Discover and Explore Tungkalan

I have been reading adventure and outdoor blogs for some time now and I am fascinated how bloggers expressed their experiences and adventures to the point that is if you were with them. For a year now, I promised to write our adventures as a couple (me and Eimee), sharing unforgettable moments with your special someone. So during our last outdoor adventure, I took time in carrying a pen and a small notepad to scribe significant facts that may be used by other adventure-seekers.

The event was an invitational climb initiated by the Local Government Unit of Barangay Tungkalan, Toril District, Davao City. It has been more than a year since the local officers began to court the tribal leaders of the Tagabawa Tribe to allow passage to mountaineers in their sacred mountains. A barangay resolution was approved allowing mountaineers to ‘discover and explore’ the mountains and their waterfalls which is now the promotion tagline of the LGU. 

Official Event Banner hosted by the Local Government of Barangay Tungkalan, Davao City and
 organized by 3Fourth Outdoor Shop – Davao City

The 3Fourth Outdoor Shop owned by Randy Pabatao, with several branches in Davao City and Compostela Valley, responded to the invitation and organized the event.

From the National Highway, Poblacion Toril, there are 2 available mode of public transportation. You may either ride the jeep for P25.00 that will bring you all the way to the Barangay Hall of Tungkalan or you may hire a motorcycle (‘Habal-habal’) for P80.00 that will allow 2 passengers at the same destination which is a 12 kilometer ride. If your group has a private vehicle, you may choose to drive directly to the Barangay Hall and may arrange for an overnight parking with the local officials.

Arriving at the Barangay Hall, all visitors are required to log their names and sign respective waivers. The barangay officials, headed by the proponent Kagawad Rolli Pamine, would be happy and excited to give a brief orientation.   

Barangay Kagawad Rollie providing brief information about the mountain, likewise the proponent of the resolution opening the mountains for visitors to boost their local tourism.

 

After the registration and briefing at the Barangay Hall, follows a 45 minute ride to the jump-off area. Along the way, we were stalled at least 3 times due to bad road conditions. Be ready to carry an extra 30 minutes of strength in case the jeep would not make it.

Off-road trail from the Barangay Hall to jump-off area.

The jump-off area is the final stretch of hectares of banana plantation that serves as the boundary of Toril District, Davao City and the protected area of the Mt. Apo National Park. Just a few minutes walk, you will reach a military detachment that would likewise serve as the last water source before entering the forest. Visitors again are asked to record their names for security reasons. From here on, you will experience the beauty of lush vegetation and trees.

Final briefing and prayer for safety at the jump-off area.

After an hour of walk, you will reach an abandoned village of the Tagabawa tribe, the indigenous people in this part of Davao City. What are left are skeletal structures of houses. The local guides shared that he Tagabawa tribe are good hunters (or ‘mangangayam’) and this part of the mountain is their hunting grounds. The tribe moved closer to the city and worked in the banana plantation. You may consider taking your lunch here and rest for an hour in preparation for the 2 hours descend to the river.

Eimee with Chong, the youngest participant (8 years old) at the abandoned Tagabawa village.

The descend was definitely a challenge since it is an hour or two of a straight and muddy downhill. Most of us prefer to do a sit-down technique to maneuver the trail. Definitely not an easy trail for new climbers. Expect the presence of various kinds of insects along the trail and the notorious leeches, locally known as ‘limatik’ of ‘alimatok’. Almost everyone got a bite from the limatiks. 

Nevermind the challenge of the descend as you will be welcomed by the cold, clean, and crystal waters of the river. You may decide to clean yourselves from the mud of the trail or remove the limatiks from your skin or better move forward since the campsite is only 20 minutes away. 

 Limatik or Alimatok. Surprise, surprise, you will never know you have one.

 

Mountaineers will love the 2 campsites since both are ‘by-the-book’ and ‘what-should-be’ places to pitch your tents and relax. First, it is elevated from the river, and second the water is few steps away. Not to mention the wonderful pool with crystalline water. Both campsites were just prepared for this event, thus it can only accommodate to less than 20 tents.

You can never resist the nature pool.

Camp 1. Clean water source, what more could you ask.

The second day is devoted to waterfalls exploration. Before we began our day, our guides, who were also tribal datu themselves, prepared an offering to their gods asking for safety and protection.

 

 One of the guides showing their ritual of offering egg, liquor, and 'ma-ma' to gods for safe passage.

The guides will tour you to at least 3 falls namely, Holon,  Lalaan, Kambal na Busay orTwin Falls, although they are proud to inform you that there is more to be discovered like the Kalelan peak and a hot spring. The hike from Camp 1 to camp 2 is a fun 2-hours slow ascend river trekking. Before reaching Camp 2, there is a side trip to Holon falls. Mountaineers are expected to arrive at Camp 2 before 12 noon. Camp 2 is a smaller camp compared to Camp 1 which is likewise elevated from the river.

Holon Falls

 Lalaan Falls.              

Beware of the presence of the notorious plant Alingatong. For more than a decade in the outdoors, it is my first time to feel the wrath of its poison when it touches your skin. You will feel a burning sensation throughout the day. They even said that full contact with this plant would cause dizziness. Fortunately, one of our guides brought with him a special oil  (or 'lana') for insect bites and poisonous plants.

Alingatong Plant. The leaves are the poisonous part of the plant. 

Experts use the body or roots to counter the poison.

Since there is no need to hurry, there is a 2 hours relaxation and socialization in the campsite. There are at least five (5) groups that participated in the event. The youngest was 8 years old accompanied by his father. After a well-deserved siesta, we proceeded to visit Lalaan Falls which is an hour away. The falls is hidden from view by huge rocks and landscape. You will be surprised by the 3-storey beauty of the falls. After an hour of enjoying ourselves in the water and picture taking, we returned to Camp 2 with enough time to prepare dinner. That night, the organizers requested all participants to gather together near the river for the socials, a mountaineering culture so that everyone could be given a chance for an initial assessment of the event. The  participants belong to mountaineering groups in Davao City including Steward of Nature (SON), Dugmok Mountaineers, Hampaslupa Mountaineers to name a few. The farthest participants came from Polomolok, South Cotabato. We were likewise escorted by the members Eagles Rescue Team to ensure safety throughout the event.

Camp 2.

The third day of the itinerary suggests for a visit of the twin falls. At a fork, we were advised to leave our bagpacks since the trek to the falls is more challenging due to slippery rocks and there are yet no established trails. There is even a part where ropes are fixed in order to go down to the falls. Since it is already 3 o’clock in the afternoon, we bade goodbye to the majestic falls and headed back. I opt to stay to be the last person to climb the rope so that I could get a better photo of the falls. As I look around, I felt the serenity of the environment which reminds me again of the simplicity of life. It is hard to leave a place which you love. I just love the outdoors especially bodies of water. I hope when I returned to this place, I can still drink the same clean water and walk unspoiled trails. 

Twin Falls.

From the river, the path to the highway is a 2 hours walk uphill in an established trail. The exit is Purok Plantation, Barangay Daliaon, Toril. There we waited for our ride going back to the Barangay Hall of Tungkalan. Be sure to arrange the transportation beforehand for convenience.

Group photo at the exit - Barangay Daliaon, Toril.

What is heartwarming in this experience is the initiative of the LGU to promote local tourism that will redound to the benefit of the community. In fact, a portion of the event fee were given to the Tagabawa tribe. Before we left Tungkalan, Barangay Kagawad Rollie mentioned that they will request a meeting with the guides and the porters to discuss reasonable guide and porter fee.