The Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area in the Philippines situated in the southern Sierra Madre range in Baras. It centers on the geological formations of Masungi Rock, at an elevation of . In 1993, the Masungi Rock and its vicinity was proposed to be declared as a ''Strict Nature Reserve'' and ''Wildlife Sanctuary.'' It has been a popular destination for hikes and day trips from Manila and started development towards Geopark status.

Description

The Masungi Georeserve is located at Kilometer 47, Marilaque Highway,

Baras, Rizal Baras, officially the Municipality of Baras ( tgl, Bayan ng Baras), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 87,637 people. History In 1595, the Franciscan missiona ...

, Philippines. The Masungi Georeserve is characterized by rugged limestone

karst Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

peaks, steep slopes, and surrounding lush montane rainforests. It contains several caves, including the ''Yungib ni Ruben'' (Ruben's Cave), which features

stalactite A stalactite (, ; from the Greek 'stalaktos' ('dripping') via ''stalassein'' ('to drip') is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble an ...

and

stalagmite A stalagmite (, ; from the Greek , from , "dropping, trickling") is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically ...

formations, as well as a man-made fountain. A popular attraction in the park is the ''Sapot'' ("Cobweb"), a metallic platform with wooden steps which allows visitors to walk on suspended netting above the karst and get a 360-degree view of the Sierra Madre and

Laguna de Bay Laguna de Bay (Spanish language, Spanish for "Lagoon/Lake of Bay, Laguna, Bay"; tl, Lawa ng Bay, ), also known as Laguna Lake, is the List of lakes of the Philippines, largest lake in the Philippines. It is located southeast of Metro Manila, b ...

. The park's tallest peak, ''Tatay'', also has a viewing deck at its summit. The limestone formations are connected by hanging bridges, rope courses and eco-trails developed by the Masungi Georeserve Foundation and Blue Star Development. On one of the hanging bridges, a wooden cable car-like shelter called ''Patak'' ("water droplet") can be found which serves as a rest stop for visitors. The ''Duyan'', a giant rope hammock spanning a few hundred feet, is one of Masungi's most photographed rope courses. The park was formerly a component of the Mariquina Watershed Reservation from its creation on July 26, 1904 to Oct. 29, 1973. In 1993, the Masungi Rock and its vicinity was proposed to be declared as a ''Strict Nature Reserve'' and ''Wildlife Sanctuary'' by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In July 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources officially announced plans to nullify the 2017 memorandum of understanding with Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. through secretary

Gina Lopez Regina Paz "Gina" La'o Lopez (December 27, 1953 – August 19, 2019) was a Filipino environmentalist and philanthropist who served as Secretary of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in an ''ad interim'' basi ...

following doubts raised on its constitutionality. Leonardo DiCaprio appealed to President Marcos, Jr. to protect Masungi.

Biology and ecology

Masungi is home to 400 species of flora and fauna including birds, insects, cloud rats, monitor lizards, snakes, monkeys, and civets. ''

Cycas riuminiana ''Cycas riuminiana'', commonly known as the Arayat pitogo or simply pitogo, is a species of cycad endemic to Luzon, Philippines. It is also locally known as ''bayit'' in Tagalog and ''sawang'' in Ilocano, among other names. Distribution There ...

'', a cycad endemic to Luzon, also grows in Masungi. In 2017, a new subspecies of microsnail, ''

Hypselostoma ''Hypselostoma'' is a genus of very small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Vertiginidae, the whorl snails. Species Species within the genus ''Hypselostoma'' include: * '' Hypselostoma anna ...

latispira masungiensis'', was discovered on the limestone boulders of Masungi Georeserve. The park is the only known habitat of the newly discovered subspecies. The park is also famous for its salinggogon or Philippine cherry blossoms which bloom seasonally.De La Cruz (2023). LOOK: Philippines' Own Version of Sakura Are in Full Bloom Near Manila. Spot.ph.

Trail specifications

It has been a popular destination for hikes and day trips from Manila since it opened in 2015 and started development towards Geopark status. The Masungi Georeserve only allows a limited number of guests to go through the conservation area at their request. An experienced park ranger guides guests throughout the trek, providing in-depth information about the

sustainable tourism Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Su ...

industry in the Philippines.

External links

References

{{Calabarzon attractions Sierra Madre (Philippines) Geography of Rizal Tourist attractions in Rizal