SIBUD-SIBUD CAVE
Updated article is migrated to this link:
LOCATION:
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Brgy. Alaoa,
Tineg, Abra, Philippines.
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HOW TO GET THERE:
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From
Manila: Partas Bus (fare and schedule here) or Dominion Transit Bus bound
to Bangued. Approx. trip duration: about 9 hours.
From Baguio
City: Take a Partas Bus (Php314.00) or a mini bus (Php250.00) bound to
Bangued. Approx. trip duration: about 6 hours.
Private
vehicles: Directions can be easily asked from the friendly Abra locals.
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Bangued to Tineg transportation cost:
Single
motor: Around Php1000.00 (negotiable; round trip, with side trips)
Jeepney:
Around Php3,000.00 (negotiable; round trip, with side trips)
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Drop-off to cave entrance: About 30 minutes (on
foot).
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Spelunking duration: About an hour (traverse).
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JUMP-OFF POINT:
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Tineg Road,
Alaoa, Tineg
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CONTACT PERSON:
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(074 752-5758; 0999-994-0948 (Mayor's Office); 0936-429-7232 (Alex, Barangay Alaoa Treasurer); 0917-705-7029 (Mark).
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FEES/RENTALS/FACILITIES:
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Registration Fee:
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None.
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Guide Fee:
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Php200.00 (maximum
of 10 pax/guide).
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Shoes, lamp, knee & elbow pads
rental:
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None.
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Shower facility:
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None. Not
needed.
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CHARACTERISTICS
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Mineral deposit formations:
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Highly abundant.
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Underground river:
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None.
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Bat population:
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Numerous.
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Chambers:
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Multi-chambered;
more on caverns.
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Human artefacts:
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None
discovered yet.
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Cave fill:
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Bat droppings
and soil partially covering the floor.
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Description
A cave newly
put under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Sibud-Sibud Cave in Tineg, Abra, with its offering of multitude of mineral
deposit formations without the usual wall cliff hanging to crawling through
narrow crevices, is slowly gaining its momentum in spelunking tourism.
Sibud-Sibud
Cave is situated in Barangay Alaoa in the beautiful, mountainous Municipality of
Tineg, Abra. According to the locals, the cave was named Sibud-Sibud because it
had been a habitat of numerous birds decades ago. Its name is derived from the Adasen
word sibud, meaning bird. Unfortunately,
only bats occupy its chambers this days. Possibly, there might be other birds
seeking sanctuary as well as accidental animal inhabitants in the chambers near
the exits. Its approximated year of discovery has not yet been established,
though the locals verbalized that it has always been there as a bat-hunting
ground of their forefathers.
Sibud-Sibud
Cave is a multi-chambered cave with a couple of caverns and beautifully-formed mineral
deposits. There are two entry point to the cave, thus a traverse route can be
done; though, the tourist may opt to trace back his initial point of entry as
his exit. Unlike other caves, Sibud-Sibud as a Class III cave, does not require
tourists to crawl or slide through crevices, wade through icy waters, or climb
stone walls. It is an easy trek save one area where climbing through a makeshift
wooden ladder is needed. Portions of the cave floor are wet from the
accumulated continuous drips from the rocks above. Mineral deposit formations
are numerous starting a few meters from each entry points, thus giving tourists
immediate wonderment. These formations like small to giant banana blossom, heart,
flaccid, uncircumcised male genitalia (complete with scrotum), dome-like roof, golden
walls, terraces and others are all over the place, from the walls, the floor,
to the roof of the cave. Add the flapping and squeaking of hundreds of bats, it
is a surreal experience. It is a haven
for non-rigorous itinerary spelunkers.
Despite of the
beauty of the cave, the distance, lack of public transportation and the often
misunderstood stigma of Abra are high hurdles in its promotion as an excellent
ecotourism destination. As of writing, the Sibud-Sibud Cave has an informal
tourist program. There are two local guides who have been accompanying tourists
in and out of the cave. Interestingly, it is a father-son tandem. The younger
guide, Jamsie, lives at the start of the hike. Devoid of the innuendos and
catch phrases learned from a standard guide training, the local guides are very
much sensitive in safeguarding the well-being of the tourists, en route and inside
the cave. Ask the history of the place and the cave and the guide would give
you his personal experiences as well as knowledge passed by their forefathers.
