Some Obscure Waterfalls of Samar

Waterfalls are always a part of the bucket-list of an adventurous individual or group, regardless of its difficulty or location, waterfall-chasers will always make a way for them to witness its cascading waters or meditate on its majestic vicinity.

Below are obscure waterfalls of Samar (which I have set-foot and experienced) and requires only minimum-amount of expenses, for the trip to be made possible. Read and take a look at the pictures before you pack your bags and visit the waterfalls which have got your sole itchy.

1) Bangon Falls of Brgy. San Andres, Catbalogan City

Not really unknown to Catbaloganons but to waterfall-chasers from other cities, Bangon Falls is a multiple-waterfalls located in Brgy. San Andres Catbalogan City, One must take a 30-minute hike from Brgy. San Andres in order to arrive there. The trail is not really difficult but one must be careful when passing to water pipes especially on rainy days because they get slippery. One must ride a 6-sitter motor-cab, plying to Brgy. San Andres which has a terminal located in Public Market, Catbalogan City.

Fare to Public Market which the motor-cabs are in line: 6 php (regular fare)
Fare to Brgy. San Andres: 9 php (regular fare) 
Fare from Brgy. San Andres, back to downtown is 9 pesos as well (motor-cabs will drop you in public market only because they are prohibited to enter the premises downtown)

REMINDERS:

* If not familiar with the place or a first-timer, go and look for a trustworthy guide or mind heading to the Baranggay Hall of San Andres first.

* Always Bring an I.D.
* Phone signal is scarce

   Cliff Jumping is definitely a go-go in this part of Bangon Falls

A swimming pool which is good for a little sprint as well

 "Bangon Tres" at the top

Another jumping spot of Bangon Falls

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2) Paglantuyan Falls of Brgy.Calantawan, Motiong Samar. 

 Paglantuyan Falls is a majestic waterfalls of Motiong, Samar which is hidden in the wilderness of       Brgy. Calantawan. There are two options of what trail to trek in order to arrive in the vicinity, it is       either via-Brgy. Victory or to the legal trail which is via-Brgy. Calantawan. The falls is ideal to visit during rainy season to hear its roaring waters, for instagrammable snaps and bloggable feed.

For more facts, itinerary and expenses regarding Paglantuyan Falls, visit these links:

http://bigboywanderer.blogspot.com/2017/02/paglantuyan-falls-revisited-january-14.html?view=flipcard

http://bigboywanderer.blogspot.com/2016/08/paglantuyan-falls-motiong-samars-secret.html?view=flipcard

   

                                           

Yours truly

Good-friends in life and in the outdoors

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3) Panlilihian Falls of Brgy. Lulugayan, Jiabong Samar.

Panlilihian Falls is a humble waterfalls of Brgy.Lulugayan, Jiabong Samar. It could be a sidetrip after visiting Paglantuyan Falls (if you take the via-Brgy. Victory trail or traverse from Paglantuyan Falls to Brgy. Victory because Brgy. Lulugayan is a neighboring-community of Brgy. Victory which is just a habal-habal ride away) or a perfect dipping station after a climb in Tingib Cave of Brgy. Camarobu-an, Jiabong Samar as well. It takes 10 to 15 minutes of brisk-walk from the baranggay proper before arriving in Panlilihian, the trail is not difficult and mossy but it gets muddy during rainy season. For first-timers, you can ask the trail to locals and they can show you the trail-head or even guide you there.

Habal-habal fare to Brgy. Lulugayan from the town of Jiabong is 50 pesos per head (The terminal of the habal-habals plying to Brgy.Lulugayan and its neighboring-baranggays is just across their public market)

                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Panlilihian and its clear waters

Yours truly and my good friend Lawrence.

Click this link about our trip to Panlilihian and a side-trip last year:

http://bigboywanderer.blogspot.com/2016/10/after-month-of-waiting-our-crave-for_4.html 

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4) Nasarang Falls of Brgy. Lokilokon, Paranas Samar

Nasarang Falls is located in Brgy. Lokilokon, Paranas Samar. Going to the falls is easy as a walk in the park, it only takes 10 to 15 minutes of brisk-walk from the baranggay proper before arriving in the vicinity. The walk involves a minor stream crossing so it is ideal to wear a waterproof shoes or a hiking sandal. The trail has no ascents which is perfect for non-hikers.

Batch-mates in Samar National School who are wanderers as well.

For more facts, itinerary and expenses going to Nasarang Falls, visit this link:

http://bigboywanderer.blogspot.com/2017/02/nasarang-falls-upbeat-place-of.html

*** 

Samar is blessed with natural resources and wonders hidden in its wilderness so I believe there are dozens of obscure and unexplored waterfalls in our province which have been yearning for discovery and documentation for a long period of time. Me and my friends would like to encounter and experience the other obscure waterfalls of Samar, I will update this blog or post a new one once we have set-foot to them. To God be the glory!

