SICALAO, THE LAST ECOLOGICAL FRONTIER OF LASAM

FEATURING THE NANGARIBUAN FALLS

📌 Sicalao, Lasam, Cagayan

Video:

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LASAM is dubbed as the rice granary of western Cagayan not just because of its vast farmlands but also because the municipality is one of the major sources of rice in Cagayan being transported to neighboring provinces in northern Luzon, Manila and Bulacan to where the agricultural products are milled and processed. Despite the immensity of its farmlands, no one would ever think that in the western portion of the town near the border of Flora, Apayao; in the heart of the thick tropical rainforest, there lies a glamour of nature - Sicalao, the last ecological frontier of Lasam.

The Nangaribuan Falls, one of the flagship waterfalls found in Sicalao, Lasam, Cagayan

Sicalao is the largest and remotest barangay of Lasam with a population of just 1,945 based from 2020 census. It occupies the largest remaining natural forestland in the municipality, home to several watersheds and is an extension and part of the so called Zinundungan River Valley, a valley system in the western portion of Cagayan to where this river originates before joining the enormous Cagayan River. Sicalao is endowed with incredibly rich natural resources and is part of the formidable Cordillera mountain range. Second only to Sierra Madre as the most extensive rainforest in the Philippines, the Cordilleras still has atleast 777,000 hectares of forestland as of 2015 records of Forestry Statistics of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Forest Management Bureau or DENR-FMB.

One spectacular portion of the Sicalao River, halfway going to the Nangaribuan Falls

The inner forests of Sicalao are wild, dense and can be said virgin to where we could still find first class timbers such as narra, molave, kamareg, ipil, marakape and maratiesa. The surroundings are verdant green. Its rocky mountains are towering cloaked with massive trees adorned with entanglement of vines and countless epiphytes. Different chants of birds, the gushing stream and drips from springs break the silence of the dizzying wilderness on the vicinity of Sicalao River that feeds the larger Zinundungan River, a tributary of Cagayan River, the country's longest.

The falls emanating from an uphill stream directly feeds the Sicalao River below before joining the Zinundungan River

Upon reaching the foothills of the mountains of Sicalao, the wildlife is unimaginable. It ranges from colorful birds, reptiles, innumerable insects and extraordinary flora. In the heart of this grand forestland hides one of Sicalao nature jewel - the Nangaribuan Falls. It is a 10-meter high waterfall fed by a stream uphill, creating a "twin" water curtain as the water flow is bisected by a rock on the brink of the fall. During summer however, the waterfall is relatively drier, resulting into just a single ribbon of water flow. It has a small plunge pool, about a human waist-deep and at least two meters at its widest. The cliff to where the water flows are dotted with "bilagot" plants (Schismatoglottis sp.) and the surrounding areas are dominated by hardy scrubs and bamboos or "bulo" (Schizostachyum sp.). The waterfall directly feeds the Sicalao River.

Reaching this waterfall is no easy feat. The river currents are powerful, the rocks are slippery and sharp, the established paths are thorny and muddy. Most of all, this natural monument is about 10 kilometers from the jump-off point, the iconic Sicalao Bridge. Its sheer distance to civilization and its hostile environment are its primary protection and defense from overdevelopment, abuse and extreme "humanization".

Distance and the wildness of the river are the primary defenses of Nangaribuan waterfall from imminent abuse

The rocks are gargantuan of different geometries. One of which is the famous globular rock called "nagbukel a bato" found almost halfway into the Nangaribuan waterfall. It is where most of the hikers initially rest because of the spectacular sights of the environ to behold. Some rocks are grayish, black or liver-colored; some however are white limestone origin. On the banks of the turbulent stream are groves of fiddlehead ferns growing prodigiously under the shades of valiant reeds. Bracket fungi, edible or not, detritus feeders and insect larvae find refuge on rotting logs resting into oblivion under the canopies as they enrich the forest floor to support myriad of life forms upon decay.

The nomadic Aetas in the forest were the first to discover the known waterfalls in Sicalao

The stream water is crystal clear, immaculately clean and relaxing cold. On its banks, fresh spring water oozes uninterruptedly and is potable. Its alkalinity is supposed to kill harmful pathogens. With the water's unbelievable clarity, small fishes, crustaceans and shellfish can be seen thriving in the water. Occasionally, the spectacle of a dazzling kingfisher precariously diving through the glass-clear water to catch its meal evokes a dramatic scene of nature unparalleled with what you could see in the outside world.

Upon reaching the Nangaribuan waterfall, taking a cool splash is persuasive. The coolness of the water is unwinding and destressing. It rids out the anxiety and lethargy as the mighty gravitational flow pampers your tired muscles. It revitalizes your blood flow and recharges your mind, body and soul with that unforgettable communion with nature. With the fast pace throbbing of life in the city and the problems that you are carrying all the days of your life, truly that nature is the best medicine for serenity.

Truly nature is the best medicine for serenity 

The sun already painted a gaudy yellow in the sky when we packed our stuffs. The once blue sky turned ash, signifying the approach of darkness. On our way, we started to hear the merriment of cicadas and crickets. We left nothing but footprints, we killed nothing but time and we brought nothing but memories of our remarkable travel to rediscover and take pride of the hidden allure of nature in Sicalao, the ecological face of Lasam tucked between the folds of the hemline of the Cordilleras.

While Sicalao promises a brighter potential to be a rising ecological tourism zone, this last frontier is still not fully discovered as much of its inner wilderness is still sever of human touch even to those nomadic Aetas who reside deep into the jungles of Sicalao.

The wildlife of Sicalao is unimaginable from reptiles, birds, bats, plants and countless insects

Indeed, Sicalao is a natural heritage; an ecological richness. There, hides a treasure chest of nature wonders yet to be discovered and that discovery with an ounce of thirst for the great outdoors needed patience, courage and passion to know more what lies beneath what is only palpable to most people.

Just like the province of Palawan as the last ecological frontier of the Philippines, it is now safe to say that the same can be said to Sicalao as the last ecological frontier of Lasam: despite of its prominence and excellence more in its agricultural aspect than in its ecological regards. It is certain then that the key to its protection is in the Lasameños' hands so as to immortalize its true stance as the last ecological frontier of Lasam.

Because the sad reality is that, we did not inherit this land from our forefathers but absolutely we borrowed it from our grand children and it warrants a return without damage and abuse as a result of our inherent stupidity.

A testimony of how rich the ecological frontier of Sicalao is.

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