I haven’t been to Mt. Halcon yet (especially that I’ve stopped climbing for some months already), but I don’t think I’m going anywhere near that particular mountain sometime next year.
The mountain, and its Taong Lumot, was featured in Rated K last Sunday or its Halloween special. Watch:
Victor Joel Ayson, the mountaineer who went up Mt. Maculot on Easter Sunday and went missing, has been found thirteen days after, on the day of his birthday on April 13, 2013.
Reports say he left his rucksack at the mountaineers’ stop-over owned by Mang Manuel on March 31 at around 2:30 AM. Then he was seen buying a bottle of mineral water in a store up the mountain around 9:00 AM the same day.
Biki, as he was fondly called by family and friends, had just been to a Mt. Guiting-Guiting climb with some of his friends over the Holy Week. They were heading back home on the eve of Easter Sunday, but he had other plans. From the Batangas port, he went to Cuenca, Batangas to do a solo hike of Mt. Maculot.
After going up, however, he never went down to claim his bag at the mountaineer’s stop over.
His girlfriend, family and friends got alarmed as Biki said he’d be back home by noontime Sunday. It could have been possible since a hike up to the Rockies of the said mountain only takes about an hour, and going down to the jump off usually takes less time.
Mang Manuel started receiving calls asking for Biki Monday night. And when the mountaineer still didn’t show up on Tuesday, search and rescue operations were started. Several mountaineering groups volunteered to help. A foreign climber even brought his group along with their gears to search the walls of the Rockies.
After days of unsuccessful operations, however, not even a single lead was found. The family of the lost eventually had to call off the search, but his friends resumed looking for him, hoping to find him alive since his birthday was coming near.
And true enough, on the date of his birth, Victor Joel Ayson showed up in an area at the foot of the Rockies, lifeless.
He was found by Mt. Maculot guides Ramon Puso, Christopher Puso, Eduardo Puso Jr, Richard Puso and Javier Mercado on Saturday morning. The group set off around 6 AM to that area at the foot of the Rockies because someone told them that part has not been searched yet. Upon reaching the area, they noticed a not so pleasant smell. That smell led them to the remains of Victor. They were able to report it around 11 AM that day.
Meanwhile, a hiker who was doing a cleanup climb with his group on Easter Sunday, posted a photo of a lone mountaineer who caught his attention. The person in the photo, believed to be Biki, was sitting at a very dangerous part of the Rockies, a part not frequented by mountaineers without ropes. In this case, the man in the photo doesn’t look like he’s protected.
Facebook uploader Ahrold Fampulme captioned the above photo with: “This photo was taken in mt. Maculot, in rockies to be exact. Kung makikita nyo e may isang lalaki na nasa larawaan kung saan talagang delikado ang pwesto nya. Sya e may kamera na dala duon kasi halos nung nakaakyat na kami a rockies e kita mo yung lalaki. I posted this pic kasi nga dun sa nawawalang lalaki sa mt.maculot na napapabalita.”
He then posted another photo with a better lighting, although the person in it was still not identifiable.
It was captioned with: “Eto mas malinaw na kuha, di ko sure kung sino tong lalaki na to, pero sana makatulong kahit papano sa mga naghahanap dun sa nawawalang lalaki. :) march 31,2013 sunday.”
Now here’s a photo of that portion of the Rockies I found in my memory card, taken last January. I put an arrow to where the man in Ahrold’s photos was sitting.
Meanwhile, Ahrold’s mention of the man in the photo having a camera leads one to believe it was Biki because he loved taking pictures as evident in his Facebook page. Even the silhouette of the head could very well be his, judging by his hairstyle in his recent pics.
And if the man in the photo was indeed Biki, those two taken by Ahrold could be his last pictures before he fell off.
Death is always a sad news, and one as tragic as this gives scare to those who share the same passion as the one that took the person’s life. But then I’m sure Biki is happy, as he spent his last hours doing what he loved best.
My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. And to Biki, happy birthday. May you rest in peace.
Another mountaineer has gone missing.
Victor Joel Ayson went on a solo dayhike up Mount Maculot on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. It was 2:30 AM when he left his bag at Mang Manuel’s store.
He successfully reached the Rockies campsite because he was seen buying a bottle of mineral water at the campsite store (which mountaineers fondly call 7-11) around 9:00 AM.
