The Dongon Falls, first of the 7 Falls in Lake Sebu
Aside from Lake Sebu being the name of the natural lake, Lake Sebu is also the name of the whole municipal area in the province south west of South Cotabato. The lake is not the only attraction in the area as there are 2 more lakes and 7 waterfalls in which visitors may explore. So early the next day, we rode our habal-habal and headed to see two of the 7 waterfalls. First one of which is the Dongon Waterfalls.
The humble symmetry of Dongon Falls
Access to the waterfalls is a mere 15-20 minutes ride by habal-habal from the Punta Isla Lake Resort. We arrived at the a house where they ask for an entrance fee of 10pesos per person. It turns out that this house is where the Dongon Family lives and the whole area including the waterfalls itself stands on their property. Before we headed to the falls, we were able to chat with this friendly family. We learned that Mrs Mila Dongon is actually a Bicolana and she was really glad to find that my province on my mother’s side is also in Albay. It’s quite interesting how she got here on this place as Bicol is further up there. We also learned that all the seven waterfalls are multi-step or interconnected to each other. Unfortunately due to time constraints and the difficult trail since it rained the day before we will only be able to see 2 of the more accessible waterfalls.
Shell gatherers wading through the waters
It was a short downhill walk towards the waterfalls from the Dongon residence. We could already hear the loud gushing flow of water and is excited to see how the waterfalls looks like. We followed the river left of our path that led to the waterfalls itself. Dongon waterfalls is a humble beauty in my opinion. It’s height is not towering as it seems to be only around 40feet high and the falls of the water is simply symmetrically pouring down like a woman’s perfectly straight silky hair falling at her back. That’s how I can describe this waterfall, simple yet beautiful. Standing out from the lush greenery surrounding it.
To where the river flows
The Dongons seems to be developing the area real well. Mrs Dongon hires some people who would sweep the leaves that fell from the trees and also checks if there are any trash around to keep the area clean. They also provided two huts near the waterfalls which visitors can rent. There is also a concrete bridge being built to cross to the other side and also give you a grand view of the waterfalls over the river. Perfect spot to take that posterity shot. For the meantime, there is the wooden bridge where you can cross and head to more picnic grounds on the other side.
A wooden bridge across the raging waters
At that time, it was a drizzling and there wasn’t much light coming in. The contrast from the surroundings and the waterfalls was something to deal with. I think I had to drop my exposure level down to two stops there to compensate. Also to protect my gears since my lenses aren’t really splash proof, I had my invincible 6 years old umbrella with me to protect it from the elements. Waterfalls is a tricky subject as more often than not, it’s splashy moisture scattered in the air could easily fog your lens. At that time there were drizzles and I couldn’t tell which is coming. Still, I think we managed to capture this waterfalls satisfactorily.
The Dongon Family, owners of hectares of land including the Dongon Falls. A future hilltop restaurant being built behind them.
On our way to the next falls, we chatted more with the Dongon family. We were able to meet Mr Teofilo Dongon who is a proud royal blood of the Dongon clan who have lived in this mountains regions for quite a long time, hence his family’s ownership of a large portion of the land here. The family is fairly simple yet who would have known they are very rich in land property and all. Mrs Dongon, enthusiastically showed us some of the structures they themselves are building. There is this hilltop restaurant being built with a great view of the Surallah area and also some lodgings for their resort as well in case people would want to stay nearby the falls. Such friendly friendly people. They also insist that if ever we come back, they would give us free lodging. Well isn’t that great. We are really fortunate to have met these friendly folks
yumay…we’are not taking advantage in your tribe….and yes,,my grandfather RAmon Dongon Sr. bought not a piece of land but hectares of land (di yan pagmamayabang)….
