and chairs. At the same time, on the other end, there is a beautiful bayot who wanted to cross! Because of the unstable movement of the makeshift bridge, tumili at umatras si lola!

I wish auhtorities here could make a real sturdy bridge - since people keep crossing anyway.

After them, I stood in the middle of the wobbly 'bridge' and took this shot! The view is just fantastic!

But I could not stay that long in this 'about-to-break-free' raft serving as bridge! People needed to pass through, and I was getting in their way! Besides, the rafts are wobbly I could plunge unto the shallows!

Shallows? Yes it is shallow anywhere after the "plunge pool" area. That means you can actually cross from one side to the other by wading through the shallow-but-flowing water, but careful as its slippery!

That's just what I did, I carefully walked in the shallows.., and I was able to take this photo..,

Nice vantage and nice shot, don't you agree? Agree na dayon (please 🙏) do not two-by-two hahaha!

Though a bit dark (no thanks to the uncooperative clouds), you can see the "gakit" (bamboo raft) that people ride to go nearer the big water drop. If you look closely, there are folks at the "upper deck" too!

Anyway, as anywhere, the views from the other side are equally breathtaking!

See that little rock island where girls started gathering? That is where a rainbow appears every 9AM.

At this area, you also have a full vantage of the crazy crowds across the 'river'..,

Let's describe the arrows: Red arrow is to the foot or base of the waterfall - that's the plunge pool area where those gakits go to - you can swim there. Blue arrow points to the path going to the "upper deck" naturally terraced cascades. Yellow arrow is everybody's way in/out - but that is also the best vantage for the "daily" rainbow 'appearance' that naturally occurs somewhere in the lower middle of this photo!

Hey I played with my phone camera for some video clips of the waterfall! I'll put that here soon!


Not bad, right? Yeah, not bad at all! And here was my last glance at Tinuy-an falls as I exited...

I love the reflection that is created on the shallow waters. And that rocky area on foreground is where the rainbow is supposed to mesmerize everyone. IF the sun & clouds would cooperate. Unlike today :(

Anyway, out by the main entrance area.., there he is.., my chauffeur ready to get my "limousine ride"..,

He was walking with me for a time at the falls, but just went out ahead to wait for me at this area. And he already briefed me that, judging from the crowd here, Enchanted River would be more than crazier!

That's next on my itinerary. But let's describe the way going there!

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