It was my first time visiting Iligan City, the so-called City of Majestic Waterfalls. Iligan earned this title because it has 23 waterfalls. During the afternoon of my second day in the city, my students brought me to one of them: the Tinago Falls.

The name of the falls “Tinago” is the Tagalog word for “hidden” as the waterfalls can only be reached by descending into some 500 steps. When we reached the falls, there were so many people swimming in it. They are the local tourists who are enjoying nature after the rules of traveling around the country have been loosened up amidst the pandemic.

The waterfall is surrounded by colossal rock structures covered with thick masses of trees and natural foliage. The blue-green water is the outflow of the man-made Lanao Lake flowing to the Agus River. Aside from being the main tourist attraction of the province, the 240 feet high Tinago Falls also serves as a water source for residents near the area.

I was delighted that I had the chance to see Tinago Falls. However, going up to the 500 steps was quite tiring.