Pagsanjan Falls

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Pagsanjan Falls**

Location	Cavinti, Laguna, Philippines
Type	Horsetail
Height of longest drop	120 m / 393ft

Pagsanjan Falls (indigenous name: Magdapio Falls) is one of the most famed waterfalls in the Philippines. The falls have grown into a major tourist attraction for the region. Pagsanjan is most famous for these falls in particular. The town itself dates from early Spanish times and lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac and the Bumbungan.

1 About
2 Legend
3 See Also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] About

While popularly known as the Pagsanjan Falls, locally they are "Magdapio Falls" since their actual location is not in Pagsanjan at all but in the adjacent town of Cavinti.^[1]

The Pagsanjan Falls has a strong flow of tourists visiting the area, tourists are ferried to the famed falls with a traditional Filipino Banca Boat for a small fee. The only passable route to it is the Bumbungan River of Pagsanjan. To reach Pagsanjan Falls, tourists or visitors have to ride these boats, manned by skilled Pagsanjeño boatmen (bankeros).^[2]

The base of the Pansanjan falls is a natural pool, allowing great swimming and diving.^[2] Their are some Caves to explore around the area which are known for their acoustics. Behind the waterfalls their is also a small cave which you can enter.^[1] The falls are also famous for it's massage, where people get 'massaged' under the falls.

[edit] Legend

According to history, The Pagsanjan Falls, which foreign visitors acclaim as "enchanting" and "gorgeous", is rich in legendary lore. Long, long ago, recounts one legend, there were no falls. There were only the foliaged highlands, the twin rivers, called Bumbungan and Balanac, and the alluvial delta (where the town of Pagsanjan now nestles). On the eastern bank of the Bumbungan River lived two old brothers named Balubad and Magdapio. For many years, the two brothers enjoyed a rustic life of peace and happiness. But one day calamity struck. A terrible drought brought ruin and death. No rains came for successive months. The soil became dry as tinder. The blooming flowers and food plants withered and died. The birds, deer, wild hogs, monkeys, and other animals disappeared. The rivers, creeks, and mineral springs dried up. Not a single drop of life-giving rain fell from heaven.

Balubad and Magdapio suffered immensely. Day and night, they prayed for rain, but the gods did not heed their prayers. The older and weaker of the two brothers, Balubad, died of thirst. Magdapio, with a sorrowing heart, buried him on the slope of the mountain overlooking the river delta. This mountain is now called Balubad.

Left alone in a waterless world, Magdapio agonizingly trekked to the upper region of the arid riverbed. He reached the high rocky cliffs, after an arduous journey. To his utter disappointment, he found no water.

"Ye gods!" he sobbed bitterly, "Where is the water?" In despair, he angrily hurled down his big cane among the rocks.

Suddenly, a spring bubbled on the spot where the cane fell. Rapidly it grew bigger. The fresh waters roared down the canyon walls, soon becoming a booming waterfall. Amazed at the miracle, Magdapio fell on his knees and thanked the gods. He drank the cool water until he felt new energy surging in his blood. Thus emerged the world famous Pagsanjan Falls.

Originally, the waterfall was named Magdapio, after the legendary patriarch. In the summer of 1902, An American Presbyterian missionary, Reverend J. Eugene Snook, happened to visit the Magdapio Falls. He was enchanted to see the falls and was thrilled by "shooting the rapids." Upon his return to Manila, he wrote a story of his visit to the falls which he named "Pagsanjan Falls". His story, with an accompanying photo of the falls, was published in a popular Manila newspaper, The Cablenews American, and was widely read in the city and in the provinces. Thus the waterfall came to be known as Pagsanjan Falls, a name which has gained fame in the tourist world.