It was my 3rd and last day in Iligan City for my work. When my student asked me earlier where I wanted to go, I told him I only knew of Maria Cristina Falls. I remember in our textbooks back when I was a kid, Maria Cristina Falls was included among the famous tourist spots in the Philippines together with the Banaue Rice Terraces, Chocolate Hills, Mayon Volcano and Pagsanjan Falls. Unfortunately, he told me that Maria Cristina Falls is closed for public viewing.

So I got excited when he said that there is a way to visit Maria Cristina Falls. We just need to be accompanied by someone working at the National Power Corporation. The 320-feet high waterfall is also the main source of electricity for the city through the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant. Luckily, he has a friend working there. I felt so lucky that I saw the majestic Maria Cristina Falls, also called “twin falls” during my visit in Iligan City. I visited Tinago Falls the day before, and I could say that Iligan City is indeed the “City of Majestic Waterfalls”.

Legend has it that the falls were named after a beautiful daughter of a Sultan and it was her tears that flowed in the waterfalls after being tricked by a witch.