The ‘byernis santo’ or the good Friday superstition didn’t stop me in exploring the stunning Tinuy-an Falls sited at Burboanan Bislig City.It’s a 50- minute ride from poblacion if taking the usual route to tinuy-an falls. Watch the deviant travellers on youtube “Byirnes Santo in Tinuy-an Falls” << Click Here.

Along the way, you could feel how wonderful the place is. The mountains are so green and the air is very soothing. This comforting atmosphere added to my excitement for I would at last experience to capture tinuy-an falls not just through the lens of my camera but also through my very eyes.

While I was on my way, many things played in my mind as to how would it really look like and how can I really get closer to the falling water of tinuy-an as I can see in  photos of other travellers. Does it have cottages around or mini sari sari store nearby? The wildest thought was why do they call it ‘tinuy-an’?

My questions were all answered when I arrived. Different vehicles were parked already while the fogs kept on cooling the place. My excitement this time was doubled. I rushed to the area and a gigantic water falls welcomed me. I was like a little baby who wanted to jump off to the cold flowing water while viewing this unbelievable mother nature of ours.

Unfortunately, there are scenarios that so destructive in my vacation. The cottages were running out so some groups installed their tents near the bank of the river while drinking beers and rum. Plastics and liquids were thrown in the water while their shouts and laughs reverberated. Anyway, human nature sucks.

With my underwater camera, I got a chance to ride with the bamboo boat or the ‘balsa’ as they call it. Mind you, the water is deep and the current is powerful enough to drag you and gulp you down. With the help of the rope, with some folks, we were able to get in closer with the falls. The noise of the falling water is heard like a roaring lions while the ripples are eyes striking. Despite the ‘byernisanto’ feeling, we conquered the fear brought to us but of course I was still cautious. When the balsa got closer, my heart pumped when I slowly noticed that the balsa was sinking due to the weights that brought by the falling water above.

Imbalanced. I fell to the water. Scared.

My life vest didn’t help. The falling water pushed me down. I couldn’t swim easily for the water was so heavy. The greenish color down deep scared me that I could not help to hold my breathe anymore while I was being pulled slowly. What I did was the power of the mind technique. Do not panic!

Thanks to my underwater camera that has an stored air inside. My floating camera dragged my head up along the current of the river. RELAX was my magic word. With happy thoughts in mind, I let myself being hauled by the river’s current until such time I was up. That was close to death!

I saw my worried friends pulling the rope to get away from the heavy waterfall. On the other hand, I was able to reach the balsa again. Still, smiles of victory drawn to each of us for we were able to survive from possible danger that could happen.

Reportedly, numbers of wanderers have been found dead ever since this falls was established by the government. The killing act actually has something to do with the falls’s name.

Tinuyo-an or Tinuy-an is a native vernacular which means an intentional act or performance to attain an objective. Legend revealed that long before, the Magdiwata Mountain settlers were enslaved by cruel tribesmen coming from the hinterlands of Agusan. They were forced to hunt with their masters, construct barotos or small boats and perform forced manual labor. Tired of being slaves, one day while rowing the barotos boarded by their cruel masters, they intentionally shoved the barotos towards the waterfalls killing all their cruel masters.

Now this becomes one of the most prominent attractions in Bislig City which is also the most dazzling and widest in the country. It has been noted at the Philippine “Niagara Falls” version. It has a three-tiered falls with a total height of 55 meters and bathing area of 95 meters. The falls is enclosed by heavily forested hills with giant ferns, trees, wild orchids and vines along bank of the river and multi-layered riverbed of stones skilfully crafted by nature wherein one can go trekking and bird watching.

Going here is awesome however you have to be cautious everytime. Nature has enough power to dismantle anything. Tinuy-an falls may be an attraction but I would also consider this as a silent killer that can kill anyone by chance or by intention.