Despite expecting Maguindanao's blue lagoon to be concealed deep in the forest, reachable by at least an hour or two of trekking, I had still anticipated a good old surprise. When I stepped out of our van and saw a few kids dripping wet, I simply figured they had come frolicking from a nearby stream. Our friend Jeff told us, “I think these kids came from the lagoon.” I was already standing at the mouth of a wide trail on the elbow of the Shariff Aguak Road when I heard him. “You mean, the lagoon is just nearby?” Claire asked. Jeff’s reply sounded like music to my ears—as I was in no mood for a lengthy hiking activity that day—“Just less than two hundred meters ahead.”
Hidden Along the Road: Dipping in the Blue Lagoon of Datu Odin Sinsuat
A Miniature Enchanted River
Who would have thought that such a wonder of nature—a miniature version of Hinatuan’s Enchanted River—would rest just a javelin stone’s throw away from a main road? True to it, after a few strides, the gleaming blue waters of the lagoon revealed themselves and instantly arrested my attention. I surveyed its size, measuring barely a third of a soccer field, and the magical setting where it was situated. I loved how the lagoon was surrounded by towering trees, and how yellow and green fallen leaves dotted the azure-colored waters.
Diving Into the Abyss
Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, the body of a boy, hurled from above, sliced through the water like a needle. I saw him slither underneath, disappearing into the abyss for a few seconds before resurfacing with a facial expression brimming with delight.
The lagoon hypnotically appeared bottomless, especially if you stared at the sunken tree disappearing into the deep blue gorge. Watching a group of teens take turns diving into the fresh water gave me the confidence to take a leap myself.
An Unspoiled Roadside Sanctuary
I took a couple more jumps before deciding to just rest at the edge of a protruding body of a tree and marvel in silence. We later learned that the locals often went there not only to swim but also to source their drinking water and wash their clothes.
As I changed into dry clothes, I took one last look at the surroundings of the blue lagoon. It was a beautiful place, all right—just the kind of spot I could escape the real world from for a week, picturing myself with a young Brooke Shields. I imagined the skinny-dipping happening for hours and hours each day. As my quickie daydreaming ended, I thought about the many other wondrous sets of nature that remained hidden in the vast countryside of Maguindanao. I bet there was a lot more to explore and discover.
* Datu Odin Sinsuat and the Blue Lagoon were two hours away from Buluan, Maguindanao, where we covered that year’s Inaul Festival. How about you? Have you swum in the waters of the Blue Lagoon in Maguindanao?
