Exploring the Wonderful Libmanan Caves in Naga City, Philippines

BY BEEZZ • NOVEMBER 17, 2015 • OFF THE BEATEN PATH, TRAVEL NEWS • COMMENTS (0) • 3633

The Libmanan Caves is located within a national park that is near the town of Libmanan, Camarines Sur
about 20 kilometers northwest of the City of Naga in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. As for the park
itself, it covers 19 hectares of protected land across the hilly farmlands and is known to host at least 18
limestone caves of varying shapes, lengths and wonders. The park was established by virtue of
Proclamation No. 654 in 1934.

Tourists are drawn to this place because of the caves’ countless stalagmites, stalactites and massive
pillars that have extremely delicate formations and designs.

Interesting Features of the Libmanan Caves

As previously mentioned, the Libmanan Caves are well-known for their amazing formations. However,
among all the caves here, there is one that is more frequented by visitors, which is the massive 2,856
meter-long Colapnitan Cave—the 10th longest cave in the country. For many years now, adventurers
have flocked to this particular cave to explore and see for themselves the fascinating mineral and rock
formations that adorn it. Making this cave more mystical are the thousands of bats that make it their
home, presenting a very extraordinary spectacle. As you can see, its name was derived from these
amazing animals—“colapnitan” means a place where many bats are found.

Aside from the bats, swiftlets and some great long-armed spiders of the venomous species, Phrynus are
also found here.

Poro Beach: Have You Heard About Camarines Sur's Newest Paradise?

Located around 245 miles away from the capital city of the Philippines. Libmanan is an extremely large
municipality and one of the biggest in Camarines Sur. This town stretched across nearly the whole width
of the Bicol peninsula, from where it borders Cabusao Municipality on the San Miguel Bay all the way
out to the Ragay Gulf, including three islands known locally as the 'tres Marias', including one island
known as 'poro island'. The main town, or 'poblacion', is located along the Libmanan River on the
lowland alluvial plain adjacent to Cabusao. At present, this municipality is composed of 75 barangays.
According to history, Libmanan was then a barrio of Quipayo (now a barangay of Calabanga, Camarines
Sur). This was accompanied by the establishment of a parish in 1586 in honor of the Patron Saint James
the Apostle. The parish then covered the towns of Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao all in the
First Congressional District of Camarines Sur. Several versions revealed how the town Libmanan acquired
its name. One version was then called “Ligmanan” meaning a place surrounded with waterways.
Another was “Libangan” comes from the word “na libang” associated with visitors from other places that
forgot already their homes because they were already attracted to stay in the place. The third version
was “Linabanan” happened in “Poro” due to invasion of the Moro piracy wherein the natives of the place
resisted and fought against the invaders (Poro- the place of the battle was named in honor of Datu Poro
who was killed in that battle). The “Poro” is now the barangay Puro-Batia where the present “Bulaong
Bridge” is located. The Moro vacated the place and it was called as “Linabanan”. To pronounce easier and
hear clearly, the word “LIBMANAN” became the official name of the town.

The significant events and the history of this town should be sustained and be promote so that that
native town Libmanan should be more well-known not only in the Philippines but worldwide.

For a place that is rich in history, Libmanan has many attractions to offer such as Libmanan River that is
possible venue for boating with eat all you can floating cottage, the amazing cold crystal water of
Engkanto Falls and Poro Beach that is located at Barangay Bahao.

You wouldn’t know about this island until someone referred you and point you out on the map.

Libmanan Caves National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in Barangay Sigamot in the
municipality of Libmanan, Camarines Sur in Bicol Region. It is centered on the massive 2,856 meter-long
Colapnitan Cave, the tenth longest cave in the Philippines.