Visit in Gingoog City - Tiklas Falls and Barangay Lawaan - Page 01
From the center of Gingoog city in the province of Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao we have to drive a few kilometers in an easterly direction just following the coastal main road to the city of Butuan.
In a wide lefthanded curve there is the junction with a sign board directing us to the TIKLAS FALLS and farther on to Barangay LAWAAN. Here the road comes to a dead end. From the highway to the TIKLAS FALLS it's 9 kilometers.
Shortly after the junction we come to a picturous landscape with ricefields, a few coconut palmes and the mountains in the background.
It is already March but beside a waitingshed there is still a large christmastree. Made from a wooden construction and the strong middle parts of dead cocopalm leaves. I like it.
In the Philippines, Christmas is around the whole year. Befor and after Christmas.
We gained already some altitude. Through shrubs, trees and cocopalms we see well below down the river and the curved bridge we came by another drive from Villanueva via Claveria to Gingoog City. (to link!!)
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It's Sunday. In a little church there is a service. It must be one of this sects or very small parishes. The church is named "Mountain of Worship". Children at the ironwork door are more interesset what is going on at the outside and watching me photographing.
Through thick forest the road leads downhill and brings us to an one-laned bridge. The bridge covers the small river from the TIKLAS FALLS.
Bridges in the Philippines always got a name. This bridge is the Balanti-an bridge and can carry a load of 10 tons. I believe the bridge can carry much more weight, even double or more of it.
After the bridge, on the left side, there is ample room for parking. Some signboards point the way to the TIKLAS FALLS. It's only 350 meters to walk.
The footpath, one side the steep mountain, the other side the river, is lined with flowers and the foilage of the trees spending shadow. Ferns growing on the rocks. Water is dripping and is collected with the help of bamboo to fill a container with drinking water. It's pleasant short walk. In the distance, the sounds of falling waters is to hear.
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The footpath leads to a pedestrian bridge across the river and the sounds of the falling waters are deafening. Once reached the middle of the bridge, the beautifall TIKLAS FALLS are in full view.
It's so pictureous. The waters comes crashing down in steps from a green gate made of vegetation. One is staring at the top of the falls to see Tarzan swinging on a vine and shouting his call across the 
jungle.
Mindanao - Tiklas Falls & Brgy. Lawaan in Gingoog City - Page 02