Mansawang Beckons for Its Restoration 

“Return to land called Paraiso…” The Mansawang water falls is best described by this song. Once, it was a potpourri of fishes and green waters but now, the river is on the list of dying rivers in Paracelis, Mt. Province in northern Philippines.

BY HELEN BIANGALEN
Northern Dispatch/Bulatlat.com

other way to go up the river but through the vines clinging to the stone ladders and slippery cliffs along the riverbank. Adorning the rocks are rare flowering orchids.  

The waterfalls is located at the southwest part of Paracelis, Mountain Province. It runs from Licoy, Amulong down to Poblacion, meeting the waters of the Mallig-Siffu River at one point and continuing on to Isabela province in the west.

For years, Mansawang served as a source of irrigation for the farmers of Amulong and other villages. A favorite swimming area of local water enthusiasts, residents of nearby barangays soon learned about Mansawang and its magnificent view, leading to the influx of tourists to the falls.

Residents of Mansawang are proud of their waterfalls. As one of them remarked, “Visitors will miss half of their visit’s satisfaction if they don’t go to Mansawang.”

But as years passed, the people of Amulong began to worry. Some visitors appeared to be irresponsible and careless as far as sanitation is concerned. Before, local residents could walk along the riverbank barefoot but now, they could not do it anymore. Visitors thoughtlessly leave their garbage behind, some of which are left floating on the river, polluting the water and destroying the river life.

Mansawang’s revenge

This lack of respect to the river led to what local villagers call “Mansawang’s revenge.” For one, there are now fewer fishes in the river. But once, a group of drunken tourists had to seek help from the locals when one of their companions got wounded. The cause? One of them stepped on a broken bottle which they themselves left lying around. After that, another one of them slipped. It was an almost fatal accident that became the talk of the town for several months and it caused the decrease in the number of picnickers.

Meanwhile, other swimmers caught skin irritation after swimming in the river. It was not however certain if this was because of the dirty water or the mawini. Mawini is a species of vine that thrives along the river. It produces flowers and fruits that fall directly into the river, especially now that the local residents have slashed the trees along the river.

Talk of a big snake hiding somewhere in the little caves along the river is also rampant. Somehow, these stories minimize the number of people roaming around after bathing.

People have since agreed that while Mansawang may be beautiful, it can also be dangerous if maltreated. Some men in the village who have gone to Mansawang during nighttime to catch frogs and crabs say that some spirits stay there for the protection of the river. “They don’t harm us because they know that we are not up to no good,” one resident said.

But ghosts or no ghosts, Mansawang needs restoration. Aside from restoration, it needs a little of the people’s respect, as do other places with delicate biodiversity. Villagers strongly appeal not to allow Mansawang to be added in the country’s growing list of formerly bountiful but now lifeless rivers. Bulatlat.com

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