In the province of Nueva Ecija, an astonishing phenomenon attracts the curious: an ancient village resurfaces after three centuries underwater. What does this sudden appearance hide?
In the heart of the Philippines (one city of which is among the top travel destinations of 2024), nature sometimes reserves surprises that seem straight out of a history book. In the arid region of Pantabangan, a long-buried secret is brought to the surface, revealing a forgotten past that many believed lost forever. This unexpected event began in March, when the waters of the lake formed by the Pantabangan dam began to drop drastically. What has since been discovered is beyond the imagination of many historians and locals.
With lgradual drying up of the lake, structures emerge little by little. Fragments of stones, outlines of buildings and even the remains of a church begin to outline a landscape that had not been seen by human eyes since the construction of the dam in the 1970s. But what does this site really reveal to us? about the region’s past? The answer lies in the testimonies of those who knew the village before its submergence.
The rest after this ad
Return of a disappeared village: a spectacle as beautiful as it is disturbing
Marlon Paladin, supervising engineer for the National Irrigation Administration, shares his unique experience with this phenomenon. “ This is the sixth time these structures have reappeared since the creation of the reservoir, but they had never remained visible for so long. » According to him, the severity of the current drought has revealed more than ever before. This spectacle attracts not only historians but also tourists, curious to see with their own eyes this chapter of the Philippine past.
The rest after this ad
Visits are increasing, with locals and travelers coming to observe the foundations of a once-thriving community. Nely Villena, a resident of the area, explains that the receding waters offer a new perspective on a place she has always known. Each visit to the observation platform offers a renewed view and reflections on the precariousness of our environment.
The impact of climate change on local populations
The reappearance of the village is not without consequences for the local community. As the waters recede, the reality of climate change becomes palpable, affecting agriculture and energy production. The dam’s two hydroelectric plants were forced to suspend operations, according to Philippine media Philstar Global. A hard blow for the region which depends heavily on this renewable energy source.
The rest after this ad
Yet, despite the challenges, there are a glimmer of hope and a lesson to be learned. As Melanie Dela Cruz points out, returning to visit the village of her childhood for the first time, “ It brought back bittersweet memories, but seeing the village like this also reminded me how important it is to cherish and protect our environment for future generations. “. His story is a poignant reminder of human resilience and our indelible connection to our planet’s past and future.