War memorials had been the common theme of two consecutive attractions that we visited in Cagayan de Oro. Gaston Park in Downtown CDO commemorates the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis, while Macahambus Hill immortalizes its namesake battle. At that point, we had no idea that the next destination that we would visit would still be connected to a war, albeit in a different light. In fact, we only got to learn the connection way after the trip.

From the two battle grounds, we headed to Sinulom Falls, a renowned water falls in Cagayan de Oro City. Thanks to social media, what was once totally hidden has become a major tourist destination in the city, providing a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

It took just a couple of minutes short to half an hour from Macahambus Cave to Sinulom Falls. The roads are paved, though narrow and steep at most parts. We eventually reached a gated area where we had to register and pay the entrance fees. It was there when we realized that visiting Sinulom Falls is conveniently a double twin visit: two natural bodies of water in two different provinces. As we would eventually see for ourselves, a few meters from Sinulom Falls lies Bolao Cold Spring, which while accessible through Cagayan de Oro, is located in Talakag Bukidnon.

The area surrounding the two bodies of water had already been developed into a resort, and it cost us PHP 160.00 each to gain passes for both Sinulom Falls and Bolao Cold Spring. After registering ourselves and paying the entrance fee, the security personnel showed us the way to the parking area which was in an elevated area. To access the falls, one has to walk downhill, passing through the developed area of the resort.

Sinulom Falls teasing us from a distance.

The landscaped area and the pool.

When we reached the banks of the river where the waterfalls drain, it was simply breathtaking.

It is said that Cagayan de Oro and its neighboring settlements experienced a severe drought during the Second World War. It was during that time that people discovered Sinulom Falls which in turn served as one of the few sources of potable water in the city, providing a fountain of sustenance for a land then being ravaged by the atrocities of battle. With the infrastructure development now leading to the falls and the structural improvements of the resort surrounding it, it is somehow hard to think that the towering falls remained hidden for so long. No longer hidden though, it now provides enchantment to every traveler: awe-inspiring view, relaxing ambience, refreshing water.

When we were done taking pictures, we made our way back to the parking area where the resort’s restaurant is also located. There, we ordered some food for lunch, took more photos, and rested a bit. Unfortunately, we were not able to take photos of the food we ordered. Looking back, it was either we were too tired to think of taking those pictures, or we were simply too hungry.

After our meal and having been able to rest a bit, Ran and I headed back to the car to change our clothes before we started hiking to Bolao Cold Spring. Back then, we were not aware yet that we would in fact cross provincial boundaries, as the spring is located within the boundaries of Bukidnon. What was certain was at that point, we were just both elated and excited: elated for seeing the majesty of Sinulom Falls, and excited to see the spring that lied ahead.

Sinulom Falls once sustained Cagayan de Oro by providing potable water during a severe drought in the midst of a war. It served as salvation for many from what would otherwise have been the fatal consequences of thirst and scarcity. In the present day, Sinulom Falls continues to sustain the city, but through an entirely different means: by drawing in travelers, not with urgency, but with a quiet, almost mystical allure.

The battlefield for Sinulom Falls has drastically changed. From a war of domination, it has transformed into a struggle for preservation—a gentler yet no less urgent fight. Where survival once depended on taking from the land, it now depends on knowing when to leave it untouched. And in that shift, the falls reveals a deeper purpose: not merely to give, but to endure.

In its waters runs more than a current. There is memory there: of thirst once quenched, of lives once saved, of a landscape that refused to yield. To stand before it now is not just to witness beauty, but to take part in a quiet covenant: that what once sustained us, we must now learn to sustain in return.