"Veni, vidi, vici.( I came, I saw, I conquered)" - Julius Caesar
One year ago as the semester is about to end, my friends and I are planning for a semester ender vacay in Tangadan Falls located at San Gabriel, La Union.
We were both thrilled and excited at the same time because it is the first time that we are going for a vacation as a group and hearing those who went there already give me an enchanting sensation because of their unexplained encounters. But nothing can stop us from not enjoying our vacay so we all went there.
It was December 9, 2016 and we all agreed to meet at Governor's pack Road where the bus going there are all stationed. They instructed me to meet them at around 5 in the morning that day, so I went there as early as 4:30 am and waited for almost an hour and still, no one is there. I realized that I was the only one who were able to comply with the time we all agreed to meet. It was 5:40 and at last one by one they all arrived.
Bad luck struck us first as no bus were available and all bus was fully booked but maybe someone brought a lucky charm or something, a man approached us offering for a ride but with a slightly higher fare for his van. We didn't have a choice, so we grabbed his offer and at last, we are on our way to Tangadan falls.
The ride was smooth, no problems was encountered. It took us about 3 hours for the travel and we finally arrived. Before going for the one to two hours trek, we started it with a selfie with our driver. Thanks to manong because he was too patient for us because we were too noisy at his van and we asked him a lot of question. We are truly grateful.
Now, we should begin our trek.
It was a paradise I must say. A paradise where fairies and mages can live with the harmony of nature. The walkway leading to the falls is slightly narrow so we were so careful of our steps as we walk though and through. It is a long way for those who are not used into trekking.
The trek was divided into two stages, first a stop over at what they called the Mother Falls. We arrived there after a 45minutes of walking. It was spectacular. So we took videos and photos off course(it is what we millenials do all the time, selfie!) and after that some went for a 20ft dive and others took a dip into the sapphire-like water and for me I was their photographer because I don't have enough courage to jump off the cliff and I admit, I am not a swimmer hahaha. They don't have life vest there so I opted to just do sightseeing .
We spent almost an hour enjoying one of nature's artwork and after that we went on to continue our journey going to The majestic Tangadan Falls. It took us around 30minutes of walking and trekking again before we arrived at our destination.
At first I was starstruck to this beauty because it was my first time to see a falls, upclose and personal. The falls are divided into 3 falls and they are all equally stunning.I was so happy that time because I was informed that they have a rentable life vest there which you can rent for around a hundred pesos unlimited use. I went to the renting booth and got myself a life vest.
They all rented because we were informed that the current of the water below the falls are too strong and our tour guide told usthat one visitor drowned there because he wasn't wearing one, he was caught into the strong current of the falls, they only found him after 2 days of searching. Good thing also for me, I won't look like an outcast to my swimmer friends haha.
Photo op first then went into the deep icy water of the Tangadan falls. At first I was hesitant because I can't swim and I kept on thinking that what if my life vest suddenly snap then I would die from drowning and it's a big no no for me.
I have tried a few times going into a part of the water just to make myself be comfortable, and overtime I concurred my fears, swimming into different parts of the falls with no hesitation but just pure enjoyment.
Its starting to drizzle that time but we didn't care because it is not too strong. So we stayed there until we are tired and hungry. We went to eat our late lunch which we have it delivered by a local there from his house. It was a fulfilling meal indeed. After our lunch we just restedfor 10 minutes then decided to climb the second falls which is just above the falls we went. It just took us 2 minutes then there we are.
It is a smaller falls like a little sister of the first falls but it still a wow for me.
As I went down to the falls I noticed something on the rocks below the water that it looked like an arm floating between the rocks , I told that to my friend Kim but she told me that it is just a rock so I just moved on and enjoy the place. I took a dip into its water, I wasn't comfortable and at ease compare to the falls below. I felt like someone is watching us so I immediately climbed up to the rock formations but still I wasn't comfortable so I spent my time just watching or sightseeing then the the drizzle became a strong rain so our tour guide suggested that we should go because the water will be up soon.
We went back to our cottage pack our things and went to walked through different way because it is not possible for us to walk back to our original route. Our tour guide told us that we can ride a habal habal there so we agreed just go there. We saw the waiting shed our guide told us where we can have ride going to the town area. There were 4 motorcycle that time and it was by chance that each motorcycle is good for two tourist plus one driver. Rosette and Kim went first, the. kuya michael and his girlfriend. Our driver told us that he could just go back for the second person so Ivy and I decided that it's much safer if we do that, Ivy went first. Only me , kuya ringo and kevin were left and they were pair. Basically I was left behind and it still raining hard. 30 seconds after kuya ringo and kevin left I heard something, a crashing sound but I thought that it might just be a tree or something then after a while I heard a man shouting that one of the motorcycle just fall from the mountain, as a response I immediately ran up to see if its is one of my friend. I didn't saw anything so I was left running up and up until my driver found me then I told him that one motorcycle just crashed out into the mountain. So we immediately went up the others were waiting. I was horrified to see that ringo and kevin isn't there. The others didn't have an idea to what had happened to them ifever. As soon as I got off the motorcycle I immediately asked them if kuya ringo and kevin if they had arrived. The moment that they told me that they haven't arrived yet, I was devastated because they were the pair who just crashed and slid off into the mountain. I was crying as I told them that. They were all nervous and we cannot do anything because its too far and it's raining hard. We waited for hours until someone confirmed that they just had a minor injuries. We are now relieved. As soon as they brought kuya ringo and kevin up we immediately went to the hospital where they received immediate care. A few stiches was given to them and the doctors gave them prescription medicines. Thank God no one was seriously harmed because of that accident.
We went at Ivy's place in Tagudin while the others went back to Baguio. It was traumatizing for us because we just wanted to enjoy our vacation and because of that it kinda killed our joy.
While in the car I suddenly realized that what if this accident was just a simple reminder for all of us that we all have a short life to live. What if God wants us to acknowledge him as he works miraculously I don't know.