Experience Bakngeb River Cave of T'boli, South Cotabato

I am a regular traveler to different villages of Tboli, South Cotabato for monthly Ministry adventures  but i have to be honest that i've never been to places of attraction that are being promoted by the Local Government of Tboli like the Lake Holon ( also known as Lake Parker), the El Kini Hotspring Resort, and the Bakngeb river Cave ( not this time anymore).

Lake Holon is just 2 to 3 hours hike from Salacafe where we held different activities in several Occasions. Bakngeb River Cave is just 5 minutes from Laconon, a barangay we always pass through going to Salacafe and other villages like Datal Bila. El kini Hotspring is located at Barangay Lamhaku where we used to have a Bible School and I used to live for a year in 1988-1989 and it's also the place i visit more often every year. The reason why i never visited these places was because it's not in my itinerary. I usually go to places where we conduct activities like seminars, Fellowships, Film showing & other ministerial/Missionary  duties and when it is done, my mind and heart leads me back home to my family. 

But during the last leg of the Summer Missions Adventure which we called " No Borders Challenge" held last Summer ( April and May 2016), I took the team with me to the place where i really wanted to go, That is the Bakngeb River Cave. The team was composed of College Students and Graduates of General Baptist Bible College ( Davao City). 

We conducted Summer kids Camps to the mountains of Sarangani and highlands of Tboli at 3 separate venues and different times during that summer and I was thinking that maybe going to a place like this would be a treat to myself after that month long stress and i just wanted to include the team. Most of the students in the team are Tboli and lived just within the Province but surprisingly,  none of them were able to see the place yet. Because of the plan everybody became excited and were ready for the Adventure. I really enjoyed that experience and wanted to promote the place to my friends. 

Upon reaching the Area of Bangeb River Cave, we entered the Traditional House where they performed to us the different dances of Tboli and showed to us their traditional costumes. After that  we signed up and paid a registration fee of only 10 Pesos plus 50 Pesos for the Life Vest we use to explore the inside of the cave.

Using a raft, you will be able to go through the narrow passage inside but to be able to go further we were given the option to wade through the cold water to be able to go further to the interior as the passage is so narrow enough for the life raft to go through. 

 

Despite the current and the cold water, we needed to move further up to complete the experience and enjoy the rest of the adventure. 

Coming out was a long way to swim back toward the entrance but i thought that was the most exciting part of the adventure. Yes, i have to do it again next time with the sports camera with me. 

To go to Bakngeb River Cave you need this information: 

If from Davao City take a bus bound for General Santos City ( Travel Time: 3-4 hours; Fare P 190 - P240 )

from General Santos City, take a bus bound for Koronadal City (Travel time: 1      hour and 30 minutes; fare P 90 – P110)

From the Koronadal City Bus Terminal, take a bus going to the Municipality of  Surallah ( Travel time: 30 minutes, fare: P 25 – P 35)

From the Surallah Integrated Transport Terminal, take a van bound for T’boli (Travel  time: 30 minutes, fare: P 30 – 40)

Upon arriving in T’boli, proceed to the Municipal Hall and register at the Municipal  Tourism Office.

Take a motorcycle (habal-habal) to take you to Bakngeb. (travel time 30 minutes,        fare: P 40 – P 70 per person)

If you wish to travel in motorcycle, there is a short cut partly paved road from Polomolok via Barangay Koronadal Proper to  Barangay Lambangan, Barangay Lam Salome, Barangay Lampari, Barangay Lamian and will Exit to Barangay Lamsugod. Then from Lamsugod, turn left toward Tboli town. Travel time from Gensan is 2 hours or less than that depending on the speed. I would recommend this only to those who love rough ride and more adventure 

( Some of the connecting roads are not paved yet). But to be sure, going around through Koronadal is the best road. I save more than 50 kilometers in the short cut though. 

Next Trip will be to Lake Holon together with Chef Louella ( my Wife ). She is pleading that we should go next month. So excited!

TRUST GOD FULLY

I haven't been active in updating my blog for sometime as I use Facebook to show the pictures and besides, i am not really a good writer. All i can do or easier for me to do is to post the pictures and give a brief description. But i really think i have to develop my writing skills.

On March 5, 2015, my pregnant wife was admitted to the hospital due to spotting and that scared us as she had 2 miscarriages in the past. We knew of the cost for the "CERCLUGE" procedure or the stitching of her cervix to keep the baby but God put us in the situation that we have to trust HIM fully with our finances. She had the operation the next day and on the third day our hospital bill came with lots of faith in our heart. 60,000 pesos ( 1,300.00 + dollars) was a big amount and beyond our capacity to pay but God delivers us from trouble. Friends, relatives & church mates helped us pay 30,000 pesos while the Philippine Health insurance paid the rest. Truly God is Amazing, we just fully trusted Him and HE did what was best for us. But there's another challenge ahead of us, the coming of the baby.

August 10 was the scheduled removal of the stitches but prior to that we already enrolled in a Lying-in clinic to avoid the huge hospital bills. We had 10,000 pesos prepared  giving birth of the baby. After her OB doctor removed the stitches, it was 5 cm already and she was bleeding due to the suture, so she ordered us to be admitted to the hospital immediately. As i drove toward the hospital i cried because we tried to avoid the hospital because of the high bills and now we are heading there. But still, i have hopes in God to deliver us. all we had that times is 10,000 pesos and faith in God.

My wife Louella gave birth to Josiah Owen Gubal the next day, August 11, 2015 through normal delivery and we praise God for that. At last i saw the baby we prayed to make it for 9 months and he's here, a very healthy boy. We recieved the Hospital Bill at 5 pm on August 12 with lots of Hope that we can find ways to pay it. We needed 17,000 + to finally discharge from the hospital But 7 pm came and we still cannot find ways. I never asked help from anybody for her delivery because we already had 10,000 pesos on hand believing that in the lying-in clinic that amount is more than enough.

My last resort ( i thought ) was to knock the door of Rev. John Evans who mentored me and brought me in this place of ministry, wrote to them through facebook and shared my predicament. Without hesitation, i asked for help, which i don't normally do. That was 8pm of August 12.

In the morning of August 13, me and my wife greeted each other a Happy wedding anniversary as it was our 10th year of marriage. The thought of celebrating anniversary was forgotten as we are facing a bigger financial challenge but We are hopeful God would help us out that day. at around 9 in the morning, we receive a facebook private message from Ada Evans that they are sending help for our bills and other needs.... What a JOY we had to know that our prayers are answered and it was proven to us that TRUSTING AND BELIEVING IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEEDS really works. WE GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY AND HONOR.