Falls · Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
Ranao Pilayan Falls
A modest waterfall in the Upi uplands, 10 minutes' walk from the trailhead.
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Nature · Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
The Upi uplands
Cool highland country, and the heartland of the Teduray.
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The place
Nature in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
Cool highland country, and the heartland of the Teduray.
Nature
One of the guide’s own places.
When to go
December, for the weeks-long Mëguyaya Festival; the 23rd edition ended on 22 December 2025 with a street-dance parade, after a tri-people thanksgiving feast and the Maisan Na! corn feast.
Safety in Maguindanao del Norte
Mixed, and worth treating by municipality rather than by province. The Awang corridor and the coastal towns see routine traffic. Some interior municipalities carry a heavier security presence and are not places to arrive unannounced. Local advice before an interior trip is the working rule.
About this place
The road climbs out of the coastal plain into Upi and South Upi and the temperature drops with it. This is Teduray country — one of the region’s indigenous non-Muslim peoples — and the landscape of rolling upland farms is unlike anywhere else in the province.
The Meguyaya Festival is the moment the culture is most visible: Teduray dress, music, and the agricultural thanksgiving the festival is built around.
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It is also simply a good drive, with views back down over the plain towards Cotabato City.
What to do
Go for the Meguyaya Festival in December
Meguyaya, the Teduray harvest thanksgiving, is held every December with street dancing that shows the Teduray, Maguindanaon and settler cultures, cultural nights and a trade fair.
en.wikipedia.orgDrive up from the coastal plain
The road climbs into cool farm country with views back over the plain towards Cotabato City; the last stretches are rough after rain, so a high-clearance vehicle helps.
From the guide
What to eat
Roast corn at the Maisan Na grills
During Meguyaya a long line of grills is set up beside the road, where everyone roasts corn together.
en.wikipedia.org
Before you go
- The last stretches are rough after heavy rain; a high-clearance vehicle helps.
- Cooler than the coast, especially in the early morning.
Where you’ll be
Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
Sources
Crafts made in Upi
Every craft of the regionWhere to sleep in Maguindanao del Norte
- No photo of this resort yet
resort
Precious Cabana Resort and Hotel
Datu Odin Sinsuat
Resort and hotel that hosted a four-day MSSD training, October 2025
mssd.barmm.gov.ph · as of 2025-11 - No photo of this resort yet
resort
Illana Bay Beach Resort
Barangay Badak, Datu Odin Sinsuat
Beach resort registered with the Bangsamoro Board of Investments in 2023; said it would seek tourism accreditation next
bangsamoro.gov.ph · as of 2023-08 resort
Amaya Beach Resort
Barangay Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat
Beach resort that hosted MSSD psychosocial sessions in March 2022
bangsamoro.gov.ph · as of 2024-01
Named where a public source names them; no rates or availability. Ask the place directly.
More to see nearby
Everything in Maguindanao del Norte
Mountain · Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
Mount Minandar
A grass-covered mountain near Cotabato City, about a two-hour hike to the summit.
Best: December to April are the driest months (about 20 to 30 mm of rain a month), June to August the wettest
Nature · Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
The Blue Lagoon
A deep, spring-fed pool of bright blue water in the forest, a few steps off the highway.
Best: Morning, when the water looks bluest
Beach · Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
Kusiong Beach
A grey-sand beach lined with resorts, and the nearest beach to Cotabato City.
Best: December to April are the driest months (about 20 to 30 mm of rain a month), June to August the wettest