After not being in contact until Monday, his friends and family started getting alarmed. Search and rescue operations have been organized since Monday night but all were unsuccessful in finding him.
According to Mang Manuel, an experienced Mt. Maculot guide and owner of the Mountaineer’s Stop Over & Store in Barangay Tico, there have really been instances when even the locals would get lost in Mt. Maculot due to engkanto or the entities that we do not see with our naked eyes.
I have personally traversed the said mountain twice and has done four solo climbs of the Rockies campsite, and I must say I believe in what Mang Manuel suspects of what happened to Victor.
But the news didn’t say if the missing mountaineer only climbed up to the Rockies or did the traverse. Did anyone know of his exact plans that day? The Rockies is just a one-hour hike and if he climbed at 2:30 AM alone and was still at the campsite at 9:00 AM, he might have found a company (made a new friend or bumped on a mountaineer that he knew) for him to have lasted such long hours up there. That, or he’s a better loner than I am.
Next point, did he buy a big bottle of mineral water? If he did, it could be that he was preparing for a traverse. I’m sure, however, that someone has noticed where he went after the campsite. Aside from the fact that it was a Sunday, and an Easter Sunday at that, the campsite store only operates whenever the place is crowded. And with a crowd at the campsite, someone could have noticed where he headed.
The “barangay” should check with the mountaineers that are on the log book from Black Saturday to Easter Sunday. And just to be sure, ask those that have climbed on Monday, too.
The Rockies can be very dangerous especially with strong winds. And I only stayed at the campsite during those times I was alone. Why? Because I could have easily slipped and fell and disappeared without anyone knowing. Falling to the waters of Taal Lake would be a “better” accident if you knew how to swim, but falling towards the forested area several meters down below would be very tragic because (correct me if I’m wrong) that is an unexplored area (read: no one goes there).
But what if he did the traverse. Alone. That instantly gave me the goosebumps. Why? Because going back to what Mang Manuel said, those entities are indeed true. Read about my scary traverse of Mt. Maculot here: http://profoundbliss.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-do-maculot-romelo-and-manabu-have.html
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photo: Victor Joel Ayson’s Facebook
This scene from Oblivion makes me miss climbing. So much. My last climb was on January 3 with K when we did Maculot Traverse.
I think I have to pack my ever dependable Hawk daypack soon.
This is the third of a series of posts, and I really hope will be the last, about ‘peculiar’ things that I have experienced in the mountains.
So I am/was fond of climbing alone, but only in mountains that I already know the trail of, and which I label as ‘safe’ because of easy trails.
Two mountains that I climb alone (and without a guide) were Maculot and Manabu Peak. I already blogged about what happened during my last Maculot climb which actually triggered my desire to write about my ‘peculiar’ experiences. You can also read about my Mt. Romelo experience here.
This time, however, I’m gonna write about a very strange thing that happened to me in Manabu.
I arrived at the jump off past 1:00pm of September 20, 2012. Based on previous Manabu climbs, I only needed at least three-and-a-half hours for a ‘round-trip’ (that doesn’t include the ‘summit time’) so I was sure I’d be back at the jump-off way before 6:00pm.
It had just rained the previous night so the trail was wet and the stream to be crossed was a little deeper (below the knee) than usual. It had always been muddy in Manabu, anyway (or at least every time I went there), so the slippery trail was nothing new.
A few meters past the last occupied house (Mang Pirying’s hut not included) but before the split in the trail that will lead you either to the grotto or to Mang Pirying’s hut, I noticed a very thin dog off to the right. He (instinct told me it was a he) ran away as he saw me, but only far enough that he could still see me and bark. His voice was weak and kinda muffled. I think there was something wrong with his tongue. My guess was that it was cut off because his bark was very unusual-sounding.
Being a dog lover, my heart almost broke at the sight. He was so thin so I guess no human was taking care of him. Or perhaps he was disowned. I had in my backpack three pieces of boiled eggs that I bought from the vendor on the bus on my way to Lipa. I decided to give one to the obviously starving dog. He was still barking nonstop at me, but he didn’t go farther away as I dared to get near.
I already have an HRIG shot anyway so I’d just need a booster if ever he was rabid and bit me.
