Imagine a place full of sparkling stones like stalagmites and stalactites. Wouldn’t you be mesmerized? I myself was once a witness of this kind of magnificent scenery.

Calbiga, Western Samar is one of the havens of the largest cathedral caves in the world, with its wide underground spaces and most of all its numerous rare stone formations. One of this is the enchanted Langun-Gobingob Caves.

Langun-Gobingob is 7 km long with an area of 900 square km. It is composed of 12 chambers with wide underground spaces, wonderful massive columns of stalactites and stalagmites, majestic rock formations, underground lakes and rivers. It is the largest cave system in the Philippines; believed to be the second largest in Asia and the world’s third largest karst formation.

It is also the territory of rare species of blind crabs, cave crickets, Philippine cobra and the seven-centimeter long hypogean blind fish (caecogobius cryptophalmus). There are also swarms of bats that are seen playfully flitting over the cave’s entrance in late afternoons.

A team of Italian spelunkers first discovered the place in 1987 who believed that there are still several kilometers of galleries that are still to be discovered.

To reach the place,  from Tacloban City to Calbiga proper one has to take a ride via van or bus.  We have to travel using a single motorcycle called “habal-habal” to Brgy. Panayuran. Upon reaching Brgy. Panayuran, we have to trek for 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the caves.

There you can enjoy mud trekking, drink fresh water caves and a lot of caving adventures you are craving for. It is an adventure of a lifetime, so try it yourself too!

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AIRRA MAE ASTILLA DACUT

LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY ABCOM INTERN