Angono Petroglyphs

5,000-year-old rock carvings, the oldest known art in the Philippines

In a shallow rock shelter on the boundary of Angono and Binangonan are the oldest known artworks in the Philippines — 127 stylised figures pecked into the volcanic tuff sometime in the late Neolithic. The carvings show humans, lizards, and other animals, all in a simple line-drawn style.

A small visitor centre interprets the site; a covered walkway runs along the rock face so visitors do not damage the carvings. They are faint and you need to look — and the lighting helps best in the morning. The site is a 15-minute drive from the centre of Angono.

things to do sight
A story
Discovered in 1965 by the National Artist Carlos 'Botong' Francisco while exploring for rock formations on a Boy Scout outing, the petroglyphs are the oldest known artworks in the Philippines — over 5,000 years old. Around 127 stylised human and animal figures are carved into the rock shelter wall.

Other places in Things to Do