Kapalong is a 1st class municipality in the province of Davao del Norte, Philippines.It has a population of 57,966 and a total household of 11,798. Kapalong is known for it’s caves of more than 20. A lot of tourist, local residents would love to go caving there.

From Davao City we ride a bus going to Kapalong, we stopped at their local municipality to have a short briefing about the Do’s and Don’ts when going inside the cave. After that, I think we had an hour of bumpy ride going there, I just can’t remember what’s the name of the baranggay where we had stopped and leave our belongings.

If you have plans on Caving too you might as well consider this tips..

What to Bring:

• Powerful, lightweight and water resistant flashlight
• Protective helmet/hard hat
• Small personal first aid kit and emergency medicines
• Extra batteries and bulbs for lights
• Extra clothing Packed foods.

What to Wear:

Coveralls or snug fit jeans, cotton shirt and sweat shirt, rubber shoes or boots, and good thick socks. (Maong pants, shorts and sandals are not advisable)

We just visited one cave there known as the ‘Kabyawan Cave’. The photo above was taken during our class trip, I forgot what subject was that but it has something to do with the environment… Well, actually I wasn’t really a part of that class (salimpusa ra ko hahaha), I just talked to their Instructor to let me join them and I’m glad she did let me join. It was a long way trekk going to the cave and there aren’t much motorcycles to fill up all of us so we just walked and mind you it’s a very long walk ahead going to the cave.

I was so afraid because I was at the back and the last one on our group when we enter the cave, there are rumors about the snakes in there named ’Banakon’ (a large, aggressive and venomous snake), even our tour guides talk about their experiences about it too. I was amazed on how beautiful the cave is inside, seeing those Stalactites and Stalagmites all around the cave… I Was even amazed when we saw a Stalagmite in a form of an organ of a human *LOL*, We we’re laughing when we saw that and also there’s one in a form of a ‘butt‘. My camera was broken at that time because it was all wet I didn’t imagine that we would really crawl into some small holes just to get inside and the surface which is full of water. There’s a waterfalls inside the cave too… it was a very nice place to visit, I just hope we can go back again there, where there are no time limits so we can explore the other caves too…

After visiting the cave we went ahead to see the falls and it was a long way trekk going there which was located a few meters away from that cave we just visited… and I almost fall down on a cliff because I was so dizzy, I thought that I really saw something, like a big stone in white. Then I fell down, I was just suppose to lean on it hahahaha… been so tired that’s why and I had this ‘biyahilo’, I almost throw up on the bus but that sickness doesn’t stop the adventurous side of me… Still, I continue walking, one of the tourist guide said that ‘Ok ka lang? Basi gusto ka pabilin diri, balikan lang ka namo unya? (Are you Okay? Maybe you might want to take a rest here and we’ll just come back and to get you?)’ WWhhaattt?? I thought, No way! hahaha, naa pa lang unyaý Banakon muduol nako, tigok nako pagbalik nila (What if there are Banakons who would come near me, I would be dead when they come back). So we went to see the falls and it was really beautiful… But unfortunately there was a rain coming up and the current of the water was going strong. So we didn’t have the chance to take photos there and stay for a while. We walked again to where our bus was parked and it was a very very long walk up there, there were no lights (bukid gyud), we just have an ample light from our flashlights to see where we’re walking…

Anyways the trip was really great, I enjoyed it, a lot had happened that day that until now I can still remember some of it… Especially the time when a schoolmate of ours which they refer to as ‘Dugong’ splashed into the waters of the cave and create a loud noise and shakes. *lol* (Mabaw? Mabaw?) Toinkz! Sa dihang, lalum diay… hehehe… (peace to you if ever you’ll be able to read this.)

This is me an liela, one of my best friends.

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Canibad isn’t as popular as Paradise Island Resort or any other resorts in Samal, only a few know about this place. It’s not yet commercialized and only a few people went there. It was a 30-minute ride from Sasa (Davao City) to Babak, Samal Island and another 45 minutes of rough and bumpy ride to Canibad. Whew! I can remember one of my friend saying the ride was ‘unsa man ni dyez pesos padulong langit‘, hahaha… I can’t blame her because the road was really rough plus the driver of the motorcycle drove so fast… When we arrive there, I was amazed of the beautiful view from atop.

But you still have to trek downhill and it’s kinda narrow trail for about 5-10 minutes ( I think) It was pretty scary going down and I almost fall straight down if not for that coconut tree and the food I was carrying was the first one to get on the white sand of Canibad, while I on the other hand was embracing the little coconut tree (can’t imagine how I looked like at that moment lol). Whew! It was really an awesome trek but thankfully we manage to get there safe and sound (kay nah, lahi ra ba gyud ang pananghid sa mama kay magbuhat kuno ug project nyahahaha).

This was the view when I first set my foot on the white sand… Can’t help myself from taking pictures hehehe… It was so peaceful when we arrive there, no other visitors except us, it’s like we have the place exclusively for us and that’s good so we can really have fun…

It costs us 20.00 PHP (0.50 USD) each for entrance and the cottage… If you plan to stay for the night you should bring the following:

• Flashlights because there’s no electricity there, or you can borrow a gas lamp from the caretakers there, they were friendly and kind they let us borrow one.
• You can bring mineral water also, there’s a water supply but not for drinking…
• Tent and Sleeping Bags.
• Food Of course! Sarap mag-sugba hhmm…. missed those times already…

I can still remember when that thin dog snatched our sinugbang bangus (grilled milk fish)… *lol*

I really love watching the sunrise and sunset there and I also enjoyed lying on the sand and watch the stars at night together with the fireflies near the trees… It’s been a long time since I saw fireflies and I was still a kid the last time I saw it, It’s really a great experience, you’ll feel the serenity of the place…

It is a good place to relax and if you want a place to be with yourself… The place is a not well developed resort yet a lot of people still keep on coming back to that place (especially us), it’s simply beautiful, that makes each visit a remarkable one.