Gensan, Barangay Conel

A HIDDEN NATURE OF GENSAN

I was able to visit the secluded Barangay Conel of General Santos City during my vacation to my hometown... I tried to reach this Barangay using our Honda 100cc motorcycle vehicle. Barangay Conel is located 15 kilometers from the town proper. During my stay in Gensan my wife called me and must try to visit the place that have falls and cave to explore... Instead of going to Maitum in Sarangani, I decided to packed my things and grabbed my camera then start to travel to Brgy. Conel under the scorching heat of the sun on that day... 

We under estimated the location, i thought the fore said falls and caves is just a minute distance away from our jump off point... What had happened to us were really an amazing adventure, we met our tour guide Toto Galngan a native of Gensan (Bla-an tribe) who leaves on that area, his father is one of the remaining chieftain MOKAM GALNGAN lumad datu of the Bla-an tribe, they are very accommodating people with his cousin Darwin San whom we rented his motorcycle going to the Klaja Cave and Masikong or 7 Falls. They told me that it's a 2 hours travel if we are to use motorcycle or 4 hours if we travel by foot... To make the story short, we use motorcycle traversing the moderate to heavy rocky road going to the area.

Klaja Eco-tourism Destination

This is situated 15 km to the northeast of General Santos City, at Barangay Conel. The Kalaja Karsts Land’s name is derived from “Kalaha” or frying pot because of the surrounding towers of  the karsts formation made millions of years ago. These karsts produce waterfalls and caves. Across this place is a camping ground. The place offers a wide view of Gensan, Sarangani Bay and some parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani Province. It is a large natural reserve that is a camper’s delight. One can also go climbing and hiking in this rugged environment. A day trip from Gensan is enough to see all that this beautiful place has to offer. World66

Overview:

"Safety Soundness"- Brgy. Conel is a peaceful Barangay, most of their tour guides are Brgy. workers and tanods and a very well trained in tour guiding. This eco-tourism destinations tour guiding is a livelihood program supported and spare headed by the local government tourism of Gensan City to support eco-tourism destinations of the said place...

Road going to Klaja cave and Masikong or 7 falls, by foot you can hike for about 4hrs. Up there you can go spelunking to the cave of Klaja or go bath to the cold and clear water of Masikong falls. You can pitch a tent on the camp site and spend for an over night adventure. Make sure you have to register in the Baragay hall and get a tour guide, there's a lot of trail going there and you might get lost.

Make sure to bring plenty of water during your hiking adventure, it is also advisable to wear sandals with strap, shoes won't work it might get wet and make's you uncomfortable to walk... Always follow what the guides tell you, natives (Bla-an tribe) are very knowledgeable to the trails, be a responsible adventurer to keep away from any danger.

THE ENTRANCE

This is how they discribed the entry point going to the Masikong (7 Falls), the opening is about 4 meters in width and a 10 meters height cliff walls on both sides that naturally carved by nature... It's about 5pm we reached this area, but we decided not to push through with our plan to continue going to Masikong Falls for fear that we can't be able to go back to the jump off point before dark, it was night fall already... I am so very Unfortunate I wasn't be able to see the pride of Brgy. Conel. 

Took some pictures of the entrance before going back, at first I thought this is a part of Masikong falls, this is just a welcome scene, it says WELCOME and there's a lot MORE! Some other time I will surely go back to this place.