The Real Name of Twenty-One Falls

 

With the family, I started 2021 at 21 Falls, here in my hometown. But we actually just went to one waterfall. The others are not easily accessible and, I heard, not as big or beautiful. The fall is at Barangay Lagubang. Its pool is up to my thighs only, so you can't swim. To bathe, you have to stand under the water instead, as you would in a shower.

On our way home, we dropped by the house of Brgy. Chairman Gomer Ugat, a family friend. I asked him the name of the fall, and he said it was "Lufaken," but he didn't know what it meant. The e in Lufaken is pronounced like the e in uncle and tricycle.

From Brgy. Kulaman, the poblacion of the municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino, you have to travel for about thirty minutes to reach the center of Brgy. Lagubang. The highway is paved, but from the highway to the center of the barangay, you have to travel on a muddy road with large stones. The road, which stretches for about two kilometers, is not passable by bicycle or scooter. Bigger motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles would be fine. From the center of the barangay, the road is still rough but better. You have to travel by vehicle for four or five kilometers more, and then from the road, you have to walk downhill for about fifteen minutes to reach Lufaken Fall.

Some adventure seekers here say that you can see all twenty-one falls if you go to Lufaken Fall via Brgy. Midtungok. You have to walk uphill along the stream. I have not been to Brgy. Midtungok myself. It is separated from Brgy. Kulaman by Brgy. Kiadsam, and the entire length of the road is unpaved. For now, I think the trail in Brgy. Midtungok is better left to locals. Tourists should head straight to Lufaken Fall via Brgy. Lagubang.

On the way to the fall, one interesting sight is the steep hills in Sitio Benebol. On the foot of them is a Dulangan Manobo community. You can also see the less-seen other face of Ilian Hill and a glimpse downhill of Brgy. Midtungok and Brgy. Kiadsam, the tin roofs of the houses shining under the sun. As someone from here, I'm not impressed with the view, of course, but if you grew up in the plains, especially in an urban area, I'm sure you'll be amazed by the formidable mountains, sloping hills, and how human settlements, and humans as well, look so small amid them.