Dingayop Cave, Dalaguete Cebu

      Most of the tourists goes to Dalaguete to climb the popular and picturesque Osmena Peak. However, unknown to many, the place has also caves waiting to be visited. One of these is the Dingayop Cave in Brgy. Obo, also known as the Eagle's Cave. 

On our way to the cave

       For me, the challenging part was the long walk to the cave. My advice is to wear comfy, non-slip foot wear since the pathway was not paved and in some parts, there were no defined footpaths. We had to hold on to the roots and barks of the trees to prevent from slipping down. Upon nearing the cave, our guide had to tie a rope from one tree to another so we can have something to hold on to since the pathway was really narrow and on the other side was a cliff leading to the waterfalls.

Cave Entrance

At long last, Dingayop Cave!

      Our two guides have only one flashlight each so it is recommended that you should also bring your own flashlights since the cave is really dark and the cave floor is uneven, and some are even so steep that we need to be assisted by our guides in going up and down. 

"Living" stalactites and stalagmites which are still continually forming.
Thus, visitors are advised not to touch them else, they will "die" or stop growing.

      Dingayop Cave is really worth it. It is one of the most beautiful caves that I've been into due to its numerous and large stalactites & stalagmites. Most of its rock formations are still intact since it is not yet often visited and exploited. My advice is to go there before it becomes popular and while it is still in its raw beauty, not yet much touched by careless tourists. Just bring with you a lot of air especially in the lengthy walk to and from the cave. Whew!

Posing with our guides

   

      P.S. If you want a guide and it is highly suggested that you should get one, contact Erwin Zamora at 09486468129.  In our case, we paid him and his other companion a total of 600 pesos for guiding the three of us. But if there are more members in your group, it is greatly advised that you pay them higher than that because assisting a bigger group is no easy task. We personally experienced the exhaustive walking to and from the caves which is really quite a distance. Some parts are really steep and slippery and our guides have to tie ropes around the trees so we can have something to hold on to and to hoist ourselves up the slope. Plus the cave was not yet developed by the Department of Tourism, so it could really be dangerous inside due to the presence of snakes. In fact, when we went there, our face almost got hit by bats who got surprised by the light from the flashlights.

          

      For transportation via habal-habal, you may also contact Arnel Puzo at 09072242256. He was our driver during our visit there, and we liked his disposition. He was cheerful, easy-to-get along with, and agreeable. :)

Turn-OFF! Mosquito Fever

     Just recently, around the 3^rd week of November 2016, my dear daughter was diagnosed with Dengue Fever. I really panicked at that point. Just a week before that, my husband told me that his officemate’s ten-year old son died from Dengue followed by the latter’s 12-year old cousin. When we went to the doctor, she told us that she believed this year’s dengue is so far the worst for the City of Cebu. Many were afflicted with the fever, and more number of deaths recorded compared to previous years. She even told us that she knew of a 24-year old patient who died.

    We immediately had Willow admitted in the hospital. I am not an emotional person and I don’t get affected easily, but at that point, I couldn’t help but cry. And cried hard, I did. It was so scary. My 5-year old daughter is the sweet, gentle type, and I was thinking that if some older boys (such as the 10-year old and 24-year old) were not able to make it, then how much more a frail, 5-year old girl?

My daughter, Willow, when she was admitted in the hospital

In between tummy aches and headaches, she still managed to smile. We love u so much sweet girl! 

    

    After a stressful and scary week, I really thanked God and my family for all their help throughout Willow’s recovery. However, it is not yet over. That occurrence compelled me to reflect and learn from the experience. As parents, we have been negligent. Prior to Willow’s dengue fever, many kids from our neighborhood had already been hospitalized due to dengue. Although we ensured that all stagnant waters were replaced regularly to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there, I now realized that it wasn’t enough. She may be safe in our home, but this protection did not cover those times when she went out to play with some of our neighbors’ kids. And it’s not like we can keep her trapped in our house forever.

    One can never go wrong in investing in preventive measures. This is why we have decided to keep a supply of OFF! Insect Repellant Lotion so wherever our children will go, they will always be safe from the dangers posed by mosquito bites. Even when at home, I still apply OFF! Lotion on them since some mosquitoes still manage to come inside our house despite various safeguards. 

Willow reading and playing with her little brother 

     As parents, we are trying our best to protect Willow June, our eldest, and her one-year old brother Knight Prince not only from acquiring the dreaded Dengue Fever, but also from the trauma and the pain brought about by the manifestation of the virus such as stomach pains, headaches, and not to mention the daily extraction of blood necessary to determine the platelets count.

    With the help of OFF! Insect Repellant Lotion for Kids, we are assured of this protection for our kids. We all know that prevention is better than cure, and this is one preventive measure that’s worth investing into. We are really thankful to the distributors of this product for making it readily available in stores nationwide as it really helps us perform and enjoy our activities worry-free despite external threats brought about by harmful insects. I believe that to have peace of mind is already a wealth in itself, and no amount of money can top that. ^_^