Brief History of Angono Petroglyphs:
The Angono Petroglyphs site museum is situated at the municipality of Binangonan Rizal, Philippines. This oldest work of art in the country was discovered by the national artist, Carlos "Botong" Francisco while having a field trip in 1965. While resting in the place, he recognized the drawings that is called 'primitive quality' by the artists. After discovering the site, Mr. Botong immediately reported it to the national museum and the institution conducted its research immediately.
The National museum of the Philippines confirmed the authenticity of this work of art and confirmed that 127 drawings are still visible in the form of animate figures. Aside from the drawings, artifacts to support the authenticity of this site has also been found like stone tools, obsidian flakes, fragments of earthenware and shells. The artifacts yielded has been studied by archeologists and suggested it was used during the Neolithic age (10, 200 BC - traditionally considered the last part of stone age).
Angono Petroglyphs were declared as the oldest known work of art in the Philippines and it is considered as one of the Natural Cultural Treasure of the Philippines. The petroglyphs are also included in the World Inventory of Rock Art under UNESCO and considered as "100 most endangered site in the world". At present, the authorities are conducting efforts in preserving this Neolithic - old national treasure.
Discovering the Angono Petroglyphs:
The Angono Petroglyphs is 1 to 3 kms. from the main town of Angono Rizal. It is hard to reach the site via public transportation because it is located on the mountain where Thunderbirds Rizal Resort and Casino is located. The Petroglyphs will be accessible via private transport from the town proper of Angono.
To reach the Petroglyphs, visitors must drive to the mountains going to Thuderbirds Rizal. Prepare your car because the road going to the site is so steep. Upon reaching the top road of the mountain, this guard house entrance will welcome you and will serve as your gateway to the Petroglyphs.
The guardhouse going to the Petroglyphs.
Visitors will also found this statue that represents the festival of Angono Rizal, the Higantes.
While driving on the way to the Petroglyphs site, visitors will enjoy the breathtaking views of its surroundings. The place is peaceful and green, we even had a stop over to enjoy the windy fresh air of the place and to take some photos.
Beautiful golf course beside the road.
The wide road of the place.
After enjoying the surroundings, visitors will pass by this tunnel. It serves as a landmark that the Petroglyphs will be near. This tunnel to Petroglyphs cave will took 2 to 3 minutes of driving.
The car tunnel of this mountain.
Just straight ahead after this tunnel and a sign will show where the Petroglyphs is. Upon seeing a cave-like tunnel, park your vehicles outside because it is not allowed inside.
Angono Petroglyphs signage.
Welcome sign of Angono - Binangonan Petroglyphs.
The Angono Petroglyphs is managed by the National Museum of the Philippines.
After paying the corresponding entrance fee, visitors must enter this man made cave-like tunnel to reach the Petroglyphs. it is cold inside and it is cool for some selfies!
The man-made tunnel going to the Petroglyphs.
This tunnel was built for the easy access of visitors visiting the Angono Petroglyphs.
Cold winds will refresh the visitors inside.
At the end of this tunnel, I found writings on the wall, I though that this was the Petroglyphs already, but it is only a vandalism done by careless people visiting the place. Oh well, maybe this vandalisms can be part of discoveries of the next generation after our existence. Who knows? They might consider it as the modern Petroglyphs. Haha. But please, don't contribute to this vandalisms when you visit.
Vandalism of modern ages.
After the tunnel, visitors must walk few more steps to reach the viewing deck of Angono Petroglyphs Museum. While enjoying the forest and the environment, please take note of the common rules while traveling, "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but memories and kill nothing but time".
The walkway to the Petroglyphs' viewing deck
While walking, the sign of the Petroglyphs' information will welcome the visitors. The tour guide managing the place will also greet and guide the people visiting this place. Before climbing the viewing deck, the guide will ask you to enter a small museum that shows the history of the Angono Petroglyphs.
