Panglao Island, Bohol Unearthing the Mystical Hinagdanan Cave

Truth be told, CAVES have been so iconic in our generation. Theyve always been enigmatic as they puzzle our thoughts with cryptic images. They feed our core with a hodge podge of emotions and thoughts fear, excitement, curiosity, and goosebumps (whatever). We even perceive them as dangerous!

Anyway, those are just the other side of the story. But even though we all have those perceptions, were still interested of caves! Why? Were very eager to explore and witness their endless mysteries. Were craving to be fascinated by their auras! Perhaps, underground Hinagdanan Cave does the same to us.

Where is Hinagdanan Cave?Located in Panglao Island, Bohol, Hinagdanan Cave an underground cavern, emerged as one of the Philippines most eye-catching caves. Countless people whether foreigners or locals flock together to witness this mystifying work of nature.

Beneath the Ancient Walls and GroundHinagdanan cave is about 110 meters long. Its made of limestone and filled with breathtaking rock formations stalactites and stalagmites. These rock creations cover the caves ceiling and floor, making the whole cave extremely arcane yet so fascinating. A small portion of light also enters through the ceiling.

The caves portal is just a hole of about 1 meter wide in diameter. Exactly, its so narrow and steep that only one person can enter at a time. Dont be surprised of the various souvenirs and gift items near the entrance. Buy some of them.

A natural lagoon with clear fresh water also lies in the depths of Hinagdanan. Its about 10-12 meters deep and now enjoyed by the visitors. Its waters gradually stream inside and out of the cavern. Dont be confused if the water becomes salty. Sea water combines with the lakes water on high tides!

Traveling to HinagdananHinagdanan nestles about 2.5 kilometers from the heart of Dauis Town, Panglao Island. Its about 15 kilometers from the bustling city of Tagbilaran and just a few miles away from the famous Alona Beach. This means, you can see the cave then go straight to Alona. Its up to you!

A motor bike or a tricycle from the town of Dauis will be the means of transportation to get there. If you have your own vehicle, well, thats a huge advantage for you!

The DiscoverySome years ago, Hinagdanan Cave was accidentally discovered by a man who luckily owned the area where the cave lies. While he was clearing the decaying branches, he found a hole then threw a stone into it. He heard a splash! He immediately built a ladder to get into the cavern!

Thats where the name Hinagdanan was derived. Hinagdanan is a vernacular term which means laddered.

What Else?Hinagdanan Cave in Panglao Island, Bohol is just one of the numerous enchanting caves found in the Philippines. Other famous caves are Crystal Cave in Crystal Cove Island, Camotes Cave, Cebu, Hindang Cave in Iligan, and Initao Cave in Misamis Oriental. Hey! Theres still a lot of them!

A Philippine Vacation to Sagada: An Adventure Hub by Day, Relaxing Haven by Night

When you mention places to go in the Philippines, people tend to think of such attractions as Boracay, or Mt. Mayon. With the geographical diversity this archipelago offers, though, not all tourist spots are beaches or nature parks. Sometimes, what draws tourists in is the chance to face the challenge of nature the same thing that draws surfers to Siargaos Cloud Nine.

The same can be said of Sagada, a small town in Luzons mountain province. If you have a thirst for adventure and are on a Philippine vacation, youll find Sagada doesnt disappoint.

Urbanization has claimed its share of the landscape, but nature is still largely visible. As it is, there are no bus lines that have straight runs from Manila to this mountain town. You will have to head to Baguio and take a bus from there, or to Bontoc and hop on a jeepney.

Once there, places of interest include Bomod-ok Falls and Pongas Falls, with a view of rice terraces on the way to the former. Its also possible to take a tour of Echo Valley, the local cemetery, and Calvary Hills. Renting bikes or motorcycles to get around the town and see different sights is an option, too.

An interesting note is that souvenirs sold in the area include shirts that read I survived Sagada and theres a good reason for this. Some of the activities can be physically demanding, like the trek to the aforementioned falls. Some, while interesting, may not be for everyone. Kids, for instance, may enjoy the tour, but might not be ready for parts that are more extreme.

