Kabayan mummies in danger from thieves

KABAYAN, Benguet – The famous mummies here are in danger not only from thieves, but from environmental factors.

The mummies here are wrought with molds, said Kabayan town Mayor Faustino Aquisan, adding the preserved corpses, one of major tourist attractions of his town and treasures of Benguet province, could decay very fast.

Aquisan said the National Museum which is in charge of the preservation of the mummies already knows the predicament of the town. “We don’t have the capability or the chemicals to address the problem.”

Town officials are now regulating the visits to the mummy caves and enforcing a “no touch/holding” and viewing only rule.

The mummies are said to be as old as 2,000 years old.

Trekking to the mummy caves is one of the tourist attractions of Kabayan, Benguet.

Aside from the boost it gives to the tourism, it also gives employment to locals who work as tourist guides.

Kabayan also offers other beautiful tourist attractions. It shall hold its Timbac-Tbayoc Quest on March 13 to 14 to awe visitors with a visit to their caves, mountain lakes and the famous Amburayan River