About three feet away, I softly tossed the peeled boiled egg his way. He started to run away perhaps because he thought I would hurt him, but then he saw the egg and stopped running . He still kept on barking at me and I realized, given his situation, that it was hard for him to trust me, or anyone for that matter.
I gathered he wouldn’t eat the egg with me there so after saying goodbye, I walked on so he could eat the egg in peace.
I wanted to take the trail that would pass by Mang Pirying’s hut, and go down that way as well because there was this dark part in the other trail (the one with the gigantic boulder) that just gave me goosebumps everytime.
(I would like to build up suspense on this part but really, I wanted to just get this post over with because I’m having a hard time writing this. So without further ado:)
But lo and behold! I just found myself looking at what I didn’t want to believe was the grotto already!
I literally stopped in my tracks and looked around. How could it be the grotto when I haven’t yet passed that split in the trail that would lead me to either the grotto or Mang Pirying’s? Could I have missed it, really, despite the bench and directional signs? And on my numerous trips to Manabu Peak both alone and with K, walking up to the grotto couldn’t have taken that short a time!
I didn’t wanna scare myself so I just continued walking, past the grotto, past that eerie boulder, and onto that little grassland where that Cooperative Planting Project banner could be seen.
I walked fast, focusing on how to catch my breath as I didn’t want to think about how I was “teleported” some 30 minutes forward. I didn’t wanna entertain the idea but later on, I asked myself if it was the dog. It may be funny to think and I initially didn’t want to write about this thought but, was the Virgin Mary at the grotto pleased at my actions that she made my trek faster by cutting the trail short towards where she was?
It was a lonely hike overall, and eerie for that matter, because not even Mang Pirying was in his hut when I passed by on my way down. I found a black cat and a black dog in his house, though, which made the experience eerier (although we at home also own a black cat).
And then there was this caged “wild cat” also:
As I got near that split in the trail on my way down, that Twilight Zone theme (I am a fan) was playing in my head. I almost didn’t want to look. But it was there - the bench, the signs. How could I have missed them on my way up?
My Mt. Maculot traverse experience with K reminded me of my very first mountain climbing experience in Mt. Romelo. It was August 2010 and I was supposed to go to Taytay Falls but the friend I was supposed to go with stood me up so I decided to just go somewhere with fewer people - the mountains.
I hired a guide who perhaps had a third eye as well, the reason why he saw what he did.
We were walking towards Lansones Falls, he was like ten feet ahead, when I noticed that he kept on looking back towards me. I thought he was just checking on me as the thought of "stuff" like that in the mountains hasn't really occurred to me at that time.
Had he told me he saw something right then, I wouldn't have allowed myself to take a dip in Lansones Falls' catch basin and enjoy its very cold water. But since I was unsuspecting, I even asked the guide to take pictures of me as I posed with the waterfalls as my backdrop.
There was one part of the area, however, that was full of orbs when taken pictures of. It was called “grotto” because it was like a carved area in a wall of rocks.
Anyway, as we were eating pancit canton and rice at the small store back on top of Buruwisan Falls, he told me the story. He said he saw a man in green shirt following me, hinting that it wasn’t really a man per se because when it ran to the far side of the river to hide from the guide’s eyes, it vanished.
Now, I haven’t been back to Mt. Romelo after that. I would love to go there again, though, because I failed to go to Batya-Batya Falls during my first visit. The next time, however, I don’t wanna be with just a guide.
I climbed Mt. Maculot every week last December to lose some inches on my tummy. And because not everyone likes to climb the same mountain over and over again, and because I'm really a loner, I climbed those four times alone.
The Rockies campsite is safe to climb alone. (I can almost hear my few more experienced mountaineering friends disagreeing with me.) The trail is wide and there are no forks aside from one early in the trail, but there’s an arrow pointing to the right direction so I really don't see how anyone could get lost.
My first two weeks were bliss. I was literally alone at the campsite aside from a big tuko on the first and a monkey on the second week. I was able to pray (which I do secretly when there are mountaineers around) for the safe climb, lie down on the tables, close my eyes and savor the quiet sounds of wind on the trees and the idea of being alone 300+ meters above sea level.But was I really alone during those times that I thought I was?
