Mt. Talamitam: Bonding with the guides

Christian flashed a shy smile as I approached the bench he was sitting on, his feet propped up on the unpolished wood on either side of him. I was being shielded from the drizzle by my brown umbrella which I folded upon coming under the shed that was part of the registration area.

It was already past 3 PM, and I needed at least 2 hours to climb the summit, pause for a while, and climb back down. I had to be back at the highway by 7 PM in time for the last trip of the bus that would take me back to Manila.

“Samahan mo ulit ako,” I told Christian, talking about being my guide once again just like a year ago.

That Mt. Talamitam climb in the summer of 2011 was one of my most unforgettable climbs. While it was scorching hot when we started the hike, we had to pause and hide under the leaves of banana trees when it suddenly rained; the lightning and thunderstorm made it so scary for us to go on. The mountain, by the way, was the most barren that I have climbed.

The kid, who was now more certain that it was indeed me from last year, said, “Ang hilig mo sa naulan at saka sa hapon.” (You’re so fond of climbing when it rains and in the afternoon.) It was 2 PM when we climbed last year.

Meawhile, one of Christian’s two cousins who went with us last year was also there. Floriel greeted me excitedly and started talking about the pancit canton we cooked with rainwater at the summit and how we were afraid of getting struck by lightning.

After writing my name on the log book, changing into my climbing clothes and leaving most of my stuff in Bro. Ted’s (the Barangay Chairman and the kids’ uncle) house, Christian, Floriel and I walked under the drizzle and headed for the summit.

It was a tiring climb for me because I have been climbing rarely these days. Sitting in front of the computer all day with no exercise whatsoever has taken a toll on me. I asked to rest three times all through the climb but we were still able to make it to the summit in an hour and twenty.

The talks I shared with Christian and Floriel along the way made the climb seem faster than it actually was. I don’t know if it was just a feeling, but they treated me like a long lost friend, filling me in on the highlights of their young lives since we last saw one another. It also became like a funny interview when the conversation turned on me, as I tried to answer them in ways their young minds could grasp.

I had with me the DSLR, but because it was drizzling (and I left the umbrella back at Bro. Ted’s, of course) I was only able to take a few shots at the summit. It was also getting late so I had to hurry back.

Using the side trail on our way back, we passed by some mountaineers (thirteen, according to Floriel) camped just below the summit. They were going to stay overnight and it was so brave of them to do so despite the drizzle, strong winds and dark clouds that threatened hard rains.

At exactly 5:50 PM, we were already at the lone store near the registration where we had ham and egg sandwiches and sodas. I needed that because I would be in for a long ride back to Manila.

The light and bubbly conversation continued on while we ate, and while at it, Florian, Floriel’s younger brother who also climbed with me last year, arrived. He was less shy now, and he showed the most physical change when I last saw them. He’s now taller and more conscious of his looks. (Compare the above photo with this.)

He was all smiles and joined the other boys in telling me stories – mostly about school, girls, and some scary stuff.

Time flew by so fast, though, and I had to go. The three of them walked me to the highway and stayed with me while I waited for the bus.

“Kailan ulit balik mo, Kuya?” Christian asked, and I was glad he dropped the “Sir” for “Kuya.”

“’Pag may time, babalik ako,” I promised.

Floriel, being the only one who had a cellphone, even gave me his number. “Text mo kami, ha, Kuya?”

I know I have created a bond with the kids. I haven’t texted them yet, but I will one of these days.

Somehow, I now know that it’s really not the mountain that gives you great experiences but how you climb it and the experiences and friends that you gain while walking its trails.

Mt. Talamitam has indeed given me memorable experiences in the two times I climbed the mountain. The first one may be most remembered by the hard rain and thunderstorms, but I know the second one will always put a smile on my face every time it will cross my mind.

A Rainy Mt. Talamitam Climb

Longing for a solitary climb, I searched the internet for a dayhike destination near Manila - a mountain that would be accessible, not exceeding 800 MASL, and that I haven't climbed before.

I couldn't find any other mountain that fit those classifications than Mt. Talamitan in Nasugbu, Batangas. With an elevation of 630+ MASL and with a jump-off just along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Mt. Talamitan is a friendly one for someone without a company. And although there are talks about how two parties "battle" for the "management" of the mountain, I didn't really care. I've been going around long enough to know that internet articles could be so exaggerated than the actual situation itself.

I woke up a little late that Thursday morning of April 28th. Perhaps knowing that it's fun climb made me underestimate the climb. I was at the Alabang Bus Terminal by 9:00 AM, forgetting there's no Nasugbu-bound buses there. But, of course, I knew there's always a way. A driver approached me and asked where I was headed. He told me that I should hop on his Batangas City-bound bus and he'd drop me off at the diversion road. From there I could ride another bus going to Nasugbu. I was so clueless without a map, but I asked if that was the only alternative and he said yes.

Okay, so much for being fooled but I was able to reach the diversion road, got on a Nasugbu-bound bus, dropped at Palico, and rode another jeepney headed to Nasugbu town that would pass by the jump-off in Sitio Bayabasan.

