Bayukbok Cave

After hiking Mt. Manalmon, our group went back to the base camp for snacks. We asked our guide, Kuya Boy, 50+ years old, how long would it take for us to get to the Bayukbok Cave. He said that spelunking can be done within 2 hours. Three of my hiking mates said they would just swim in Madlum River, two of us proceeded to the cave.



passing through Madlum Cave first

Our guide said that Bayukbok Cave once served as hideout of Filipino guerillas and Japanese soldiers. Bayukbok Cave being part of the Biak na Bato National Park is a historical cave where soliders and revolutionaries planned their strategy to defeat the enemies. I’m sure that there were those who died there with their hatred and anger filling the cave. Negative energy sometimes stays even if the person has gone creating a gloomy or negative feeling to present inhabitants. Some spirits like to feed on negative energy. Parang tao din yan. We tend to stay with people who are jolly, kind and fun to be with. We stay away from people who are stressful for us, di ba? Sa ibang spirits, it's the other way around: they stay with things/people that possess negative energy and veer away from those possessing positive energy.

Entering the cave requires a brief rappelling. My companion, upon seeing it, backed out. She said she has weak arms that she might not be able to do it. So, Kuya Boy suggested a much easier and shorter route. However, he said, there is not much beautiful dripstones in that part. True enough, there was not much formation in the easier route. I thought I’ll just come back some other day to explore the whole of Bayukbok Cave. 



entrance to Bayukbok Cave (easier route)

While exploring Bayukbok, I noticed two things. One, there are lots of broken sea shells scattered in cave holes and floors and that most stones that we were holding on and walking are sharp, which reminds me of coral reefs. If you’ve touched a dead coral reef, that’s how those rocks felt. I told Kuya Boy that the cave must have been underwater long ago. I didn't think he heard me for he did not give any reply. 

not much rock formation inside



Second, the cave gave me a weird feeling that we were being followed by something or being observed. I believe that caves are homes to earth spirits and earth-bound souls. My religious belief tells me to pray for these beings so they can move on, that they are more afraid of humans than we of them, and that fear is like anger that eats your strengths. Ay, easier thought than practice at that moment. Lalo na kapag naunahan ka na ng takot. Tatlo lang kami. Ako ang nasa huli. At ang buong kweba ay ubod ng dilim.

Later, when I looked at the photos we shot inside the cave, I was right. There was one shot where I had to crawl sideways in a small gap. My companion took photos of me there three times. In one shot, I saw a black silhouette from behind me. It seemed peeking from a stone not far from where I was. I posted it on my Facebook for others to confirm but the quality diminished making it difficult for others to see it. I also checked the Internet if there are spelunkers who also experienced the same thing. I found ONLY one. 

Fortunately, I did not see it the way he saw it. I only felt it. After looking at the photos, I got so afraid that I left my room's lights on, listened to a praise song, and read a spiritual book. I slept around 3AM. When I woke up around 9AM, I felt sick. So, I meditated. I looked inside me and observed where fear is coming from. I am relatively new to meditation that I did not fully recover from fear but somehow I have lessened it.

Before I climbed out of the cave and while waiting for my companion to descent, I uttered a brief prayer for all beings inside the cave. I hope that somehow it would help them be healed. For the only thing that can break a negative energy is a positive energy (like kindness, love, compassion). We got out of the cave nearly 5PM. I think we did it for 40 minutes to an hour including all the photo sessions we did inside.

OTHER NOTES:

• Registration and having a guide are required.You can get at the registration area. Guide to Mt. Manalmon costs Php300. If you want to explore Bayukbok, it's Php30 per person plus Php30 for the headlamp.
• Allot a budget of Php1,000 per person (includes bus fares, hired tricycle going to Brgy. Madlum, guide)
• Always ask or check first if the Cabanatuan bus will pass by San Miguel. There are San Miguel-bound buses in EDSA and Pasay. We tried Five Star (Cubao terminal-Gapan Cabanatuan) going there and Baliwag (Pasay terminal) in going back to Manila.
• Madlum River is tempting. Bring swim wear.
• There are nice camping sites in the area.

