Malicboy Falls

Malicboy Falls
N13°59.8390' E121°46.8340'

Malicboy Falls is one of the most frequently visited picnic spots in Pagbilao. One needs only about thirty to forty-five minutes walk to reach the Falls. Students of nearby schools such as the Quezon National Agricultural School are frequent visitors While the Falls was previously visited by this webmaster long time ago, it was only after three years since this website went online (10/30/2000) that the Malicboy Falls was featured. I have been finding time (out of my spare time) to schedule a visit. Surprise of all surprises, Mr. Rufino Mercurio, the owner of the land bordering the Malicboy Falls, came to me after learning of my efforts in promoting the tourist spots of Pagbilao. He said he saw my TV interview about this website. He brought with him development plans for the Malicboy Falls. He had drawings and some preliminary permits to develop the Falls into a resort and tourist destination. He asked for my ideas about this. I replied that we can start by promoting it. The Internet will very well do that for us. Thus, we made an unscheduled trek to the falls on September 20, 2003. Of all waterfalls featured in this website, Malicboy Falls, owing to its proximity, could have the highest potential. Mr Mercurio said he already had an investor with funds underway to build a 1.5km access road to a point near the falls.

How to get there? Describing the access to Malicboy Falls from the highway got a little complicated when we found that kilometer post 149 which used to be "posted" nearby was missing. A resident said that it was hit by a vehicle and later pushed away by a road grader. We indeed found the KM post concrete marker under the bushes. (The DPWH should be requested to reerect Km Post 149. In the first place, why would their road grader push it away? To hide that they were not able to restore it?). [As of Feb 2008, kilometer post 149 was observed to be already restored] Thus, to properly describe the trek to Malicboy Falls, the best landmark to reckon with from the highway is Malicboy Bridge (located at Sta 149+200). This bridge is about 230m after the waiting shed marking the start of trek.

The Highway curve with the waiting shed that marks the start of trek. Farther down this road, after 230m, find another landmark Malicboy Bridge

From Pagbilao, just follow the National Highway going to Atimonan. Go past the Y-junction at Binahaan by taking the left branch. After KM post 148, notice that the road goes straight for a long stretch. You will not find KM post 149 (as explained earlier), so estimate that you have gone the next one kilometer after KM post 148. The vicinity of where KM post 149 used to be is approaching a right turning curve. At the left side of the highway along this curve, you will find a waiting shed (See picture above). That is your landmark to stop (or alight if you are commuting).

Now, in case you missed this waiting shed, you will easily find Malicboy Bridge after the curve. Seeing the bridge, you will know that you went past your target stop. Carefully take a U-turn and find the waiting shed earlier described. The trail beside this waiting shed is the start of the trek to the Falls.

Once you are at the waiting shed, a coconut trunk bridge crossing a creek a few meters down the trail will further confirm that you are in the right place.(The coconut trunk bridge may soon be upgraded without further notice)

There are very few landmarks in the trail to help show you the way. Asking directions may not be effective as you may simply get the generic reply "D'yan lang" ("It's just there").

You may not be as lucky as I am to have the landowner himself as your guide to the Falls. There are houses in the vicinity of the waiting shed. You may need to ask someone to serve as guide. Even children will be happy to show you the way. In the future, the access road will be built and directional signs will be installed in the "short-cuts" for trekkers. So, who needs a guide anyway?

Malicboy Falls was uploaded at WaypointsDotPH by Mr. Ed Garcia on the same day I had it documented (quite fast! - me too in submitting). GPS trekkers may simply download GPS track data from that site and upload them to their receivers and use the dumb LCD screen as guide. Find the links to WaypointsDotPH after enjoying the pictures below.

The Big Tourism Potential  

My daughter Geraldine (L) and her friend Jenerose (R) easily negotiated the 1.2km trail	The landowner, Mr. Rufino Mercurio, is very ethusiastic about promoting and developing the Malicboy Falls. Any investor may signify their interest thru the contact details in this website

After climbing an almost vertical cliff, this is the rewarding view looking down from the top of the main falls (Note the size of people in the center of the picture). The scenery from this vantage point, if the camera would be horizontal, is also breathtaking. But why should I reward you with a photo of that? You have to hike and climb as I did.

Experience the jacuzzi effect of the cascading water falling to the pool just above the main falls

The natural swimming pool about 200m upstream of the main falls. The water shown falling in this photo comes from another natural pool shown in photo at right.		The upper natural swimming pool as mentioned in caption of photo at left.

See Malicboy Falls Feature at WaypointsDotPH

See Malicboy Falls Vicinity Map at WaypointsDotPH

Photos and Narratives by 

Engr. Gerry B. Lontok ©2003