Kimit Falls, Urolputan Pool; Unexploited, Untouched (A Prospect Canyoning Site in Motiong, Samar)

Motiong, Samar is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar that is composed of 30 (upland)barangays and productive in copra and root crops. Aside from copra and root crops, Motiong also has unexplored and undocumented waterfalls and caves which is situated in the town's barangays.

One example of it is Paglantuyan Falls belonging to Brgy.Calantawan of the town and its up-line is called as "Kimit Falls."

Kimit Falls is an upper part of the waterfall system where Paglantuyan is also a part of (Paglantuyan is the second to the last waterfall of the system.) The waterfall system (I think) runs from the nearby upland barangays of Calantawan down to Kimit and the vicinity of Paglantuyan.

Going to Kimit takes little challenges of trekking downhill in the canyons, holding on to trees, roots and passing through mini-waterfalls and natural pool.

After descending from Brgy.Calantawan, one will encounter this mini waterfall with a crystal-clear water.

Nasarang Falls; An Upbeat Place of Splashing Waters

Looking for a weekend getaway near Catbalogan that has no entrance fee? Do you like road trips? Do you like to chase a waterfall? well, we all did that last week and we went on an adventure to Nasarang Falls.

It was a DIY post-birthday celebration of our outdoor buddy, namely Tin Navales, she recently hopped to an island days before our trip to Nasarang. Actually we have two options of what falls to choose for her post-bday celeb; it was either to Kimit Falls in Motiong or to Nasarang Falls. We went with our batch mates in Samar National School on that day who are beginners in outdoor activities so it was a good idea that we chose Nasarang Falls.

Nasarang Falls is situated in Brgy.Lokilokon Paranas, Samar (about an hour away from Catbalogan City) One will ride a bus plying to Eastern Samar (either to Borongan or Oras) or Jeeps going to Bagacay or Taft to reach Brgy.Lokilokon.

If unfortunate to catch those trips, take the bus going to Tacloban City and ask the "konduktor" of the bus to drop you in Brgy.Buray or ride the jeep going to Buray as well (but it's hassle and will take a lot of time if you ride the jeep going to Buray)

Fare from Catbalogan to Buray is 30 php.

If you arrive in Buray, look for the motorcabs plying to Brgy.Lokilokon (One motorcab is good for 7 to 8 persons, fare is 20 pesos per head)

How did we get there?

When we arrived in Brgy.Lokilokon, we really do not have an idea about where the trail to the falls is situated, we hanged out near their basketball court and waited for our guide on that day namely Kenneth Dabuet, a local of the place. I've been inquiring to him about the falls since December of 2016 and thing like how much is the fare to Lokilokon and I also asked him if there are fees or permits to be secured in their barangay before going to the falls, he was very responsive to my inquiries on facebook and it was good to hear that we will not pay anything. (good for budget travelers)

"If the place is free from any fees, respecting its vicinity and not leaving trashes is a simple but incredible payback" - Brylle General

Going to the falls was just easy as a walk in the park, from Purok 1 of Brgy.Lokilokon, one must take a short brisk walk in the plains of the barangay (on the left side of the highway from Buray) passing water-buffalos and cows that are surrounded by palm trees.

The walk also involves stream crossing so if you are wearing a shoes (especially non-waterproof) it is a bright idea to take it off. Wearing a hiking sandal is preferable than to a pair of shoes.

It takes 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walk (from Purok 1of Brgy.Lokilokon) before arriving in Nasarang, arriving there, one will descend to a short drop straight to the shallow water of the vicinity of the falls and decide for yourself if you want to take a dip asap, snap instagrammable photos or wander in the place first.

Sideview

Swim away!

From Left to Right: Lawrence, yours truly and Ian

A beautiful wanderer on the pristine waters of Nasarang

(Photo by Tin Navales and it's her as well haha)

Ian's first waterfall experience.

A groufie by John Doblon (Photo by Mia Cinco)

From left to right and to the back; John, Mia, Jaycee, Kenneth, (John's good friend and our guide to Nasarang as well) Tin, Ian, Yours truly and Lawrence

Nasarang Falls; an upbeat place of splashing waters, the happy vibe of the place that is surrounded by trees awaits for those who want to feed their wandering souls and those who want to satisfy their craving soles for a simple adventure as well. I also recommend the place for those who are stitching their broken hearts, forget their problems (big or small) for a while and most of all a good introduction in chasing waterfalls.

Going Home

After enjoying Nasarang for hours, we decided to leave the falls at 2:15 so we dried ourselves and packed our things. We arrived in the barangay at 2:30 or 2:40 in the afternoon but unfortunately we weren't able to ride the JM Liner which passed by when we were near the highway so we just waited and hoped for a motorcab or other means of transpo that will take us to Buray or to  Catbalogan. We waited for like 15 or 20 minutes and finally we fetched a motorcab to Buray, the motorcab doesn't look like the usual motorcabs plying to Lokilokon and to other barangays, it was like a "DIY Motorcab" hahaha but the fare was 15 pesos only, kinda cheap compared to those usual-looking motorcabs.

