HURRY! FREE ENTRANCE TO PHILIPPINE NATIONAL MUSEUM!!

For my first writing, I didn't plan to post this type of article and it just caught my attention upon scanning yahoo and I wanted it share it with you.

Yeah its true! It's free entrance to National Museum of the Philippines not just for today, not for a week or two but for the whole month of October. All ages, 7 days a week according to Yahoo South East Asia phone interview from Museum's education division, an extension of annual Museum week celebration.

If you are interested, which I'm sure you are, you can bring your family and friends and make most out of it until the month ends. After the said event, regular fees for student, adults and senior citizen of P30, P100 and P80 consecutively, will uphold again.

Have an idea what things you will discover inside this 86 year old building?  Actually I've been here before when I was in elementary, yup a field trip! lol. As I search on the internet and refreshed my historical memories, here's the astonishing works you will see.

National Art Gallery: by Fernando Amorsol, Juan Luna and Vicente Manansala.
Sculpture Gallery: by Guillermo Tolentino, Isabelo Tampinco and Graciano Nepumoceno
The Origin of Filipino People
Archaeological Treasure: "Kaban ng Lahi", Burial Artifacts
Filipino Cultural Practices, Sea trade, Galleon San Diego war wreckage

Hope you guys have some time to visit our precious historical gems at the National Museum of the Philippines until its free or if not maybe sometime just to refresh those brain juices. After a decade, lol, I would definitely visit the Museum one of this days! :)

Want to see the post I saw about this at YAHOO? Click here to view it.

THE UNEXPECTED MADLUM CAVE

Caving experience is one you shouldn't miss if one of your planned climb has one. This activity will surely ignite your excitement towards you goal mountain. In San Miguel, Bulacan, even there were lots of caves to choose from, there's one cave you will never miss esp. if you are going to Mt.. Gola or Mt. Manalmon, the Madulum Cave, it the only way to your goal.

From the jump-off after crossing the river and grotto, you will reach the cave's entrance. Actually I never expected to pass through a cave along our trail. I was just excited to take some pictures then but most of our group were like in a hurry, haha and just decided to take pictures day after the hike going back.

From there, as you enter the cave, you will notice how your sight slowly transforms into darkness. Better prepare your lamps before getting in. In the picture below, Madlum cave passage was started from the other side of the cave and exit to the other near the jump-off

This photo onwards were captured after the camp at Mt. Manalmon, so pictures sequence of the pictures were reversed until we reached the other end.

It was a nice cave but its just sad to see people vandalize the cave, covering the authentic marks of bullets from the historical battle.

Will enter the darkness now!

Near the exit.

Other side of the cave near the grotto area.

After just 5 minutes, you can reached the other end of the cave and proceed to other activities Sitio Madlum offers you!

MADLUM SERIES

- THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS AT MT.MANALMON

- BAYUKBOK CAVES EXPLORATION 1

- BAYUKBOK CAVES EXPLORATION 2

- BAYUKBOK CAVES EXPLORATION 3

- UNSEEN BAYUKBOK CAVES BEAUTY

- MT.MANALMON GOOD FOR EVERYONE

- THINGS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT MADLUM RIVER

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LAST BUT NOT THE 'LEAST': BAYUKBOK CAVE 3 EXPLORATION

Yeah were on the 3rd cave and hopefully you have read the 1st and the 2nd previous caves of Bayukbok posts. Brace yourself because this one would definitely excite you to the highest level!! The toughest, the narrowest, cliffs on the sides and the smallest passage you'll ever experience is here!

Finally after approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of darkness, sweat and fatigue, we saw light! Hurrah!! Actually I don't know that there's another cave waiting for us.

I thought the second cave was the last one, I was wrong. The disadvantage of the last in line. From the main entrance, group was discussed for awhile if we're going to take the last challenge.

 Just few seconds and we're off. Because of the late decision of getting to the last cave, we had to return on few areas we passed from the previous caves.

 As we explore the last cave, openings, light, and air were more evident as to compare with the first caves. No total darkness.

However, because our path was almost all ascending, climbing through rocks, cliffs from side to side, gaps to to be crossed were experienced.

High cliff on our right

 I was nervous then, one wrong step and your dead! One wrong hand grip and your wounded all over. 50 ft. high cliff from that particular spot. Yeah our guide said it right, this one would be the toughest, the real adventure you are looking for. From this picture, upon traversing through those cliffs, it was like in the movies looking a treasure!

Docking way out.

Then we reach the vines area. From here you can swing like Tarzan till you reach the ground from the high point rock. But you can just descend the usual way without possibility of getting hurt.hehe.

Fresh air from outside. The Vine area.

 After getting out from the cave, I thought we were done but no.

 We passed rocky path again and entered part of the 3rd cave. We did not pass through inside because we've been there from the previous caves. It would take a lot of time if we'll going to use that path again.

Nice rock formations.

Unique walls.

Awesome patterns.

 Captivating wall and limestone patterns were never ending. Climbing was also getting higher and higher and tunnels were getting smaller and smaller.

Yeah, smaller and smaller and this passage is approximately 18 inch in diameter. Would you imagine how we pull ourselves way outta here? Now can you imagine how our Filipino heroes and guerrillas hid and protect themselves from their enemies??

 It was almost two hours and the real way out was getting nearer. One of our guide checked the easier one (Tay Tunying in  the picture, climbed up) but unfortunately due to so much slippery rocks that might hurt anyone, we changed our route.

XTRM couple.

