Exploring Philippines 91 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 6 - Pinagrealan Cave)

The next chapter of the trail is narrow and most of the time flooded.  Just like the previous ones, there were occasions where we need to walk in the water instead of clinging in the catwalk.  We also need to watch  the ceiling because of the sharp stone formations that are hanging around.  As we progress, we perspire heavily due to our effort since we are actually not used to this kind of activity plus the fact that the oxygen inside is getting thinner.

After a while, we came upon another chamber with a large opening and if you are going to make your imagination work, it looks like a mouth of a dragon with those sharp hanging walls as its teeth.  After a few meters, we approached a rock formation where we need to insert ourselves in its hollow part in order to proceed further.  I guess this part of the cave had been carved by the water that passes through it for decades.  And with manageable obstacles to hurdle, we stopped at a point where it seems that it is the end of the cave.  But actually it is not.

On the right side of the cave, there is a small opening that will lead to another part of the cave.  One needs to squeeze himself by crawling to the ground in order to get through it.  Some of our colleagues dared to pass that channel but we urged them not to proceed because we were not ready to leave our bags and my camera behind.  Aside from this, we don't have enough flashlight to light our path and I was not sure how long will my flashlight last.  And lastly, there was an apparent growing of smoke or haze.  I noticed that as we speak, there was some kind of traces of our breath in the air.  Though I am not that so sure, I was alarmed because we might ran out of oxygen if we still hang around or further continue our spelunking.  At this part of the cave where it looked like a dead end, we could not feel even just a breeze entering this part.  All that we could feel was the cold water and in its quiet moment, the gentle rush of the running water.

Since there was no opposition, we began to trace our way out of the cave.  There was an instance when we turned off the lights and it was really scary.  With the treacherous formation of the cave and under the pitch black environment, it would be hard for someone to find his way out if there's no light.  We found little problems on our way out since we were almost familiar with each turn and challenges of the cave.  The high wall which we climbed with full effort before no longer challenged us because we went under a small passage to its left and we were able to successfully squeezed our way out.  It was good that we don't had a companion that is bigger than us because he'll definitely won't fit on that small opening.  There were bats flying above our head but knowing them, they will not fly straight towards us.

It took us almost 30 minutes from the opening of the cave towards the last chamber where we made our final stop.  Aside from having hardships along the way towards the inside the cave, we need to spare some time because we had to take some pictures.  On our way out, we spent almost 15 minutes.

While inside the cave, we noticed several walls that were vandalized.  Some of the undisciplined spelunkers wrote on the walls of the cave.  At first, the idea of leaving your name on the walls of a cave is cool but after contemplating, you're actually ruining it.  The people who came before us did not even bother to do such things because of their respect to that place.  I guess with the privilege of exploring a cave is already enough where we can say that we are part of that place already.  There's no need to write or leave any markings anymore.  And we wanted to have a good remembrance of the cave and for others to see, we can always take lots of pictures to show around.

Once we got out, without any hesitation, I talked to the lady who was instrumental in allowing us to get inside the cave.  I voiced out my suggestions in order to help protect and preserve the cave.  I told her that NCHAT can further provide caving rules such as: 1) A group of 5 to 6 spelunkers will be allowed inside the cave at a time.  2) Each group should be accompanied by a local tour guide in order to ensure that spelunkers will not do nasty things such as vandalism or ruining the cave.  By doing this, they can add more local tour guides and could provide additional income to the local community.  3) They should require the spelunkers to wear protective head gears.  In this case, NCHAT can finance a set of helmets and flashlights to be used by each group which should be rented at a minimal fee.

She had an open mind about my suggestions and I hope NCHAT can draw strict caving rules in order to preserve and protect this natural heritage site.

When we returned to the holding area, there were several spelunkers on a standby.  I don't know if they will be allowed to enter the cave after us.  We thanked the one who allowed us to go inside the cave as well as the group that allowed us to tag along.  Afterwards, we went our separate ways.