Spelunking in Pinagrealan Cave in Bulacan

The flashlight beams casted shadows across the damp rock surface of the cave. Once in a while, a flash would go off as someone took a photograph. Then, it was back to the gloom as our group stumbled through the winding caverns. Spelunking in the historic Pinagrealan Cave in Norzagaray, Bulacan was the first stop in Lakbay Norte, an 8-day media familiarization tour to several provinces in the North earlier this year.

According to local tourism staff, the cave was used by Katipunero Revolutionaries as a camp in 1896 during the war against Spain and again during the Filipino-American War in 1898 as the hideout of General Emilio Aguinaldo (the First President of the Philippines).

It was also used as a sanctuary by the Japanese Imperial Army when the Philippines was liberated by American Forces. The subterranean network of caverns extends more than a kilometer deep. Its terrain is marked by 85% limestone walls whose colors vary from pink, brown and white, shallow sinkholes, and crystal-like formations that make some parts of the rock surface sparkle.

Our cave exploration was relatively slow because of the size of our group and the darkness. Not everyone had flashlights and the taller people in the group had to keep crouching to avoid hitting the low hanging stalactites. The group slowly fell in line to clamber from one edge of the slippery surface and squeeze through the rock crevices to get ahead.

A section of the cave tapered into a narrow water-filled passage, and we had no choice but to plunge into the pool of waist-deep water to advance. At the other side of the pool was a large sinkhole that serves as a swimming hole for visitors. We were told that the passageway still led to inner cave chambers ideal for expert spelunkers.

Though not as extensive as the Biak-na-Bato Caves, local tourism officials are eyeing Pinagrealan Cave as a new tourist destination in the area, ideal for those looking for a quick and adventurous weekend trip.
For inquiries, contact the Bulacan Provincial Youth, Sports, Employment, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PYSEACTO), email: psyeaco@bulacan.gov.ph or call +63 (44) 791-6604

For more travel stories, visit the author’s blog Travel Up at www.traveling-up.com

Text by Kara Santos