BEGA, Waterfalls of Beauty and "LUST"

BEGA derived from the Manobo term means “LUSTFUL”………

The Myth of Bega Waterfalls

Long time ago in an old barrio in Mindanao was a beautiful lady who had a very glamorous and alluring beauty.  Her angelic face was accentuated with long, glossy shiny hair that touches the ground and needed to be folded when she walks and strolls along the mountains and dales to avoid being stepped on.

Many strangers and invaders longed to be with her due to her enchanting beauty.  Rivalry have risen that have caused chaos to those interested to meet her.  Different strategies heated-up to win the lady’s love and affection.

Rejecting all men's intentions, one suitor got  frustrated and  secretly abducted the lady and hid her into an isolated part of the “SAMPAW” or near a ‘WATERFALLS”.  Due to the lady's resistance from the man's affection, her abductor  raped her, cut her long hair and lastly brutally murdered her.

The native folks heard the misfortune of the lady and its unlawful story. But instead of pity, people had misinterpreted the case as gossip roamed around the town telling that it was the lustful ways  of seducing the men of the town that resulted to her unexpected death .The suspect was never found and none among the villagers have known or seen the suspect responsible for her death.

It was said that the "sampaw" mentioned in the story was the BEGA WATERFALLS . From then on the people of the village associated the falls with the lustful incident that happened to the beautiful lady. The falls has an alluring beauty just like the beautiful lady in which anyone who passes by the falls will be tempted to come and bathe into its cool and refreshing water.

Facts

Bega Falls is a 4-tiered waterfalls located in Purok 5, 5.2km from Brgy. Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur with the coordinates N 8°43.81” E125°59.74. It has been a tourist attraction to locals but have never been publicly exposed to other tourists in the Philippines. It is considered as one of the majestic falls in the country and comparable to the falls of IliganCity. The place is  home to at least 8 small springs, 19 drops and 25 waterfalls, where only few are accessible to visitors for now.

Falls	Height (meter)	Depth (ft)	Basin (ft)	Elevation (masl)
1st	ND	ND	ND	ND
2nd	10	8.2	22x78.9	158
3rd	11	7.3	52x160	170
4th	52	13.3	45x142	246

Mini Falls/Spring at the head of the 4th /Major Falls of Bega

The 3rd Waterfalls of Bega

The 2nd Waterfalls of Bega

Getting there

For first time visitors:

From Butuan City, take a bus heading either to San Franz, Davao or Tandag City. Alight at Bah Bah Prosperidad and take a tricycle going to the tourism office of Prosperidad to register. You will be directed to hire a habal habal going to Brgy. Mabuhay. Register at the barangay hall adjacent to the basketball court. Hire a registered tour guide for Php 250.00/10pax.From Mabuhay walk along the 4 km trail heading to Purok 5 or you can hire a habal habal to take you to the jump-off to the waterfalls. A 1.2 kilometer trail at the back of the tribal houses leads you to the waterfalls.

Alternative:

You can also alight at Awa, Prosperidad at the entry point of Los Arcos. You will know you are in the right place upon seeing the big poster of Bega and Tugonan Falls. Habal habal are readily available at the left side of the junction of the road. Special trips will cost you higher around Php 100-200 going to Brgy. Mabuhay.

Trail Map To Bega Waterfalls

Travel Cost:

Particular	Unit Cost	Total
Bus Butuan to Bahbah vis-a-vis	Php  90.00	Php 180.00
Tricycle to Municipal Hall	8.00	8.00
Habal habal to Mabuhay vis-a-vis	150.00	300.00
Tour Guide	250.00/10pax	250.00
Habal Habal to Purok 5	90.00/3pax	90.00
Food and Drinks local stores available in barangay	200.00	200.00
Total		Php  1 028.00

Related Post:

Discovering Ugnop/MACEA Cave
Nepenthes of Guinumhay Peak
Tinuy-an , King of Philippine Waterfalls

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