It’s an easy
verdict for me: Pinsal Falls certainly stands above the two, not only because
of its size but also because of its rocky landscape and the challenges it
offers, a number of other interesting natural features of the area, and its
accessibility (it’s approximately 30 minutes ride from the town proper).
Now, with the
advent of summer, you might think of a perfect getaway for your barkada or family, and Pinsal Falls may
be a good place to go. Having visited the place myself, I can assure you that a
summer break to this place gives you some fun climbing, picnic, swimming, and
exploring.
Pinsal Falls is
located at Baballasioan, one of the easternmost barangays of Sta. Maria, Ilocos
Sur, bordering a part of Abra. Some people
from Pilar, Abra usually use the trails of the waterfalls going to the
mountains as their shortcut route from their place to Sta. Maria town proper. So
don’t be surprised when you get to the top of the falls to meet a pair or group
of Pilar folks with their bundles or packs on a trek upstream.
Sta. Maria town is more
popularly known as the home of La Asuncion de la Ñuestra Señora Church, one
of UNESCO's World Heritage sites for baroque churches. It is perched strategically on top of a hill highlighted by its main stairway with 83 cobblestone steps, fronting the town plaza.
I spent first year of high school in a private school just at the foot
of the hill where the famous church is. And during my early years in
our place in adjacent Narvacan town, I and my friends would go to Sta. Maria to
attend a mass, or to visit some of my relatives there. But even then, I never
had the chance to go to Pinsal Falls though it’s always been the town’s best
tourist attraction after the church. That the falls had been used by the late Fernando
Poe Jr. as one of the sites of his famous movie “Panday” is another thing for the locals to brag about.
I only had the
chance to visit the place in 2011, or the year my wife died, after I got a rare
two-week off from my job in a publishing house in Quezon City. And Uncle Boni,
my mother’s younger brother, wanted me to get the most of my vacation in
Ilocos after my bereavement. Upon the suggestion of his daughter who had
visited Pinsal Falls a few days earlier, we set off to Baballasioan in the
morning of December 28 with my Uncle driving his SUV and my cousin as guide.
We only took about 40
minutes from the poblacion to the
drop-off point, actually a dead-end of the concrete road
going to the site. From here, we could already see the postcard-perfect
view of the falls, brandishing its crystal-clear water dropping from a height
of around about 25 meters to a narrow gorge below. It was a nice day; not
too hot and not windy either. According to the locals, the best time to go here
is between the months of October and December.
We set up our
picnic basket near the base of the falls shadowed by a big wall of rock, and far from the spray off the falls as the water flows down
into two main catch basins at the bottom. The two spacious natural pools are
ideal for deep dive swimming. But for those who couldn’t swim, they have
to go to the top of the rock. According to my cousin, there was a cave below
but you have to dive to go inside.
My brother, my two
sons, and some nephews began our slow ascent from the shallows and slippery
stones of the catch basin to the big rock just near the falls. The ascent is
not physically demanding, because there are man-made railings and steps carved
out of the rock to make the ascent a little easier. Our younger companions went
to the side of a hill where there’s a natural trail leading to the top of the
mountain.
On top of the
rock, there are smaller versions of the falls and some natural pools where you
can take a refreshing dip or have a cool shower from the cascading flow. No
wonder the top-most part with its majestic grandeur and pristine beauty is a
favorite destination of photography enthusiasts. My sister had part of her pre-wedding
photo shoot here for her wedding last year.
On a higher ground is
the expanse of a route to the source of the water upstream, mostly a dried
stone-white bed, interrupted by some pools of different sizes and some rock
formations. A number of other interesting natural features of the area may be
seen along the way, with hillsides on both sides covered with foliage of
big trees. Rock climbers looking for a rare nature exploration can also visit
the canopy on one side.
Mention Pinsal Falls
and, thanks to a local myth immortalized by the works of Ilocano writer Godofredo
Reyes, the giant couple Angalo and Aran is first thing you can think of. The
largest of the natural pools atop the rock is believed to be the footprint of Angalo,
a mythical giant of Ilocano folklore. According to legend, the footprint-shaped
pool was formed when he stepped on the top of Pinsal Falls while searching for
his missing wife, the giantess Aran.
I know that this is
not a place for musing and sadness, but I suddenly thought of my wife and felt
sad that she was no longer with me for this. She would have loved to explore
the place, hear its mystical stories, and dip on its pools on top of the
falls. Now I felt I was the giant Angalo, in search of his missing wife.
But the opportunity
to experience this natural beauty near my hometown should not be missed. Every
experience filled with a sense of adventure and awe is worthy of an immortality
on my digicam files. There are still no commercial structures on or near the
area, and there might be plans to dam the water downstream that might affect
this natural wonder. So if you want to see it, now is the time to go.
view from the top
steps carved out
of the rock
the main falls
the river upstream
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