Quirino: Refreshing Dip at Maddela Waterfalls

Quirino: Off-the-beaten Province

Quirino is one province unknown to be a tourist destination. Maybe because its out of the way, somehow isolated and far. This reason made me curious to the point of really wanting to explore it myself. So I really made sure that I will be visiting Quirino during my ISANG DAAN Journey.

Sierra Madre Sunset- the best view of the Sierra Madre I have ever seen.

Success! I added another province on my list of visited provinces. I even made some connections with the locals of Maddela and found out that I have an uncle (mom’s cousin) in Diffun.

How to Get there?

Coming from Lamut, Ifugao, I rode a jeepney to Bagabag Junction (Nueva Viscaya) for 20 minutes and then rode another jeepney to Cordon, Isabela (45mins.). From Cordon, I already saw signs that leads to Quirino- elated to be exploring another off-the-beaten province.

Junction to Quirino Province. (Route: Ifugao to Nueva Viscaya to Isabela to Quirino)

The day after I went there, my aunt told me that I have an uncle in Diffun (15mins from Cordon), the first municipality of Quirino if you are coming from Manila. So I visited him first and we had a short talk then lunch.

Off I go to Maddela (another 1hour can ride from Diffun), this town is known for its waterfalls and the most beautiful view of the Sierra Madre mountains (see the first photo).

Maddela Waterfalls

As I always do, I dropped by the tourism office and ask for some travel advice. The Maddela LGU is kind enough to bring me to Maddela waterfalls and refered me to Sir Jun Movilla, the one in-charge of the development of the falls.

I wasted no time to explore the 7-tier Maddela Waterfalls. Development of the falls has been there since Ms. Gemma Cruz-Araneta was the Tourism Secretary. But because of the recent typhoon, the waterfalls suffered a minor damage. Stones and logs are found on its natural basin and the smaller catch basins were filled with silts. Glad that the biggest pool was already good for swimming when I went there.

Sierra Madre as viewed from the 5th waterfalls

3rd and 5th falls

This same pool is where Drew Arellano and Iya Villania swam a week before I came. Sir Jun told me that they swam here until the night, maybe because of the  serenity of the place where you hear are just the refreshing spill of the waterfalls. It was a refreshing dip, I was relaxed after that long road trip from Ifugao.

A Refreshing Dip!

Thanks again to the staff which became my uncles in Maddela, until next time po!

Salamat po!

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I was able to visit Quirino Province during Days 22-23 of my ISANG DAAN Journey.

#ISANGDAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days. “Isang Daan” is a Filipino term that can mean either “one way” or “one hundred.”

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