Amazing Cave of Worship

Since time immemorial, spirituality has been an integral part of people's lives. This manifests in the way they behave, in the way they express their spiritual beliefs. Expression of religious beliefs takes many forms: from animism or inanimate object worship to modern day church going. People become part of a congregation of believers. And they meet in certain agreed places of worship. Places of worship varies between religious sects, from simple huts of church planters to proud spires of modern-day churches.

But who would want to worship in a cave in these modern times? It is a strange but amazing fact that worship can be done in a cave by the a group of seventh-day adventists in the remote place south of Palawan, the Philippines' last frontier.

The Cave of Worship

The amazing cave of worship can be accessed if one travels south to the municipality of Bataraza, more than 240 kilometers south of the City of Puerto Princesa. The cave of worship is located high up a limestone mountain, located just several kilometers from  a nearby community.

To gain access to the cave, one has to climb the steep, 111-step concrete stairway inclining at approximately 80 degrees. The cemented pathway is bounded by a line of orange Amaryllis (probably Hippeastrum 'vittatum' hybrid). Two-inch pipes welded together serve as sturdy handrails to provide stability and support while climbing the long stairway to "heaven." Halfway up the stairway, written on one step is the date: February 7, 2002. The stairway is eight years old. It's amazing that churchgoers still attend worship services in a cave in these modern days.

The Welcome step and the 111-step stairway to the "Cave of Worship."

Although the steps are not that high relative to each other, you can hear yourself huff and puff while your heart beats fast every inch of the way. It's a challenge climbing up that stairway especially to someone in his/her senior years. One misstep could send you rolling dangerously down the high incline.

Welcome Note

The visitor is greeted at the padlocked entrance by a signboard with "WELCOME, Panoyon Cave, Seventh-Day Adventist Church" written on it. Underneath, nailed at the left post is an incomplete notice probably vandalized by some naughty visitor. It says that although the cave is open to everyone, the adventist church members were tasked to take care of the cave. Nobody should write on its walls, dig and strew things around. Caves are usually the target of treasure hunters who dig around trying to local their elusive treasure. Many caves have been damaged because of these activities.

In 2001, the national government enacted Republic Act No. 9072. It declared the policy of the State to conserve, protect and manage caves and cave resources as part of the country's natural wealth.This may be the reason why the notice emphasized cave protection measures. 

Pulpit and Benches

Upon entering the final steps grown with algae, a pulpit with several lines of benches covered with plastic sheet meets visitors. Up at the "ceiling" are lots of bats that continually chatter while intermittently discharging their loads of poop evidenced by whitish and blackish material on the concreted elevated pulpit and benches on the ground. One would wonder how the attendees behave while reading the bible or singing hymns of worship as the stench of bat manure and occasional poop mark the occasion.

The algae-grown final steps to the cave of worship (left); and pulpit and benches inside the cave (right).

The only source of light to illuminate the insides of the cave are the two small holes at the "ceiling" and the cave entrance. During the visit, the cloudy skies barely show details inside the cave. It would be a real challenge worshiping during those rainy, gloomy days. 

Light coming from the cave entrance and two small holes in the dome illuminate the inner recesses of the cave.

A Puzzle

What caused the adventists, or the pastor for that matter, to choose the cave as their place of worship is a puzzle to visitors like us who were new to the place. There might be a valid reason for doing so. Whatever the reason, one could not help but be amazed how people would find ways and means to express their spiritual beliefs; even if this expression appears to be out of the ordinary, unconventional or intriguing to many. Strange but true, people still worship in caves. It is an amazing cave of worship.