About two or three years ago, I stumbled on a blogpost featuring the magestic Panas Falls -- a promising tourist destination located in New Corella, Davao del Norte province.
The breathtaking waterfall offers layered streams and a few number of pools enveloped in a forest protected area operated by the local government unit.
Since then, I included this on my to-go-list and it was only this year I was able to tick it off from my long list of "places to be".
It was during a long weekend with my officemates that we decided to stay in New Corella instead of crossing the sea to Samal Island. Davao traffic is becoming insane these days, we might not be able to catch the last boat trip as we'll be leaving our place after work hours.
Moreover, we've been to Samal Island many times so checking out the beauty of Panas got us more excited than going to the beach.
But to our dismay, this is what Panas Falls looks like now. It's beauty is already fading, far too different from its unspoiled state years ago as posted in this blog.
The water is no longer flowing abundantly, considering it is the water basin of the province, and the water does not appear to be fresh anymore.
Perhaps it was not the best time to go there or the place has been abused by travelers. I actually caught someone on camera who was engraving his name on the boulders.
Caretakers deployed by the government should be strict in imposing policies(if there is) in protecting nature. After all, this ecotourism site is one of their economic drivers that attract tourists to visit New Corella. And for visitors, we have to respect and be responsible. Never leave traces is the number one rule, which pertains to your trash and imprints that will certainly spoil the place.
Though our trip was a little bit disappointing, I don't regret coming to this place. Because finally, I was able to put a check mark after Panas Falls on my bucketlist and seeing its fading beauty reminded me to be a responsible traveler.
I hope the Department of Tourism and airline companies based in the Philippines would launch an information drive about 'Responsible Traveling'. We have a lot of tourism campaigns promoting hundreds of our natural wonders but I haven't seen one that promotes for its protection.
With traveling just within our reach because of cheap promo fares and tour packages, our tourism sector is booming. Travelers from local and abroad flock to different tourism spots but not everyone knows what traveling etiquette is. Maybe it is high time that everyone be educated about it before everything gets spoiled.