My 2013 Journey

The First thing I thought as I begin composing this article is, that I have not written my 2012 year in review. I should do it sometime within next year, that year had a load of emotional/physical struggles that is not worthy writing for me.

Annus mirabilis is a Latin phrase that means “year of miracles.” If ever there was an annus mirabilis for me and my travels, it should have been 2013. I should say miracles really do happen.

2013 was a big year of travel and climbing for me. This past year,2013, I became more aware of my life's journey. 

My year started out slow with some health conditions that i should always put first if ever i will travel or climb. I then took a much needed break and forced myself to relax my feet at home for 2 months, then after making sure that I'm fit to travel, right away i pack my bags and begin my journey.

Here’s what happen in 2013, each one characterized by a highlight of the tour.

***Cordillera Region tour

I meet and eat with the locals from banaue batad, mayoyao , hapao, and hungduan. I explore the natural environment including a visit to the rice terraces clusters which is a UNESCO World heritage site and waterfalls.I witnessed one of the most dramatic looking sunsets in Batad and challenge myself for a great hike after my near death experience just 2 months ago. When I'm not exploring the villages i just stay at an old ifugao house drinking a cup of coffee. I don’t want to give too much away, i'll just say i’ll be back again exploring the mountains,soon.

***Tarlac and Pangasinan adventure

Nothing in Tarlac and Pangasinan impressed me enough till I reached Patar in Bolinao. I experience the province's diversity, lifestyle and warm hospitality. I get the opportunity of visiting old churches, waterfalls and enjoys their delicacy.I laso get the change to do a solo climb up Mangatarem's untouched mountains.

***Exploring tinipak river and daraitan caves

It wasn’t a hike, but the highlight of the day was seeing the raging river ,and defeat my fear with caves. 

***Revisited Ilocos Region

Finally Im back aftr 4 yrs.. I missd ds place so much.. I miss d coffee facing d whtesand in pagudpud. Time flies rily fast, alot of changes hapen n d place but d memories is still intact,can still rmembr my 1st visit in ilocos waybak 2001..then my nxt visit in 2003,2005,2007 an lastly in 2009 b4 my weddng. D experiens of vigan,ilocos, d sinking tower,old churches,d lighthaus,viaduct,falls an my 1st tym adventure to tugegarao.. Hay i miss ds place..

***Fallsineering Adventures

it has been 10 years after my first visit to mt famy, now commonly known as mt romelo.THis is my 2nd mountain after mountaineering was intoduced to me.Thanks so much master jc batayola for this opportunity and to my best climbing/adventure buddy jackie mildew.. it is really great... chasing waterfalls at Daranak, Batlag, Maybunga, Matabungka and Buntot Palos

***Visita Iglesias 

Got to visit several old churches in Rizal,laguna and Quezon.

***My Pinatubo revenge,Mt Maranat and the hidden Falls,Mt Pico de Loro, Mt Humarap , Mt Romelo, San Jose Circuit, Mt Balingkilat and my yearend climb to Batulao.

***beachineering 2013

Cagbalete, san felipe, Borawan, Patar and Pagudpud. Nothing compares to the views of the sunset and sunrise at beach front.

In 2013…

... I climb 13 mountains and 8 waterfalls

... I visited 1 century old lighthouse

... I gain more friends

Somehow 2013 did not disappoint me. I learned so many lessons, not just about me , but with other people and the surroundings. I'm proud to say I have grown as a person. 

For now, I’d like to thank each single person who been a part of my Journey. Especially to jackie and kennet who been very good to me. To sir Jojo and rochelle. Thank you guys for being my climbing/adventure/travel/kumare/kumpare buddy. I really appreciate all your support throughout 2013 and I hope to see you and travel/climb again next year. 

Like I said before , 2013 was an amazing year for my  travel and climb, and there is still so much more that I want to do and share with all of you.

I dont want to plan because it may not push through. Like i always said " i living each day as if its my last day". Living your life means you are going where no one has gone before. Make your life a wonderful journey.

Enjoy travelling!!

