TANTANGAN, South Cotabato - Tourists have been flocking the village of Dumadalig here to escape the heat that is getting unbearable each day.

Hidden in the lush greenery in the mountain side of the Dumadalig is the Matimus falls surrounded with lush vegetation. 

The cool water of the waterfalls, according to local tourists, is the perfect answer to the summer’s sultriness. Its beautiful rock formation and green scenery are also picture perfect for photo enthusiasts. 

According to the the people of Dumadalig, Matimus is the first of the series of Waterfalls waiting to be discovered in their village. 

Its accessibility makes the Matimus falls a potential tourist destination not only in Tantangan but also in Region 12. 

The travel to Tantangan where our initial place to start walking only takes us less than 1 hour travel by truck. Tantangan, where Luayan elementary school is located is a small municipality near Koronadal City. 

We arrived in a small village with less than 20 households. Most of the inhabitants were muslims. Kids are helping their parents in farming and gathering firewoods. A nice huts made in bamboo and kogon leaves are their common type of house. We have a small talk while walking to the falls. We arrived in the first water falls in less than an hour. 

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To reach another waterfalls we need to hike through the slippery stones where water are dripping. The waterfalls are just 15 meters apart but the place is sloppy, slippery and difficult to climb. Women join the swimming in the waterfalls. The water is cold and great. Some of the guys were able to reach the third waterfalls. It is still stony and slippery. 

The Matimus Waterfalls is accessible through a 15-minute Jeepney ride with P15 fare from Koronadal City to Barangay Dumadalig.  From the highway, one has to pay P50 for a “Habal Habal,” motorbike cum passenger vehicle toward Matimus falls.