RIZAL | Chasing Wawa Dam's Waterfalls

Monday, April 11, 2011

Wawa Dam's Mini Waterfalls

It was almost midday when we decided to have a bit of rest from shooting. We didn’t bring any food, so it was either we walk back to the road to check out the carinderias there or just slug it out ‘til we found Wawa Dam’s waterfalls. Good thing we found a third alternative, a sari-sari store beside the Wawa River.

We inquired if they have rice meals, but they unfortunately don’t. I spied some canned goods at their shelves and asked if they can cook them for us, we’ll just pay extra. The friendly storekeeperOur Guide Leading us into the Mountains Along Wawa Dam readily agreed and we paired the guisadong corned beef with their soft monay (they would have cooked rice for us but that would take too long). These should keep our tummies in check while we search for the supposed waterfalls in the area.

 
We asked the storeowners a bit regarding the falls; they gave us the general direction of where we should hike and even offered to let one of their sons to accompany us. We gracefully declined since it was a schoolday and we really didn’t want their kid getting too tired for the next day’s classes. We said our thanks and went our way.

We crossed the river and started on a bamboo-lined path. The forest floor was quite rocky and it was hard trekking with my already worn slippers.

A few minutes on the way and we met a kid on his way home from school. We chatted with him and he agreed to guide us to the falls, which he said was just near their home, lucky kid.

The youngster said that the first waterfall was just a few minutes away and true enough, it really was just a few minutes from where we met him. I was a bit puzzled as I cannot hear any sound of water Charcoal Porter Having a Breather at Wawa Dam's Trailcascading down, but upon turning the bend towards the falls I understood why. The supposed waterfall was just a trickle of water onto an almost dry pond. It was so weak and small that we can hardly call it a waterfall.

We asked our diminutive guide if that was it, and he said that there’s a bigger one ahead.

We passed a few more small (very, very small) falls before arriving on something that looked substantial and might pass for a waterfall of sort. Its cascading water, unlike the previous ones we passed was gushing quite well but was only about three feet tall (or small). Its catch basin however was serious business. The deep green pool looked to be more than 10 feet deep and we dared not dip in its waters.
 
Wawa Waterfalls in Infrared LightWe rested a while, unsure if we still want to pursue the trek since it was getting a bit late and my companion needs to be back in Manila before nightfall. A coal porter going down the mountain went pass and we promptly asked him how long the trek to the big waterfalls would take. Thirty minutes he said, to which our mind calculated to be more than an hour considering our pace.

We rested a bit more, tried out my new infrared filter, and decided to head back down. The sky seemed to be threatening of rain, we’ll hunt that elusive falls next time.

PS.
While having our final soda at one of the many stores at the mouth of the dam, the storekeeper told us that it would take at least two and a half hours to reach the said mother falls (which they also don’t know the name of).

 

  Dried Waterfalls at Wawa Dam Our Kid Guide in Wawa Dam 
Hiking Through Trees at Wawa Dam

 

Click to view Wawa Dam's location on Google Maps

Wawa Falls
Address: Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal, Calabarzon
Entrance Fee: None 

        How to get to Wawa Dam via Public Transport
        Board an FX (Php45.00) at the Farmer’s Plaza Cubao (Terminal is in front of Jollibee)
        Alight at Eastwood, Rizal (Ask the driver to drop you where you can board a jeep to Wawa)
        Board a Wawa jeep (Php8.00) and alight at the terminal which is at Wawa Dam already. 


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13 comments

  1. parang blue hole ung sa first pic, scary :P

    love the last pic naman dito hehe

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  2. maganda ba talaga yung place or magaling ka lang talaga kumuha ng pix? =D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful shots. :) Hindi ko alam may ganyang lugar pala na malapit sa amin. I definitely want to visit this place!

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  4. Lestat, Tina
    Thanks!

    Pinoy Adventurista
    Maganda talaga yung place bro, especially kung mahilig ka sa nature outdoors, panalo talaga

    Kim
    Visit na! =)

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  5. sir christian kelan kayo pumunta dito? my friend told me that the surrounding of wawa montalban are now full of squatters? is this true bcoz i dont see it in you picture. by the way your really a master of your own art. nice shot

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  6. Jeremiah
    Your friend may be referring to the shanties and small houses before the dam. As far as I know, wala naman problema sa mga tao dun. =]

    Adventurousfeet
    Thank you =]

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  7. there are squatters before the dam, pero yung sa pinaka dam mismo at dun sa mga puting bato, wala pong squatters dun, only cottages for those who wanted to swim or stay there

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  8. meron ba kayong group or community na hilig mag travel gusto ko mag apply hehe wanna try this activity kasi
    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous
    Correct :)

    John
    There are travel groups like Travel Factor na pwede ka sumali :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Plan nmin pumunta this 1st week of June (sana d pa maulan)...ok b don? My mga permit p ba na dpat kunin? Thanks

    ReplyDelete