San Isidro (Bagumbungan) Cave now under government protection

Congressman Lord Allan Velasco with his team in Bagumbungan Cave.

 Bagumbungan Cave in Brgy. San Isidro, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque popularly known as San Isidro Cave has been placed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under its list of protected caves to spare from exploitation.

The Philippine Government listed a total of 158 caves classified as protected areas with varying levels of protection classifications. DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2012-03 was issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 9072 otherwise known as the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act.

This latest move is intended to safeguard the caves from treasure-hunters, vandals and looters. Under the said Memorandum, caves classified as Class I are those with delicate and fragile geological formations, threatened species, archaeological and paleontological values and extremely hazardous conditions.

Class II caves are those with areas or portions which have hazardous conditions and contain sensitive geological, archaeological, cultural, historical and biological values or high quality ecosystem. In view of this, it may be necessary to seasonally or permanently close sections of caves under this classification.  Bagumbungan Cave which falls under this classification, is otherwise, open to experienced cavers or guided educational  tours and visits.

In 2009, this cave with an underground river was ‘discovered’ by a team from the provincial tourism office and cave enthusiasts from Sta. Cruz. To underline the importance of the find, particularly the need to protect it through the involvement of the community, combined LGU and DENR efforts were soon undertaken. The association of the cave for centuries with phantom stories believed in by the local community apparently contributed much to the preservation of its pristine condition and ecosystem. Local folks avoided entering the cave or even talking about it.

Dr. Antonio Uy, now Vice-Governor of  Marinduque with his team
during their 2009 visit to Bagumbungan Cave.

Among the first cavers on record to explore San Isidro Cave are then provincial administrator and tourism chairman, now Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. and the Sta. Cruz municipal team of Dr. Antonio Uy, now vice-governor.  Educational tours and visits to the cave have since been coordinated with the office of Mayor Percival Morales of Sta. Cruz and the local barangay of San Isidro.

 San Isidro Cave was first featured in this video posted on YouTube 

by this blogger on July 15, 2009.

San Isidro Cave Now Drawing Visitors

Some 500 visitors, according to local barangay officials and guides, have come and gone to the San Isidro Cave and Subterranean River since the hidden cave was opened to the outside world two years ago. To ensure excellent caving experiences the local barangay provides visitors with head and sight equipment (helmet with mounted light), gloves and experienced guides to assist.

Visitors, who are first given a thorough briefing on basic do’s and don’ts when they are inside the cave, are charged a minimal fee of PHP100 (less than USD2), for the adventure. Proceeds go to the barangay. Visitors are advised to wear clothes they don’t mind getting soiled and to bring extra clothes. Manila-based tourism students, national caving groups, provincial residents and the plain curious comprise the bigger number of visitors to San Isidro Cave. Facilities with lockers and open showers for visitors are now being drawn up by the local barangay and the municipal government.



This is a video (now with over 12,000 hits), created by this blogger two years ago to create awareness on this perfectly preserved cave that lied hidden for ages.

Paranormal Orbs at San Isidro Cave?

Oh, so, so many orbs at San Isidro Cave! Orbs are those small, circular images that are not normally visible to the naked eye but appear in still photographs. People who are into the paranormal link them to the spirit world – that is, they are supposed to be manifestations of spirits or angels, even. From time to time, we come across ghost stories in both local and foreign TV programs that feature orbs moving and hovering strangely around places believed to be haunted.

A singular orb here and an amazing haze swirling

The proliferation of orbs in many photographs became evident, however, with the mass production of digital cameras. More orbs appear, apparently, when the flash is closer to the lens of the camera. Many paranormal investigators still cling to their assertions, however.

Whatever, it is certain that maybe millions of orbs inhabit this secret place in Sta. Cruz, a cave only discovered for the outside world during the last couple of years. The cave has a length of 1,200 meters and has massive chambers soaring up to about 150 feet.

After descending through a small entrance by about fifty feet one discovers himself standing in the middle of a huge chamber and at once noticing the cave’s pristine condition. One then wades through a pool of cool water that leads to shafts, climbs and drops of varying depths and finds even bigger chambers inside that are spectacularly designed by nature. You'd think that cathedrals and treasures found in them such as art and religious reliquaries must have found inspiration from these caves.

Halfway through the cave one hears the sound of water gushing from the rocks coming from different directions, the most significant of which is a 9-foot gusher that invites visitors to bathe in it. I hear whispers about possible ‘purifying powers’…

Past this waterfall and through a walking tunnel (and that’s after an hour of exploring), one finds himself in an even bigger and wider chamber. By then you wonder what more there is to find deeper into the cave. But, you’d find the guides talking you out of it instead.

Marinduque visitors who are familiar only with the legendary Bathala Cave will certainly find San Isidro Cave to be in a different league. Once outside, you might find yourself really asking, where on earth have I just been? And find yourself fixed, carefully examining the orbs...
















Mapping and training for local cave guides have been undertaken by DENR in cooperation with local government units, done with emphasis on the preservation of the cave. Visitors should coordinate with the Office of the Mayor, Sta. Cruz or the Barangay Captain of San Isidro, Capt. Perfirio Manuba, #0921-4129641.

San Isidro Attracts PUP Tourism Students

Since last year after the discovery of the San Isidro Cave system, several groups have been enticed to experience this interesting cave that hides an underground river and rare species of bats and fresh water life.

