Right after we ate our breakfast, we prepared our belongings for the trek. Our destination: the Mother Falls of Baler named Ditumabo Falls.
Ditumabo Falls is the largest water falls in Aurora. Aurora is known because there are lots of waterfalls that you can find within the province. However Ditumabo Falls is considered as Mother falls due to its size. It is located in the town of San Luis.
Since, we had our own bus towards the jump off, there’s no way for me to learn how to get there using public transportation. So I asked my newly friend Philip (Surfing Instructor). According to him, from Baler Town Proper, you just have to hire a tricycle going to Brgy Ditumabo and advise the driver to bring you at the jump off.
We left around the camp site (Brgy, Sabang) seven in the morning, actually that time I am not feeling well. I still had an asthma attack and I had hard time to breath. The weather was not quite friendly, it was raining and cold. Heading to our way was an excitement to experience the largest waterfalls in Aurora. “Guys, you need to secure your dress, towels and gadgets because light shower and drizzle will surely poured you” our tour guide said.
Worst Experience:
When we arrived at the jump off or highway, we noticed a group of tricycle drivers who are waiting for passengers. (Just a heads up, you need to walk 45 minutes or 15 minutes via tricycle to reach the main entrance of the falls where in you need to register).
Personally, I support local livelihood but I was very disappointed of the local drivers on their approach towards the visitors. They forcedly convince the tourist to take a ride. One driver discourage us not continue the hiking because of bad weather. The Local drivers are more focus on what they can get from the tourist rather than to offer them a help. They deceived mostly of the tourists and they were very rude. Yeah, I said it right; I am just telling my experience.
We were composed of large group therefore they catch large fishes. Thanks God because our tour guide was very tactful and firm to refuse. “Kuya, don’t worry about us! This is my fourth time here” tour guide answered proudly. So the drivers can’t answer due to embarrassment.
The group continues to hike towards the entry point of the said falls. On our way, we met a man with his motorcycle who discouraged us to continue because of the bad weather. His approach was very rude, and he forcedly offered a local tour guide to bring us to the Water Falls. We understand that they were in particular with our safety however it seems that it was obviously sarcastic because the catch was he offered and market his service right in the middle of the road. And the man was shouting to us. “Kuya, this is not the right place, much better if we will talk to the right people at the counter in the entry point” Emms answered. “Ok bahala kayo” the man responded.
When we reached at the entry point, Emms, who is our tour guide, went directly to the cottage wherein the guard was located at. She was trying to pay for the entrance fee yet the guard said that they temporarily closed the spot due to bad weather. We were questioning that time because the implementation was just implemented right away and there was first batch that they allowed to pass through before us.
Watch the video below.
Unfortunately, I was not able to see the Falls (which is ok for me because of bad weather), and that’s the bottom-line. Maybe the experience that I’ve involved made me to come up a comparison of the treatment from the locals. I’ve been to Puerto Princesa City and their locals were very friendly, very very friendly, and very different from Aurora’s locals. I’ll bet my ass. Puerto Princesa’s locals were trained by the LGU on how to approach tourist and I hope this will also implemented not only in Aurora but all the provinces in the Philippines.
Next time, having a chance, I will still comeback Aurora to see the mother falls but I will make sure that the history will not repeat itself.
Next Plan
COMMENTS ( 1 )
posted on 29 April at 01:32
I'm from Aurora and I am very sorry to hear about your experience. I can assure you that most Aurorans are friendly and very accommodating. Since I work for the Provincial Government, I will see to it that this concern reaches our Tourism Office.
posted on 23 May at 11:59
khit saang lugar tayo mapadpad asahan na po natin na iba'ibang tao ang ating makakasalamuha.kaya dapat ay marami tayong baon na pasensya.
posted on 02 May at 14:41
arte mo kuya. ang babaw ng reason mo! bakla!
posted on 02 May at 02:53
i volunteer myself to be your guide the next time you visit Baler! you will surely enjoy every second of my place from north to south, boundary to boundary..see you!
posted on 01 May at 07:07
Grabe din ang experience namin sa Joy Bus Transit napakapangit ng service ng ticketing office nila sa Baler, biruin mo first day pa lang namin doon nagaksaya kami ng oras na magpareserve ng passenger seat, ang sagot ng ticket clerk magsign up na muna kayo sa logbook for reservation, which we did and we asked for assurance that we are already reserve . Three of them assured us that we are already booked and we went there again to pay for our ticket the next day but they told us to come back in the afternoon since their computer is offline, so we did in the afternoon but still it's offline, then we returned the next day to pay the ticket but told us to wait till 2pm for our seat reservation , after our tour we waited their even we are still wet, our clothes are still dripping wet just to assure that they will give us our ticket before 3pm for the last trip, but to our dismay until three oclock they were not able to secure us any, I remember there are two woman who paid online but had no ticket also, I also notice that they prioritize the tourist passengers coming from the hotel owned by the governor and on line booking because of additional 25.00 online reservation fee.....what a worst travel experience we had because of the ticket clerk named PIA of Joy Bus transit and the other local tour guide of that place. I hope the municipality of Baler will take note of this problems.. They should treat and train their locals the right approach to their tourist if they want Baler to be famous.
