Ruby Jane Broas | August 3, 2018

Originally posted on writer’s personal Facebook account. Shared with permission.

The Aboitiz Group, through Apo Agua, is set to build one of the country’s largest private bulk water supply facilities, with the capacity to supply over 300 million liters of potable water per day sourced from Tamugan River and benefiting Davao City’s one million residents. Tamugan River is a tributary of the mighty Davao River, considered the third largest river catchment system in Mindanao. Apo Agua’s own Ruby Broas, process and environmental engineer, recently went on a whitewater rafting adventure down the famed rapids and shares below her experience of the power and majesty of the Davao River.

Fractions of my (first-time) experience into the rapids of Davao River

1. Safety First!

Before leaving the meeting place, we signed a waiver and were given an orientation about the whole rafting activity and what awaited us in the rapids of Davao River. Our guides helped us find the proper fit helmet and handed us life jackets for the trip before hopping on to our vehicle.

When we arrived on site, we had a warm-up exercise and another orientation on how to properly wear our helmets and life jackets and the importance of the gear in case of falling out into the water.

Drowning is the number one risk when there’s water and smashing into rocks is second. So, our guide showed us the right swimming position in case of falling into the river. He emphasized that we have to be on defensive position* when in the wild river water — keep our feet on the water surface and always face downstream so we can see the rocks and boulders along the way and prevent smashing our head and body into them. 

If you are planning to go on a wild whitewater rafting adventure in Davao, go to Base Camp. They are safety conscious and they stress the importance of following the do’s and don’ts to have a fun and safe rafting.

We also had a brief drill of the emergency response procedure when the raft throws its passengers into the water. 🙂

2. Aha! 

Part of the experience is the basic knowledge on whitewater rafting, so called because of the white appearance of the effervescence (bubble or froth) of the rapids. Even if Davao River is brown in appearance, the rapids create the whitewater. And rafting is a water activity, which uses an inflatable rubberized/plastic raft along with paddles to travel or flow through the river.

Our guide showed us around the raft. It has a tube with multiple air chambers separated by baffles (in case one chamber be punctured the raft can still float), thwarts (they look like pillows, provides the structural integrity of the raft, and you are not supposed to sit on it), floor and foot straps (fasten your foot and acts as support to brace against), and D rings and rescue line or lifeline (you have to grasp on this to keep you in the raft – or else bid goodbye).

3. Don’t panic 

Managing the risk and keeping a clear head when in danger is also part of the experience. Paddling together was important to get to our destination. If along the way, the raft flips over and you fall in the raging river, there will be risks of drowning and smashing on the rocks.

Our raft DID throw us into the water and we were washed away by the rapids. The force of the water was so strong but I had to keep my feet on the surface. Facing downstream was also difficult because the river was trying to pull me under and rotating me around. Being aggressive would not help, one would really try with all her might to be in the defensive position and stay alive. Still, that “buwis buhay” experience was actually awesome (haha!) and what a relief to be rescued by another team.

You would look after other passengers in the raft and be watchful of yourself and others because you want to reach the endpoint as a team, whole, complete, and alive! It’s making your life count by making others’ lives count, too. So, always listen to your guide and don’t panic.

4. Respeto sa Kinaiyahan

Traveling down Davao River will captivate your heart, just turn around and appreciate the view. The sound of the gushing water, the green scenery, and the seepage of water from the walls of the mountain were very relaxing. The old glory of Davao River may not be restored but we can still act in our own simple ways to protect and preserve what remains in the river and along banks.

There are areas where you can set up a picnic or like a backyard barbecue party by the riverbank. The locations are really nice for family or friends to enjoy the river with good food or even after an hour of paddling. But it can potentially pollute the river system if wastes are not properly disposed of. As our guide told us, they are practicing CLAY Go (CLean As You Go). So, let’s respect Mother Nature every time we get to enjoy its beauty.

5. Paddle more or stop

It was a 13-kilometer rafting course with different obstacles, plus the uncertainty of what’s going to happen. When we were halfway, our energy was low, our bodies exhausted, and our stomachs hangry. How can you get that winning energy and beat the energy gap for the next half? Our guide tried to make us laugh with jokes. Actually, it’s up to the passenger or paddler to go on further with the team or to stop and let the rapids take us, just like in life.

*There are two types of swimming positions: defensive and offensive; offensive/aggressive position is swimming on our stomach and not preferred while in a wild river water.