wow! ang ganda ng lake sebu ngayon hinde noong 1967 talagang gubat pa walang magandang karsada but ngayon its sooo pretty, I miss the lake we used to nangunguha ng igi for the ducks para maganda ang itlog ng ducks,swimming sa lake that was fun! Cousin teopilo dongon, very nice family picture.Oh i wish i can go back to lake sebu and see the place all over again, that will be a dream Ha! but i am ten of thousand miles away from philippines. i am living in california now.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
R-jay Dongon, in your comment you said lolo mo si Ramon dongon sr.that means tiya mo si roselyn dongon or used to be dongon. but im sure she got married,mayroon pa siyang sister name lenny i think! If you know her and if she is still alive tell her this is nene sana or nene susana, papa bosyong daugther,last time we saw its other that was 1971 and may be you can make another comment to this website and give me her complete phone number or e-mail address and im trying to get cousin pilo website or e-mail address, nakita ko ang picture ng lake sebu ang ganda na tingnan ngayon,cousin ko si lolo mo ramon ang tatay ko at ang nanay ni lolo mo ramon ay mag kapatid,wala narin ang tatay ko namatay na noong nov. of 2004 dito sa california USA. I hope you will make a comment again.ironwulf i thank you for the pictures of lake sebu, nakakatulong sa homesick ko sa lake sebu, i miss the place soo much!
hello… malapit na akong umuwing mindanao ulit.. can’t wait to see lake sebu again..
hello miss sue… kilala ko po ang sinasabi niyong roselyn and lenny kapatid po nila si kuya randy na bayaw ko naman… kapatid ko po ang asawa niya.
kung gusto niyo po sabihin ko sa kanila para magkaroon kayo ng communication.
can i have your contact number tapos bigay ko na lang sa kanila pagkita namin kasi dun ako mag stay lakesebu…
march30 po uwi ko kaya kailangan ko yun before i leave
aimee85,Im so sorry! medyo na late ako mag check ng website ng ironwulf,sayang na miss ko ang pag-alis mo,anyway if you have any pictures of roselyn and her family,will you share it wiyh me?ito ang E-mail address ko suechefwannabe@gmail.com thank you! So hows your vacation? did you stay long,how expensive papunta sa lake sebu from manila direct to surallah by plane?
hi to all the viewers as well commentors of the 7 waterfalls of Lake Sebu,i am a tboli too resident in Lemnabol lake Sebu and brgy hanoon lake sebu…i am proud to be tboli coz i live in this place how lucky we are that we have this kind of beautiful nature,,i am here now live in manila last seen of my beutiful place lake sebu last six years ago..,i miss the place so much , the 7 waterfalls where we are hangout with my friends,relatives and classmate ago,i remember when we swim and catched keteng or agehis we cooked it beside the fall whiles we are swim,my gosh ang sarapppp ng sabaw..hehehe,it so beautiful places,romantic,lalo pag may date ka dun talaga ang maganda,,,i miss lake sebu so much thats why i keep on serching in website to about my place where i am came from to take replace feel my lonliness,when i can go back to my place,,
added to the stated my co tboli hanzy and uriel,the land hectars of 7waterfalls is own by our ancestor,dongons familys they come from iloilo and positioned to the land hectars which know by itself as dongon waterfalls,wala sila dalang lupa galing iloilo papunta sa lake Sebu.we are the original people of lake sebu no other than but tboli only…yea i agree no one owned the falls but its god gift but i am not agree if it Dongon 7 waterfalls that wrong information,we know the myth…
Hello!…. im also tboli,ehpzzz 22o naman talaga n mas maganda ang lake sebu,im proud to be part of this location,lalo na kapag nakikita mo ang mga magagandang tanawin,
ahm!. . . gud day 2 all!
im from lake sebu south cotabato! one of the dongon in that place. ahm 4 all t’boli’s give their comments bout f hu z the owner of the 7water falls. . . ahm! according 4 my grandfather tefilo dongon, it is the tboli hu owns that almost 50-60 years. but when my lolo(pidong) got in that place from ilo-ilo. . . he buy that by wat they call “barter”. . . ahm thats only according 2 my lolo… . . hehehe! para klaru. . . puntahan nyu nlng xa here in lake sebu! may “titulo” _sila_ para may -proof- dhil d lahat ng falls ay pag mamay-ari ng dongon family. . . ahm! 4 some info. . . jareal_pril@yahoo.com check my fb. . . tnx ferdz
ahm! government property na xa ngaun.. . under the project of eco-tourism(koronadal) – gov. daisy avance fuentes. . . pero 30m lng from d water. . . lampas nyan s owner na!
