In a valley in the middle of towering mountains where a community of an indigenous tribe settles, beneath a large stone lies hundreds of skulls and a thousand bones.

But who are they?

The skulls and bones are arranged in a neat riprap under a large stone. It was considered a burial cave. In fact, the bones were carbon-dated by Tokyo University, Japan and were found to be from 500 to 1000 years old.

You can see this sign beside the road approximately less than 500 meters before the Municipal Hall of Kabayan.

The way to the cave is less then 500 meters from the Kabayan Municipal Hall.
From the road, one needs to walk in a pathway leading to the residential houses.

This sign is located in the gate of the house where one would enter to get to the cave below.

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The stairs leading to the cave.

This is how the cave looks from the outside.

Who would have thought that this big rock hides a mass burial grave underneath?

According to a local, it initially didn't looked this way.

It was only arranged and riprapped this way for support as it was destroyed during the 1990 earthquake.

It was restored in 1991.

There also used to be mummies hidden in the cave but they were stolen.

It is believed that these bones are the ancestors of the locals while others are the skulls from enemy tribes as a result of head-hunting.

One may wonder what the wood in the middle of the skulls symbolizes. It looks like a half of a wooden coffin and at the time of visit, this is what's inside: bones, tobacco, gin and cup. In the local tradition, it is often done as an offering to the ancestors. During occasions, a mambunong/ faith healer/gifted elderly will often talk to the dead members of a family and offer gin, tobacco, sometimes with local food such as camote and boiled pork meat as part of a ritual.

Head-hunting Tribe

This head statue is found along the pathway leading to Opdas Cave.

Years ago, head-hunting was prevalent. The head hunters bring home the heads of the enemies and are being offered for abundant harvest.

The head hunters are met by the locals with a festival called the Bindiyan. When translated, it means until we get tired.

How the Head-hunting Stopped

This story is also from the local we talked to when we went to Kabayan.
Accordingly, there was a head-hunter who went to Natubleng, now one of the Barangays in Buguias, a nearby municipality.

A family took him in during his stay. He was supposed to go home to his tribe with an enemy's head.

However, he cannot find an enemy so he beheaded the head of the family who took him in.

When the wife learned of her husband's fate, she asked the tribe how could they do that to her and her family when they were not the tribe's enemy and all they did was tobe hospitable to them.

Since then, the tribe decided to stop head-hunting.

Of course this is just based on stories. We can only speculate on the truthfulness of the story although the Bindiyan Festival is always celebrated using an imitation head made from the trunk of a giant fern the locals call Tibangdan or Ativangdal in some parts.

Bindiyan Festival is celebrated by the Municipality of Kabayan every April to May.

Bendian Dance is also performed during different occasions in the province of Benguet.

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📌Hi. I am Cate and this is a part of my adventures in Kabayan, Benguet.
Initially, when the local told us about the Opdas Cave, I was really expecting a big one. When I saw the cave, I was reminded of the big stone near my grandparent's house in the province.
There was also a grave below it. I was able to reconnect to one of the traditions my ancestors did before. Honestly, I do not know of these culture and tradition they practiced before. We are also a part of the tribe although my grandparents settled in another municipality and I do not have any idea who their ancestors are. Kabayan, Benguet is indeed mystical. This is one proof of them.|

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