posted on 30 April at 04:45
Kuya cguro dapat pumunta ka dito ng hindi tag ulan, sa pagitan ng march-may pra siguradong mka taas ka sa mother.
posted on 29 April at 14:51
I beg to differ. The locals of Aurora are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. Please do not generalize. You've met an insignificant percentage of the province's population yet you have the audacity to make such a generalization.
It is true that "some" drivers insist that tourists avail of their services. That is something that must be addressed. Guidelines must be set. I also agree that Aurora can learn from the Puerto Princesa Eco-tourism model. The system in the province can be further improved.
posted on 29 April at 11:55
I am from Aurora and its true some people are more focus. To what they can get from the tourist but a lot auroranians are kind. I hope this wouldn't be a discouragement to other tourist.
posted on 29 April at 07:25
malas lang po kayo at hindi ata totoong tour guide ang kasama nyo...sabi nya eh fourth time na nya nagpunta doon. .alam sana nya na walang entrance fee doon kung totoong guide sya at kung totoong fourth time na nya. . .wala po entrance fee..meron lang donation box dun sa isang tulay . .meron parking fee. .next time po ay tsek nyo rin kung totoo yung travel and tours na kinunan nyo ng package...malamang ay hindi yan naki pag coordinate sa Provincial Tourism o Municipal Tourism Office kaya pumalpak kayo.. .wag nyo isisi yung pagpalpak ng tour nyo sa ilan lang na tao na hindi nyo nagustuhan ang ugali. . .mas malaki ang pagkukulang ng grupo nyo...pasyal po kayo ulit dito para masiyahan kayo ng totoo... .
posted on 29 April at 04:49
sorry po sa sad experience mo sa aming lugar. . .next time po, kung pupunta ka kahit sa ibang lugar pa, siguraduhin nyo kung totoong tour guide yung kasama nyo. .dapat may ID sya. .at dapat alam nya ang lahat ng sitwasyon sa pupuntahan nyo maliban sa dapat ay alam din nya ang HIstory ng mga lugar na papasyalan nyo. .kung wala po ID at pag tinanong nyo tungkol sa mga pinupuntahan nyo at hindi nya alam ang mga sasabihin or tipong nambobola lang..hindi po totoong tour guide yun..baka alam lang nya puntahan yung lugar pero hindi naman sya trained na tour guide. .yung tungkol po sa masamang ugali ng mga na meet nyo, kaunti lang po ang ganyan..mas marami po ang maganda ang ugali sa lugar namin...at kahit po dun sa binanggit mong lugar na dati mo nang napuntahan at pinupuri mo ang mga tao, sigurado ako na meron din pangit ang ugali doon..sana makabalik ka pa ulit dito at ng maka experience ka rin ng maganda..at sana ay maganda ang panahon next time na pagpunta mo. . .para hindi kayo bawalan sa pag punta sa Ditumabo falls at hindi sabihin na delikado ang pagpunta doon...:)
posted on 29 April at 01:12
Hi i am from ditumabo. Tama po na nagkaroon ng kaguluhan last time papunta sa mothetfalls. Nagkaroon kasi ng group of drivers na humiwalay sa local toda para imanipulate ang area. During that time inaayos sa local government ang problema and unfortunately hindi kayo na inform sa baler. Supposed to be masasabihan kayo ng tour guide nyo about the situation.
Anyway, sa panahon ngayon ay naayos na ang problema (sa wakas). When you go there may registered drivers na na hindi kayo ifoforce sumakay. Meron nadin booth sa baba ang municipal tourism at may mga pulis na din. Hopefully you'll come back again at magkaroon sana kayo ng happier experience.
About dun sa hindi kayo pinapasok alam ko standard protocol talaga yun kasi baka may mangyari. Ang ginagawa kasi samin is kung masama ang panahon hindi din kami pinapapasok. If magpupumilit kami hindi kami pwede mag sign in to show na napagsabihan kami ng mga guard at kami lang ang makulit. Baka ganoon din ang nangyari dun sa nauna sa inyo. Dapat alam din ng tour guide niyo yun. So if ever na pupunta kayo ulit make sure na alam ng tour guide niyo kung accessible ba ang lahat para hindi sayang. It's their job to inform you. So i must say na may responsibility din ang naging tout guide niyo about what happened. No matter how good or bad the situation in an area is, whether it involves the locals or not, that guide should know that before letting you go. Hopefully sa susunod ay cocontact muna from baler to the site ang guides para malaman.
