Mt. Lansay - Sagilala Falls Hike

Standing about 324 masl, Mt. Lansay is the most accessible and easiest hiking venue among the 8 mountains surrounding the municipality of Nagcarlan.  It has a 360 degrees great view of Laguna Lake and Mt. Bayaquitos (North); the towns of Liliw and Nagcarlan (Northeast); Mt. Banahaw  (South); Mt. San Cristobal (Southeast) and Mts. Malauban, Mabilog, Nagcarlan and Atimla (Nothwest).

“Pinagbanderahan” as it was previously called by the locals as Americans proudly raised their national flag after the Spanish-American War. During the American occupation, cavalry of Americans frequented the place for some recreational horseback riding activities.

Some people claimed that the pleasure of getting on top of Mt. Lansay gratifies anyone the visual summation experience of how beautiful Nagcarlan is.

After enjoying Mt. Lansay’s view of its surroundings, an easy descend on its western slope will lead to yet another nature’s treasure waiting to be unveiled: “Sagilala” falls.  About 18 feet high and a catch basin of about 20 feet wide and 2 feet deep, it is fed by three springs which converge into one stream some meters away before the falls. Calm, pure, pristine and still remote from public encroachment, its water has remained the way nature has made it.

You haven’t experienced the best of brgy. Banilad if you missed tasting a local “tablea sa batidor”.  From cacao beans that are dried, roasted, ground and then formed into cubes, “tablea” is traditionally used in the Philippines to make hot chocolate using a manual blender called “batidor”.  Interesting to know that some local folks still choose to continue and enjoy making such Filipino traditional favorites even at the heights of modern times’ “instant” beverages.

Second half of the hike is equally enjoyable taking the Northward Banilad exit towards Brgy. Palayan.  Taking the “Manukot Trail”, we will get to cross 4 streams; a rice field with uncluttered view of Mts. Banahaw and San Cristobal then walk along an irrigation system that supplies water on nearby rice fields.  A gratifying 20 minutes hike is just as exciting as we get to see the reserved beauty of Nagcarlan eagerly waiting to be rediscovered and appreciated by its people.

From our assembly in front of the Nagcarlan Municipal Bldg participants will take public transport to Brgy. Malaya. Then Brgy. Malaya to Brgy. Banilad proper.  When all participants have arrived, we then start our quick ascend to Mt. Lansay passing a cacao orchard.  In just about 30 minutes or less, hikers can reach its summit with ease.  We will stay at the summit for some 20 minutes so everyone will have enough time to enjoy Mt. Lansay’s view and get a chance to take good photo composition as souvenirs. 

After our traditional group picture, we will descend on its western slope towards Sagilala Falls traversing the “Manukot trail”.  Everyone should be reminded of the ideal distance between each hiker to avoid getting lost. As soon as we approached a huge “kawayanan” area, the sound of rushing waters from the river can be clearly heard. “Tubig Pook” stream is about 30-35 width and about 2 feet deep.  To make it more exciting and avoid getting wet, participants can cling to the sides of the riverbank using branches and roots of trees while stepping on some protruded rocks by the stream. Several meters ahead will lead us to the pristine beauty of Sagilala Falls, a visual reward for everyone’s delight.

Another 20 minutes of stay for participants photo shooting fulfillment and then we ascend towards a ridgeline and get to “Tansa” trailhead to the center of brgy. Banilad to end the 1^st half of our hike.

Participants will then take a break trying-out “tablea sa batidor at suman”  at a local’s house. Thereafter we will continue our exit hike taking the “Manukot” trail towards Brgy. Palayan.

When everyone is ready, we then proceed northward passing “Malahigin” and “mag-asawang tubig” landmarks.