I'm going to fast forward to January 3 because my third and fourth solo climbs on the third and fourth weeks of December were full of happy mountaineers along the trail and at the campsite. They were really friendly, aside from a few shy ones, but I wish I could teach myself how to become a large group type of person.
Going back to that first Thursday of 2013, it was a happy climb for me because after a little more than a year, I was able to climb again with my climb buddy K. He became so busy when he transferred school because he went back to playing the quinta drums and couldn’t find time to climb anymore.
After the holidays, though, he was a little less busy. And even if it was the last mountain we climbed together, we chose Maculot again because (1) I told him I will show him the "dila" part of the Rockies; and (2) we will do the traverse which he hasn't done yet.
I have traversed Maculot in 2010 with Danilo and a kid guide starting from Brgy. Pinagkaisahan to the Rockies down to Brgy. Tico, and I decided to do it the other way around this time. Little did I know that we really couldn’t start at the Brgy. Pinagkaisahan jump off because it is currently closed aside for foreigners. But that's another story.
After taking pictures at the so-called "dila" of the Rockies, K and I set off for the traverse at exactly 9:38 in the morning. K was excited to use for the first time his Casio altimeter watch that his father gifted him with last Christmas.
We occasionally paused to take pictures and/or admire the surroundings. A little over 800 MASL, we again stopped to admire a tree with a bunch of round fruits that looked like grapes. I took a photo of K by the tree and also took pictures of the wet surroundings.
It was raining and oh-so-foggy that day. It was bearable from Brgy. Tico up to the Rockies, but it was wet and muddy after the Rockies campsite onwards.
After taking photos, it’s time to continue walking. “Let’s go,” I told K who was in front of our two-person line. He turned away from me to resume the trek but suddenly turned back again, his gaze searching somewhere behind me.
“May tao sa likod mo,” (Someone’s behind you) he told me in his typical flat tone.
Thinking he meant there were other mountaineers behind us, I turned back as well to search for them at the trail behind. There were none, though, and when I turned back to look at K again, I sensed through his tensed expression that it was something else.
I’m not a mind reader, but the two of us have climbed mountains as a duo long enough to read each other’s thoughts just by the movements of our eyes.
At that point, I was reminded of the “green man” my guide saw was following me during my Mt. Romelo climb, reason why from there, I told K I’ll take the lead (I was the one who knew the trail, anyway). I also knew better than to talk about “what” K saw while we were still in that mountain.
We didn’t stop walking again after that, climbing at least a hundred MASL straight until we reached the summit. We became more quiet, more cautious, and perhaps more aware of what’s around us.
We stopped at the summit for a while. There, we ate our Jollibee cheeseburgers (K is a sucker for burgers, BTW) and took pictures. When my jaw started rattling at 24 degrees centigrade because we were all wet, I decided it’s time to start the descent to Brgy. Pinagkaisahan.
The trail on that other side was as steep as I remembered. However, the rope segments were more difficult going down than how I remembered it going up.
After the second and steeper rope segment before the grotto, we bumped into a Kiwi on his way up. He was being guided by Kuya Jun. I remembered the guide as the one at the registration during my 2010 traverse. He was also the one who gave me the 14-year-old Denver as guide. He remembered me as well and he talked like an old friend, explaining why there was a new fork in the trail near the summit and why they don’t allow mountaineers to start trek at Pinagkaisahan anymore.
I wonder why he gave the mountaineer from New Zealand a special consideration, anyway. And with that, your guess is as good as mine.
The area around the grotto was devoid of trees and the wind was particularly strong. We decided to eat K’s pancit canton there. After taking a lot of pictures, that is.
We completely forgot about what K saw until we were already comfortable eating burgers (again) at McDonald’s in Robinsons Lipa some three hours after.
“Ano’ng nakita mo? Naka-green?” (What did you see? Someone wearing green?) I asked K, thinking it was the same “thing” that followed me in Mt. Romelo on my way to Lansones Falls in 2010.
“Naka-white,” he answered, and I got instant goosebumps upon hearing that.
“Lalaki?” (A man?) I asked again because the one in Romelo was male, but perhaps I was also hoping the Maculot entity wasn’t what I thought it was.
“Babae.” (A Woman.)
I had more goosebumps after that, especially when K said the woman in white was standing to my left but a couple of steps behind.
All K could describe was black hair and white clothes as he said it immediately disappeared when he turned to look at it again.
