Hindang Part 1: Spelunking at Hindang Cave, Iligan

It was towards the end of September that our trekking team once again organized an epic adventure somewhere in the hinterlands of Iligan. This time it was in Barangay Hindang where there lies a cave hidden in dense jungles and a less visited three tier waterfall which I will talk about in a different post.

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Hindang is a long drive away from the city so we met with fellow adventure seekers before 6 in the morning in front of Shoppe24 Tibanga while Tito Bobby Timonera, barefoot runner extraordinaire and Elijah Dagaerag, experienced mountaineer were already on their way there on foot –  that’s 14 kilometers from the highway!

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It was about 7 A.M. when Mico Falame, mountain climbing pro arrived in his panoramic van with three of his friends.

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Then off we went! We have a footage of the entire ride here.

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Barangay Hindang is approximately 20 kilometers away from the city proper and is accessible by both private and public utility vehicles through Barangay Kiwalan and Kabacsanan. Granexport Manufacturing Corporation, simply known as Granex, is the landmark to look for. Should you choose to go there by jeepney or habal-habal, brace yourself for some uncomfortable, bumpy ride. Here is a map for directions on how to get there.

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After a scenic hour and a half uphill drive through long winding roads (we got a little lost at some point), we finally made it at the Hindang proper and stopped at a basketball court. Tito Bobby and Elijah were already there waiting for us!

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Upon our arrival, we went inside Delatado Store…

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signed on their visitor log book, paid a fee of 25 pesos each…

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and started walking to Mt. Pagangon (where the cave is located) from there.

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The climb to Mt. Pagangon seemed a lot less challenging than our trek in Pugaan albeit it does require more stamina.

As we went uphill…

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we passed through a grassy field…

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a bamboo forest…

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and a few streams.

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There were a lot of interesting sights and sounds along the way that you only get to see and hear in nature. We all were our jovial selves…

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up until this point. With our game faces on, we braved this side of the mountain and slowly made our way up the slope which has a vertical inclination of about 50 to 70 degrees.

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Teamwork is essential for any trek to become successful.

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And behind every successful trek are sweepers.

Sweepers are on the tail end of the trek and they make sure nothing and no one gets left behind. Elijah, who we fondly call Elai (pictured on the left), and Lope (right) were our designated sweepers for this trek. They are worth commending for their patience and invaluable sacrifice for Yobz the whole team. Salute!

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Once we got to the top of Mt. Pagangon, we took a quick break and just enjoyed the view. Sitting beside me is my sister, Anna. 🙂

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Our guide, Manong Nick then led us to his humble abode and offered sweet potatoes before proceeding with our trek.

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To get to the hidden cave, we had to go down to the other side of the mountain…

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through a rough, rocky terrain which finally then leads to…

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THE CAVE! It was quietly tucked right in the middle of the jungle covered in moss, low-hanging vines and other wild vegetation. According to my fellow trekkers, the cave was reeking of dank odor like that of sulfur. But the funny thing is I didn’t notice it. I guess growing up near a dump site has desensitized me to most offensive smells.

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As my eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness of the cave, I felt the damp air cool my body.

Going inside the cave was one slippery journey. Caution should be exercised especially since some rocks may shift when stepped on.

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When we entered the first chamber, I was surprised to find it spacious inside with its ceiling reaching to about 30 feet in height. The cave floor was soft and huge stalactites decorate its roof.

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Unfortunately, some of the cave walls were not spared from the acts of boorish visitors. I hope locals would be taught to preserve the natural beauty of this cave and penalize anyone who vandalizes the cave. Nothing should be left but footprints and nothing should be taken but pictures.

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To go to the next chambers, one must stoop down and duck walk through a narrow opening.

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Compared to the first chamber, we felt a little cramped inside here. No light passes through at this point and several bats clung on the ceiling of the cave. But as soon as our lights flashed upon them, they woke from their sleep and swooped down towards us as a greeting. To climb up to the entrance of the next chamber, we carefully trudged through a blanket of thick mud. But it was only later on that we realized that it was actually inches and inches of bat dung and urine that accumulated throughout the ages when we touched the slimy cave walls.

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We weren’t able to fully explore the cave though as we didn’t have enough time to do so. But this adventure was filled with fun and amazement.

Here are my tips for trekking to Mt. Pagangon and spelunking in Hindang Cave:

1. Bring lots of water and enough food.
2. Wear appropriate clothing. Rash guards are highly recommended as well as leggings and proper trekking footwear.
3. Wear a cap or bring an umbrella. You don’t want bat excretions landing on top of your head.
4. Bring wet wipes and rubbing alcohol to avoid possible infections caused by bat droppings.
5. Bring a flashlight.

Some photos belong to Yobz Tolentino, Porsche Carreon, Jeffrey Wong, and Bobby Timonera.

Revisiting the Majestic Maria Christina Falls

As a native Iliganon, I take pride in the iconic landmark of Iligan City, that is, Maria Christina Falls. 

Did you know that Maria Christina Falls is actually the second highest waterfalls of the entire Philippine archipelago? 

If you want to read the legend of the creation of Maria Cristina Falls and how it got its name, read here

The staggering 320-foot high waterfalls is the main source for power (I’m talking about electricity here) not only for Iligan City but also for most parts of Mindanao.

The Maria Christina (Agus VI) hydroelectric plant which is being operated by National Power Corporation (NPC) has been generating power since the 1950s.

NPC just recently developed Nature’s Park, a family destination that offers fun activities such as tree top zipline and rock climbing.

They also have a botanical garden, a mini zoo, a trekking site and so much more. But much to my dismay, most of the sites were closed for renovation which explains why I don’t have much photos to share. 

Within the park are rows of cottages so you and your family can hang out and have a picnic.

A well where you can trade your peso for a wish.

A cafeteria with a viewing area that sits right at the side of the roaring Agus River. 

The viewing area of the cafeteria gives a glimpse of the falls as it drops to the meandering river below it. Say hello to Maria Falls. Christina was rather shy the moment this photo was taken.

But kidding aside, the water flow is actually controlled by NPC and the water gates are opened only on weekends for 5 minutes.

Just a random photo of a tunnel made to look like a real cave. Their sorcery tricked me into thinking that it really is an actual cave. Woe is me, such a gullible simpleton. 

This is a pathway that leads to a different viewing area. 

Finally, the falls on full blast! I don’t know why I like to touch and hold railings with my right hand so much. I digress. This is the best viewing area!

Maria Christina Falls, dubbed as the “Twin Falls”, is truly majestic in its natural state. As it plunges straight down to the mighty Agus river below, it creates a thin cloud of mist at its feet to complete that ethereal feel. I was simply transfixed by its splendorous beauty.

Sad to say, we weren’t able to stay as long as we liked and had to leave ASAP because the rest of the flock was getting hungry (my boyfriend and I were with my family and house helpers again). So till next time Maria Christina. I promise I will be back.