Pagsanjan Falls
Fun Boat Ride into the falls
Pagsanjan Falls, also known as Magdapio Falls to locals, is one of the most beloved falls in the Philippines. The fall and nearby gorge was made a National Park that covers an area of 152.64 hectares (377.2 acres), boasting a unique natural settings. You can get to the falls by taking a dugout canoe (also called Shooting the rapids by the locals), that leaves from Bumbungan and Balanac Rivers, or by an easy hike from the town of Cavinti, Laguna. More than an hour ride from downstream offers an exotic experience from skillful ride with a boatman to lush green surroundings. A thrill ride that goes through a swirling falls of cascading water is also one of the most popular attractions. It is said that a mother who bathed in water from the falls can have a daughter.
The Legend of Two Brothers
Long ago, it is said that there were no falls and instead stand highlands, and two old brothers named Balubad and Magdapio lived peacefully on the bank of the Bumbungan River. One day, a disastrous drought brought death to all – with no rains for months, the flowers and trees withered and died. The animals disappeared and the streaming waters from the rivers dried up. Meanwhile, the two brothers struggled for water, and the older brother, Balubad eventually died of thrist. Broken-hearted, the younger brother Magdapio buried Balubad on the mountain near the river delta, which is now called the Balubad mountain. Alone, Magdapio hit the road in desperate search to find water, but he couldn’t find one. Flared up in anger, he flung his can at the rocks and suddenly, waters poured down the canyon – thus forming the Pagsanjan Falls.