WANDERLUST
Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
It may not be as popular as the summer capital of the country but the town is surely a gem of its own. It has mountains and valleys, abundant natural resources, glorious waterfalls, hot and cold springs, and generous whiffs of cool, clean air. These are a few of those that Baguio cannot offer to its visitors.
Maragusan, one of the most progressive municipalities of Davao de Oro, has them all – and even more. This summer capital of Davao region, as it is often called, is home to about 30 waterfalls and 300 cold springs and two hot springs.
Maragusan is about 144 kilometers away from Davao City. It is more than 50 kilometers away from Nabunturan, the provincial capital. Its name was derived from two Mansakan words: mara for “dry” and agusan for “a flowing river.” Its former name, however, was San Mariano.
Some people who had been to Maragusan described the town as “one step into the heaven’s above.” It’s not an understatement. After all, it is here where you can get a glimpse of Mount Candalaga, which stands at 2,100 meters above sea level.
The mountain is home to the splendid Rafflesia, a parasitic flowering ornamental. There are about 27 species and all of them can be found in southeastern Asia, including the Philippines. The Maragusan species, measuring 45-60 centimeters in diameter, is called Rafflesia mira.
Since it is too far from the town proper, and if you don’t have enough time, why not settle for those sites which can be reached in just a matter of minutes. We are referring to stunning waterfalls, which the town is filled with.
Tagbibinta Waterfalls is one of the nearest as it is about 6.4 kilometers away from the town proper. Located in barangay Coronabe, it has a series of seven falls, the first one measuring approximately 700 feet in height.
“This waterfall was named as such because the place used to be the business center,” explained Dennis B. Radin, the municipal tourism officer.
Marangig Falls in barangay New Albay is about 10 kilometers away from the town proper. We walked for about eight minutes from where we stopped before we saw the series of breathtaking falls. The water was crystal clear and cold. We had to climb to see the other falls. In each of the falls, we were enthralled and mesmerized by their unique beauty.
Marangig Falls, which is surrounded by trees and different shrubs, is the point of entry to climb Mount Candalaga.
Another not to be missed visiting is the Pyalitan Waterfalls, which has a drop of 150 feet. It has a total of thirteen series but only seven are explored by locals with three of them recommended for tourists who want to trek.
Other waterfalls in Maragusan are Miyaya, Pyagabunan, Manabas, Tarago, Maputi, Lahi, Mabuganao, Kyalinawan, Kolon, Kasigpitan, Gipadpalan, and Tangcalao. “Some of these falls are too far to visit,” Radin said.
Maragusan has several cold springs but we managed to visit only one: the Aguacan Cold Spring Resort. This idyllic “all in one” resort is located just a kilometer from the town’s center. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a boating area, conference hall and restaurant, cottages for overnight stay, tent area, souvenir shop, billiard hall, videoke facilities, table tennis and volleyball and basketball courts.
From there, we went to Kanlawig Hot Springs Resort, which is just along the road going to poblacion proper. The location was great with a wide plain in its background as well as the mighty Mount Candalaga. Nothing is more refreshing than dipping your body in warm water after a long trip.
There are several places where you can stay for the night or two at Maragusan. But we highly recommend two: Haven’s Peak and Ayuste Nature Park.
Haven’s Peak is nestled on Tarago Hills facing the town with 208 beautifully landscaped steps (with three stop-over for those who are tired!) leading to its tidy but beautiful lobby. This mountain resort provides sight of the picture-perfect and picturesque view of green foggy mountains appearing like a painting and like the backdrop of a stage.
Opened in 2005, Haven’s Peak has been featured in the bestselling The Lonely Planet.
Ayuste Nature Park is situated nearby Mount Pattung. It is a mecca for sea of clouds lovers. It has a high percentage of sea of clouds daily throughout the year. “A sea of clouds is an overcast layer of clouds, as viewed from above, with a relatively uniform top which shows undulations of very different lengths resembling waves on the sea,” Wikipedia describes.
Next time you will be in Davao Region, don’t forget to include Maragusan in your itinerary! – ###
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