Monday, October 31, 2005

3RD SPELUNKING IN CALBIGA CAVES 2005

SAMAR ISLAND GUIDE: EXPLORER JONI A. BONIFACIO TEL: 055-2512301
CELL:09192943865 / 09053233572

WEBSITE: www.bonifaciojoni.blogspot.com

3RD SPELUNKING IN CALBIGA OCTOBER 28-30, 2005
LANGUN GOBINGOB CAVES CALBIGA, SAMAR

THE PARTICIPANTS:

1. JONI A. BONIFACIO TREXPLORE / CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
2. MAX DAQUILANEA, JR TREXPLORE / CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
3. SHERWIN S. ORBETA TREXPLORE / GANDARA, SAMAR
4. ARON GARCIA TREXPLORE / CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
5. NELSON LABRAGUE TREXPLORE / JIABONG, SAMAR
6. TETTET DOCABO TREXPLORE / CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
7. JEFREY CUAYCONG TREXPLORE / CALBIGA, SAMAR
8. ANTONIETTE YU CARO ------ / METRO MANILA
9. JACK MASCARENAS ------ / MALOLOS, BULACAN
10. CARLOS S. GOMEZ WHITE MOUNTAIN / BINAN, LAGUNA
11. ROSANNA J. GOMEZ WHITE MOUNTAIN / BINAN, LAGUNA
12. ANALYN H. LANORIAS ------ / TACLOBAN CITY
12. TROX SALAZAR LGORA / TACLOBAN CITY
13. UBALDO QUEROLIJICO KATOPIS-SORBA / CALBAYOG CITY
14. MARLON PALMASO KATOPIS / CALBAYOG CITY
15. GEORGE M. PLECERDA ------ / BILIRAN, BILIRAN
16. SHERALYN C. RACHO ------ / CABUCGAYAN, BILIRAN
17. KAREN JOY LLARENAS ------ / CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
18. ANNE Q. MAGBUTAY TBCMW INC. / CEBU CITY
19. MARLON A. TANO HEXA MEDIA PRODUCTION / TAC. CITY
20. EMMIE Q. MAGBUTAY DYMS / CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
21. EDWIN R. TORRES LEYTENO PERYODIKO / TAC. CITY
22. SOCRATES LASAGA ------ / CALBIGA, SAMAR
23. 2ND LT. MELLYN NONES 62ND INF PA. 81D / CALBIGA, SAMAR
24. PTC. JEFFREY ROJAS 62ND INF PA. 8ID / CALBIGA, SAMAR
25. CPL. ROMEL COLANTA 62ND INF PA. 8ID / CALBIGA, SAMAR
26. PTC. NINO VASQUES 62ND INF PA. 81D / CALBIGA, SAMAR
27. TSG. PASCUAL BULIC 62ND INF PA. 8ID / CALBIGA, SAMAR
28. SGT. PABLO VICTORIA 62ND INF PA. 8ID / CALBIGA, SAMAR
29. REMEO HACLA LOCAL GUIDE / CALBIGA, SAMAR
30. LODI BATOLA LOCAL GUIDE / CALBIGA, SAMAR




























































































































































































































































































Largest Karst Cave in East Asia explored

By: Marlon Necito A. Taño
Lady Camelot

Catbalogan Samar- The dreamed come true… with physical endurance determination, self-discipline once again the second largest cave in East Asia has been successfully explored by more or less thirty (30) spelunkers who discovered the inner secret of Langun- Gobingob Cave in Calbiga Western Samar last October 28-30 2005. This after the President founder of TREXPLORE Joni Bonifacio spearheaded the most arduous trek to Langun-Gobingob Cave to wander the most intriguing hidden treasure that had been kept million years ago in the Municipality of Calbiga.

In an exclusive interview, Bonifacio told that, the 3rd Spelunking trek to the 2nd largest cave in East Asia (Langun-Gobingob) had continued to attract local and foreign tourists, mountaineers, cavers, and nature lovers who craved to witness and discover the natural god’s gift beauty to humanity. “We have to promote the Eco-Tourism in Samar because we the Samareños felt that Samar Island owned the natural gift endowed in us specifically caves, falls and other tourist attractions”.

Bonifacio told further that the success of the 3rd Spelunking trudge to Langun-Gobingob Caves was realized because of the full support of The Provincial Tourism Council thru Governor Mila Tan, Calbiga Municipal Tourism Council Mayor Luzviminda L. Nacario and her staff and with the generous and whole hearted cooperation of the 62nd Infantry Unifier Command under the command and supervision of Lt. Col. Reynaldo Lanuzo.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Lanuzo told that the said cave exploration is just the beginning of government's main thrust in the promotion of eco-tourism in the Island of Samar specifically Calbiga that has a unique natural park. “The 3rd Spelunking cave exploration is one way of introducing the whole world the bountiful natural designs in Samar Island longed by foreign and local visitors, I hope such move done by Mr. Bonifacio would continue to nurture, mold the mind of the good people of Samar that they have such kind of natural secrets that had been kept for decades.


Samar the Caving Capital of the Phils.

French and Italian cave explorers purposely came to Samar just to explore and made some vital survey of the existing caves specifically in the Municipality of Calbiga where Karst Caves (an irregular limestone region with sinks underground streams caverns) are situated. Foreign caves explorers described Samar as The Caving Capital of the country since hundred caves in the Island of Samar had been scientifically recorded.

In 1987 GuidioRossi, Matteo Rivadossi, Tono Vivo Italian speleologists scientifically explored the Langun-Gobingob Caves in Calbiga Samar. “The team believed that there are several hundred kilometers of Galleries waiting to be explored. The karsts estimated total surface area of 900 sq. km. The main cave Langun, has a chamber that could easily fit in three football fields.”

Joni Bonifacio, the only Filipino cave explorer from Catbalogan Samar who used to be with the French caving expedition last 2002 in Calbiga visited “Canyawa” Cave or the (Devil's Cave) was considered the second longest cave in the Philippines which approximately stretch up to twelve kilometers, but the mapping and documentation was temporarily suspended because of high water level that blocked the possible passage of the explorers. The French Expedition team was headed by Jean Paul Sounier.

The visit of the Speleologists in Samar Island purportedly for proper cave documentations, survey and mapping. Bonifacio revealed that Samar had been recorded of having more than 50 caves that had been explored and still hundred are waiting to be explored.

Based on records, Gobingob cave is approximately two and a half kilometers in distance compared to Langun (3) kilometers. The aforementioned caves are part of the cave system in Calbiga which consist of unique tributary of karsts cave complex.

The municipality of Calbiga, fifty two (52) kilometers from the heart of Tacloban and could be reach via national highway. The cave is seven (7) kilometers from the town proper.