THE AGRUPACION CAVES
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A. Dalangin Cave
This cave is 70 meters above sea level situated at Barangay Agrupacion. It has an approximate area of 300sq.m. with approximate length of about 65.48 lm. It is reachable through Andaya Highway and farm-to-market- road network. From the Barangay Hall, the cave can be reached through a tricycle or habal with approximate distance of 2 kilometers.
Source: DENR ROV, Legazpi City
B. Tolentino Cave
This cave is 56 meters above sea level situated at Barangay Apale. It has a total area of 321.62 sq.m. and with approximate length of 65.4870 lm. It is reachable by riding habal-habal or tricycle through Andaya Highway and farm-to-market- road going to Barangay Agrupacion. This cave can be reached by taking a 15-minute walk from Dalangin Cave.
Based from the findings of DENR Cave Assessment Team, Dalangin and Tolentino Caves are classified as Class III which indicates that the caves are safe to inexperience visitors with no known threatened species and hydrological features observed inside and
outside the caves. These caves are home to different species of flora and fauna such as the number of bats (Hipposideros pygmaeus) and balinsasayaw (collocalia exculenta), guano, stalactites, stalagmites and columns. Aside from fauna, flora is also diverse in the area which has ecological and aesthetic value. Some of which are endemic in the Philippines such as Antipolo (Artocarpos blancoi).
The richness of the area reveals that the caves are not disturbed by any human activity and the continuous flowing water inside and outside the caves are indications of healthy surrounding vegetation.
Source: DENR ROV, Legazpi City
C. Aborquez Cave
According to stories from the locals, this cave once served as a shelter, meeting place and hiding spot of guerrillas during Japanese occupation in the country.
This cave does not only harbor different species of flora and fauna mentioned in the preceding caves but also contains structures that are fascinating. Once inside, dare not to miss the “Big Dome” and the “Basilica” as the locals call them. Their beauties are phenomenal as rock and limestone formations form the semblances of a Dome and the Basilica Minore in Naga City.
Other than its phenomenal structure, the cave also features interesting obstacles, active shallow streams, small corridors and large galleries. As in the most caves however, slippery stones, sharp
rocks and guano abound inside. Thus, visitors should be watchful and take extra care to avoid accident.
The rugged and narrow terrain indicates that the trail down the cave would not be easy. However, its magnificent limestone formations and cavern- like expanse can only be seen by taking the adventurous trail down the deep, dark, and cold cave. Once inside, you can just simply realize that this cave has a lot of untold stories that only your naked eyes can understand.
Today, this cave remains unexplored by tourists and is yet to be assessed, surveyed and mapped by the DENR. Once classified, this cave will surely draw visitors of different ages and levels of spelunking experience.
Brgy. Agrupacion is reachable via Andaya Highway and farm-to-market road network. To reach the cave, take a 2-kilometer ride from Barangay Hall via tricycle for a fee of ₱ 50.00 or habal-habal for ₱ 20.00.
Note: This is going to be a guided tour, so if you are planning to visit any of these caves soon, make sure to coordinate with the Municipal Tourism Office for safety and convenience.
BEGINNER’S GUIDE:
Don’t you know that stalagmites and stalactites grow extremely slow? USUALLY 1 INCH EVERY HUNDRED YEARS!
STALAGMITES rise upwards from the floor of a cave, whereas STALACTITES hang downwards from the ceiling. When these two combines, they form a COLUMN.
Avoid touching cave formations, especially with your bare hands because the oil from your skin will permanently damage them and affect the growth of formations.
Before going inside the caves, bear in mind some of these important reminders to ensure a safe and fun experience.
Considering the carrying capacity of the caves, only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside. Make sure not to make loud noises because there are some species living inside the cave like bats and “balingsasayaw” or swiftlet that may be disturbed. Be watchful of the floor with some “hukay” or pit which signals extraction of GUANO (excrement of bats) was conducted there. The guano is considered a potent fertilizer.
Vandalism and extraction of guano inside the cave are strictly prohibited. Under Republic Act No. 9072, otherwise known as, the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act, a penalty ranging from ₱200,000 to ₱500,000 shall be imposed and, if it is a severe destruction, the penalty may up to
₱ 1 million and an imprisonment for 6 to 12 years. Just be sure to remember and conform to these simple rules and your cave exploration will be memorable.