The Puzzling Hot Springs of Benguet

Asianjournal.com
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Tuba, Benguet (Philippines):
Until now, no one can really explain why Sitio Asin in Barangay Nangalisan is blessed with hot springs.
But officials of this third class town are bent on making the hot springs their top tourist attraction as the Department of Tourism turns aggressive in promoting the province’s tourist spots.
Asin now has five resorts that feature swimming pools and hot springs—the Baguio City-government owned Asin Hot Springs and the privately run Bosaing’s Swimming Pool, Rivervue Park and Swimming Pool, Pascua’s Hot Springs and Palm Groove.
Rivervue, Pascua’s and Palm Groove were established in the last three years, indicating a surge in the development of the hot springs as a potential income earner, said Magdalena Niwane, the town’s tourism council chair.
“Many come to [swim and dip] in hot springs since the water is believed to have curative properties, like healing skin diseases,” Niwane said.
Councilor Blas Dalus said the council is not aware of any scientific study explaining the source of the town’s hot springs.Dalus said old residents point to Mt. Sto. Tomas in the town’s northern part as the source of the springs, since they believe the mountain is an old volcano.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Baguio City, however, said the mountain is not a dormant volcano.
Instead, it said Asin’s hot springs could have come from the natural geographical conditions of the town’s underground.
Nov 29, 2005