We were originally planning to go to Makin Falls, it’s also one of the magnificent water falls in the hinterlands of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, but the Kagawads in this barangay has told us that it’s not accessible as of the time we were there since the trail was not cleared and it’s not safe to trek especially when the ground is wet as it was raining the whole time were there. They offered an alternative instead – that was to trek to Tenubak Falls, it’s a new discovery – the Manobos in this area just told the local officials that there’s this falls somewhere hidden in the middle of the forest. So we ask if we can be accompanied to see the waterfalls – luckily we’re given guides to head to the area.
Keytodac is one of the 27 barangays of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, it’s located east to the hinterlands of the town and bordered by the town Ezperanza, Sultan Kudarat, it’s accessible via oversized jeepneys, trucks and mostly ‘habal-habal’, it’s a single motorcycle used for public transport from Lebak town.
The fastest way to get to Tenubak Falls is to hire Keytodac locals with ‘habal-habal’ to bring you to the edge of the coffee plantation at sitio Tibung-tibung where you start descending to the falls.
The sideroad going to ‘Tibung-tibung’ – a sitio you have to pass through and where the road ends is still densely forested, though mostly you have to pass by endless plantation of coffee under these Falcata trees – which is by the way Barangay Keytodac is the largest coffee producing barangay in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
That’s my husband – a computer programmer turned coffee farmer – ready to descend to the falls.
You have to descend and ascend under the coffee trees a little less than 90degrees of steep trek. Exposing your tongue out for air is just a normal scene within the 30-minute trek up and down the steep hill.
When you arrive at the falls brim you will be greeted literally by a rock mountain – under this is a marvelous cave with sparkling and magnificent stalactites|stalagmites formation spelunkers shouldn’t miss to explore, I’ll have a separate post on the glorious inside of Tenubak Cave – where the water gushing out dropped 90 degrees to Tran River forming the falls.
The water coming out of Tenubak Cave converge it’s force to make a beautiful and untouched water curtain locals call – Tenubak Falls.
The Local Government of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat is putting it’s effort – I won’t use the word develop – since I advocate that this area should remain as is – untouched and unexploited – but I guess put a little convenience to those who would wish to renew their spirits and commune with the so-called bounty of nature.
There’s a platform behind this falls, you can get through the falling water and what can be seen behind there – that I can’t tell. That Manobo man dared to get through – he said it’s a wide stone flatform even 10 people can play around – I think I should conquer this fear inside me whenever I have the chance to come back here again and would – Jesuschrist – dare to get through that water curtain and see for myself.
Should you be interested to visit this place, you just have to coordinate with the local tourism officers of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat or if you dare to ascend directly to Keytodac – coordinate with the barangay officials, the natives in the area we’re already briefed not let anyone without a barangay official guide enter the vicinity.
How to get to Keytodac, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat?
Option 1. You can take a van that travels straight from Davao-Lebak terminaled at NCCC Mall in Davao for P750/pax.
Option 2. Bring yourself to Cotabato City, there are countless modes of transpo how to get here, then get to Malagapas terminal – where the van, bus, oversized jeepneys are stationed going to Lebak, it’s better to get there early, the last trip I would suppose is at twelve noon. Fare is P350/person. From Lebak, you won’t get lost, adventurers have this very distinct talent of ‘asking for direction’, mostly ‘habal-habal’ and oversized jeepneys service the bumpy course to Keytodac.
The ‘habal-habal’ terminal in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat where you can hire one to bring you to Barangay Keytodac, fare fluctuates depending on your ability to haggle, but at the most it’s P150/person.
The Parthenon that looks on the Acropolis of Athens is one of the surviving symbol of classical Greece. [image by Wikipedia.org]
