I Heart Maria Cristina Falls

Last month of May, I went to Iligan City at Lanao del Norte, Philippines for some mission trip to help the victims of past typhoon Sendong. During the fulfilling mission, I’ve learned a lot of things regarding Iligan City. Iligan is also known as City of Majestic Waterfalls because of its numerous waterfalls that are located within its area of jurisdiction. There are about 23 waterfalls in the city. I’ve visited two of these. The first one is the Tinago Falls that was so beautiful and has very cold but clear water that you can actually swim to. The second one which really highlighted my trip to Iligan is the famous Maria Cristina Falls. The falls was very eye captivating. It’s a 320 feet high waterfall and the main source of power in the city’s industries which is brought under control by the Agus VI Hydroelectric plant operated by National Power Corporation. It’s not just supplying Iligan City’s power but it goes beyond other provinces generating 70% of Mindanao’s electricity. There are several names associated with Maria Cristina Falls. Some would call it “Twin Falls” because the flow is separated by a rock at the threshold of the waterfall. Other people tagged it as “now-you-see-now-you-don’t falls”. Want to know why? That’s because National Power Corporation operates the man-made controls of the waterfall which is important for producing electricity. 90% of the water from the falls is being utilized for hydropower plant but in spite of that its cascades are still alluring and splendid, attracting both the local and foreign tourists.
Though swimming in the falls is prohibited because of the uncontrollable current of water that is very strong, you can watch it at the viewing deck located at the 3^rd floor of the Hydroelectric Power Plant and that alone will satisfy your eyes. Maria Cristina Falls is open for public viewing during Sundays and other special occasions as these are the days the plant closes for one hour, allowing the river to run free and return to its natural split-double waterfall.

The Legend of Maria Cristina Falls

Many years passed, and there lived near the falls two loving sisters, namely: Maria the younger and Cristina the elder. These two beautiful ladies loved each other very much. Maria gave everything she had to Cristina, her beloved sister. Many People knew they were the ones living near the falls. They also loved their neighbor as they loved themselves. Datus and Sultans came to ask for their hands in marriage but the sister refused. There was a man, however, son of a prominent Sultan living somewhere beside the Lake Lanao. For many years he was unhappy because he could not find a suitable partner. 

He roamed around the lake until he saw the two maidens of the falls. He fell in love with the two sisters but the two sisters did not know whom he really loved. Many days passed and Maria discovered that she loved him very much, which made her very sad and she went to the top of the falls and jumped. When Cristina found out that Maria was dead, she likewise went to the top of the falls and threw herself down the deep ravine. When the handsome young man discovered the situation and found the bodies, he buried them carefully under the falls. After the death of the two sisters, he never married until also died. He also named the falls, Maria Cristina after the two sisters he loved.