MMF Region X - 1st President's Meeting Images

MMF Region X - 1st President's Meeting & Climb / River Trek / Tree Planting / Outreach Program is an event to unite all mountaineering clubs within Region X and to discuss necessary matters for the improvement of Mindanao Mountaineering as well as how to nurture our mountains.

Date: August 9-11, 2013 (Fri-Sun)
Mt. Agad-Agad / Tinago Falls

Mt. Agad-Agad: (summit - 535m)
Latitude: N 8°12.602' (8°12'36.1")
Longitude: E 124°16.271' (124°16'16.2")
Altitude: 438.90m
Altitude Reference: Sea level
Heading: 78.55 (T)

Team Matador - a.k.a "Paolo Avelino"

Registration at Iligan City Plaza - Meet old friends

The Sweepers Pictorial

Actions pack!!!

Plant a tree...

3 more trees left...

Iligan City as viewed from Mt. Agad Agad

The 1st President's Meeting began

The dawn at Mt. Agad Agad

Feeding - Outreach Program

Pictorial at Mimbalot Falls

Crossing the river

Way up to Tinago Falls

Images Courtesy of: IITM & PAPA Mountaineers

Limunsudan Falls - The Highest Waterfall in the Philippines

Limunsudan Falls is a two-tiered waterfall situated in Brgy. Rogongon, Iligan City, in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines. It is situated 55 kilometers away from the city proper. It is said to be the Philippine's highest waterfall with the height of 870 feet, with the lower part cascading alone higher than the Maria Cristina Falls.

The Majestic Limunsudan Falls

Locals claimed that Limunsudan is the highest, but some says that Aliwagwag Falls is the highest in the Philippines, located in the forest of Cateel, Davao Oriental. I hope sooner or later, environmental officials could come up with the right conclusions.

The beautiful two-tiered waterfalls

Although the beauty is enough to attract both local and international tourists yet still, it is not officially recognized well. Due to inaccessibility, lack of information and the clear and present danger, Limunsudan Falls remain strange to most of our countrymen. Even in Iligan City itself, the falls is not known generally to local folks as it sounds new to them when hearing the name of the falls.

Visitors enjoying the beauty of the waterfalls

Even in the internet, when I searched for Limunsudan Falls' images, I can only see a few pictures taken on the ground, most of it are taken from above, obviously from aerial shots during an area reconnaissance and surveys conducted by the military and other authorities.

Aerial view of the waterfalls

The source of the waterfall is feed by the abundant lush from the highlands of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur as it is bounded by the two provinces. Also, through looking up the Google Maps (satelliste view), I can manifest a few evidence that the waterfall is also one of the exit waterways of Lake Lanao.

Although it can be reach by foot for a two-day trek from Brgy. Rogongon, yet local authorities can't pledge and assure a safe trek to the area as it is said that separatist group are still roaming and present in the surrounding locations.

You might also interested to know about Iligan's Dodiongan Falls or Tinago Falls.

Tinago Falls - The Hidden Gem of Northern Mindanao

Tinago falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iligan, the city of waterfalls. It is renowned after the most famous Maria Christina Falls. Tinago Falls is located in the heart of the deep ravine between Brgy. Ditucalan and the Municipality of Linamon Lanao del Norte. It is one of the most visited tourist destination in the city right after Maria Christina Falls. It has a total height of 73.152 meters (240.0 ft).

Tinago is a Visayan term that means "hidden", the falls being hidden in a deep ravine. Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase.

If you have an adventurous spirit and a very strong guts, you can also reach the falls by foot through river trekking from Linamon. As part of the MMF Region X - 1st President's Meeting, river trekking from the delta of Linamon River up to its source to Tinago Falls was one of the most challenging and the most anticipated part of the event. The trek lasted for 5 hours and 30 minutes.

A bamboo raft is tied below on the cascading waterfalls

Doing a trek to the old entrance is also possible. It is located on the Buruun (Iligan side). There is no entrance fee collected but still you'll be paying 25.00 pesos for the life vest.

