| Asik-Asik Falls | |
| Map: | Philippines |
| Coordinates: | 7.5615°N 124.5354°W |
| Location: | Alamada, Cotabato |
| Width: | [1] |
Asik-Asik Falls, also known as Dulao Falls,[2] [3] is a waterfall near Alamada in Cotabato, the Philippines, on the slopes of Mount Ragang. It is known for an apparent lack of a river feeding the fall, with water coming out of crevices on a tall cliff instead.[4] It receives over 500 tourists on weekdays and 1,000 on weekends. Asik means "sprinkle" in the Hiligaynon language.[5] Much of the falls are surrounded and covered by lush vegetation, such as ferns and moss.[6]
It is theorized that the source of the falls is an underground river.[5] The pool at the bottom flows into the Alamada River, a tributary of the Libungan River.[7]
Asik-Asik Falls were accidentally discovered in late 2010 when Jun Miranda, a member of a barangay council, explored the area when assessing the damage from some forest fires, landslides, and floods that had impacted the region.[5] The villagers in Dulao knew of the falls' existence and unusual aspects prior, but they did not make a deal of it, as it was very forested and relatively inaccessible. Miranda told the council of what he had discovered, and many officials went to see it for themselves. They uploaded images to social media, which quickly spread.[4]
In July 2013, a picture of the falls taken by Ernestina Jacinta became one of the grand winners in a photo contest ran by the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.[4] The falls were closed for tourism for two months in 2014 after a cholera outbreak in the surrounding villages.[5]
Other than the considered discovery, other variations of the discovery are circulating, some say that the falls were discovered in a military operation, while others say locals found it.