Batulao: Before the year ends

Time goes by really fast.Before I knew it 2013 was over. With days dwindling down on 2013 I have been looking back on what has been the hardest year of my life.With all the ups and downs, all the fun and hard times, all the good and bad stuff. What a great year it has been.Hiking has been the glue that has helped keep my sanity in these times with quiet moments to think and reflect. I had time for one last hike this year and headed to Mt batulao with my best climbing/travel/kumare buddy Jakie.In the end I can say my climbing had some major ups and downs as well, but indeed 2013 is a great year.But 2013 must be even better. How? Just climbing even harder throughout the year. Find more good friends.Enjoy family.Love.

Scrambled the peak via new to old trail traverse route hiking along the beautiful ridgeline. There are eight "false summits" ( i Lost my count) all the way to the summit. The new to old route is a a bit scary but easy. Overall it was a great peak. tired, but the view of the Cascades (all of them from Mt. talamitam, mt pico de loro and mt maculot ) is breathtaking. It doesn't get much better than this.

We started at 8:00am and reached the summit at 10.15am. we took the old trail for our descend and enjoy some buko along the way.

It was a good day.

daraitan exploration... spelunking 103

exploring tinipak river and daraitan caves!!

Finally! I’ve thought of something to post so suddenly.

Although the photographs don't do the trip justice, a picture is worth a thousand words, so the photographs will tell most of the story.

We visited many areas,emphasis on this particular trip will be on the more adventurous aspects of what turned out to be a remarkable journey. Along the way we met some mountaineers , friendly locals,saw giant insects, crawled on our bellies through underground caves, raging rivers, witnessed what nature can really offer to us. 

It wasn’t a hike, but the highlight of the day was seeing the raging river , crossing it and doing the cave 103.

The stunning limestone mountains that tower over Daraitan are riddled with caves of all kinds. Some are large with spectacular stalagmite and stalactite formations, while others are so small you can barely squeeze inside. We only entered the first cave that was rather easy but it’s definitely not for claustrophobic people!

The campsite was a real paradise. It was a beautiful location on a clear and fast river with high forested bluffs lining each side of the river. After a swim in the river, we rested and relaxed . We had a nice bath and swim and settled down for lunch before our trek back through the jungle. The rocks formation were impressive. It was a great day.

San Jose Circuit

It was a party weekend. Yes, I could have gotten dressed up and gone to parties. Yes, I could have gone watching movies. Yes, I could have gone to trinoma. I could even have gone to Tagaytay since LM invited me.But that’s not the way i do things after i agreed to join the san jose circuit with sir Jhunie.

It was another rainy day, but that wasn’t going to deter me anymore. The hike was short, straightforward, and delightful, and thanks to my cousin reynald who joined me in this climb. 

The long scenic drive from Tarlac city follows the san jose proper going to barangay san pedro with the 3 peaks in full view most of the way (eventhough We see clouds elsewhere in the sky). Today, I experience a special day and will be a lifetime memory.The air is much cooler when we hop from the jeepney and the scent of moist rainforest hangs in the air like perfume.

That morning we left jump-off at 7:30 am, clouds appear along with brief showers.Visibility may be low due to heavy clouds and afternoon rains are common. This climb was steep and very muddy thanks to the overnight rains. Throughout the day it continued to rain, off and on, and iam totally soaked.Thank god for the plastic bags I packed that save my camera.

The effects of rain and mud can be very strenuous on the body. Correspondingly, chances of unsuccessful 3 peak summit also decreases. But the majority of the group decided not to complete the circuit and just be contented with the 2 peaks. 

The ridge around san jose was wide and amazing.By the time we reached the summit of Mt kawayan the cloud was breaking up and glimpses of the peaks were appearing and then disappearing. It was a pretty awe-inspiring experience and made me realize how lucky I was to experience such amazing scenery. We did not hang around for long , after our lunch we started another hike going to mt bungkol baka. As we travelled back along the ridge, the cloud swirled in and out and I wondered if the summit at mt bungkol baka would give us a clear view of Tarlac province. As we drove up, the skies were dark and threatening, not something we’ve ever encountered before. Just as we walked over the top the clouds reveal an amazing view of Tarlac and the neighboring province ( dont know what ??) and the barangay where we started, which serve as our jump-off. We took some pictures,and I've never felt more alive than when I'm sitting perched on the very peak of the mountain, but then rain started to fall. Again, something we are expecting. I wasn’t looking forward to spending 5 more hours in the rain (We were, however, prepared for it.) Unfortunately it was going to be a traverse along the ridge and then retrace our steps back again then pass Mt tangisan going back to jump-off. At 3 pm ( exhausted and hungry ) we were hiking along the ridge just as the rain began to fall again (heavy rain this time). The climb and walk back down is much easier but still requires plenty of concentration. While climbing backwards down the muddy rocks. With all the previous climb I have done recently, I felt short on this climb, going down the ridge feels unending.Unluckily for us, heavy rain is with us on our way down which make it more harder. Typical! Oh well maybe it surpass my muddy experience with romelo and daguldol. Nothing can be dried at this point. But despite the cold and dampness I kept pace better than I thought I would. I’m definitely the slow one in the group, but I thought I’d be a lot slower. Some parts of the climb were really scary so I had to mentally push myself (river crossing (plenty of it!!) – I HATE river crossing and the slippery rocks you’re required to balance on to cross them). Again, thank god for my hiking poles that eventually give up ( SAD!). We reached the jump off around 7 pm and right away group is getting ready to go home. 