I believed him, as I’ve also seen “things” like that on several occasions, the last of which was three days before this posting. But again, that’s another story.
Back at home, I told my friend Mylene about the white woman in Mt. Maculot. Mylene was a mountaineer before she married and gave birth. And then she told me a story of her mountaineering buddies hearing marching footsteps and Japanese voices during an overnight at the Rockies campsite.
My Mt. Romelo and Manabu Peak “goosebump-y” experiences coming soon.
There’s new tambayan/tindahan at the foot of Mt. Maculot and it’s a good thing for those who hike during the weekends when all these so-called mountaineers’ stop-over get crowded a lot.
This one is very near the trail head, way past UWAC but before the fallen milestone with written acknowledgements.
The good-mannered, elderly man who owns it told me to just call him Tatay Ed.
He actually sells bottled water, soda, and even cooked food during the weekends. Unluckily for me, I climbed on a Thursday so I didn’t get to taste his cooking.
Tatay Ed said he’s constructing a toilet for the mountaineers. And we can use it for free. I just hope his free toilet wouldn’t smell.
For those who bring vehicles, he also charges nothing for parking within the area of his store.
“Bumili lang sa akin ay tama na,” he told me when I said sayang ang parking fees.
Anyway, I already saw his store when I climbed the Rockies last June, although I didn’t think it was a store because it didn’t look like one back then. It also used to be on the left side of the road. It’s now on the right.
Anyway, I’m sure Tatay Ed will sooner or later become a byword to those who frequent Mt. Maculot. Especially that he can also provide guides for those new to the mountain. It’s just sad that he didn’t have a cellphone yet. He could have been a very good contact person for mountaineers.
I’ll update this post as soon as I can get his number.
His guide rates are as follows:
P100 – up to the part na may ligaw (or where the trail splits into two)
P300 – up to the Rockies campsite
P1,000 – traverse (from Brgy. Pinagkaisahan to Brgy. Tiko)
Mt. Gulugod Baboy/Pinagbanderahan offers a 360-degree scenic view of Anilao. From the summit, you can see the nearby Batangas Pier, Maricaban and Sombrero islands, and even the distant Mt. Maculot, Mt. Lobo and Manabu Peak.
Locals say it’s actually Mt. Pinagbanderahan that mountaineers go to, and Mt. Gulugod Baboy is the one behind it which is not easily accessible.
Here’s how to get to Mt. Gulugod Baboy/Pinagbanderahan:
Before you reach the trail head, however, you will pass by Pabio’s store which you won’t miss because he’s the only one with a tarp displayed with the picture of the mountain and himself on it. See below.
Pabio is a guide and a porter and he will entertain you with his stories about the mountain and his experiences as a guide. He also knows the history of Mt. Pinagbanderahan with the guerillas and the Japanese of the World War II, he would even show you the site of a plane crash.
What’s more, he’s a nursing aid graduate so he knows first aid and the likes that may come in handy when you’re in the mountains.
You may contact him in advance before heading over to Mt. Gulugod Baboy. Guides can be very busy especially on weekends (and long weekends at that). Pabio’s mobile number: 0921-2656466. His photo below.
It wasn’t a usual climb for me when I went to Anilao, Batangas last Thursday. Although I admit I miss the mountains as much as perhaps every mountaineer who had been deprived of the chance to climb for quite a number of months, my goal in Mt. Gulugod Baboy was to look for a medicinal plant that we would like to use on my mother as an alternative medicine.
I brought Melford along, who’s now in college, since it really worries Nanay everytime I climb alone. Worry her at this time is the last thing I’d like to do.
I’ve been to Mt. Gulugod Baboy last year with K (sadly, it was one of the many climbs that I haven’t blogged about) so I’m already quite familiar with how to go there and even the trail. K and I didn’t hire a guide even if it was our first time in that mountain last year, just like in all of the mountains we have climbed together. Honestly, we’re so adventurous when we’re together that we even got lost in Mt. Kalisungan and found our way to the summit through a vast area of cogon.
Back to Mt. Gulugod Baboy, I was surprised to see part of the cemented path that connects Philpan to the mountain trail covered in what looked like a landslide. It was confirmed by a very friendly guide named Pabio when we stopped by his store for bottles of Coke.
