Traveling A–Z: Lanao del Norte

By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA

November 24, 2010, 12:01pm

Tinago Falls (www.skyscrapercity.com)

MANILA, Philippines — Located in the Northern Mindanao region is the province of Lanao del Norte. 

Unlike what most people would think, Lanao del Norte is actually predominantly Catholic with a people mix of Maranaos and Cebuanos.

 And while the province, along with the rest of Mindanao, struggles with security issues associated with terrorism, 

Lanao del Norte attracts a large number of tourists because of the world famous city of majestic waterfalls, Iligan.

Iligan City used to be the city capital of Lanao del Norte. However, in 1977, former President Ferdinand Marcos transferred the provincial capital from Iligan City to the Municipality of Tubod which currently stands as the provincial capital.

While Iligan City boasts of numerous cascading waterfalls, Tubod, on the other hand, is famous for hot and cold springs. The unassuming shores of Lanao del Norte are also dotted with beaches located in the town of Linamon.

For adventure-loving mountaineers, there is the 1600 feet high Mount Agad-Agad, the highest peak in Iligan City and is safe for mountain climbing, camping, and trekking. The province also has its own subterranean river although in a rather modest scale.

Furthermore, getting off the beaten track is one of the best reasons to visit Lanao del Norte. With its charming people as well as its stunning waterfalls that are rarely seen, the province provides new experiences for the intrepid traveler.

Fast facts:

Local Dialect: Cebuano and Filipino are widely spoken among Catholics, Maranao for the Muslims.

Festivals:

• Sagayan Festival - Sagayan festival portrays a war dance among the Maranaos complemented by women in colorful costumes gracefully doing the Kasiduratan, a pronounced movement of their arms.

Places of interest:
• Tinago Falls - As literally implied, Tinago Falls is hidden in a deep ravine cascading beautifully into a basin-like pool, calm, deep, and icy cold. It has an elevation of approximately 420 ft. It is located at Linamon, Lanao del Norte, 52 kilometers away from Tubod.

•Sta. Cruz Falls - Located at Sta. Cruz, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, it is approximately two kilometers from the national highway and surrounded with growing trees and wild vegetation. It is also known among locals as the miniature version of the famous Niagara Falls.

•Kalilangan Cold Spring - Cool and pure water located at Kalilangan, Tubod, 12 kilometers away from Downtown.

•Lidpa Subterranean River – The site can be reached by a gradual climb to Munai, Lanao del Norte where the river bores into a hill and runs underground for about 100meters. Located fifteen kilometers from the National Highway, takeoff point is at the junction of Bacolod national highway.

•Mt. Inayawan – the mountain is an ideal site for Ecotourism located at the heart of Nunungan, Lanao del Norte with a natural rain forest enriched with its biodiversity and wild life enhanced by the Maranao settlers residing in the area.

How to get there:

The nearest airport to Iligan, Lanao del Norter would be the Lumbia airport in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. Tourists can also take a ferry to Cagayan de Oro and take a bus or drive all the way to Lanao del Norte.