In September, the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) Assessment Team visited San Isidro in the company of Congressman Lord Allan J. Velasco and only had praises for the cave’s subterranean river system that they themselves explored.

A couple of days ago a group of 13 tourism students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), also trekked to San Isidro as part of their local travel immersion. The municipal government of Sta. Cruz with Mayor Percival Morales surprised the group when they paid a courtesy call at the town hall.

“Putong” welcome ritual was performed on cue by municipal employees that left most of the students teary-eyed with the ‘unforgettable’ surprise. The Mayor conveyed his thanks to the students for choosing to visit his town and expressed the hope that they’d also help spread the word on what pleasant surprises awaits those who visit Sta. Cruz.

(Mayor Percival Morales of Sta. Cruz).

(The PUP tourism students with Congressman Velasco)

Morales also expressed the hope that future visitors would also include in their itinerary the town’s other tourist attractions like its quiet beaches, mangrove forests, the beautiful islands of Maniwaya, Polo and Mompong, or simply mingling with people in the villages who are known for their hospitality.



After the cave experience, the PUP tourism students also paid a courtesy visit to Congressman Velasco in the latter’s resort house at Poctoy beach in Torrijos and graciously showed them around while giving a brief on local efforts to promote tourism in Marinduque.

(Congressman Velasco's place in Poctoy Beach, Torrijos)

A video on the San Isidro Cave and subterranean river’s discovery by the cave exploration team led by then provincial administrator, Lord Allan Velasco, was first posted on YouTube by this blogger in July 2009. As of today, the said YouTube video has attracted 8,569 views. (Reposted below)

Gretchen Malalad at San Isidro Caves

TV personality, Gretchen Malalad recently visited Brgy. San Isidro's (that's in Sta. Cruz),subterranean river with a team from ABS-CBN to do a special feature on Marinduque for "Balitang Amerika" on ANC Channel. Her group was accompanied by Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and his Chief of Staff for Marinduque Affairs, Erick Abad.

The team with Congressman Velasco.

The local barangay and municipal government of Sta. Cruz have undertaken steps to ensure that San Isidro Cave would be spared from vandals to avoid the fate suffered by the Bathala Caves system, now practically destroyed, losing all its mystery and substance.

One of the more unique stalagmite formations inside San Isidro Cave.

CREATURES FOUND IN SAN ISIDRO CAVE & SUBTERRANEAN RIVER

...an unfamiliar bat species that looks like this. The question is, wherelse could they be found?

...a relative species that looks like this.

...shrimp species that looks like this.

... and an undisturbed, unaffected guard of a "poo", boa constrictor.
Prior to the most recent exploration made by the combined provincial and DENR team on the San Isidro Cave, an expanse of about 600 meters was explored. The team this time went farther and covered another 600 meters. They have not gotten any closer to the ends of this natural treasure that has something new to show always.

TRAINING ON CAVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN STA. CRUZ

Multi-sectoral members of the Interim Provincial Cave Committee and Provincial Cave Assessment Team together with representatives from selected Marinduque barangays are currently holding the “Capacity-Building Training/Workshop on Cave Conservation and Management”. Venue for this activity from Sept. 1-4 is the Provincial Training Center in Tamayo, Sta, Cruz.

Marinduque hosts a significant number of caves and now that caving activity is gaining popularity, immediate protection, conservation, development and proper management have become more important than ever if we ar to maximize their economic potentials.

The training workshop is aimed to enhance the technical expertise and appreciation of all stakeholders and to carry out plans and programs that would harmonize cave conservation and tourism in this province.

Some 60 participants to the training workshop came armed with basic caving equipment, emergency equipment and first-aid kits.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Danilo Querijero, together with the capitol’s cave assessment team that includes Engr. Alexander D. Palmero (PPDO), Rolly Jose, Dante de Luna, tourism officer Gerry Jamilla and Joven Lilles act as facilitators. The activity includes an exploration of San Isidro Cave and Subterranean River that has generated wide interest inside and outside this island-province.

THE ATTRACTION OF SAN ISIDRO CAVES

A composite group with representatives of environmental agencies, LGUs, provincial and planning agencies, tourism officers, spelunking organizations and other concerned agencies will hold a seminar at the Provincial Training Center in Tamayo, Sta. Cruz. The newly discovered San Isidro Caves and Subterranean River will be one of the topics. An exploration of the cave in the company of visiting cave experts is included in the said activity scheduled Sept. 1-4.

MARINDUQUE'S NEWEST DISCOVERY: A HIDDEN CAVE WITH SUBTERRANEAN RIVER

The first underground river to have been found in Marinduque was recently discovered by a team led by provincial tourism officers. This find, together with the development of existing sites unique to the island, augurs well for combined LGU efforts under Gov. Bong Carrion to promote the island-province as an eco-tourism destination in the region - the San Isidro Cave and Subterranean River, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, Philippines. Village leaders in San Isidro now bent on carefully preserving the site.

To the old folks of the village of San Isidro, the cave is referred to as 'Bagungbungan', a place avoided even by the curious, as it has been associated with phantom stories reinforced by actual accounts of persons who have gone to the cave periphery and, without a trace, disappeared.

Two weeks ago, provincial tourism chair Allan Velasco together with the tourism team, revisited San Isidro cave and conferred with the village chief (who hadn't been to the cave, himself), on the importance of community involvement to preserve the state of this natural treasure.