IN THE KNOW: Philippines, spelunkers’ delight
The Philippines has a number of caves that attract tourists from all over the world.
The Puerto Princesa Underground River or St. Paul Subterranean River in Palawan is a navigable underground river that winds through a cave.
It is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature and a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Heritage site, its cave being the third deepest in the country.
The Tabon Cave, known as the “Cradle of Philippine Civilization,” is a string of 200 caves in Palawan.
The human fossil, which became known as “Tabon Man,” was discovered in the cave, along with other archeological artifacts that date back to over 22,000 years ago.
Callao Cave, situated within the Peñablanca Protected Landscape in Cagayan, was once used as a camp by Japanese forces during World War II.
The cave has seven chambers which features a stone altar illuminated by natural skylight.
The Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Mt. Province is the deepest and fifth longest cave in the country, with the Sumaging Cave commonly referred to as “Big Cave.”
It served as the hiding place of Filipino soldiers and guerillas during World War II and was also a burial ground for indigenous people of the Cordillera.
The Biak-na-Bato Cave in Bulacan served as the hideout of revolutionary forces during the Spanish Occupation. It was also where Emilio Aguinaldo and Pedro Paterno signed the Malolos Constitution and where the Biak-na-Bato Republic was established.
The Dagohoy Cave in Bohol served as headquarters of Francisco Dagohoy’s movement during the Spanish regime.
The cave’s doorway is a 17-meter drop to a labyrinth and one of its passages has an underwater route that leads to dry land.
The Monfort Bat Cave in Samal, a bat sanctuary, is home to an estimated two million bats.
Other famous caves in the country include the Cacupangan, Biri and Hinagdanan caves located in Pangasinan, Guimaras and Bohol, respectively. Inquirer Research
Source: tourism.gov.ph, ncca.gov.ph, bulacan.gov.ph, boracay.com.ph, Inquirer Archives
