Maanus Cave: One of Balbalan’s Uncharted Caves

Maanus Cave in Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga, a subterranean marvel teeming with below ground fauna and with marvelous speleothem formations, is poised to attract more visitors to this town blessed with Karst topography.

CAUTION: Maanus Cave is not yet open to the public. Contact the LGU or local tourism office if you plan to go there. This page will be updated [or update us] once the cave is open for tourism.

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Contents

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Location of Magangab Cave

Address: Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga, Philippines

Coordinates: 17°36’39.400″N 121°16’46.300″E

Google Map:

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Maanus Cave DENR Cave Classification

Not yet officially classified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

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Maanus Cave Characteristics

• Measurements: length: 575 meters; elevation of 239 meters above sea level ^[1] .
• Spelunking duration: More or less two hour, depending on your pace
• Mineral deposit formations: Abundant
• Is underground river present?: No
• Bat population: Few to numerous
• Multichamber: Yes
• Human artefacts: None
• Cave floor fill: Mud, soil/dirt, guano
• Depth: Unknown

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Spelunking in Maanus Cave

Maanus Cave in Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga, an underground beauty teeming with subterranean fauna and with majestic speleothem formations, is poised to attract more visitors to this town blessed with Karst topography.

Maanus Cave is located in Barangay Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga. The community has a small population of 857, grossly 7% of the total Balbalan’s population of 12,195 per 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority data ^[2]. Historically, Balabalan was under the Province of Kalinga-Apayao. Later, Kalinga became a separate province by virtue of RA 7878 in 1992 ^[3].

Maanus Cave is found under the community’s karst topography. Barangay Tawang, where the cave is found, is a landscape of sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, and springs. This topography is usually a result from the excavating effects of underground water on massive soluble limestone ^[4].

The cave is situated about a kilometer away from the community center. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a meter-wide hole. However, the main chamber is so vast that it could fit a decent-sized bus terminal ^[5]. This evident after crawling for about an meter. from the entrance. Inside, century-old stalagmites and stalactites decorate the walls and ceiling of the cave. Its development is currently underway, including training of guides, clearance of pathway to the entrance, as well as some facility on site.

Stone formations are abundant inside the cave. Like any other caves, speleothems in the form of flow stones, columns, canopies, shields, draperies, stalactites, stalagmites, among others are everywhere.

Further, it has a rich subterranean fauna. Some images posted on social media by explorers include the common local cave crickets and whip spiders.

The following embeds are from those who visited the cave:

In summary, Maanus Cave is one of the uncharted underground wonders with a subterranean river in the Karst-topographic town of Balbalan, Kalinga. It is highly recommended as a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. The town itself could fill days worth of nature trips.

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Contact Person/Group/Page

• Social Media (Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page)

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Registration/Guide Fees

• As of last quarter of 2019: Php1,000.00 per guide for a day.
• Will be updated once data are available

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How to Get to Maanus Cave

By land:

• Get to Tabuk, Kalinga
  • From Manila (approx 12 hours travel time): Take a bus bound to Tabuk, Kalinga. Victory Liner has a direct route from Sampaloc to Tabuk; or take their bus from Pasay to Tuguegarao, then take a PUJ to Tabuk. Florida Bus also has a Sampaloc to Tabuk and Cagayan route.
  • From Baguio City (approx 9 hours travel time): Dangwa Bus, Auto Bus, and GL lines have buses to Tabuk.
  • From Bontoc (approx 6 hour travel time): PUJs and buses are available to Tabuk via Kalinga Highway and Tinglayan. First trip is at 7 AM and last trip at 11AM.
• Tabuk to Balbalan
  • There are PUJs from Tabuk to Poblacion, Balbalan; their terminal is located at Block 3, Purok 5, Bulanao, Tabuk. Schedule of trips are 7am, 10am and 1pm. fare is around Php180.00

By air:

• Get to Tabuk, Kalinga by air
  • From Manila, there are Philippine Airline flights direct to Tuguegarao. From Tuguegarao, take a PUJ to Tabuk.
• Tabuk to Balbalan
  • There are PUJs from Tabuk to Poblacion, Balbalan; their terminal is located at Block 3, Purok 5, Bulanao, Tabuk. Schedule of trips are 7am, 10am and 1pm. fare is around Php180.00

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Nearby Notable Caves/Underground Rivers

• Uguid Underground River, Maling
• Banig Cave, Tawang
• Maaya-Ayas Cave, Buaya
• Uta Cave, Gawaan
• Dinugdugan Cave, Tawang

Non-cave places of interest:

• Banao Protected Landscape
• Balbalasang National Park
• Waterfalls: Tawang Waterfalls, Bagawat Waterfalls, Lultoan Waterfalls, Ligayan Waterfalls
• Giant Bathtub Pool of Ligayan Waterfall (Battong Allan”)
• Palit Lake
• Bolo-Nawoy rice terraces
• Giant Serpent, Gawaan

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Reminders

• Always practice leave-no-trace principle. I have to highlight to please not leave anything inside, do not vandalize, and do not take any physical memento from the cave. Whether it is under the protection of the DENR or not, treat nature with respect.
• If you plan to go there during dry season, please bring enough water to quench your thirst on the way to the cave and during the spelunking activity.
• It is highly advisable to contact your guide a day before and arrange transportation in advance if you are not commuting or using private car.
• Wear a comfortable non-slip, close-toed rubber shoes for the hike to the cave.
• Get a complete extra set of clothes to change to after you get out of the cave.

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References

[1] Camargo, R. & Cordeiro, L. 2015. Expedição espeleológica internacional à região norte de Luzon, Filipinas. [online] Available at <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309286334_Expedicao_espeleologica_internacional_a_regiao_norte_de_Luzon_Filipinas_2015> [Accessed 27 August 2020].

[2] Philippine Statistics Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region. 2020. 2019 Registered Births Marriages And Deaths In Kalinga. [online] Available at: <http://rssocar.psa.gov.ph/Kalinga/releases/2019%20Registered%20Births%20Marriages%20and%20Deaths%20in%20Kalinga> [Accessed 27 July 2020].

[3] Donqui-is, J., n.d. The Kalinga – National Commission For Culture And The Arts. [online] National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Available at: <https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/northern-cultural-communities/the-kalinga/> [Accessed 27 July 2020].

[4] The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d. Karst. [online] Encyclopedia Britannica. Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/science/karst-geology> [Accessed 24 August 2020].

[5] Balbalan Shines facebook Page. 2016. MAANUS CAVE: Barangay Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga —. [online]. Available at <https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1003348486379029&id=943414549039090> [Accessed 12 November 2020].

Header Image

Dongui-is Munda Cruz, R. F. 2019. Going abroad? Pinas Muna Tayo! [Facebook Page status]. Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/reginefaye.mundacruz/posts/4028621633819709> [Accessed 12 November 2020].

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Disclaimer: As much as we want to give the most accurate information for the readers, change will always occur (e.g., contact number, transportation, fees, etc.). With this, please do comment below any updates as well as corrections on the content, anything amiss, or any information that you think is crucial to the readers. Iyaman!