Wawa Dam Montalban, Rizal

May 17, 2009.  Wawa Dam Montalban, Rizal.  Almost three years, still fresh into my mind the cool water and breathtaking dam of Wawa.

Formerly known as Montalban, referring to the mountainous terrain of this northern most town in Rizal. Thank you to my beloved friend for including me in this trip.  We come in the place by private vehicle courtesy of my generous friends who offer their wheels to reach and spent time together.  We had a quick stop over at Aling Norm’s Eatery (Aling Norma’s or Aling Norm’s), which serves home cook and knows about how to get there and guide many travellers.

From a distance, you can see the twin mountains pushed by the legendary figure of the Philippine folklore, Bernardio Carpio (click link to see different versions of the story), who bears supernatural strength. The path leads to the mountains where the dam is situated in between. Many sari-sari stores, souvenir shops, and local houses stand along the path which leads to a short tunnel. Hand rails on the side where placed to ensure the safety of hikers.

It was fun to balance my feet on the creek and watching the big lime stones as we are heading to the end.

Wawa Dam used to supply water in Metro Manila until it stopped operation when Angat Dam was built. Now it serves as a destination for weekend warriors seeking a taste of nature without going far off the city. People can swim right at the cascade where small make-shift cottages are available. A short walk leads to the observation deck where you can see the gorge, the dam, and reservoir, an another option to cool down after that short sweaty hike. Rafts on the reservoir are also available for rent.

Rodriguez’ Wawa Dam is really a good option for travelers searching for a little nature adventure. Since it’s cheap and accessible, anyone, especially cheap travelers like, can visit the place, shoot photos, and cool down. Unfortunately, locals built houses on the river banks so where there’s residents there’s always waste. A local DENR officer told me that resident should be 20 meters away from the bank but many violated and now you can see the outcome. She also told me that she saw the dam many years ago, when there were no one residing. It was really different back then. Hopefully, residents, locals, and visitors collaborate to restore the cleanliness and preserve the natural and man-made wonders of Wawa Dam.

Things to remember going to Wawa Dam:

1. Public vehicles with direct routes to Montalban passes by Santa Lucia Mall in Marcos Highway for P27.00. From town, there are jeeps to Wawa for P8.00, this is preferable instead of hailing a tricycle which probably would be very expensive.

2. There are no entrance fees in Wawa Dam.

3. Wear light clothes, and hiking shoes or sandals. Rocks are sometimes slippery so better be careful.

4. Be safe on the trip.

5. Be earth friendly, remember to clean your mess before and leaving the place.