The Plight of Uta Cave in Redeeming its Beauty

The Uta Cave, otherwise known as Uta Lyang, is one of the several jaw-dropping spelunking destination Balbalan, Kalinga.

CAUTION: Uta 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 please do update us] once the cave is open for tourism.

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Contents

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Location of Uta Cave

Address: Gawaan, Balbalan, Kalinga, Philippines

Coordinates: 17°31’43.200″N 121°12’27.600″E ^[1]

Google Map:

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DENR Cave Classification

Assessed but not yet officially classified.

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Uta Cave Characteristics

• Length: Approx. 100 meters; altitude: 854 meters ^[1]
• Spelunking duration: More or less 1 hour
• Mineral deposit formations: Not manh
• Is underground river present?: No
• Bat population: Not established
• Multichamber: Yes
• Human artefacts: None discovered yet
• Cave floor fill: Stones, mud, soil, guano

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Spelunking in Uta Cave

The Uta Cave, otherwise known as Uta Lyang, is one of the several jaw-dropping spelunking destination Balbalan, Kalinga.

Uta Cave is located in the landlocked municipality of Kalinga and has a modest population. It lies in a forested land in Barangay Gawaan and is near an access road too. Like its neighboring barangays, Gawaan–its location, has a very small population of 997 in 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority census ^[2], around 8% of the municipality’s population. A caver in this location is not uncommon as Balbalan is a 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 ^[3].

Uta Cave is otherwise known as Uta Lyang among the locals. In the vernacular of Balbalan folks, lyang means cave. Thus, don’t get confused when they call other caves as lyang also.

Apparently, Uta Cave is not laden with stone formations like other caves. However, the thrill of crawling through its narrow passages will test new spelunkers’ might in the dark. Approximately, the width of these passages are 2 meters and with a height of 2 meters also ^[5]. According to the old folks in the community, the name of the cave is associated to “disgorged food and liquid from vomiting”. Kabunyan did this from intoxication from drinking basi , fermented sugar cane sap, while on his way home from a wedding celebration ^[5].

The cave had its own unique subterranean beauty. Unfortunately, it has been a victim of vandalism, a local menace to natural wonders. A member of an international exploration team didn’t try going inside because of its vandalised surfaces ^[4]. On a positive note, the local government had made efforts to conserve it and had even poised it to open to the public.

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The restoration of the cave had been a challenge to the LGU of Balbalan–yet a feat that they have done so well. A combination of clean ups and aggressive dissemination had been a part of their move. Their Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page and their local magazine-type blog have made big impact also in educating locals and tourists alike. In fact, after images of vandalism have circulated in social media, some of those guilty of the act have made comments of apology.

The following embedded images are from social media posts:

In conclusion, Uta Cave is slowly rising up from the ashes of vandalism and starting to get more foot tourists in a protected way. It may not be as well-laden with stalactites and stalagmites like its neighboring spelunking destinations, but it sure will make an adventurous person happy with all the passages, and slithering through crevices.

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Contact Person/Group

• Social Media (Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page)

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Registration/Guide Fees

• Not yet officially open for tourism traffic.

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How to Get to Uta 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

• Dinugdugan Cave, Tawang
• Maanus Cave, Tawang
• Banig Cave, Tawang
• Maaya-Ayas Cave, Buaya
• Uguid Subterranean River, Gawaan
• Magangab 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] Psa.gov.ph. 2016. Population Of The Cordillera Administrative Region (Based On The 2015 Census Of Population) | Philippine Statistics Authority. [online] Available at: <https://psa.gov.ph/content/population-cordillera-administrative-region-based-2015-census-population> [Accessed 5 November 2020].

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

[4] Wacas, R., 2015. Baguio Midland Courier Website. [online] Baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph. Available at: <http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/environment.asp?mode=%20archives/2015/august/8-30-2015/env6-Cave-in-Balbalan-is-RPs-8th-deepest-cave.txt> [Accessed 23 September 2020].

[5] Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page. 2019. “In celebration of the 2nd Tourism Week of Balbalan, we visited the legendary UTA CAVE..” [image] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/balbalantourism/posts/926938317706341> [Accessed 6 November 2020].

[6] Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page. 2019. “some vandallism spotted inside Uta Cave”. [image] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/balbalantourism/photos/a.940225196377653/940250846375088/> [Accessed 6 November 2020].

[7] Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page, 2019. This Is The Natural Aisle Inside Uta Cave. [image] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/balbalantourism/photos/a.940225196377653/940250716375101/> [Accessed 6 November 2020].

Header Image

Facebook.com. 2019. Balbalan Tourism. [online] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/balbalantourism/photos/a.940225196377653/940251756374997/> [Accessed 6 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!