With its stunning green rolling hills, rocky mountains, diverse forests, impressive waterfalls, scenic coastline, and zestful people, the village of Idio in Sebaste, Antique doesn’t seem to run out of hidden wonders. Last Sunday morning was a perfect day for chasing waterfalls. Typhoon Ompong has just left and the sun was out, smiling. We took a scooter ride to Barangay Idio, Sebaste, Antique to visit the amazing Bulwang Falls located in one of its jungle’s interior. During our hike to Mt. Balabag last month, our guide Tay Lucrito told us that he knows a massive waterfall in Idio that hasn’t been explored yet. The hidden waterfall is located out of way from the trail so we planned to explore on our return.

Tay Lucrito was waiting for us on the roadside when we arrived. We followed him to his home and after gathering his stuff, we started hiking with his grandson, Eric. We walked over hills with grand vistas of the highways, farms, coastlines and the northwestern view of Mt. Balabag. After we descended from the hills, we walked across rice paddies into the banks of Idio River. We followed the river upstream until we reached the junction of Igkataw and Bulwang rivers where the two rivers converge and become the Idio river that we’ve been following a while ago. 

We followed the Bulwang river and walked along and across the river several times under the thick rainforest canopy. The water was waist-deep high and the current was strong due to several days of rain brought by the recent typhoon. As we continued our trek further upstream, the vegetation along the banks became dense and the rocks were very slippery. Our guide used rope to help us climb on slippery boulders and cross the rapids of Bulwang river when we were nearing the waterfall.

After nearly two hours of trekking and river crossing, we were rewarded by the series of overwhelming waterfalls highlighted by its massive source, the Bulwang Falls. The huge volume of water caused by the recent rains rushes down over the cliff, creating a refreshing mist as it falls to its pool below.  With all the mist around, we struggled in taking a good photo. After some snapshots, we secured our stuff and dipped into the pool. The freezing water and the stinging spray gave an instant relief to our tired body.

As it was getting late, we decided to leave the area. We hiked up on steep cliff opposite to the waterfall and descended close to Igkataw and Bulwang river junction to avoid the slippery boulders and the rapids. Our guide said that backtracking the Bulwang river downstream is dangerous. It was already dark when we stepped on the paved road back to the village proper. We were soaked as we were walking towards the main highway. Tay Lucrito amazed us as he eagerly greeted everyone we bumped into the street. Upon reaching his house, we quickly changed our clothes and drove our way to Ibajay for dinner hosted by Ritchel’s aunt. We arrived in Kalibo past 10 in the evening. ’Twas one quick adventure for us!