Up to that store, however, I hadn’t seen the plant I was looking for. I read somewhere that it could be found along the trail but since it bears very attractive upside down flowers, I thought I could find it in front of someone’s house before I reach the actual trail going up the mountain.
Showing Pabio the photo of the plant I found on Google that was taken in Gulugod Baboy, he told me that it was in one of the group of houses in the middle of the mountain. And since I had been up there already, I suddenly remembered the small village he was telling me about.
It was a rather cool ascent. The sun wasn’t that harsh at all, with refreshing wind blowing our sweats away. We reached the small village after a while, and I was relieved that the plant was there in the far side from the entrance, easily recognizable because of its flowers.
It didn’t catch my attention last year because, as the above photo shows, it didn’t have flowers yet at that time.
Good thing the elderly male resident we found lounging there that morning agreed when I asked for a bunch of leaves which I said I would use as alternative medicine for my mother.
Locals are really friendly and kind. I ended up giving one of the kids a bar of Snickers as a token.
After thanking the man, and asking if I could have a branch that I could plant at home on our way down, Melford and I proceeded to the summit. It was almost zero visibility when we got on top and it took some waiting before we could finally have decent pics taken.
After much picture-taking and rest, we started walking back. The man at the small village gave me a small branch and I gave the kid again my last Snickers bar.
Pabio was still at his store when we got back. Famished, I asked if we could have noodles cooked (because Lucky Me Pancit Canton was the first thing in his store that caught my eyes) but he said his house was so far from the store and just offered to accompany us to a carinderia that cooks pancit guisado.
Before the pancit, though, we took a bath in his uncle’s house for P15 per head. Not bad actually for a civilized bathroom with hand shower.
Pabio entertained us with his stories about the mountain and the mountaineers who have hired him as a guide and porter. Over pancit canton guisado, Melford and I came to know this kind and funny soul that I regretted to not having brought him along as a guide during the climb.
He is also a nursing aid graduate so he has first aid skills that could come in handy in the mountain. If you want to hire Pabio as a guide or a porter, you may text him at (+63) 921-2656466. He only charges P350.
By the way, he told us it was really Mt. Pinagbanderahan that mountaineers go to and not Mt. Gulugod Baboy.
I went back to Mt. Maculot two Saturdays ago (June 9) with a friend who has never climbed a mountain before.
It wasn’t planned, actually. I was looking at my mountain climbing photos Friday night and decided I will climb the day after. I logged onto Facebook, checked who’s online and messaged random friends. Diego responded positively and we left a few hours later.
We were at the registration in Cuenca by 6:30 AM. I actually intended to get there earlier but I still had to do so much that we were able to leave Taguig at 3 AM.
Why I wanted to climb early? Because it was the Freedom Climb weekend.
We were the first to register that day, but I was particularly slow due to not having even a minute of sleep (oh, reasons!) and I was with a virgin (it was Diego’s first mountain) so a group of three girls from Team Injury plus a solo hiker from Muntinlupa went past us. LoL! That made me miss my climbing buddy K. He wouldn’t let anyone do that to us, so he’d push me in the mildest possible way (so I wouldn’t get mad and leave him to summit alone) to keep on walking.
We reached the Rockies campsite just a few minutes (in fairness) behind the girls and the solo hiker. The four were resting in the cottage together with a couple who spent the night. Diego and I didn’t wanna waste time (hah!) so we headed straight to the Rockies.
It was a clear day, no fog at all and the sky was crisp blue and the clouds few and picturesque. I wanted to take opportunity of the weather because the Taal Lake was covered with fog when I first went there, and it was stormy during my second visit.
The four followed after a while and I was thankful to them that on my third time at the Rockies, I was able to go as far down as the “dila” (or whatever it is called). It wasn’t windy at all. I wouldn’t dare tread the edges of the Rockies if it was.
Diego was ecstatic. I knew the Rockies was perfect to introduce newbies to mountain climbing. The thrill (of climbing the almost vertical wall of the Rockies and being on edges of big rocks) and the fantastic view of the lake and Taal Volcano will encourage them to climb more.
Anyway, after taking gazillion pictures, we were back at the campsite at exactly 9 AM. And since we literally had no food and Diego’s water bottle was already empty, we hurried back down.
