Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto

On 14 April 2009, during the opening ceremony of the Baggao Cave Guides Training, Esteban M. Perez, President of Sierra Madre Outdoor Club (SMOC), and Rawen E. Balmaña, President of Balincaguin Conservancy (BC), executed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing a sister-club relationship between the two clubs. This relationship is to reinforce the common goals of both clubs, which are to rehabilitate, protect and preserve the environment and natural resources in their respective areas and to promote eco-tourism. The signing witnesses were the Mayor of Baggao, Hon. Rolando T. Uanang, SMOC Advisor Francisco B. Battung, Jr. and BC Advisor Charles M. Nelson.

SMOC, which has its headquarters in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, is a well established group with members who enjoy the outdoor activities centered in the Sierra Madre Mt. range. This mountain range extends North to South through the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nuvea Viscaya, Nueva Ecija. During the 1980’s, SMOC was actively involved in the eradication of illegal logger in the Sierra Madre’s. In  2005, SMOC co-hosted the 5th Philippine Speleological Society National Caving Congress using the same venue as this training project.

BC, which is headquartered in Mabini, Pangasinan, on the other hand was recently formed in 2008 with members who are all employed by LGU-Mabini. BC was instrumental in closing Sto. Rosario Cave located in Brgy. San Pedro, Mabini that was used by the so-called “Reverend” Alex Orbito for his spiritual healing seminars. Every year Orbito brings up to 90 international participants to sleep overnight in Sto. Rosario Cave and to baptize them in the cave’s “healing waters.” Orbito’s use the cave became an issue because the cave is upstream from the barangay’s water source. The closure of the cave was brought about by the illegal developments introduced by Orbito and the possible link to water borne diseases in the barangay.

The Municipality of Baggao, Cagayan is located two hours North of Tugegarao and is endowed with numerous caves, waterfalls, hot springs and the Barrit River. The Baggao Cave Guides Training held on 14-19 April 2009 is SMOC’s effort to help Baggao’s desire to promote these potential eco-tourism spots. With the help of BC, SMOC invited members of the National Speleological Society (NSS) Southern California Grotto to give lectures on basic cave terminology and instructions guiding techniques and visitors’ safety.

The trainees, all recommended by their Barangay Captains, are the future guides of the three tourist spots to be initially promoted, namely San Miguel’s Duba Cave, Pallagao’s Blue Water Cave and Asinga-via’s Hot Springs. So much interest was shown by the participation of the Barangay Captains and several barangay council members. The lectures and demonstrations were held in the San Miguel Elementary School classroom and school grounds. Basic rope knot-tying, safety, belay and Single Rope Technique (SRT) classes and hands-on practicum were at San Miguel's irrigation intake structure while additional lectures and surveying practicum were held in Duba Cave.

Fortunately the three NSS members, Daniel Veelik, Betty Farfan and Charles Nelson have expertise in SRT and have been selected as members of the SRT training team during the 2009 NSS convention. Although a SRT refresher course was scheduled for SMOC members who had previous climbing experience, several of the trainees who showed potential during the basic rope classes were also introduced to SRT.

During the trainging period, the NSS-SMOC-BC team planned to explore and assess Duba Cave, Blue Water Cave and the caves around the hot springs. However because of some rainy days, they were only able to explore Duba Cave. SMOC-BC stayed an extra day to complete a cave survey of Duba Cave to the Skylight Falls. Completion of these aborted explorations and of the other caves in Baggao are some of the future plans of the sisssster clubs.

Special thanks and credits for the logistics are given to Mayor Uanang and Raona G. Osuna-Mabutas of LGU-Baggao, and to Barangay Captain Leonila P. Razos of Brgy. San Miguel.

KUDOS to ALL (organizers, instructors & participants) for a project very well done!

By Jerry Rendon

Click here to see gallery photos.