Igbaclag Cave is about 3 kilometers away from Barangay Aningalan and any transport vehicle can reach it. Different green and adorable vines that also bear fruits cover the sharp stone top of the cave. There are bamboos that sway in the wind when it strongly blows. The mountain drew drops that give moist to the leaves of different shrubs and glasses and a nebulous fog in the streets every dawn and twiglight also surround it. Different species of trees also emit fresh and cool air. Free flowing springs also help maintain its coldness, friendly birds which build their nests into the black holes of the cave as well as that pollinate wld flowers and undifferentiated plant shade and tint the surroundings also give life to mother earth.
Tourist Reviews
1. Posted by AMBER TAN, at https://www.lakwatsero.com/spots/antique-blooming-the-rafflesia-of-san-remigio/#sthash.iHnC1x3L.dpbs
Igbaclag Cave is made up of two cave chambers with different openings. The bigger cave, home to numerous swiftlets or balinsasayaw, has two entry points and has narrow pathways that lead to still unexplored areas. The other one is quite bare and short.
The cave is crowned with tall limestone rocks forming a cliff that locals refer as Stone Castle. Prepare to be amazed as it does really feels like you are in a castle once you get inside, particularly in the spot aptly named as “Balcony” with its high ceiling stone tower. For the more adventurous ones, go cliff scrambling and climb on your own risk to the rocky and pointed peaks they call “Terrace” and be awed with the panoramic view on top.
Local guides are readily available at the Igbaclag Cave. Rate is P150 per guide for one to five person while entrance fee is P20 per person, payable at the cave. Meanwhile, the barangay is also collecting P30 per person registration fee payable at the hall.
Experience Antique: Enjoying the Scenic Highlands of San Remegio
2. Posted by Gian and Sheila at https://adrenalineromance.com/2016/11/17/experience-antique-enjoying-the-scenic-highlands-of-san-remegio/
To get inside the monolith, we had to cross this rickety bridge made of steel cables. Because the bridge is suspended over a 20-foot chasm, it sways and bounces with every step. Exciting for some, heart-pounding for others.
Across the monolith are more gnarly rock formations that are chiseled by the constant, unceasing forces of Mother Nature. They are definitely not climbable due to their completely moss-covered surfaces.
Due to its material composition and its chemical reaction to water, limestone karst formations such as these are easily prone to erosion. That’s why many of the most spectacular caves and caverns in the world are found in limestone cliffs, mountains, and monoliths.
Igbaclag Cave is not strictly a cave but a large open-air cavern. There may be other cave systems that lead deeper into the monolith. But we didn’t go inside them since we don’t have the equipment, and the guides are not familiar with the subterranean system.
What is this glob? Is this an alien? Nope, that is some type of fungi. It’s totally terrestrial although calling it an alien would be equally fitting. The world is full of unnameable wonders.
Whenever we see large rock formations, the rock climbers in us awaken. Hehe! Thus, when Sweetie and I saw this cavity inside the monolith, we felt elated. There were large protrusions and adequately deep cavities. With permission from the tourism officers, we climbed 40 feet up this chimney filled with razor-sharp rocks.
Because we didn’t bring harnesses, ropes, cams, and other equipment, we ascended this chimney free solo. Free solo climbing is a form of climbing that involves no protective equipment. It is the purest form of climbing; we simply relied on our ability and confidence.
Note: Free solo climbing is extremely dangerous! A fall from this height is absolutely injurious and most probably fatal! We did this because the climbing difficulty was way below our normal level, and we were confident that we could ascend the chimney. But NEVER overestimate yourself. If you feel you can’t climb this section, then you probably shouldn’t do it. Always be on the safe side.
In less than ten minutes, we were emerged on top of the rock formation. The wondrous scenery of San Remegio spread before us like a lost, hidden world. After the risk and danger we faced in climbing its gateway, we enjoyed this awesome reward, an all-encompassing view of the remaining rain forests of Igbaclag.
Sweetie sat silently while enjoying the lofty, untouched rain forest below her. Rain forests are extremely vital for the planet’s survival. They stabilize planetary climate by recycling water vapor, and they have a significant role in cloud formation. Untouched rain forests also help control global warming by absorbing massive quantities of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
This is a pretty precarious position; I’m standing on a “bridge” of sharp rocks. To my left is a 40-feet drop, the chimney where we climbed from. To my immediate right is a 60-foot cliff towards the rain forest.
The rain forest of Igbaclag connects the Sibalom Natural Park to the forests of the Central Panay mountain range. It has an important role of ensuring genetic connectivity between those important forests. They ensure that flora and fauna can move and grow unhindered between those areas.
Later, we heard cries in the air. To our delight, the sounds came from several hawks emerging from the forest. They’re probably out to hunt for breakfast.
We feel honored and privileged to visit untouched places like these. Not only does these vistas give a sense of awe and wonder, they also make us realize just how small we are in the grand scheme of things. We do not own these planet, but we all have an important part to preserve and protect it.
We climbed down, rejoined the team, snacked on some lubid-lubid at the tourist area, and headed back to Barangay Aningalan to pick up our packs. Our driver had a surprise for us, and we stopped by this green hill that offers an encompassing view of the valley below. Many of us felt the need to exuberantly and compulsively sing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music!”
San Remegio is the fruit and vegetable basket of Antique. Thanks to the region’s high elevation, cool climate, unpolluted air, and healthy topsoil, crops here grow healthy. In fact, the vegetable dish we ate for dinner last night has a vastly better, fresher taste than similar vegetable dishes we have tasted in the lowlands.