Sagada Cave Connection

Have you ever had that feeling that you want something but don’t know what it is? In the middle of this year (2012), I experienced that feeling. I woke up one day and realized that my so-called regular, normal, waking life was boring, dull. A fire began to burn inside me but I didn’t know what it was yet until I went inside the Lumiang and Sumaguing caves...

I was not physically prepared for spelunking. Ako’y simpleng mamamayan lang na nagigising sa umaga para pumasok sa trabaho at bumabalik ng dorm para matulog, magbasa or makinig ng relaxation music sa YouTube. Nang sabihin ng kasamahan ko na ang next itinerary namin would be the Cave Connection, it did not register much on me, only the word “cave.” I did not know what I was getting into.



(L) looking up at Lumiang Cave (R) my companions



The Lumiang (or Lomyang) and Sumaguing caves are two famous caves in Sagada discovered by Italian spelunkers in 1985. These caves are two of the triumvirate Sagada caves (the other Latipan Cave) considered the deepest in the Philippines (at 163 m) and the 5^th longest nationwide (at 4000m). (The longest cave, the St. Paul Cave in Palawan, is at 15000m and its deep is at 100 m.)

Google searching Lumiang and Sumaguing later, I found out that it was in 1997 that it was opened to the public. The 4-6 hours spelunking is called the Cave Connection. If you Google search about it, you’ll find more information about the caves, what’s inside and the adventures you’ll experience.



(L) my best stunt that day (R) one of the holes that one has to go through

 Unlike the hanging coffins, the Lumiang coffins are piled up and some are engraved with a lizard which are considered sacred and guardians of the dead of the Ifugao ancestors. At habang nagpapaliwanag ang guide namin ng mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa cave, ako nama’y nag-iisip na nang kung anu-ano: Paano kaya nailagay ng mga Ifugao ang mga coffin na iyon dun? Did they use a rope or ladder? Come to think of it, during that time the Ifugaos did not have “spelunking attire” that many spelunkers use nowadays. Naisip ko kung ako ang maglalagay ng mga coffins na iyon in the same order or manner, baka ako ang earliest coffin na nandun ngayon.  Looking down, I saw lots of big rocks that would require 3-5 persons holding hands to encircle one. I’ll surely look like a lizard if I fell in one of those boulders.



(L) I have two orbs down there (R) I couldn't see what was beyond me



The real attraction of Lumiang cave is not the rock formation. For those who have been to other Philippine caves, the rock formation in Lumiang is not that majestic. The main attraction really is the experience of going in/out, up/down the geologic formation inside the cave without safety gears! And that makes Lumiang so beautiful for me because I really have to “touch” it, be “part” of it.  Since there were just my group groping in the dark, it was a little quite. This gave me time to concentrate on how to go about the rock formations (saan hahawak, saan tatapak, paano gagapang, etc) and feel the cave.  It was wonderful! Our guide aptly said it, “Hindi mo mae-enjoy ang cave kung nagmamadali ka.” He said it twice! Masunurin naman kami kaya inabot kami ng 6 hours sa loob.



some of the stalactites and stalagmites inside Sumaguing Cave



And the Sumaguing cave? Of the two caves, Sumaguing has the more wonderful dripstones. I think it is more beautiful if there are not too much people in it. One can only see the real beauty of nature if one becomes aware of its pristine self. When we reached the border of Lumiang and Sumaguing, thre were just too may tourists. Maraming grupo at may mga bata pa nga. Kulang na lang ng lamp posts at upuan, Rizal Park na.

The Cave Connection is very refreshing for me. I have found the answer to my earlier question. The spirit of the Ifugao ancestors must have given me the answer.

OTHER NOTES:

• There was a vandalized wall near the so-called “dancing floor” of Lumiang. Either the locals or the tourists did it (probably with consent from the tour guide? Exploring Lumiang needs a guide unless one thinks he/she thinks there’s no need to do so.)  They must have forgotten that Lumiang is a BURIAL SITE. And being disrespectful has its consequences.

• There are lots of orbs inside. 

• Check the Saggas website for more information. Very helpful site.  
• Magsuot ng clothes na hindi madaling kapitan ng mantsa ng putik or wear clothes that you're willing to throw afterwards unless matyaga kang magtanggal ng putik sa damit.