Philippine Caving Society NEWS: 2004

How can you get a natural high without drugs? - August Forum

Posted on 24 December, 2004 - 4:05pm.

August saw the Haribon Forum take a detour from the normally grave and serious issues it usually tackles and discuss fun and recreation for a change. Instead of talking about pollution, forest destruction and other environmental problems, our invited speakers talked about “How to get a natural high without drugs”. The earth is one giant playground, as one adage goes, and Haribon felt that with so many interesting things one can do in this giant playground, there really is no need for people to take chemicals and banned substances just to feel good.

Caves
There were two speakers representing the Philippine Caving Society. Derrik Manas, a licensed dive master specializing in shipwrecks and underwater caverns who also happens to be a mountaineer and dry caver. Derrik says the Philippines has a wealth of limestone formations, yet caving is the most underrated outdoor sport. The PCS is a non-profit group whose purpose and objective is to promote interest and offer training and experience and advance the study of speleology, the protection of caves and to promote fellowship. The organization started from within the diving community with professional scuba divers who would explore shipwrecks and underwater caverns.
Mr. Manas says there are three kinds of caving: spelunking, which is a leisurely activity that everyone can enjoy; caving, which is spelunking wherein you gather data and document your activities in the cave; and speleology which is the scientific study of caves and is a branch of geology.
Derrik says PCS members are cavers. He boasts that the PCS is the first caving group in Southeast Asia to become a member of the National Speleological Society in the US. They submit the findings of their explorations to the archives to NSS of America.
Meantime Mr. Mike Nera also of PCS gave us an insight into what draws people like him into caving. Mike says caving gives him a natural high—it immerses you in a totally different reality. Mike says the Philippines has many unexplored caves, the closest of which are in Rizal. Simple caving just requires a helmet and gloves. He says the PCS holds monthly briefings and trainings for free and anyone interested is welcome to attend.
Mike however laments the situation of our country’s caves. He is saddened that nobody is paying attention to the plight of caves. Many of our caves have been ruined and vandalized. He says that caves are non-renewable treasures. A ruined cave takes thousands of years to rehabilitate. He gave as example the once famous Crystal Caves in Baguio, which were ruined by tourism and souvenir hunters. Mike says a lot of people don’t realize how ecologically rich and important the caves are. These are also sources of water. Quarrying and destruction of caves also causes landslides and erosion. The neglect of caves status as national treasures is costing huge loss of revenue from potential ecotourism.