Anyway ulit at least nakapagpost kayo ng ganito to let us know your opinion. Sana dumalaw ulit kayo at ma enjoy niyo. :)
posted on 28 April at 16:55
Naniniwala ako na sa isang pag lalakbay ay may mga tao at bagay tlaga na makakaharap at mararanasan ka na sisira sa iyong paglalakbay.. ngunit hindi mo dapat ipagkalandakan ito na para bang karumaldumal at kahiyahiya ang nagyari sayo... Maganda na naisiwalat mo ito ngunit mali ang pamamaraan sa pagkat sa dalawang o tatlong gumawa sayo ng ikinadisaapoint mo ay mayroong daang libong mga taga Aurora na masasaktan kung mababsa nila ito... maaring na disappoint ka pero sana naintindihan mo muna kung bakit ka pinigilan ito ay dahil baka mapahamak ka...at para sa mga tricycle driver mung na meet sana ay di mu nalang sila pinansin... sa isang taong naliligaw dapt nagtatanong ka sa taong alam mong may isasagot sa iyo ng tama at my credibilidad na sagot... yun lang ... Di lahat ng mga tao sa mundo ay parepareho sa ugali mo .. kabilang ka din sa naiiba...
posted on 28 April at 14:38
Good for you.. Yes Palawan secure their spot as one of the tourist destinations. Truly they are polite, not only that they were trained, but in general are kind hearted.. I am from PALAWAN.. hurray..
posted on 28 April at 13:40
very unfortunate, I have been to Baler a few times and always had a great experience. I think your first mistake was not getting a real local tour guide that is certified by the provincial tourism office. If you do this I promise you will have a great experience and you wouldn't have to worry about other locals bothering you for business if that is the case. The guides are trained to the highest standards in professionalism and your safety during your local guides. If you take this approach I am sure you will have the time of your life. good like, all smiles and Cheers.........
posted on 28 April at 07:48
taga aurora po ako..yung mga komento hindi po maikakaila na marami po talagang dapat isaayos regarding sa mga pag uugali ng mga tour guides at drivers..
posted on 28 April at 07:35
Contact First150 Travel & Tours for a better trip at Baler, Aurora
posted on 23 April at 09:06
Grabe din ang experience namin sa Joy Bus Transit napakapangit ng service ng ticketing office nila sa Baler, biruin mo first day pa lang namin doon nagaksaya kami ng oras na magpareserve ng passenger seat, ang sagot ng ticket clerk magsign na muna kayo sa logbook for reservation, which we did and we asked for assurance that we are already reserved . Three of them give us assurance that we are already booked and we went their to pay for our ticket the next day but they told us to come back in the afternoon since their computer is offline, so we came back in the afternoon but still it's offline, then we came back the next day to pay the ticket told us to wait till 2pm for our seat reservation , after our tour we waited their even we are still wet, our clothes are still dripping wet just to assure that they will give us our ticket but to our dismay until three oclock they were not able to secure us any, I remember there are two woman who paid online but had no ticket also, I also notice that they prioritize the tourist passengers coming from the hotel owned by the governor and on line booking because of additional 25.00 online reservation fee.....what a worst travel experience we had because of the ticket clerk named Pia of Joy Bus transit and the other local tour guide of that place. I hope the municipality of Baler will take note of this problems.. They should treat and train their locals the right approach to their tourist if they want Baler to be famous.
posted on 23 April at 08:44
hay naku ganyan din ang nangyari sa amin last march 30, yung Mother Falls ang pinangarap naming puntahan kaya pumunta kami sa Baler Quezon, pero di kami nakarating sa Mother Falls kasi dinidiscourage kami ng tour guide tricycle na hire namin kasi ginagawa daw ang lugar nasira daw ang lugar dahil sa nakaraang bagyo, hinayang na hinayang kami kasi kahit anong pilit namin sa kanya di kami nakarating hanggang matapos ang bakasyon namin don dahil napaniwala nya kami. Nang dumating kami sa manila nalaman ko at nakita ko sa FB ng pamangkin ko na nasa Mother Falls sila the same day di lang kami nagkabalitaan na pupunta pala sila doon. laking panghihinayang namin na ganun ang ginawa ng aming mabait naman na tour guide pero di kami napagbigyan sana kung sinabi nya na may additional fee ang pagpunta don ok lang we are willing to pay . Sayang sana wag silang ganun sa mga turista.