Molawin River

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Molawin River/Molawin Creek
The banks of the Molawin River, viewed from inside the UPLB campus, behind the Student Union building.
The banks of the Molawin River, viewed from inside the UPLB campus, behind the Student Union building.
Origin Mount Makiling
Mouth Southern shore of Laguna de Bay
Basin countries Philippines
Length 8,970 meters
Source elevation 1020 meters above sea level
Mouth elevation about 20 meters above sea level
Basin area 9.218 square kilometers

The Molawin River, often also referred to as Molawin Creek, is a river system in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines. It is one of 21 Major tributaries of Laguna de Bay. However, the Laguna Lake Development Authority does not yet have river monitoring station on this river.

The length of the river is 8,970 meters, with 20 tributary streams (intermittent and perennial). Its headwaters can be found at an elevation of about 1020 metres asl on Mount Makiling. Emptying into the southern part of Laguna de Bay at about 20 m asl, its watershed has an area of 9.218 km2.

Contents

[edit] Conservation

Water quality monitoring conducted by the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 1996 revealed increasing concentrations of biological oxygen demand, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, TOC, alkalinity, total and dissolved phosphates and nitrates from upstream (Mudspring) to downstream (Kabaritan).

The study noticed that nutrients (phosphates and nitrogen fractions) were generally high near the Los Baños garbage dump. The presence of these nutrients leads to eutrophication. That area of the river also exhibited the highest biological oxygen demand, indicating high biodegradable organic matter content. Since decaying garbage and domestic wastes from the residents around the area were thrown here, the study, suggested that leachates could have led to these problems.

The Los Baños garbage dump has since been improved and converted into the Los Baños Eco-Waste Management Center, although some controversy regarding the status of the leachate situation have since been raised again.

As in the other tributaries to Laguna de Bay, the Molawin was noted to have low Dissolved Oxygen because of the presence of decaying organic matter, which uses up oxygen.

[edit] Historical Significance

This river is historic in the sense that it flows through the campus of UPLB. Thus, by its mere presence, it has shaped the campus' history. UPLB's Senior's Garden, Palma Bridge, Student Union Building, and the Dalambanga statue are also built on its banks, while the main library is on a top of a hill just overlooking Molawin.

On its banks stands Baker Hall, the oldest building on the campus, which was used by the Japanese during world war two as the Los Baños Internment Camp, holding civilian prisoners of war. The battle to liberate it is now known as the Raid at Los Baños.

[edit] Superstitions

At least in the UPLB campus, many legends have come to surround Molawin, or rather Palma bridge is often said to be haunted by a priest who was a prisoner of war, beheaded by the Japanese. Nearby, the Dalambanga statue of a woman carrying a clay pot is known for moving - her pot carried in different ways every time one looks at her. Another bridge, near the library, is often referred to by students and alumni as "the never ending bridge," because if one were to cross it at the stroke of midnight, one would never reach the end of it and just keep walking until he or she decides to turn their shirt upside down. Another bridge, further up, near the LGU Training Center, has been the site of numerous accidents attributed to the appearance of ghosts.

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources

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