i just want 2 comment back about wat HANZY said der above. .my couzn just 2ld me abawt dz site and h sent me a link 2 dz site. .and now. .i am finally here. maybe. .cumz 2 my person 2 be the voice of the DONGON FAMILY. .i just got disgusted we i red abawt wat HANZY said. .that our family took advantage of der ancestors?? well. .if u don’t mynd. .w are well educated and very civilized now 2 understand well everything abawt this issue. .even our family now r having a hard tym 2 fix wat this issue had caused us. .this issue made a gap on the good relationxip we had b4. .let me start telling u abawt this issue. .the Dongon family dat was 2 be the owner of this 7 waterfalls are presently living in lake sebu. .i am olridy belongs 2 the 3rd generation of his family. .my grandmother is DONGON. .she has a 4 other siblings. .(from eldest-youngest) lolo ramon, lola sammy, nanay besie (my lola) , lolo paul and lolo pilo. .the story was. .the land wer d falls now r fynd. .was sold by the t’boli 2 my grandmother’s parents. .sold heatily and no other harrassments or was bought forcefully. .den. .doz bought lands wr distributed 2 der children (including my grandma). .the first falls was given 2 lolo pilo and the other part 2 lolo paul,the 2nd falls was given 2 my lola and the other side 2 lolo paul. .and the rst down 2 olost of the 3rd falls was given 2 lolo ramon. .we don’t own exactly the falls but the LAND. .if u don’t mind. .kindly read the book entitled “the philippine costituition” and ull fynd dr the anser 2 ur doubts. and ur accusements 2 my family was rong. .i repeat. . WE DON’T OWN THE FALLS, WE OWN THE LAND. .and 4 ur concern. .waterfalls is a natural resources. .and thus, it is belong 2 d government. .and our land is a watershed. .we can’t have the tittle. .but only the assessment 2 our land. .and lastly. .2 wat u hav sed that our family has nothig 2 do wd the development of the waterfall. .u r rong! indeed!. .our family. .tried 2 preserve dat place 4 everybody. .and if its not bcoz of my family. .the tourist spot now is not lyk wat u can see now. .we don’t have much money 2 spend 4 the improvement of that piece of land. .datz y we rely on 2 d help of the provincial government. .and mind u. .the falls was only in the hands of the provincial government of south cotabato 4 just les dan 5 years now. .u can’t judge us if we took care or not the waterfalls. .i don’t lyk the kind of judgement u had abawt it. .maybe. .just add up ur infos. .and don’t rely on 2 the rumors u popularly heard and sed by d un oriented pipol abawt this matter. .
.i’ll be sending my comments agen sum othr tym. .GOd bless poh! more powers 2 ur site. .i love it!
to all dongon’s grandchildren,kilala ba ninyo ang isa sa pinsan ng tatay ninyo na si roselyn dongon or used to be dongon,powede bang isa sa inyo ang mag e-mail sa akin ng e-mail address ni roselyn? ako pala ang pinsan nila ramon,tiopelo,paulino,inday samy and nene bese,yong nanay nila ay kapatid ng tatay ko,ang tawag nila sa tatay ko,ay papa bosyong.ako naman si susan panganay niyang anak,dati diyan din kami nakatira sa lake sebu,we left lake sebu 1972,nakita ko ang picture ni pilo and family sa website ng ironwolf,maganda na ang lake sebu ngayon,i miss it sometimes the view’s but not the way of life.so please kung alam ninyo e-mail address ni roselyn, e-mail it to me my e-mail address is suechefwannabe@g.mail.com thank you!
ahm! SUE? try q po makauwi aq sa lake debu dis coming sat.. . i will inform them. . . pki research nlng po s facebook and “Dongon” maki2ta nyu ho dun ung mga apo nla lolo pilo, ramon, paul, lola besy, same! san po exact place nyu now?
try q lng po. . . godbless!
grabi ang saya ng feeling pag andon ka sa lake sebu,lalo na ng maligo kami ng mga frnds ko sa dongon falls.im arjay pala from kidpawan city.want o be my frnd?just call or txt my number 09216713661 im 27 years old.
ganda tlga super gusto k tlga mkapunta jn,,,,super gnda nkakakakakakakkakakkakaka,,,,,,,,,,………………..ingit
to kuya jareal..just wanna say hi.. kita lng ta sa christmas ah..
tiya lagring.. as in mami.. at dade.. musta na kayo?>?? waaaahhhh!! pupunta kame jan.. yuhuu!! hehehehehe