Binaliw Spring
in
Sogo Cebu, Philippines
Location: Sogod
Type: Spring/Nature
Details: A cool spring right at the foot of a mountain.
The spring feeds the awesome Bagatayam River and the
Bagatayam Falls.
Why Visit?: A religious shrine of the Our Lady of Lourdes
sits right at the top of the fresh-water spring.
The place is perfect for relaxation and meditation.
Healing Binaliw Spring of Sogod
BINALIW SPRING, SOGOD
In the north-eastern part of Cebu Province, Philippines one can find this popular
shallow spring and has become one of the attractions for some reasons.
Many rumors have it that the water oozing out from the mouth of
the falls (used to be) has an extraordinary ‘healing powers’.
The site attracts many visitors from various places in the province and other
regions for various reasons: to enjoy the cold spring water or to get healed
from some form of illnesses.
Anyhow, in this page we can only talk more about the spring’s natural beauty
and its surrounding nature and not so much about its extraordinary ‘healing effects’.
SOME FEATURES OF BINALIW SPRING
The great thing about this area is its natural environment as being surrounded
lush with green plants and trees (more of a forest).
Certainly, the environment supports and maintains the fresh and cool water
of this cool spring.
You can spend your day with friends, family, or any gang close to the spring
with food supply and other day’s picnic necessities. You can enjoy the
fresh air and oxygen from the trees or dip into the fresh spring.
In this part of the province, you’ll see a relax and innocent rural life where
friendly but shy locals come and go, do their laundry (specified part of the spring),
relax or enjoy the waterfall, fetch water for home use, among other daily chores.
Religious Beliefs & Stories
Some stories (or legends) regarding this spring is its healing effects for those
who believe or use the spring water.
What matters is not whether the stories are true or not but to respect one another’s
religious belief or faith that is attached to a certain place or thing, right?
We can try and debate scientifically or theologically about this falls but
it would be endless. So, it would be great if we just stick to our own personal
convictions and try not to impose them to others.
Since most Cebuanos have Christian religion (mostly Catholics) the place
where the waterfall is located lays a grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes which
is built local authorities. This grotto now covers the source of the falls or spring water.
Healing Water
The combination of folk/traditional beliefs and modern Christian faith come
into play when we talk about the healing powers of this spring.
Some people use the water from this waterfall and spring to cure various sorts
of illnesses by drinking it, using as a mixture in ointment, as antiseptic, bathing in
the spring, or in every way the believer can use the water for the expected
healing effect.
Rules and restrictions are imposed to all visitors and locals in the area.
For example, there is a demarcation line (a rope) that marks the area
where you can dip in for a swim or wash you laundry. Specially, the area near
the source is highly watched to keep it as it is—clean and pure water from
the belly of nature.
Due to the popular belief of Binaliw’s healing effects, many dubbed it as the
‘priestess of nature’.
FINDING BINALIW SPRING
From Cebu City Go to the North Bus Terminal and take any bus
(certainly Ceres Line) that traverses the route. Or, you can take a
V-hire (van for hire) that goes to that direction. The municipality is
Sogod that is located beside the other famous Catmon Municipality.
You can get off at Sogod Public Market and take a motorbike (habal-habal)
for hire to the falls itself. Another suggestion is to tell the bus/van driver
to drop you off by Bagatayam Bridge from where you can just walk for
a few minutes to the spring.
You can spend a great time at Binaliw Spring but not a centavo (or dime).
Leave nothing but only footprints… take nothing but only great memories…
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