Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto

In connection with the International Costal Clean Up Day last September 20, 2008, the Rotary Club of Hundred Islands conducted its share the following day, September 21, 2008 at the Cacupangan Cave, Tagudin, Mabini, Pangasinan.  The participation of the club in the international activity is unique considering that it was not a sea coast which was cleaned but a cave because the Municipality of Mabini, Pangasinan, is landlocked.

The briefing for the activity was conducted by the Mabini Cave Conservation Group last September 18, 2008 during the weekly meeting of the club.  Since most of the club members who would participate in the cave clean up were from Alaminos City, they have to assemble and leave for Mabini town proper at 7:00 in the morning.  At 8:00, the team left Poblacion for Villacorta, the mouth of the cave.

Mabini Conservancy group who would guide the Hundred Islands Rotarians inside the cave went a day ahead.  Upon their arrival at 9:00 in the morning, a short orientation was conducted.  Considering that the water inside the cave becomes part of the water system of Mabini, participants were advised not to urinate and defecate inside the cave.  The basic rules in caving were reiterated, “Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures and kill nothing but time.”

Armed with headlamps, flashlights, plastic brushes, pail, tabo and a lot of courage, the Hundred Islands Rotarians entered the Cacupangan Cave in two groups to clean two graffiti hotspots located some three hundred (300) meters from its mouth.  The graffiti were removed by means of plastic brushes because they are written with mud.  With teamwork in place, the work was distributed among members.  Some were scrubbing the walls and some bring water to the one scrubbing.

The more familiar parts of the cave are the Ice Cream Cone Room and the Bentanilya Vertical Cave but they are not the spots where the removed graffiti were removed.  It was called Bentanilya because it is a natural windows or skylights that are entrances for more advanced cavers using Single Rope Techniques.

The activity has awaken the concern of the Municipal Government of Mabini to protect and conserve the cave.  The Mabini Conservancy group volunteered to the task.  No one will be allowed to enter the cave without proper orientation and proper caving gear.

Source: http://hundredislandsrotary.org/content/view/90/2/