Climbing San jose circuit is one of the best things to do in Tarlac. It is exhausting, exhilarating, and leaves you with the ultimate bragging rights. But those bragging rights come at a cost – the 2 mountains (bungkol Baka and kawayan is not an easy mountain to climb. It involves rain, muddy trail and spending most of the trek in the river. Oh yeah, and back, knee, and foot problems.

As terrible as my other climbs, I would do it all over again. This climb is the ultimate test of endurance and I’ve never experienced such extreme rushes of adrenaline for a long time, the feeling is highly addictive. I’m going to cherish my san jose circuit memories for the rest of my life. 

I pushed myself to the absolute limit and it was clear that the this is what others did too (i think , except for sir jhunie and sir toto .. harkur si sir!!:) ).

For those who favor a less crowded climb i highly suggest san jose circuit. Climbing San Jose Circuit (DAYHIKE ) takes a lot of preparation. i must say climber should begin planning their trek in advance and must be physically and emotionally ready.

Zambales.. A Family Beach affair

November. This is no typical beach bum holiday – unless of course you want it to be!

How is this possible?

Having a family outing sponsored by Ynah is a good answer. Enjoying each other company the whole day from the long and tiring trip to San Felipe is a great experience. Feeling nostalgia . I can still remember our very first family trip when i was a kid going to Bataan, not to mention this is also waki and theo's first beach outing.

The beach in Liw-Liwa, San Felipe is best appreciated by surfers. And i think this is the reason why it is so under the radar for a vacationer, and beach bummers will not like it as well, I didnt love the beach but i do appreciate it. I am talking this way because all of my cousins didnt like or appreciate it as I did.

I appreciate the blue waters of Liw-liwa's beach during midday but exposing directly to sun is not a good idea.

I did not surf, although its sea topography is perfect for first-time surfers.But i tried the waters in Liw-liwa, and I love the mountain background. Liwliwa is a very peaceful place. It’s a great time out from the chaos we call city living.

The outing is a success, edifying our family relationship in one-day out of town bonding. Thanks so much Ynah..

MT. Balingkilat : defying odds

Balingkilat, literally the "Mountain of Thunder" in the native aeta language, i would say is one of our country's great mountains.Despite being known for its direct assault and open trail thus direct expose to the sun is a big challenge.In fact being one of the highest within the zambales ridge, it is also relatively straightforward to climb with almost no technical sections. Beware, straightforward does not mean easy – it’s one of the deadliest mountains and an extremely challenging undertaking for mountaineers.

I climbed the Pointed Peak – now designated as Mt. Balingkilat – after typhoon yolanda hits some part of the Philippines.I consider this trip as a climb for a cause for the victims of the typhoon, and these are the notes I made at the time about the experience.

Saturday. 9th November 

Victory Bus Terminal going to Olongapo. Sir Jojo and Mam Jackie making it to this trip and joining me with this high altitude self-abuse trek.Our first objectives were to finish the summit @ 9 am then from there we decide whether we push with the traverse to nagsasa or do a backtrail back to cawag.Being prepared is something i dont usually do. :( with all my climbs, and since we expect to start our climb past midnight i literally run out of words for this climb. On our way i keep on checking for my temp since fever hits me last friday and just in time for this trip asthma attacks again. 

