Exploring Philippines 87 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 2 - Pinagrealan Cave)

From their conversation, we learned that the place is privately owned and the cave was turned over to the local government of Norzagaray but the surrounding area is still owned and maintained by its private owner. The permission to the cave is not within the owner's jurisdiction but to the caretakers.  Since there was already an order not to allow the visitors to enter the cave until the rehabilitation and maintenance activities is over, until then, no visitors will be allowed for any spelunking activity.

While they continued their conversation, we tried to take pictures to make the most of our spare time.  Big rock formations lined up within the surrounding area of the owner's place and we did some little fun in the process.  In moments like that one, where negotiations were ongoing, patience is the key and all possible means should be exhausted in order to overcome the hurdle.  If ever our intent will not be granted, then we had to consider some other possibilities instead of going home empty handed.

Luckily, one of the visitors happened to be a resident of Norzagaray and she knows some people connected to the NCHAT.  She tried to contact the person and the group waited for that person to arrive in order for the group to gain access to the cave.  And if they can go, it would not be a problem if we can tag along since there were only the two of us.

In the meantime, while waiting for that key person, we spend our waiting time in the duhat tree.  Duhat trees are plenty within the vicinity and anyone is free to climb a duhat tree and pick duhat fruits to his heart content.  It's been a long time since I climbed a tree and since it was an easy climb, I joined some members of the group who were already enjoying a good spot on top of the tree.

After some time, the contact of the group arrived.  The person is connected to the one in-charge of NCHAT and after some pep talk, we were given permission to explore the cave.  We were delighted upon hearing the good news.  We were required to sign in at a log book, the monitoring guide for the visitors.  During ordinary times, a visitor is charge 20 pesos for the entrance fee and an additional fee of 150 pesos if a guide will be hired.  On our end, tagging with the group was a good idea and we were not charge even a single centavo.  Our tricycle driver, though he is a native of that place, joined us because it was his first time to visit the cave.  We told him that if wants to earn additional amount, he should explore the tourist spots of the town so that he can be a driver and a guide at the same time.