There’s something about the natural world that helps bring out the best
in us. Nature has a way of relaxing my mind, calming my heart, energizing my
body and refreshing my soul. When I pass
time in the great outdoors, for instance, I experience a deep connection with
anything that lives and breathes there, taking me to a different level of
consciousness. Truly, those times spent communing with nature helped in keeping
my work-life balance.
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Panas Falls: New Corella's best-kept secret
|
This month, the urge to bask in the beauty of
nature kept boggling my mind. So, bask I did when the chance came one weekend.
Brimming with excitement, I joined my long-time buddies, Manoy and Jobots, on a
spur-of-the-moment road trip to the agricultural town of New Corella in Davao
del Norte one weekend to seek solace once again in one of nature’s best
forms—the ravishing Panas Falls. Tucked deep in the woods and surrounded by
lush forests, verdant hills and rolling terrain, the picturesque multi-tiered waterfalls
is probably one of the best I’ve seen in the Davao Region.
Remember
those idyllic waterfalls that you’ve seen in kid’s fantasy books? Panas closely
resembles them, with its cool waters that emanate from the tributaries of Del
Monte and Patrocinio Rivers dropping into milky white mists of amazing
droplets. So, imagine my elation when I first laid eyes on the falls. Whew, it
felt like I’m some youngster who first walked into a natural Disneyland!
Geez,
the scenery is incredibly surreal that even your most cynical thoughts would
vanish into thin air at the sight of beauty like that. Staring at the falls for
hours won’t be enough to quench a nature lover’s thirst for the rustic beauty
of this green slice of paradise. Indeed, passing time in Panas Falls offered me
another chance to reconnect with the natural world.
What draws visitors to this hidden gem in Davao del Norte
are the refreshingly cool waters of the falls and its surroundings.
Undoubtedly, it’s the perfect destination for families and friends who love the
great outdoors—a nice place for picnics, reunions, swimming, hiking and walking
tours, and what have you.
Last
summer, I thought of going to Panas Falls on my own. But I’m not familiar with
place and had second thoughts about the peace and order conditions in those
parts. So, I tried to contact some fellow bloggers and adventure junkies who
might have visited the falls recently. Unfortunately, there was none. Then I
remembered Manoy.
One
Friday night, I messaged him about my plan to pass time in Panas Falls.
“Perfect timing. I’m on my way there tomorrow,” came the reply. Lucky me,
Manoy, who manages his family’s farm in New Corella, has scheduled a trip that
Saturday. Whenever he’s not in the big city, chances are, you can find him in
the farm tending to his crops.
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Verdant rice fields dominate New Corella's landscape
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The road to Tagum City
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Not
only did he drive my car, Manoy also played host, tour guide and cook during
that escapade. He was also gracious enough to offer his house for the night. I
gladly took it, dropping my plan to stay in an inn in nearby Tagum City. For
someone who’s been missing the bucolic life, it was sheer pleasure.
Meanwhile,
Jobots, who was on his way to attend his brother’s birthday party in the nearby
town of Carmen, also wanted to join us that weekend. So, it was arranged right
there and then that we’ll pick him up and then proceed to the falls.
Usually,
those going to Panas Falls from Davao City may take any of those buses plying
the route to Tagum City in Davao del Norte. At the city’s bus terminal,
visitors may take any of those jeepneys bound for the poblacion of New Corella.
From there, they can arrange a ride to the falls with any of the
motorcycles-for-hire locally known as habal-habal. Fare is Php20 per head.
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A wooden bridge in Panas Inland Resort
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With
Manoy behind the wheel, it didn’t take us long to find our way to Panas. Mind
you, the ten-minute trek into the hinterlands offers visitors a peek at the
town’s rustic charms as they pass through a smooth road that snakes its way
through the hills.
Minutes
later, we reached the village of New Carcor where the falls is located. A
slight drizzle welcomed us as Manoy parked the car. The inclement weather
though did little to dampen my resolve to see the falls. I was determined to
see the cascades up close and personal, come hell or high water.
Shortly
after descending into the falls, we heard the gushing of water and the sight of
the cascades and its cool pool where a number of people were having a lot of
fun. Whoa, it was truly a sight to behold! Quickly, I took out my Iphone and
started taking pictures. Before I knew it, Panas had me at hello!
Managed
by the municipal government, an inland resort (which also goes by the same
name) has been developed around the falls’ vicinity. With almost two dozens of
cottages placed around the cascade and the lagoon, the resort is an ethereal
haven for those who prefer to pass time in the great outdoors. For hours,
people can take in the splendor and serenity that Panas Falls embodies.
