Sagada Caving: A Reflection on Lights

by JOYCE SOSOBAN

A glimmer of light was the most deeply precious sight my eye beheld that late afternoon of April 9.

For most of my adult life, I had been looking forward to going to the Mountain Province and visiting Sagada. Finally, it was going to be fulfilled April 9 to 11 this year. It started as a mere discussion among my Caring Group (CG) mates early this year. The "Shy Girls," as we call ourselves, contacted Violet Imperial, Nature Awareness and Conservation Club (NACCI) founder and a Feast Alabang servant, who told us we need to form a minimum of 13 people to be able to go to Sagada at a lower cost. The emails flew among us and within three days, there were 40 participants!

Fast track to May 9 and we were all excited to reach Sagada. After a tiring 17-hour journey (with stops on the way including a one-hour visit to the Bontoc Museum), we reached Alapo's Inn, changed our clothes and hopped on the jeep again for the Sumaging Cave. Of course, the untiring picture-taking took place just before we went down to the cave, my source of undiluted joy for hours to come.

Going down to the cave looked a bit steep with rock boulders and slippery surface along the way and all around us, but it initially looked manageable to me. I started to pray in tongues and to consider all dire probabilities and what to do if they happen — being one of the organizers — when we reached probably the first 200 steps down and were plunged into darkness and enclosed in the cave's cloying confines.

By nature, I am cautious in going down stairs because of all the stories I've read about people who slip while climbing or going down steps. Can you imagine what caution I took when I saw the uncemented, slippery and mostly undiscernible steps we had to go down to? Good thing the main guide who briefed us told us, "This is not a race. Just be careful. And remember the three words: upo, kapa, hakbang(bend,spot,move)" Those were very wise words, too, I later learned.

In the midst of the pervading darkness, Petromax lights brought by our 8 guides lighted our way. The lead guide paved the path while the others would move — effortlessly, I must say — from one place to another to light the sides of our path and to help us out in difficult areas. But there were other lights that enabled me to finish, which is what this reflection is about.

The first tricky part that we had to pass was a seemingly shiny boulder that we had to cross over already sans our footwear as at that point, we had to leave them at the "base" of the cave. Once we hurdled that, we had a choice of remaining at the "dry" section or going on to the "wet" section. Hardly anyone in our group remained. The noise and the thought that the ones ahead of me may already be enjoying a dip in a wide and cool pool egged me on.

There were many scary points for me. The worst of them was when I had to sit in a narrow ledge, extend my left foot to the left, reach out for the ropes stretched on the side of the boulder with my hands then stretch myself up to be able to step on the guide's bended knees with my right legs and to step again to another ledge and cross over to the other side, all the time trying to avoid being plunged to a deep and icy-cold water. First, I am not tall and could hardly reach with my legs. Second, I don't know how to swim. Third, I was terrified! At that point, I needed not just Petromax light but the light of encouragement. This came in the form of my friends Maggie and Eric, and the guide who coached me step by step.

When I thought I could breathe easy, we were plunged into chest-deep icy cold water, had to pass through a very low opening where we had to hug the stone in order to pass it, climb rappel-style going back and face a generally upward and slippery climb all the way out of the cave. If not for one particular guide who was there for me in all the difficult portions and my heroes Maggie, Eric and Allan, I don't think I would have made it. I would probably have given up for there were portions I was numb with cold, weak with fear and discouraged about my sense of inadequacy.

But the glimmer of light at the top of the cave finally came. It was the most beautiful sight. And before long, I was out in fading sunlight, happily posing for pictures and chattering non-stop.

From the darkness in our lives, we need small lights to guide us so that we can reach that One Great Light. He is also actually in those little lights that pave our way. Friend, you are surrounded by little lights. Do you see them? Are you thankful to God for them? Isn't it great that there is no place too dark that there could be no glimmer of light?

 
Join Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, Inc (NACCI) as we pursue and sustain our environmental and humanitarian projects.  We promote Eco-tourism to give supplementary jobs in the rural area that will give them more power to care, nurture, preserve their culture, community and environment.
 
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ABOUT THE WRITER: Joyce Sosoban works for the organizations under Brother Bo Sanchez, the preacher in blue jeans. She writes, edits and organizes events (and generously gives laughter to people! any space is enliven with her presence).

Photo courtesy of Joyce Sosoban