Beautiful and accessible Pulacan Falls

It was a trip to Pagadian from Ozamiz many years ago that I got I glimpsed upon Pulacan Falls in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. What attracted me to this cascade was that it was just beside a national highway and pretty much accessible. I will really come back for you!, I muttered.

It was two years from that promise that me and a friend from Iligan decided to visit Pulacan Falls. But it was out of my radar. I forgot the place and its exact location that we just hopped on a bus for Pagadian from Ozamiz, where we stayed for a few days and asked the conductor. But woe, he didn’t know where it is. Only from another coworker did he got directions: just along the national highway in Labangan after some barangay, and that was it.

The sound of falling water grew louder as we approached a dirt path past some huge trees in a still forested area along the sloping highway. It was a weekend but we didn’t know why there were no visitors. At about just two minutes, we saw the frothy falling water and got excited!

Pulacan Falls is a fan type of waterfall that beautifully spreads out its waters from a top source, cascading over the rock face in a forest setting surrounded by tall trees. It’s not really too high, just around 30 feet. The basin is not too deep either as once the waters reach its foot, it flows horizontally to a second but lower tier.

It’s great to look at from a distance, especially with all those white water contrasting with all those greenery surrounding it. What’s more, its just around one and a half hour from Ozamiz or 12 kilometers from Pagadian. Adjacent to it is a scouting camp grounds and a Philippine Army headquarters.

GETTING THERE: Pulacan Falls is just 12 kilometers from Pagadian City, in the municipality of Labangan. If riding a bus bound for Ozamiz or Dipolog via Osmena, tell the bus conductor to drop you off after the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division Headquarters of the Philippine Army.