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.

Historical "Kasumuran" Hike

Sa kasaysayan ng bansa pinaniniwalaang ang “Rehiyon Kasumuran” ay ang mga bayan mula  Nagcarlan sa Laguna hanggang Mauban sa Quezon kung saan may malakas na daloy ng tubig mula sa “Volcan de Agua” na kilala ngayon bilang Bundok Banahaw. At dahil nga sa ganda at naguumapaw na likas yaman ng mga lugar sa “Rehiyon Kasumuran”, sa bayan ng Nagcarlan angkop na ipinatayo ang isa sa mga kaunaunahang hydro electric power plant sa Pilipinas. Sinimulan noong 1933 at natapos ng taong 1938 sa ilalim ng pamamahala ng Philippine Power Development Corporation o kilala sa Nagcarlan bilang PHILPODECO. Nasa sitio Balugbog, brgy. Palina, ang enerhiya mula sa planta ang nagbigay tanglaw sa mga bayan ng Liliw at Nagcarlan mula ng pinasimulan ang operasyon nito hanggang taong 1983.

Sa kasalukuyan, bagaman ipinaubaya na ng PHILPODECO ang lokal na pangangasiwa at and direktang pagbibili ng kuryente para sa mga bayan ng LIliw at Nagcarlan, nananatili pa rin ang operasyon ng planta at patuloy na lumilinang ng enerhiya upang ipasa sa National Power Corporation.

Maaaring lingid sa kamalayan ng maraming mamamayan na ang Balugbog Hydroelectric Power Plant ay isang kayamanang naghihintay lamang mapansin, malinang at ipagmalaki.  Ang lugar ay may mayamang kasaysayang makapagbibigay ng karagdagang pagkilala sa bayan ng Nagcarlan.”

Our assembly will be in CGMES in front of Candido Cariaga Bldg. at 5:30 in the morning. While waiting for other participants we can have some warm-up exercises before we proceed to our hike destination at exactly 6:00.

Upon our descend to the banks of the infamous Talahibing River, we will have glimpses of  the nostalgic “Burubok” and “Tu-ong” which were famous picnic spots to our older kababayans. We continue our hike going north east until reaching an aqueduct leading to the plant.  Please ready yourselves for some splashes of water when crossing the river. Hiking the trail going to the plant is extra exciting for some “bayawaks” roaming along the canal so have your camera handy and ready. At one portion of the canal is a good viewpoint of the great Mt. Banahaw side by side with equally beautiful Mt. San Cristobal.  Participants may stop for a while and have some good souvenir pictures.  The area is also a fishing spot of “bakuli” and “patlay” so expect to see some folks with their traditional “baliswasnan at tigad” catching fish for their family’s consumption. We will have our group picture at a spot near the plant entrance. Then upon approval we will get to see the plant and its turbines still operating and producing energy. After some good pictures, participants may opt to climb back to the fore bay area where there still have lots of good spots for picture taking.  Others may take their snacks or have some time talking to other participants.

Please take our rubbish with us and respect the environment.

When everybody is ready, we then regroup and prepare ourselves for the hike back to town taking the other trail towards brgy. Palina proper.  The hike back to town is a 2km easy hike where you get to see more of Nagcarlan countryside before we cross the concrete Talahibing bridge to wrap up our Historical Kasumuran Hike.

Elevation is from about 196 masl to about 258 masl and is recommended for beginners or inexperienced hikers.

More of the LOOP feat. Itikan Falls

January 9, 2010 


Blissful Saturday morning, January 9, 2010. Standing on the extensive summit plateau of Mt. Mabilog. With clear skies, on a 360 degrees view window clearly showcasing array of distant mountains sorrounding it. Pure nature's abound handed down to mankind.

Going down from the top. On a quite intrepid mode, chose to descend the hard way. Along boulders and casdading spring waters, hopped and jumped from one rock to another towards a pool of water to cool down from the challenge and finally a refreshing wash before setting the way going home