Upon arrival in Subic chieftain Balosbalos of the cawag community is expecting us and agreed to pick us at Subic Police station after registration. From Subic we took a tricycle and travelled less than 40 minutes going to the jumpoff. Even to there, the going is fairly steep in places. After some reminders from the chieftain and meeting our guide our climb has officially started. After the village it gets steeper and steeper. Early on, there are a couple of level bits – after that, you continuously look forward to the next flat part,(YOU WISH!) then you begin to pray for just a few feet of flatness,(HOPINg!) but it doesn’t happen. It’s not a winding, gradual ascent, it just goes more or less straight up never-endingly in front of your headlight.

From Cawag community to the Kawayanan Area took us 2 hours. When we reached it, we rested for 20 or 30 minutes but I was so drenched in sweat that sitting still meant turning very chilly. After around 1 hour my thighs were screaming with pain and every step was a supreme effort of willpower. At various points I felt alternately faint and tearful not to mention my difficulty for breathing because of my asthma attack. And because of this we need to do several stop overs , thank god jackie and sir jojo is cooperative. Above us,i can see thoundsands of stars – I was still seeing stars when I looked down at the ground. while walking, all of my Friends warnings about watching out for snakes on the path meant nothing now. My only thought was the next step – and the possibility of not giving up at the summit and turning back safely.

I did not get much of a chance to be amazed before we had to start our ascent to the summit.After Kawayanan i can already sense that this hike is really challenging and physically gruelling, it was not surprising that at this altitude my steps were only moving me about a foot at a time. It took me a full hour to get to our next stop.I was glad to have a little break and a snack once at the refuge, but this was a small stop.

It was about 5:45 in the morning when we reach the First Viewdeck,just right in time for our itinerary and the viewdeck gives us a clear view of the trail from kawayanan. It was perfect timing because the sun began to rise so we sat and watched the sunrise for about 30 minutes while I returned back to somewhat normal. I will never forget the beauty of that sunrise and how happy I was to be hiking again. I forgot to mention the weather is good and perfect.From this area we had our breakfast and from this point you can already see a clear picture of the ascent waiting for us going to the summit. 

At 7 Am we started the ascend going to the summit , our guide stated that with our pace it would take us 3 more hours going to the peak.Again, the weather was perfect, and this time we had a mountain all to ourselves. The climbing was beautiful, with slope angle and cliff on both sides.This is the kind of climbing I love.Se la vie.

After about 1 hour and a half into the hike i began to feel even more sick.I sucked it up for 5 hours, until i felt like i was going to vomit with my every step. My legs felt like they couldn't move anymore, I was sure I was going to vomit, my head began to feel really dizzy and my vision began to be blurred.By this point the rest of the group had continued on at a faster pace except me. When I started to have these symptoms i insisted that we take a break and this is where is decided to give up my pack, i ask our guide to carry my bag(LOSER!). It sounds crazy but my bags is alot heavier than sir jojo and jackie. After several stop overs and rest I was still determined to make it to the summit. Soon after , We hit the ridge, and ascended, ascended, and ascended. The change in angle on the slope lures you into believing that you are ‘almost there’ but in reality it will take you more steps to the summit. It’s a very steep climb that only gets steeper as you go. The final push from the turn-off to the campsite is especially tiring, but it’s all worth it when you get views like we did. and I have found an inner peace on the mountains that has been life-affecting.Life on mountains is a tough, unsympathetic existence. It is your mind against the conditions. The love and support and my friends / family has helped me more than I can describe. I am truly blessed to have such opportunity of seeing god's work. 

9:20 AM we reach the first, false summit or the campsite, the wind is very strong ,good thing that the air turned a crisp colder, so all in all this hike is pretty bearable. from the campsite it will take you roughly 15 more minutes going to the summit. The views from the summit is always stunning, and encompass many of the surrounding mountains, as well as nagsasa, anawangin and silangin coves. We rested a while at the summit together with some french students we meet from the jumpoff. and from the campsite we took our lunch and then after much deliberation I knew what I must do, we decided not to push through with nagsasa traverse because the view of the waves is disturbing from afar.I felt the utmost disappointment , but one thing we should consider first is our safety.A successful nagsasa traverse must wait... for now.. 

We descended the mountain taking the same path as on the way up.We hiked back down the mountain by 12 noon. It was a slow leisurely hike and some time to enjoy the scenery. 

On the tail end of our trip we decided to relax at a beach resort in subic. 

I took a last look at the mountain as we drove away. I will be back. Soon.