But it was almost 2 PM that time. I immediately asked around for Sir Nick or Bro. Ted's house. People looked quizzically at me since I was alone and in climbing clothes. That, or because they didn't know whose house to give me directions to. One man gave me directions to Bro. Ted's house, and while walking, I saw an old woman coming from a sari-sari store and heading towards the direction I was headed. I asked for Bro. Ted's house and to my surprise, she shook her head as if I had asked her a question she didn't wanna hear. Anyway, she walked so fast and in the distance, I saw her stopped by a fence and talked to someone. She was still there while I passed. She looked at me and the man inside the fence as if the two were talking about me.

I had a hunch it was Sir Nick inside the fence, and that hunch was confirmed when I was able to talk to Bro. Ted after my climb.

Anyway, I reached Bro. Ted's house (which was actually his mom's house). It serves as registration area, at least to those who choose him over Sir Nick. But in all honesty, I didn't choose anyone. I knew about the dispute but since I didn't really know them personally, either of them would have been okay. It's just that people seemed more willing to give directions to Bro. Ted's house.

I arrived at the place, which you wouldn't miss because of big signs, and asked for Bro. Ted. He wasn't there unfortunately and I was greeted instead by his brother Sir Paul, and his mother Ma'am Nelia. They were quite friendly and accommodating. I found out that I was the only mountaineer who arrived that day, perhaps because it's a Thursday and there's actually a Low Pressure Area threatening hard rain.

I asked for a guide and they gave me a kid named Christian. Two of Christian's cousins, though, joined us. They're from Bicol and were only in Nasugbu for vacation and they haven't been to Mt. Talamitam yet. Well and good, I had three little guides for the price of one.

The kids were all polite, but the two from Bicol were kinda shy. The first part of the climb was quite easy, but became more difficult when we reached the barren part of the mountain. And yea, barren. Really sad to see the mountain so bald.

It was already 2:05 PM when I started trekking. It was so hot and sunshiney when we started that I thought the forecast of rains arrived too early. But an hour into the trek, I was surprised when it began thunderstorm-ing and soon after that, dark clouds gathered so fast making it so gloomy. Was a good thing I brought my poncho (thanks to the forecast) cuz it rained so hard that made us stop walking. It was just sad that the three kids with me didn't have anything and they were shy to share my poncho. Anyway, I found it so hot with the poncho on so I just took it off when the hard rain turned into drizzle, and continued with the climb.

We reached the summit at 4:05 PM. The final assault to the summit was so slippery and so steep that I paused at least twice, sitting on big rocks and enjoying the view of Mt. Batulao in the distance.

The view from the summit was spectacular. Aside from Mt. Batulao, Pico de Loro was also visible on the other side. It stopped drizzling after a while and the sun peeked a little and cast a golden yellow on that part of the mountain. I was ecstatic cuz that meant good pictures. But half of me wished I had a better camera.

(That's Christian in red shorts next to me.)

I brought with me 2 instant pancit canton and since I knew two hours of climbing made the kids hungry, I gave them the noodles to cook with the camping stove I always bring along. I had no more water, though, and we actually used the rainwater the kids collected using their mineral water bottle when we stopped due to the hard rain.

I bonded with the kids. We talked about school and stuff and I mentioned the name of Sir Nick in passing. They were quite mum about the subject of Sir Nick and the mountain but somehow said that the old man wasn't really the one appointed by the town mayor to be in-charge of the mountain. They furthermore said that Sir Nick keeps the registration money from mountaineers all to his own.

We decided to leave the summit 4:18 PM. The rain had stopped completely but it left a cool breeze blowing to make our descent comfortable. I ran with the kids – cuz it is easy to run downhill. LoL! But the kid in me (which came to an abrupt stop when I entered high school) came out. I was breathless when we stopped running because we didn't wanna be chased by a couple of cows roaming freely.

It was less than an hour when we got back to the registration area/the kids' house. I was kinda pleased the Bro. Ted was already there. Anyway, he's Iglesia ni Kristo, the reason for the "Bro." We talked after I washed up. I had no spare shorts/pants with me so I just removed the legs of my convertible and acted as if I wasn't soiled. LoL!

We talked for more than an hour. He seemed to have a lot of things more to say but decided to stop when Ma'am Nelia reminded us that the last trip of buses going to Manila was 8:00 PM. Bro. Ted would have walked me to the Tagaytay-Nasugbu road but a friend of his passed by. He with his two sons would be going where I was headed so he just asked them to take me to the waiting shed.

Wasn't he so nice? He actually invited me to sleep over. I just refused because my Nanay would be so depressed if I spent the night somewhere else unplanned.

No buses arrived, though. It was a few minutes before 8:00 PM when Bro. Ted's friend (whom I forgot the name of) stopped a jeepney full of mangoes and made me ride with them up to Tagaytay. From there, I was able to ride a Baclaran-bound bus.

It was freezing cold in the bus especially that a few hours ago, I had been in a wet climb. I sat at the back cuz I was afraid I would smell. LoL!  But really my shorts was so dirty I regretted not bringing an extra pair.

Got home at around 10:30 PM with a little smile on my face thinking I had successfully done it again – climbing alone (or with guides, if you'd rather).

How to get to Mt. Talamitam:

- ride a Nasugbu-bound bus and drop-off at Sitio Bayabasan in Barangay Aga
- you'll find yourself in a narrow road that is actually Sitio Bayabasan, walk until you reach the registration area/Bro. Ted's place (second pic above)
- register and ask for a guide.

View the rest of my Mt. Talamitan album by clicking here.

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