A friend coming back to the country contacted me recently and asked where we can shoot some landscapes that’s not too far from the metro. Wawa Dam, Rodriguez (previously Montalban) was the first one that popped to mind.

This was my second visit this old dam in Rizal. It was drizzling the first time I went there and I wasn’t really able to explore much of the area. This time I was a bit hopeful, having clear weather the past few days before heading out to the dam.

Transportation was really my main concern going there, as we didn’t have a car to navigate through Rizal. After researching a bit, I found that the former reservoir could be reached via public transport.

From Farmer’s Plaza in Cubao, we boarded an FX shuttle to Eastwood (Php45.00). Since we were unfamiliar with the place we just asked the driver to drop us where we can get a ride to Wawa. Alighting at Eastwood, we took a jeep straight to the dam (Php8.00).

It took us more than two hours to reach the dam but I was surprised at how easy it was to commute to the area.

On my previous visit, a welcoming committee of sort from the local tourism office asks visitors (especially camera-toting ones) for payment before being allowed access to the dam. This time, there were no such committee; the local government must have finally heeded the protests from photographers who were turned off by the scheme.
 
To get to the dam, we first passed through humble dwellings that form at the mouth of Wawa then into the pathway leading to the dam.

The trail, which drops quite some way down to the waters below had been improved. Fences are now installed through the path, making the place safer for visitors that frequent the place.

I remember during my previous visit how slippery the area was from the rain. And a slip could easily send me plummeting straight down the rushing waters below. So, good job for the local government.

A few minutes of walking through the rocky road and passing through some caves later and we can already hear the rumble of the dam. Time to set up them tripods.

 

Wawa Dam
Address: Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal
Contact Number (tourism office): (02) 997-9931 | (02) 941-1295 | (02) 941-1338

       How to get to Wawa Dam via Public Transport 
       Board an FX (Php45.00) at the Farmer’s Plaza Cubao (Terminal is in front of Jollibee) 
       Alight at Eastwood, Rizal (Ask the driver to drop you where you can board a jeep to Wawa) 
       Board a Wawa jeep (Php8.00) and alight at the terminal which is at Wawa Dam already.