White-water rafting is one example of things to do that are best left for when youre in better shape, or at least more energized. It may not be among the family beach vacations youve heard about when visiting this Asian country, but if everyone in your group is up for it, its worth trying.

Another extreme activity, and perhaps Sagadas biggest draw in travel and tourism, is spelunking. The small town is known for three caves Sumaguing, Lumiang, and Crystal Caves. All three offer varying levels of difficulty, but theyre not too difficult that a novice cant complete the run.

The shortest run takes roughly 1 hours, and explores Sumaguing Cave. A group of 4-6 people will require 2 guides, while a larger group may need 3 or more and cost Php400-500 per person. Youll want to make sure youre wearing comfortable clothing that wont get snagged on rocks, and youll be barefoot for most of the activity.

Where the short run involves heading about 200 meters into the cave, the longer run, known as the cave connection, involves your group going in deeper. Also, as the name implies, you explore two caves, namely Lumiang and Sumaguing. You go in through the former, and exit the latter.

The cave connection may take up to 3 hours, maybe more if your group is quite large or if you have people with you who are in shape but still encounter some difficulty traversing the caves.

When it comes to Philippine tourist attractions that leave a lasting impression, Sagada is hard to beat. If youre a fan of pushing yourself to your limits, this is the place for you!

The Underground River, A Must-See Subterranean Marvel in Palawan

Palawan

Palawan is slowly becoming a suitable place to visit when having a holiday vacation. Because of the places continuous progress, the number of tourists is truly skyrocketing. But one highlight which has always made Palawan citizens proud is the well-known Underground River. Also known as Palawans subterranean river, it is absolutely a must-see place when visiting the province. For the record, this river is named as the most navigable subterranean river in the whole world.

There isnt much record regarding the rivers early history and not so many documents were found when pertaining to its discovery. Nevertheless, the early inhabitants of the island were believed to be the first individuals to discover it. But they never knew the details due to their fear that there were hostile spirits exploring the caves.

If there was one person who vaguely discovered the cave, it was Dean C. Worcester. Worcester was an assistant professor in Zoology at the University of Michigan. Later on the first ten years of the American colonization, he became the Secretary of Interior. According to Worcester, he heard some stories that theres an opening in the subterranean river that leads all the way to the sea.

There are so many things to mention as to why Palawans Underground River is famously known as a tourist spot. To start, you can see the amazing and distinct collection of plants and animals. The park itself even has its own monkey trail.

Tourists who want to hike can take the various trail systems which will lead them to different kinds of forests. While trailing, youll be confounded once you see those numerous creatures including monkeys and the monitor lizards.

Here are some enjoyable things you can do while youre in the Underground River National Park:

1. Jungle Trekking This activity is apt for outdoor lovers who want to go on an adventure. Jungle trekking also gives you the great opportunity to witness wildlife.

2. Wildlife Watching As many as 165 bird species can be seen in this place. Out of the 165, 15 of them are endemic species of Palawan.

3. White Sand Beaches It wont be a vacation if you havent bathed in the white sand beaches. The crystal waters make it suitable to go swimming. Since there are many beaches, the ones suggested to visit are the Marte Fe beach, Sabang beach and the Panaguman beach.

4. Ethnographic Museum In Palawan, two indigenous cultural groups are the Tagbanua and Batak. If you want to know more about them, feel free to visit the museum.

Reaching Palawan can be attained in several ways. Most airlines in the Philippines have a direct flight to Palawan when youre in Manila. It is highly recommended though to book for Puerto Princesa Underground River on the internet.

Once you arrive at the Puerto Princesa Airport, you can ride a tricycle to go to Underground River Booking Office.

When youre in your hotel, you can easily ride a tricycle to go to the New Market terminal. Once youre there, you can ride a jeepney and go to Sabang. Afterward, go to the tourism office to arrange a boat ride to Puerto Princesa Underground River cave entrance. This is where you start your adventure of a lifetime.

Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan Island Commemorating the Fight for Freedom

Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan Island

A popular tourist attraction in Cebu City, the Lapu-Lapu Shrine is a 20-meter (66 ft) bronze statue located in Punta Engao, Mactan Island, Cebu. This historic site was built by the government in memory of Rajah or Datu Lapu-Lapu, a native ruler of the island and the first Philippine chieftain who fought against the foreign invaders. It was on this very same spot that the battle for supremacy and peoples freedom occurred between Ferdinand Magellan and Lapu-Lapu. Magellan, the Portuguese explorer was killed along with Spanish soldiers on that fateful day of April 27, 1521.

Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan Island gives a picture of the hero in his native attire holding a kampilan on his right hand and a shield on the left, such weapons believed to have been used during the bloody combat. This memorial statue standing on top of a pedestal serves as a living reminder of Filipino gallantry.

The Lapu-Lapu Shrine is found inside a plaza known as the Magellan Shrine Park. Every 27th of April each year, a re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan takes place as a commemoration of the bloody skirmish of long ago. This draws thousands of foreign and local tourists to the park every year. Apart from the Magellan Shrine, the park also features a covered structure that houses a large mural painting of the Battle of Mactan with a commemorative marker.

The site is being visited by voluminous tourists not only for the attractions inside but also for the equally famous hotels and resorts within its vicinity. The best time to visit the place is around mid- morning where afterwards you can proceed to the nearby SU-TU-KIL restaurants for lunch. Incidentally, SUTUKIL is the acronym for the Visayan words Sugba (Grill), Tula (soup), Kilaw (raw). It normally refers to a fish dish preferably the blue marlin that is prepared grilled, in soup or in sashimi style. Such great food for reasonable prices!

For those wanting to get a closer look of Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan Island, heres a tip- wear comfortable clothes and footwear as you will be walking on sand and soil. It would be smart to also wear a hat or bring an umbrella to protect you from the sun. The place is just about 30- minutes ride by taxi from Cebu City Proper. But if youre just around Mactan Island, you can easily get to the park by multi-cab.

Cathedral Falls, Kapatagan Crystal Water and Verdant Greenery

Kapatagan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines. On the southern and eastern sides of the locality are mountains that serve as natural blockades keeping the municipality safe from typhoons. Counterbalancing the mountain is the presence of flat coastal lands, rolling hills and valley.

Kapatagan has five major rivers that flow to Panguil Bay, which sometimes overflow, especially during the rainy season. This results to floods resulting to destruction and even death of farm and land animals. One of the few famous waterfalls in the province of Lanao del Norte, aside from Maria Christina of Iligan and Tinago Falls of Linamon, is Cathedral Falls, Kapatagan.

With a captivating surrounding, the waterfall is located in Barangay Cathedral Falls, just 2 km away over paved roads from Kapatagan Town Center.

Anyone who sees this fantastic piece of creation would be awestruck and a jaw-dropping experience when standing fact to face with this majestic scenery.

The heavy volume of water makes the Cathedral Falls all the more splendid. However, what adds to its beauty is the wall of rock that lines its strip. From afar, you would think of such as pieces of lumber neatly tucked to form a fence but actually, there are rocks.

The wide rock wall at both sides of the brink also looks like a pipe organ usually found in cathedrals, hence the name. Add to that an element of mystery with a supposed underwater cave that has yet to be explored, much less fathomed, to this day.

Travelers are used to seeing waterfalls after a tiring trek uphill, over verdant rolling hills and lush forests. Others may harbor the thought of loose hanging bridges, deep ravines, native warriors and worst, tiptoeing barefoot on river bends. Not to mention the countless pit stops that alters the schedule.

Here, you need not undergo a tedious ordeal to witness natures creation. This gorgeous creation is verily accessible to everyone; just a 10-minute habal- habal ride from the town proper and your there. This is what makes this waterfall distinct from the rest.

Despite the accessibility, this amazing gift of nature is still unknown to many. Visitors, tourists, bloggers and photographers do not frequent the place. Thus, the Cathedral Falls, Kapatagan is still considered new, fresh and untouched sanctuary for all to discover.