With just a little over an hour of sleep (Jason must’ve had 9), a tiring (but fulfilling) trip to the burial cave and a tasteful dinner at Maferet’s(?), we were dead tired!

We went back to St. Joseph’s (our unit has two floors - 2 rooms with 1 bed each at the ground and an open 2nd floor with 2 beds). And after a short sing-along-with-guitar session, we decided to call it a night.

Day 2

Denden woke us up around 11am. He’s been bitten by this photo-bug-sickness ever since he got that Canon 30D of his, which is why he went out for a walk-and-shoot at 5 in the morning. He had breakfast … alone. But he’s pretty good (more on his pix later).

We went out, reserved our dinner at the Log Cabin Restaurant (that’s how this resto works) then had lunch at the Yoghurt House. We then went back to the municipal hall, registered, hired a tour guide and headed to Sumaguing Cave. According to Denden, a trip to Sagada will not be complete without a visit to this cave. Hmmm … that I have to see.

With plenty of sleep, I think we’re more prepared for this. Yesterday caught us by surprise, we got really tired. Exhaustion to the highest level. We walked past the entrance to the burial cave (where we went yesterday) and I was still okay.

There’s nothing fancy about the entrance to Sumaguing Cave. Two pillars with reminders that’ll make you want to bring a garbage plastic and a broom with you to make sure you wouldn’t mess it up and - a stairway to hell. It goes as far as the eyes can see. Into a huge dark opening below. It’s endless.

Alfred, our guide, worked on his lamp which we will be needing on this journey into the dark world. He led us step by step into this mud + bat droppings mixture of earth right under our feet. It was fairly easy but dangerous (a wrong step could leave you living the rest of your life strapped to a wheel chair). Then it got a little harder. Going down can’t be done on feet alone, we needed our hands.

We reached a place where water continuously pours down a magnificent solid stone wall. It was leading somewhere below. Our guide then asked us to remove our slippers. And as John’s Lonely Planet book described it, the grip was amazing. Stepping barefoot on that solid rock with water flowing gave me a feeling of bondness. I was bonded to that rock.

Another never-ending trip to the center of the earth (barefoot) followed. We went through small holes surrounded by sharp rocks with flowing water and walked inside small caves submeged chest-high in freezing water. There’s rock and water everywhere. And it’s cold.

At the bottom is a magnificent dome. Little pools scattered all over. Water free-flowing. And a small opening. An opening leading to a bigger pool 10 feet below. Is it deep? Is it safe to take a plunge from where I was standing? Alfred told me it was tricky. You have to be dead center if you don’t want to break a bone. The middle part is 6 feet deep. Everything aound it is 3 feet or less. I decided against jumping.

As I was making my way to a safer (and lower) jump spot, Alfred soared 5 feet above me and plunged right in the middle of the pool. I was in envy. I would love to do that, but the idea of giving Denden, Jason, John and Alfred a hard time taking me out of the cave because of a broken foot isn’t that tempting. I found my spot (between 4-5 feet high) and lifted off. Hitting the water is the closest I’ve ever been to experiencing hypothermia. It’s chilling … but it was all worth it.

The ascend took us on a different route. A little easier and a little faster. We got our slippers back and headed up towards nowhere. And after the cleansing experience, it was time to get down and dirty. It’s time to hit that mud + bat droppings mixture again.

We got out unscathed (except for John’s ego - hehe) and I personally thanked God that none of us got killed. It was an awesome trip! Looking back, Denden is right. A trip to Sagada will not be complete without a visit to Sumaguing Cave. It’s heaven!

Here are some more of Denden’s shots:

This shot was taken in Banawe.

Staunton House St. Joseph’s.

2nd floor.

I love this shot.

Bell of Sagada.