Seeing this heritage site in the country amazes me so much and I can't contain my amusement to this oldest work of art in the Philippines. It seems that this exhibition is just simple because it's just a wall that has simple drawings, but considering the history and the age of this site will change your perception on how you see the Petroglyphs. The peaceful environment of the forest surroundings will wonder the viewers while listening to the birds tweeting while imagining the artists behind the Angono Petroglyphs. I now understand why Angono is described as "The artist capital of the Philippines", they maybe inherited their artistic talents from their ancestors.
After appreciating the Angono Petroglyphs, visitors will also appreciate the tunnel more that they used to enter the Petroglyphs. Upon coming back, the entrance of the tunnel is amazing. Take note, this is man-made created for easy access to the viewing deck of the carvings.
The Angono Petroglyphs is not too famous and tourists in this place are few. When we visited the place, I ask the security guard if how many tourist they had that day, and he said that it was only 4 visitors. Well, maybe because it was weekday that time.
The National museum and the government of Rizal are dedicated to preserve and protect the area. It is in line to be declared as one of the UNESCO heritage site and they are hoping that it would be considered as one. If you plan to visit this place, I am sure that you will love the history and you will appreciate the oldest known work of art in the Philippines.
Brief information about the site.
The small museum containing the collections of the Petroglyphs.
The detailed history of the Petroglyphs.
After the small museum, there is a stair beside it that will lead you to the viewing deck of the Petroglyphs where you can see the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. The national museum decided to make a viewing deck to prevent the visitors from going near the wall to avoid further damages.
Stairs directing visitors to the viewing deck.
The viewing deck of Angono Petroglyphs
This deck has been built to protect the Petroglyphs wall from visitors.
The bamboos beside the wall is just temporary. It is there because the caretaker is using it as ladder to remove the creeping roots coming near the drawings. It is really a photo bomber.
On the viewing deck, witness and be amazed on the oldest work of art in the Philippines. The carvings on the wall are belief that it was drawn on Neolithic age (around 10,000 years ago). The inscriptions on the cave wall clearly shows human figures, frogs and lizards and it was said by the experts that it is a symbolic representations of rituals during Neolithic age.
The magnificent old cravings on the walls of Angono Petroglyphs.
This is how Neolithic age people draw humans.
Frog and Lizards carvings.
Thinking how old this art amazes me.
Human figures on stone carvings.
The wall full of Neolithic age drawings.
Imagine the hands of the living thing behind this art.
Seeing this heritage site in the country amazes me so much and I can't contain my amusement to this oldest work of art in the Philippines. It seems that this exhibition is just simple because it's just a wall that has simple drawings, but considering the history and the age of this site will change your perception on how you see the Petroglyphs. The peaceful environment of the forest surroundings will wonder the viewers while listening to the birds tweeting while imagining the artists behind the Angono Petroglyphs. I now understand why Angono is described as "The artist capital of the Philippines", they maybe inherited their artistic talents from their ancestors.
After appreciating the Angono Petroglyphs, visitors will also appreciate the tunnel more that they used to enter the Petroglyphs. Upon coming back, the entrance of the tunnel is amazing. Take note, this is man-made created for easy access to the viewing deck of the carvings.
The end of the tunnel from the main entrance.
Inside the tunnel going out.
The Angono Petroglyphs is not too famous and tourists in this place are few. When we visited the place, I ask the security guard if how many tourist they had that day, and he said that it was only 4 visitors. Well, maybe because it was weekday that time.
The National museum and the government of Rizal are dedicated to preserve and protect the area. It is in line to be declared as one of the UNESCO heritage site and they are hoping that it would be considered as one. If you plan to visit this place, I am sure that you will love the history and you will appreciate the oldest known work of art in the Philippines.
The Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs
Mondays to Sundays
8:00AM to 5:00PM
Entrance Fees:
Adult: P 20.00
Student: P 10.00
The Angono Petroglyphs site is managed by the National Museum of the Philippines
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