It was sad, however, that I have a very sensitive stomach, so I chose to just eat at downtown Lipa. Safest for me, aside from Nanay’s cooking, are fastfoods. I hate to say this but even the hotdog sandwich in MLQU (during one of my trips up there for hiking activities) made my stomach upset.
U.P. Mountaineers is inviting enthusiasts to its annual applicant’s orientation with a catchy message on its poster that says: “Freedom from mass climbing is freedom for the mountains.”
I couldn’t agree more.
The annual applicant’s orientation will be held on July 6, 2012 (Friday) at 6 PM at the U.P. Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City, and on July 7, 2012 (Saturday) at 7 PM at R.O.X Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City.
For more information, you may contact upmountaineers.35years@gmail.com. You may also call +63 927 799 0889 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/upmountaineers.
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.
I was so proud when Pinoy Big Brother featured Marinduque recently. Biggel, one of the show's contestants was from that province where I was born.
I grew up in Manila and I have no emotional attachment, whatsoever, with Marinduque, but I feel like I belong there, nonetheless.
I've been convincing my climb buddy to go there with me for the longest time, to go up Marinduque's highest Mt. Malindig, but he has always been busy with school all we can do are day hikes.
And then I read about this invitation this morning:
June 9 is still months from now. I know I can convince K to go with me. Wag lang magka-bagyo.
For more info on this climb, you may e-mail noblebluefalcons_baler@yahoo.com.
It is one of those days when you're itching to go out and you don't have anyone to go out with because they're either in school or just plain busy. In my case, my climb buddy wasn't available that day when I was so in the mood for a dayhike.
It was a Friday, August 19th, and life had been so good that I wanted to shed that extra energy I had in me the whole week; more so, I wanted to celebrate by doing something that I love best.
Because the previous night proved futile in looking for someone to climb with, I woke up quite late the following morning. It was already around 9:30 AM when I logged in to Facebook and hoped to find a hiking buddy among my online friends... to no avail.
But then I have done solo trips before. My first climbing experience was only with a guide up Mt. Romelo. So after feeding Princess, I packed my small backpack and got ready to leave. It's really a good thing when you already know what to bring. It makes packing very easy.
I was in Alabang by 10:30 AM. I had Manabu Peak in mind. I had been there before and it's the safest mountain I could think of to climb alone without a guide. Also, I wanted to go visit Mang Pirying who I failed to see the first time I went there.
It was a two-hour ride from Alabang to Fiesta Mall in Lipa. It's my first time to go that route and I must tell you it's easier to use than riding a Lucena-bound bus like my first time. Tricycles near Fiesta Mall will take you to the jump-off for P100.00.
It was already 1 PM. There was no trace of mountaineers at the jump-off. I went up to the store to buy something to bring Mang Pirying. It was a good thing I mentioned his name to the store owner cuz I was advised he was not in his home in the mountains that day. According to the store owner, Mang Pirying was fetched by some mountaineers early that morning. They'd have his eyes checked in a nearby hospital.
Such luck. It was my second time to go up Manabu Peak and I still wouldn't be seeing Mang Pirying in the flesh.
I was also informed that no one climbed Manabu Peak that day nor the night before that. I had the mountain all to myself! I was ecstatic. But it was past 1 PM and I knew it gets dark earlier in the woods. After changing into climbing clothes, I immediately set off. It was 1:47 PM.
The stillness of the forest started becoming eerie halfway through the trek. I remedied that by pumping up the volume of my earphones, but leaving one ear clear so I could still be aware of what's going on around me.
I stopped at the fork for a while and looked at the two trails, both going up the peak, one passing by Mang Pirying's hut, the other passing by the grotto. When I first climbed Manabu Peak, I used the Mang Pirying trail in climbing up then the grotto trail in going down. I told myself that just for a change, I would use the grotto trail this time, then pass by Mang Pirying's hut when going down.
Unlike the first time I passed by the grotto, it was clean this time. No more liquor bottles. No more plastic bags scattered around.
My stomach started making funny noises when I sat down for a while. I realized I haven't had lunch. The only food I had with me was a can of San Marino Tuna Paella. I wanted to take it out and eat but the summit was still far. I was so pressed with time that I disregarded my stomach and carried on with the trek.
