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About 100 kilometers south east of Manila lies the town of Pagsanjan.
Pagsanjan as legends say, got it’s name from the Tagalog word “Pinagsangahan,”
or “junction” which was meant to describe the location of the town at
the confluence of the two rivers Balanac and Bumbungan.
Besides being the location for Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now,”
Pagsanjan also draws tourists to the majestic Pagsanjan Falls
(also known as the Magdapio Falls) and the boat ride along the
river to get there.
The two-hour boat trip to the falls is the highlight of any visit to
Pagsanjan. Beginning quietly enough on the river that skirts the town,
the ride quickens as the boat reaches the rapids.
In shooting the rapids, guests are treated to the sight of the dexterous
boatmen hopping like frogs and keeping the “bancas” (small boats) from
hitting boulders or other bancas.
Shooting the Rapids
The river ride comes to a stop on reaching
a c-curved canyon where water from the falls pour at 300 feet down to a
natural pool.
Here, bathers can swim to their heart’s content using floating bamboo
rafts or the boulders around the area as springboards. As most boat men
can only manage a trip a day, visitors can linger for as long as they
can, listening to the rushing water and lazing about in the cold pool
before heading back to town.
Going Boating?
Tourists who plan on going on the boat ride will need:
1. a good hat
2. life vest
3. sunglasses
4. bathing suit
5. cover-up
6. towels
7. snacks
There are no rest rooms or changing rooms at the falls so guests are
advised to take care of business and don their bathing suits under their
cover-ups. Life vests and seat cushions may be rented at the local boat
shop for a few pesos.
Pagsanjan Falls
Visitors are reminded that this is a water ride. Expect to get wet.
Boat rates are usually posted around the boat hire shops. As of 2002,
the standard rate was P580/person for a two-passenger banca and P1,080
for a single passenger banca.
Getting there:
It is easier to get there by rental car than by commuter vehicles. From
Manila, head south along the South Luzon Expressway past Alabang to the
Calamba Exit.
From there, go along the National Highway by Laguna de Bay passing
through the twons of San Pedro and Los Banos. Next to follow will be
towns Bay, Victoria, Pila and Santa Cruz before Pagsanjan. From here,
visitors may ask the locals for directions to the boating area.
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