BINANGONAN-ANGONO, RIZAL: Petroglyphs
By: Nickson Garcia
Discovered in the year 1965 by muralist and National Artist, Carlos "Botong" Francisco during a field trip together with his boy scout troops. It is believed to be the oldest artwork in the Philippines.
The site is a rock shelter measuring about 63 meters wide, eight meters deep and five meters at the highest point. One hundred twenty seven drawing (127) are still visible in the form of animate figures. The drawings have various types such as frog-like and lizard-like that appears to be very old. Of the one hundred twenty seven figures, fifty one were found to be distinct types perhaps done by many individuals.
In the year August 1973, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 260, Ferdinand Marcos declared Petroglyphs of the rock-shelter as the oldest known work of art in the Philippines, a National Cultural Treasure. In 1985, it was included in the World Inventory of Rock Art under UNESCO, ICOM, ICOMOS, ICCROM under the Standard Rock Art Files.
Location:
Eastridge Arts Recreations & Tourism Zone, Binangonan Rizal
*Landmark: Near Thunderbird Resorts, Binangonan
How to get there:
From Angono town proper, hire a tricycle going to the site. The road leading to the site was steep and tricycle may charge a higher price due to the road leading to the site.
Untold Notes:
As a new visitor in the place, the man-made tunnel serves as the entry point leading to the petroglyphs site. There is nothing much to expect but only the carvings itself. A big tarpaulin showing the history of the site can be seen in the registration area. Other than that, you may chose to visit nearby destination such as Thunderbird Resorts.