The Joy of Finding Hidden Places. The Unexpected Stopover at Cathedral Falls in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

There’s something special about being on the road. Every turn, every new town, and every quiet path can lead to something new. Sometimes, when we least expect it, we find amazing hidden places that take our breath away. These little surprises fill our hearts with joy and remind us why we love to travel.

My partner had to bring his team (workers of their company's project) back to their homes after a month-long work in one of the places in our province. Six of these workers are coming from Lanao del Norte, a neighboring province of Zamboanga del Sur. I decided to go with my partner since it's the weekend. I didn't know these workers were coming from a very beautiful barangay of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. A place where I didn't expect, a majestic gem is hidden.

Just along the road, beside the bridge, I saw a very wonderful sight. There was a beautiful waterfall that was jaw-dropping. I shouted, "Stop! I want to go down! I need to take photos!". Everyone laughed at me, I know, but they were too kind to get out of the car and go down with me to the Cathedral Falls.

This majestic waterfall flows down from a rocky mountain with beautiful rock formations. The waterfall has rock walls made up of rectangular stones, which are unevenly stacked in a mostly vertical way. These rocks resemble the tall, pipe-like organ pipes or pillars you often see in cathedrals or large churches. The sight was truly awesome! It is named “Cathedral” because its shape reminds people of a cathedral’s organs or pillars, which gives it a majestic, church-like feel.

Below was a lake-like basin where water from the waterfall was gathered with an inlet flowing constantly into the river. Small rocks, sand, and stones lined the edge of the water, making the scenery more charming and interesting.

I took a lot of photos down there. A tall wall, a flood control, and a bridge were built beside the falls to keep the community safe from high water at times when heavy rains and floods would take place. A stair was built to make going down to the falls easier for guests.

A resort named Cathedral Falls Waterworld near Cathedral Falls is now open for those who would love to experience a wave pool. I wasn't given the chance to get inside the resort because it was already late in the afternoon, and we still had to go back home after dropping off the workers. Next time, I will.

That unexpected stop at Cathedral Falls will always be one of my favorite travel moments. I didn’t plan to see it, but it turned out to be the highlight of my day. Sometimes, the best places are the ones we find by accident, when we simply follow the road and let our hearts lead the way.