Antique is host to around 50 caves with some having the potential of becoming destinations because of their rich biodiversity and history.

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Ruth Martinez said a community discussion on the significance of caves would highlight the provincial culminating activity for the Cave Month celebration on Wednesday hosted by the municipality of San Remigio.

The town hosts Igbaclag and Panalsalan caves, each with distinct qualities.

“Igbaclag cave is distinct from other caves in the province. You could find two varieties of Rafflesia flowers growing within its premises,” she said in an interview on Tuesday.

She said it is only San Remigio in Antique where one can see growing the speciosa and lobata species of Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower because of the rich biodiversity in the area.

Panalsalan Cave hosts the Balinsasayaw birds and other endemic plants.

“The cave has 13 chambers but has not yet been classified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources whether it could open to tourism,” she said.

Martinez added that based on stories gathered from local folks, the two caves provided refuge to local residents during the Spanish and Japanese occupation.

Meanwhile, the two caves in barangays San Agustin and Busog in the municipality of Valderrama are destinations for “babaylans” and “sirhuanos” during the Holy Week to make offerings for their ancestors.

“When we enter the caves, we have to observe silence to show respect to the spirits of our ancestors,” Elpidio Canja, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) in the municipality, said.

Tourists visiting the caves are also discouraged from taking pictures using flash on their cameras to avoid disturbing the spirits.

Provincial Board Member Pio Jessielito Sumande Sr., author of the ordinance celebrating Cave Month in Antique, said plates and other artifacts believed to be from the Ming or Tang dynasty were excavated in the Sal-ing cave.

“There must be people who sought shelter in the cave even before the Spanish and Japanese occupation because of the artifacts,” he said.

He added there is a need to protect and preserve them because of their rich biodiversity and treasures.

“Antique could even be considered as the Cave Capital of Western Visayas because of the number of caves we have,” Sumande said in a separate interview. (PNA)