A certain Mr. Loel Lamela is submitting Tinuy-an Falls to a contest sponsored by the Department of Tourism. In the accompanying description of his photo, Lamela related the etymology of "Tinuy-an". Though am sure he had a reliable source, I wanted to validate it because I myself don't know where did the word "Tinuy-an" come from. And so I sent a text message to Ms. Lorie Lim, the Tourism Officer of Bislig City. She texted back in Visayan with two versions.
The first version according to Ms. Lim is that the environs of Tinuy-an Falls were once inhabited by datus who pysically and sexually abused the natives. Wanting to exact revenge, the natives one day first planted impaled bamboo poles (locally known as suyak) underwater before going up the next tier to lie in wait.
Days passed; still they waited. When their chance finally came, the natives commandeered the boat that carried the datus and pushed it toward the edge---into the deadly abyss. Fearing retribution from the datus' family, the natives then jumped to their death en masse.
The verb "tuyo" (stress on the second syllable) is the Visayan root word for "suicide". As noun, "Tinuy-an" therefore means the site of the tragic mass suicide.
The second version states that during the olden days, there was no beaten track leading to Tinuy-an Falls. To go there, one had to "make time and find a way" which, in Visayan, translates to "tuyuon" which is both a verb (no stress) and an adjective (stress on the 3rd syllable).
Just a side note: The second version sounds forced because if one exercises logical thinking, the falls should have been named "Tuyuon".
Whatever!
Tourists flocking to Tinuy-an Falls have a choice: if they want blood and gore, then it's version 1 for them. If they want something that strains credulity, then it's version 2 for them.
(Note: I stole the photo from 365 Great Pinoy Stuff.)
hi sir, was just there during the long all soul's day weekend and it was breath taking :)however, but, pero, kaya lang the multitude of tourists crowding the place was just too much to handle.there were even bands practicing their sets on the grounds. what was the local tourism office thinking? i don't think people were there to listen to lame covers of rock and roll. really sad. to think that visitors came all the way from Cotabato and Bukidnon. it's really commendable that with loads of online write-ups/photos and word of mouth, these 2 are the current must-visit local destinations.
ReplyDeletejust wanna share this blogger's view on tinuy-an and the enchanted river. i do hope that the influx of guests won't be a detriment to their beauty and grandeur.and somebody should knock some sense to the LGU heads' who are making cash cows out of these places.
http://www.ironwulf.net/2011/11/03/surigao-del-sur-tinuy-an-falls-bislig/
http://www.ironwulf.net/2011/11/08/surigao-del-sur-a-side-trip-to-hinatuan-enchanted-river-and-the-sibadan-fish-cages/
sweetie,
ReplyDeletethanks for leaving a comment and some links.
the pics are nice but i really don't have a liking for overly "tampered" photographs. actually we have the same exact sentiments.
during our familiarization tour last july to HInatuan and Bislig City, i had a discussion with Gemma Millan, Hinatuan's Tourism Officer and this SB member who's the tourism chair about the way things are going for Enchanted River. Strangely (!!!) enough, the guy and I shared the same ideas. i'd rather not print them here, the better for idea-thieves to die guessing. nyahahaha
during that visit, i was invited to sit as judge for then upcoming Search for Ms. Hinatuan. and looking at the state of things at Enchanted River that time, a question started to form in my head: Candidate Number Three, if you were Enchanted River, what advise would you give Mayor Viola and why?
if you hear this question asked in some future beauty pageants, remember that you first read it here. ;p
unfortunately i wasn't able to ask that question because i begged off.