BULACAN │ Expoloring Bayukbok Caves

Bayukbok Caves are one of the historical places in Bulacan which can be found at the territory of Biak na Bato National Park. Based on Philippine history, these were hidding spot of guerrillas from Japanese colony. Later you'll realized how they put their selves in the narrowest and the darkest holes of the caves just to hide and save their lives.

The Map.

Legend in English: Daanan:way, Yungib:Cave, Bahayan:Residences, Tulay na Kable:Cable Bridge, Palanguyan:Swimming Area, Piknikan:Picnic Area. As you can see here at the Map there are lots of "Yungib".

Crossing Madlum river  (left) and entered forested area (right).

After Mt. Manalmon climb, we crossed the river, entered forest and climb rocks just to reach the entrance of the cave.

Sedimentary rock climb.

Then we climbed up on these rocks..Actually, I slipped here because of wet marble portion I stepped on. haha. Thank God someone catched me :) After here, we went to the cave entrance and given orientation about the rules for the activity. 

Looking around make me then realize that the whole area was totally submerged in water billions of years ago because of the sedimentary rocks around. Would you imagine that the whole Bulacan Philippines wasn't existed before? Amazing!

Biceps activated to descent.

After 5-10 minutes of walk, we reached our first challege, to descend 20ft. high boulder using a rope. Slipperiness due to rains made this a little difficult. 

The Music Room.

We entered small holes, climb up on rocks and crawl just to see nice limestone formation. After 15mins, we reached this amazing spot, the "Music Room". Entered approximately 2 meter area after entering 20-inch hole.

After descending using a rope, crawling under the stones and went through small tunnels we never knew how we went out of there, now here's another challenge! Simple yet enjoyable.

Were like fell on a trap here!

Oh we're not like fell on a trap here! There's a small opening at our lower left side, about 50 inches in diameter. The guy who's wearing black with orange stripe is actually assisting others to enter the area, but unfortunately we were almost full there, so everyone should climb up one by one to have enough space.

Amazing limestone rock formations.

There are two segments of the cave that you can explore. The first one I described above was just a warm up. But if you want a real adventure like in movies finding treasure and chased by their enemies, you should try this one. Your guides will ask you if you want to have just one or both. According to our cave guides, this second one requires a lot of endurance and bravery! It has lots of cliff, smallest holes and openings compared to the first one. 

The sedimentary walls of the cave 2.

In this picture, this was the moment we saw the light  after sight of darkness from cave one.

Bouldering.

This is one of the hardest part. You have to climb here carefully because of the cliff around you. Just a wrong step and die from falling from like a 5 storey building.

High cliff on our right.

There it is, a very high cliff on our right side and still stayed beautiful in this stressful moment.lol. Our cave guide said that this area is just like the seen from the "hidden treasure" movie. :)

After bouldering.

Descent via "baging" (vine)

Then you will be at the "baging" or vine area where you can swing through on that long vine and move like Tarzan. haha.

Cave's walls.

Compared to first cave explored, ceilings and walls were quite different. Here they' were smoother and much brownish in color maybe because it's the uppermost part amongst caves and water drips from here.

The narrowest hole ever entered!

This is the narrowest and the hardest hole I ever entered among the caves. Its like about 12 inches in diameter. Weew, would you imagine how he able to get out from there? look at the evidence from his shirt and you will know.

Cool stalagmite pillar.

After that cool hole, we were having a break. Our guide "Tatay Tunying", the one who's wearing orange was checking if that upward path is easier or can be used by that time. Well unfortunately, "kuya Mel" said that that area was too slippery that time (because of rains due to Typhoon Bebeng) so they decided to choose to another path.

Finally out!

Due to kinda wet stones and floor, our guides look for a better way out. One suggested to climb to the adventurous wall of rocks but unfortunately it was slippery even if they'll put a rope to assist, so we tend to choose much safer path. Because we came from a higher part of the cave, we descended from a flight of rocks.

This is the last area where you have to dock underneath the bamboos and crawl under a gigantic rock. A piece of cake compared to what we did on the caves.

Huge rock blocking our way out.

After the last challenge of the huge rock, went off to the jumpoff and took our lunch. Going there isn't difficult, just follow the trail and you will reach the Madlum river and jumpoff safely.