Kutawato Caves or Kutang Bato Cave is a cave in

Cotabato City Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato ( Maguindanaon: ''Kuta nu Kutawatu'', Jawi: كوتا نو كوتاواتو; Iranun: ''Bandar a Kotawato'', بندر ا كوتاواتو; fil, Lungsod ng Cotabato), is a third class independent co ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. The only cave system in the country, situated within the proper of a Philippine city, the Kutawato Caves is located in the foot of Pedro Colina Hill. It has a lot of hidden underground passageways. One of these is the tunnel connecting the cave to

Tamontaka Church The Church of the Immaculate Concepcion of Tamontaka, also known as the Tamontaka Church is a Roman Catholic church in Cotabato City, Philippines. The church was established by Jesuit priests as part of the Tamontaka Mission which focused on the y ...

, the oldest church in the city. This cave was also the source of the city's present name kuta means fort and wato means stone. Hence, the name 'fort of stone' which later on became Cotabato. Its wall of white, beige and brownish shade glitters in the dark and echoes a colorful past dating back to the days when no foreign foot yet trampled upon this land. The cave had given sanctuary to the natives when the Spaniards tried to convert them into the Castillan faith and has served the purpose when Filipino guerillas fought the invading force of Japanese Imperial army during the World War II. When the Japanese firepower proved superior to that of the natives, the cave was then used as an armory and even a garrison. There are four entrances, namely : the provincial Capitol Cave, Bagua Cave, Caverna Espanol and the Kuweba ni Satur.url=https://www.ironwulf.net/2012/05/31/cotabato-city-tamontaka-church-and-kutang-bato-cave-connection/

References

{{Reflist, 2 Caves of the Philippines Tourist attractions in Maguindanao del Norte Cotabato City Landforms of Maguindanao del Norte