It is basically an innocent, honest guiding.
This year,
Sibud-Sibud Cave have been identified as Class III cave and added in the
hundreds of caves under the protection and management of DENR. As embodied in
Memorandum Circular 2016-05 signed by DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, this
classification ensures the preservation of the caves for the enjoyment of the
public (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2016). Class III caves
can easily be explored by inexperienced tourist albeit with the assistance of guides.
Other notable
tourist destinations in the municipality are the Camouflage Rock formation,
Kaparkan Falls (Molawin Falls), Tineg River and several water falls.
Reminders:
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It is highly
advisable to arrange transportation (if you are commuting) in advance before
going there.
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There are no
public vehicles traversing the Bangued-Tineg route as of August 2016. It can
be reached through private car or hiring single motor or four-wheeled
vehicles.
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In hiring
transportation, there is no standard hire rate; approximate trip duration
takes as much as 2 hours; the road from Bangued is predominantly paved with
few kilometers of rough road in the municipality just before Tineg.
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Wear a
comfortable non-slip, close toed rubber shoes (not sports sneakers puh-lease!).
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Do not
vandalize the rocks nor take any physical memento from the cave. Whether it is
under the protection of the DENR or not, treat nature with respect.
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Be guided by
the Leave No Trace mantra. Take only pictures and memories with you. Leave
the stones and mineral deposit formations behind.
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Gallery
An outward view
from one of the two entry points.
This is it, lets
go! Wait… Notice the vandalized stone; fortunately, it is only outside the
cave.
Further inside
the entrance. It looks ominously narrow but you can actually stoop walk through
it.
Once you are
through the entrance, you will be greeted by this. And the wide-eye-open-mouth syndrome
starts.
Aside from the formations,
you will also be greeted by the inhabitants with squeaks and flapping sounds.
Feast your eyes
on the numerous banana blossom-like formations along the walls and ceiling.
Don’t forget to
close your mouth, a bat may accidentally dive into it.
I call it the “Angel’s
Wings”.
Here’s a closer
look at the wings.
A heart,
perhaps?
Speleothem
columns
Another trigger
to the wide-eye-open-mouth syndrome.
A closer look.
By the way, these are about 5-7 feet high.
Even the ceiling
is undeniably a nature’s masterpiece.
The kakaw fruit. I’m not sure if this can
also be classified as a speleothem column.
Bats and bats
of bats and bats!
Its like heaven
and earth trying their best to reach each other.
Some of the
narrow pathways.
Bleeding heart.
This made me
remember the anime FairyTail [anime addicts can only relate to this J].
The dirt or mud
may have caused this richer color of the formations in this area.
An evidence
showing that the cave is very much alive.
It takes years
for a centimeter to grow in these live stones.
This gives me a
church-like feeling.
A cavern!
One of the
cavern ceiling divider.
A prisoner
heart? A misshapen angel?
A dark chamber.
Well, I will
let your imagination grow wild in this formation. I rest my case as to what it
resembles.
I am really
amazed at the multitude of colors on the surfaces of the formations.
Its time go to
a lower level.
The makeshift
wooden ladder. Careful in descending through this, because one the rungs is broken.
Notice the deep
color of the stone as well as the trickle of water.
The dome at the
lower level.
Careful when
you pass through this part, your head might be snagged J.
Just like the
other one, I rest my case in telling you what this resembles. Let your imagination
work.
Blossoms and
hearts guarded by the bats.
A wider view of
the bat cavern.
An adjacent
chamber.
A wall near the
exit.
The ceiling!
The ceiling!
This is the ceiling
at the other end of the cave.
The inconspicuous
exit!
REFERENCE:
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2016). DENR puts 39 more caves under protection.
Retrieved from http://www.denr.gov.ph/news-and-features/latest-news/2619-denr-puts-39-more-caves-under-protection.html.