Going to the river

Ruins of Tinago Falls old entrance - looks like an ancient Mayan ruins

One of the best encounter from the trail

One of the ruins of the previous entrance going down to the falls

The full view of the cascading falls

A bamboo raft going to the cascades

The Legend of Tinago Falls

Legend has it that there once lived an influential and powerful Sultan Agok and his wife. They were appointed by their people as their king and queen. But they became too proud of themselves and became selfish rulers of their kingdom. When the sultan's wife was pregnant, an enchantress, disguised as a beggar, begged for their help but instead they exiled and rejected her. Because of this, the enchantress cursed the couple that the child will become ugly but they did not take it seriously and permanently banished the enchantress.

The child did become ugly. The couple was sad and disappointed, expecting the baby to be as lovely as her mother. They hid the child in a cave to avoid embarrassment and named the baby Tin-ag, which means "hidden face". They visited and took care of the baby in the cave.

When the child grew up, she came out of the cave and became amazed at what she saw. The enchantress, who cursed her parents, saw her and made an offer to transform her into something of great beauty and splendor. She accepted the offer and became the Tinago Falls.

Tinago Falls is located in a deep ravine in Barangay Ditucalan, Iligan City. The falls plunges 240 feet (73 m) high from a cliff. (Source - Wikipedia)


How To Get There:

1) For Iligan (Buruun) Side

It will only cost less than 100 pesos each person, good for one way.

Just take a jeepney to Buruun (just tell the driver you'll drop to Tinago Falls entry point)

City proper to Buruun - (Php 13 - Php 15)
Buruun to Tinago Falls - (Php 40 - Php 50) - Habal-habal ride
Tinago Falls entrance fee (Php 25- Php 30)


2) For Linamon Side

It will only cost less than 100 pesos each person, good for one way.

Just take a jeepney to Linamon (just tell the driver you'll drop to Tinago Falls entry point)

City proper to Linamon - (Php 15 - Php 25)
Linamon to Tinago Falls - (Php 40 - Php 50) - Habal-habal ride
Tinago Falls entrance fee (Php 25- Php 30)


Thanks! Have a pleasant trip!

You might also interested to know about Iligan's Limunsudan Falls or Dodiongan Falls.

A Hike to Mount Agad Agad

Mount Agad Agad is a mountain located in the vicinity of Iligan City. It has an elevation estimated at 1,600 feet above sea level. The peak can be reach 2-3 hours for an average hiker. At the view deck, when the sky is clear, you can afford to see the neighboring giants Mount Malindang at the west and Mount Inayawan in the southwest. I doubt the Kitanglad Mountain Range is possible to be viewed from the area.

Mt. Agad-Agad

Iligan City at night as viewed from Mt. Agad Agad

A small waterfall and a lagoon is featured along the way up to the top. The mountain is frequently visited during the month of January to May. It is very accessible since it is located just a few kilometers from the city proper. Mt. Agad Agad is a prominent sight within the city of Iligan that also attests that it is the highest mountain in the vicinity.

Care takers of Mt. Agad Agad developed the area and provide more space for camp sites to accommodate the growing numbers of hikers that visits the mountain. They only collect Php 5.00 each person as an entrance fee.

Civet Cat captured by residents along the trail of Mt. Agad Agad

In the middle of the trail you can have a good grasp of the wonderful green lush vegetation that surrounds the mountain. Some said that rare animals’ species such as civet cat and large bat are occasionally found along the trail.

Flickr photo by kakurt

Upon reaching the view deck.

Iligan City as viewed from the trail up to Mt. Agad  Agad

Starting point

Night time is the best opportunity to watch the entire city of Iligan glittering by its street lights. Shooting stars are visible during the dawn when graced by the clear sky. Also one of the must-seen is the Iligan Bay to the north and Panguil Bay far to the west. It is best viewed in the morning as sunlight beams stare towards the crystal waves.

Mt. Agad Agad is the best and safest place for low budget day hikes and overnight campings. Solo hike is also possible since the trails are accessible and safe even to beginners. Overall, Mount Agad Agad is a good playground for adventurous individuals and a like.