DaRanAk fAlLs - TaNaY RiZaL

Enjoy Daranak Falls Daranak falls is a popular summer getaway for locals, neighboring towns and tourists alike. Convenient to get to, about twenty minutes or so from the town proper then a scenic five to ten-minute route into the mountain side from the main road. Even if you came in from Metro Manila, it wouldn’t take you more than three hours to get there, give or take. One of the closest natural bathing grounds near the Metro, Daranak falls is considered to be one of the most beautiful natural formations in the country, protected by government laws and maintained by Tanay’s local government.

A few friends of mine have been to Daranak, so I had somewhat of an idea as to what to expect when we got there. But as to what it is or what I’d see or find there actually wasn’t what I was thinking of on our way to the falls. I was thinking of the name “Daranak” and how it came to be called so. Unfortunately, every local I asked grew up calling the place that and never really did question it, save for one. One answer I got was it was from the phrase “Dadanak ang dugo”, directly translated “the spilling of blood”, due probably to the Katipunero history of the area during the Japanese occupation and where most of the resistance during that time was in the area of Rizal, Tanay included. It wasn’t really a real or sure answer to my question but it was interesting and I figured it made sense. May it be true or not, the story made me smile. I bought it.

It opens daily at 8 am and closes at 5 pm, rates go for twenty pesos for adults and fifteen pesos for children, they have picnic huts, tables and sheds. Complete with all the amenities you’d expect from any resort. Tricycles and jeepneys make special trips to Daranak, so even if you’re without a car, you could still get there conveniently as if you did have a ride. As we were walking on the bridge leading to the falls right after the entrance I was already thinking OMG will I fall will I fall but luckily i did not. Since it was summer that me and my bff went the batis is dried out of water. all you can see for mills are rocks big rocks but as you approach the falls, you could already hear children’s laughter, sounds of people having a great time and a general vibe that this was a place filled with good times and fun memories for countless of generations past and quite possibly for later generations to come.

Reaching the falls, I was now really wishing badly that I could join all those people enjoying themselves cooling off from the hot summer heat and go for a swim myself. I admit that I rarely get this close to nature and just being there, I easily forgot my oversight of not bringing at least a towel. I picked a rock on which to sit on and just took it all in.

The place was pristine; I could imagine it a thousand years ago before anyone ever knew it was here. Approximately sixty to eighty feet high, the falls was amazing, people were scaling the walls, jumping from rocks into the water but most were simply sitting directly under it, letting the water hit their backs. Many have long believed (me included) of the healing qualities of just sitting under a falling body of water. Its like nature giving you a massage I guess. Save for the water and the rocks around, everywhere you looked it was green. Thick, probably century-old trees look down atop the falls, almost making it seem like a natural umbrella that spread around the entire refuge from concrete and industry, making you feel cradled by nature herself. To me there’s nothing more relaxing.

Leaving I formed my own theory as to why it’s called Daranak. It was probably true that it was rooted from the phrase “dadanak ang dugo” and in time got shortened and just morphed into what its called now. I’d like to think now its Daranak not because of its revolutionary violent past, rather than “dadanak ang saya, tuwa at ligaya”, loosely translated “ the coming of fun, laughter and good times”. But whatever you may think the name of the place is derived from, it wouldn’t really matter, undoubtedly you would leave with a feeling of rejuvenation as I did and I didn’t even get into the water.