 More rocks were climbed but at last, after 2 hours of cave exploration we're finally out indulged in excitement, amazement, fulfillment and happiness!

 Oops, last two challenge. Crossing between bamboos and...

 Crawl again under a huge rock.

Yey! Success!! Explored Bayukbok Caves!

 After, we went back to the jump-off, along Madlum River and had our rest. Scratches, sweat, stress and dirt were all medal of success and pride for the successful spelunking experience.

Lastly, the thing I never missed the chance to carry and took picture of the ropes and the bamboo-rope ladder we used during the activity. It was a rewarding experience!

Hopefully guys you've seen a lot from my Bayukbok caves post and gain some info esp. if you are now planning to experience the same. :)

BAYUKBOK CAVES SERIES:
- THE APPETIZER: BAYUKBOK CAVE 1 EXPLORATION
- THE MAIN COURSE: BAYUKBOK CAVE 2 EXPLORATION

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THE MAIN COURSE: BAYUKBOK CAVE 2 EXPLORATION

After completing first cave of so many walks, climb and few crawls, we continued our way to cave 2. This one is quite similar to the previous one in terms of its floors and walls. We did same things again until we reached an exciting activity in the middle of darkness. We entered a hole underneath and looked up! Waa! we were like trapped in a huge hole!

Kuya Mel and Tay Tunying set up this "bamboo-rope" ladder and waiting for us above. The hole was so small that only few people can enter at the same time. This kind of ladder was kinda challenging because you have to synchronize your arms and feet for stabilization and easier ascent.

The surprise doesn't stop there because once you look up, you will see those beautiful stalagmites forming like a fence.

Tunnel again.

 Walls were different every time we entered and exited different tunnels. Continuous wall, different patterns and textures.

Awesome things weren't always expected. They just appear in time you least expected. Stalactites, stalagmites and columns of different forms were so astonishing forming different shapes you can imagine!

Imagination comes out.

 One hour past and perspiration was so much. No food, just water. That's why imagination strikes! haha.

 Even though we were soaked in our own perspiration, we were still lucky because it's not hot inside the cave. The coolness coming from the limestone formation gave us relief. If you will able to touch the walls, you will feel and imagine cold waters were like flowing inside it.

Aside from you are hungry, one common thing inside was basically darkness. You cannot truly see its beauty unless you look all around with your lamp, from the walls to the floors to the ceiling or else you will missed the details.

From here, cave 2 was ended and proceed now to the 3rd cave. Actually our guides thought that we don't want to continue or try the last cave, thinking we were so much exhausted. But still we continued and move forward.

Do you find this post interesting? Don't you want to miss the last cave? Check my 3rd Bayukbok Caves post or the 1st one now!

BAYUKBOK CAVES SERIES:
- THE APPETIZER: BAYUKBOK CAVE 1 EXPLORATION
- LAST BUT NOT THE 'LEAST': BAYUKBOK CAVE 2 EXPLORATION

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THE APPETIZER: BAYUKBOK CAVE 1 EXPLORATION

Have you heard of Bayukbok Caves of Bulacan?. Well, its one of the caves you shouldn't miss to explore, one of the Philippines' History treasure that would surely excite your adventurous spirit! Do you have plans to check it out soon? Better to read this one first!

THE MAP
First, like any other exploration, you have to complete your tools, head lamps, proper footwear, water and of course your map. There are so many caves at Bayukbok you'll be probably get lost if you are not familiar and if will do it alone, I recommend hire a guide. By the way, if you have lots of things from your Manalmon and Gola mountain hike, you can leave your things at their visitors' shelter near the grotto area. Don't worry those were safe there. Inside the shelter, you will see this Map below.

If you were able to search on the internet about Bayukbok Caves, it is one part of the Biak na Bato National Park. Yes Part of the history. It's were guerrillas hid from Japanese soldiers. Actually if you will have time to visit this, you will be amazed on how they used these caves to protect themselves.

TO THE CAVE!

After crossing the river, we went to the woods, way up to the entrance of the caves.

After we crossed the river. To the woods.

Going up thru this slippery uphill rock form.

After approx. 15 minutes we reached the main entrance to 3 caves.. From there we were oriented on proper techniques, safety procedures and the do's and don't inside the caves. Then were off to our first cave.

First entrance

 The entrance to the first cave. We were all piled up here I don't know why then. At first we were all puzzled, aside from those at the front, Kuya Mel and Tay Tunying our cave guides were preparing an exciting surprise.

Biceps activated!

Yes, we descended approximately 15-20 feet high with just a rope. Isn't that exciting!? It was my first time to this! Actually that rainy month, stones were slippery luckily I'm wearing shoes but I guess it was better if I were barefooted so my foot can really conform into the rocks.

INSIDE THE CAVE
After taking pictures of the first challenge won, we headed inside and started to search for the caves mystery and history it possess.

Start to crawl from here.

Going up.

As we crawl and go up in different limestone formation, we reached dead end like wall. Kuya Mel started to crawl to that small opening under until he reached the other side of the wall. Amazing! The time we entered the other side, our guide gave us info about that place. It was called the "Music Room". It was described as that because of nice sounds upon percussion of its walls. Really cool! So check it guys.

Percussion walls.

This room was really amazing but we have to proceed in our adventure. We move forward to our second cave. Wanna see what exciting things happened next? Might check Bayukbok Caves second part post!

BAYUKBOK CAVES SERIES:
- THE MAIN COURSE: BAYUKBOK CAVE 2 EXPLORATION
- LAST BUT NOT THE 'LEAST': BAYUKBOK CAVE 3 EXPLORATION

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