Here’s
a treat: The entrance fee (Php20) to the inland resort is affordable yet you
get to enjoy precious moments in the lap of nature. It’s certainly no tourist
trap.
Exploring
the resort, we saw at least three major tiers of the cascades but the one in
the middle, the one with the huge boulders was the most picturesque. People
from all walks of life were gravitating towards it to take their selfies,
duofies and groupfies. Visitors have already occupied most of the cottages near
the falls so we had to settle for one that’s a few meters away.
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One of the two pools in the inland resort
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Lest
you seek something fancy in Panas, there’s none. Except for the swimming pools,
one for adults and another one for kids, there are no amenities there. But who
cares about something fancy and frivolous when you’ve got a falls as
fascinating as Panas? It was all that I
wanted to see and capture.
No,
I didn’t spend the day taking pictures. Joining Manoy and Jobots, I took a dip
in lagoon, too, not just once but many times over. It felt great as I let the
cascading waters repeatedly pummel my back. Geez, it was one of the best
massages I ever had…courtesy of nature at that!
Want
to pass time in the lap of nature? Why not ditch the beach and head for the
falls in New Corella? Here’s a slice of heaven in Davao Region that’s just
within anyone’s reach. And with pulchritude like that, you’ll surely find this
breathtaking falls in the hinterlands the ideal sanctuary to rest, relax and
renew yourself. So, weekend wanderers, remember the name: Panas Falls. :-D
There’s something about the natural world that helps bring out the best
in us. Nature has a way of relaxing my mind, calming my heart, energizing my
body and refreshing my soul. When I pass
time in the great outdoors, for instance, I experience a deep connection with
anything that lives and breathes there, taking me to a different level of
consciousness. Truly, those times spent communing with nature helped in keeping
my work-life balance.
Geez,
the scenery is incredibly surreal that even your most cynical thoughts would
vanish into thin air at the sight of beauty like that. Staring at the falls for
hours won’t be enough to quench a nature lover’s thirst for the rustic beauty
of this green slice of paradise. Indeed, passing time in Panas Falls offered me
another chance to reconnect with the natural world.
What draws visitors to this hidden gem in Davao del Norte
are the refreshingly cool waters of the falls and its surroundings.
Undoubtedly, it’s the perfect destination for families and friends who love the
great outdoors—a nice place for picnics, reunions, swimming, hiking and walking
tours, and what have you. 
Last
summer, I thought of going to Panas Falls on my own. But I’m not familiar with
place and had second thoughts about the peace and order conditions in those
parts. So, I tried to contact some fellow bloggers and adventure junkies who
might have visited the falls recently. Unfortunately, there was none. Then I
remembered Manoy. 
Meanwhile,
Jobots, who was on his way to attend his brother’s birthday party in the nearby
town of Carmen, also wanted to join us that weekend. So, it was arranged right
there and then that we’ll pick him up and then proceed to the falls. 
With
Manoy behind the wheel, it didn’t take us long to find our way to Panas. Mind
you, the ten-minute trek into the hinterlands offers visitors a peek at the
town’s rustic charms as they pass through a smooth road that snakes its way
through the hills. 
Shortly
after descending into the falls, we heard the gushing of water and the sight of
the cascades and its cool pool where a number of people were having a lot of
fun. Whoa, it was truly a sight to behold! Quickly, I took out my Iphone and
started taking pictures. Before I knew it, Panas had me at hello! 
Managed
by the municipal government, an inland resort (which also goes by the same
name) has been developed around the falls’ vicinity. With almost two dozens of
cottages placed around the cascade and the lagoon, the resort is an ethereal
haven for those who prefer to pass time in the great outdoors. For hours,
people can take in the splendor and serenity that Panas Falls embodies. 
Lest
you seek something fancy in Panas, there’s none. Except for the swimming pools,
one for adults and another one for kids, there are no amenities there. But who
cares about something fancy and frivolous when you’ve got a falls as
fascinating as Panas? It was all that I
wanted to see and capture.
No,
I didn’t spend the day taking pictures. Joining Manoy and Jobots, I took a dip
in lagoon, too, not just once but many times over. It felt great as I let the
cascading waters repeatedly pummel my back. Geez, it was one of the best
massages I ever had…courtesy of nature at that!
Want
to pass time in the lap of nature? Why not ditch the beach and head for the
falls in New Corella? Here’s a slice of heaven in Davao Region that’s just
within anyone’s reach. And with pulchritude like that, you’ll surely find this
breathtaking falls in the hinterlands the ideal sanctuary to rest, relax and
renew yourself. So, weekend wanderers, remember the name: Panas Falls. :-D