When we arrived in Buray, we decided to wait for a bus instead of riding a jeep back to Catbalogan because it will not take a long time going home so we walked meters from the line of the jeeps plying to Catbalogan to the big old tree across a burger stall. Bus will not stop and will not let passengers aboard in that area near the jeepney terminal because it was prohibited by the association of jeepney drivers in Buray.

After half an hour of waiting, we saw Samar Bus Line but it was loaded with lot of passengers so no more space for new ones. It was past 4:00 pm and still no bus on the horizon se we decided to ride the jeep and luckily they let us ride at the top which completed our trip.

Acknowledgement

Special Thanks to Kenneth Dabuet for accompanying us to Nasarang Falls and in Baranggay Lokilokon as well we wouldn't make it there without him.

Friendly Tips To Go:

1) If you want to visit Nasarang but not familiar with the place, with the locals or the trail to the falls, please mind heading first to their barangay hall and state your purpose so that a barangay official might help you go there or seek for a guide and so that you guys will be monitored as well.

* Bottom line is, it is for your or to your group's safety*

2) Do not wear shoes (especially if it is non-waterproof) Hiking or outdoor sandals is appropriate

3) Always bring an I.D whenever and wherever you go

Kudos!

Paglantuyan Falls Revisited! (Rainy Season) (January 14, 2017)

As I said on my previous post about Paglantuyan Falls, It is best to visit during rainy season (On the months of June-Feb) Well, we were amazed by the falls during our visit on January 14, 2017. Crashing cold waters awaited for us on that day. That gloomy, rainy, muddy Saturday was obviously well-spent.

By the way, me and my team mates have observed (in personal and in social media) that there are people especially millennials (aside from the locals of the nearby barangays where the falls is situated) are already visiting Paglantuyan, since it is free, we are hoping for their full respect to the vicinity of the falls as a simple payback, I hope they don't vandalize or leave their trashes all over the place.

Itinerary to Paglantuyan Falls

Via Brgy.Victory Jiabong Samar

7:00 am-Wake Up/Prepare
7:30- Breakfast
8:00-Take a bath
8:30-Prepare things/wait for your companions
9:00-Ride a jeep to Jiabong (You can ride a bus as well if you want to save time)
9:15-Hop a habal-habal to Brgy.Victory (fare 50 pesos)
9:40-Arrive in Brgy.Victory (Ask the driver to driver to drop you to the trail to Paglantuyan Falls)
9:45: Look for a guide
10:00- Start walking to the falls
10:30-Arrive in Paglantuyan
12:00-Lunch
2:30-Prepare, clear camp
2:40-Start hiking back to Brgy.Victory
3:10-Arrive in Brgy.Victory
3:20-Ride a Habal-Habal back to Jiabong
3:40-Arrive in Jiabong and wait for a Bus or Jeep back to Catbalogan
4:30-Arrive in Catbalogan

Things to remember:

 If you happen to encounter farmers, state to them that you are going to Paglantuyan Falls so that they won't be suspicious about you or to your group (If you decide to go there solo or without a guide)

Paglantuyan Falls does not belong to Brgy.Victory or to Jiabong, legally speaking, it belongs to Brgy.Calantawan of Motiong Western Samar (The falls is the boundary between the two towns ) So if you post or blog about it, address it to Brgy.Calantawan Motiong, Samar
and there might be a time where using the via-brgy.victory route will not be possible anymore so using the legal via-calantawan trail just awaits for your feet in anytime (See my previous post about Paglantuyan Falls on the ITA via-Brgy.Calantawan)

  From the rice paddies with love

    After the decent from Brgy.Victory, you will encounter this stream first and on the left side is the trail to Paglantuyan, Yes! you will step on these rocks but don't be too confident on setting foot on them, they get slippery on rainy days.

  While most of us were wearing a pair of shoes and hiking sandals, this young thug looks like she's going to skate at the park with her Vans.

Yours truly posing as a yoga master?

Meet our Trail Master, Jim

The "Baktas King" Lawrence

Sponsor us Deuter, Gelert and Ground Zero hahaha

Surprise! said Paglantuyan

Your Majesty!

Closer look

Setting up our camp

 Happy Kid, Wendy Basal

Pangaon!

It's always their moment cause I am the one taking pictures haha.

Finally, my very own moment of "pa-Kodak"

Posing as super heroes (except for one haha)

Feelin' the moment (except for one hahaha)

Ghostly heads at Wendy's back

A landslide on our campsite

A great reward after a week of hard work in school (Oh really?? hard working??)

 You  will pass through these small rice paddies to and fro from Paglantuyan

 Do not pick the palay plants or step on them, you know there's a saying na "Ang Matanim ay Hindi Biro"

Ascending back to Civilization.

*********