It rained a little harder than a drizzle when I reached the grassland. It was the loneliest part of my climb. Moreso when I entered the trail between the grassland and the peak. It was the most masukal part of the climb and I was drenched in a mixture of sweat and rain.
I love going out alone at times but I've always had things pre-planned. This was the first time I climbed a mountain alone without even a guide and I was so pressed with time. I really had to get back to the jump off before it gets dark. I had my headlamp with me but even two headlamps wouldn't do for me considering I'd be alone in the middle of the mountains in the dark.
The cloudy skies were not helping. It was making the surroundings darker than what that afternoon could have normally been if there was no rain.
After what seemed like an endless walking, I finally saw a glimpse of the top of the white cross through the leaves. It was such a relief. The white cross was like a light at the end of the tunnel, or in my case, the goal after walking alone in the forest for the longest two hours of my life.
I took pictures at the summit, of course, using my cheap CDR King tripod. I went down to the campsite and brought out my tuna paella. I alternately ate and took jump shots. LoL! After finishing the can, I immediately headed down using the trek that would pass by Mang Pirying.
I was kinda hoping the old man would already be there. But the hut was so quiet when I reached it.
Reaching the fork made breathing a little easier. It had stopped drizzling that time, but the sounds of the forest was telling me it would soon get dark.
I was back at the jump off at exactly 5:27 PM. Exactly three hours and forty minutes after I left. It might have been so lonely being alone up there, but I found myself humming a little while I took a bath. I made it. My mountaineering friends might not be happy with my solo climb even if it was just Manabu Peak, but it was somehow a milestone for me.
The demise of Adrian Alba brought mountaineering into the limelight. GMA News TV's On Call even brought in UP Mountaineers' Vice President for External Affairs Niko Francisco and his buddy Paul to talk about preparation and safety during climbs.
Watch the interview on the clip below.
Outdoor Addicts, the mountaineering group Adrian Alba was with on that fateful Sunday when he got swept away by the Wawa River, has finally released a statement via their Facebook page.
The group's "non-participation" during the time Adrian's body was missing is what Adrian's family has been so angry about. They wanted to get statements from the group their loved one was with, they wanted to know the full account of what happened, but none among the group would come out and explain.
This morning, though, at exactly 10:42 AM, Outdoor Addicts posted a note titled "Our Sincerest Sympathy" on their groups Facebook page. It provides some information about how Adrian Alba was swept away by the current while they were doing a rope-assisted river crossing.
The note reads:
Our Sincerest Sympathy
We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of our comrade Adrian Alba. We were witnesses to his spirit of adventure in the short time that we were acquainted with him. His passing is a reflection of our own mortality which we so often take for granted in our quest for discovery.
Mountaineering is a risky undertaking. The advances in technical skills and equipment are no match against mother nature. The strongest of mountaineer equipped with the most modern tools could never conquer the mountain. The mountain conquers us.
Adrian is among the brave who wanted to experience the magnificence of God’s creation. He faced the risk head-on mindful that only those who dared are rewarded. Unfortunately we mortals are no match against the raging fury of the river that washed away the life of Adrian.
Adrian spent his weekend absorbing theories and techniques in his quest to become a better mountaineer. But the Great Creator has other plans for him. He was about to cross the river brimming with excitement that a new door of adventure has been opened to him. As he was making his crossing his backpack got tangled with the safety line which prompted him to take off his backpack. Alas, as the fury of the river raged, Adrian’s grip on his lifeline loosened. His comrades risked lives and limb trying to effect his rescue but it proved futile against the river’s wrath.
The accident that caused the untimely demise of Adrian has caused us to reflect and ponder on our own mortality as mountaineers. Advances in technology could never tame nor predict mother nature. The best efforts to minimize the risk did not result to eradicating deaths. At most, it only resulted to fewer deaths. It is very tragic that it has to happen to Adrian.
Adrian may not have fulfilled his dream as a mountaineer here on earth but surely he is now in a better place than us. He has climbed the mountain yearned for in the Book of Psalms, Chapter 23, “O send out Thy Light and Thy Truth; let them lead me; Let them brim me unto Thy Holy Mountain, and to Thy dwelling place.”
We extend our sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Adrian. We could not dare to imagine the anguish that his passing has brought and we could only hope and pray that there is anything in our power that would ease their pain.
OUTDOOR ADDICTS
25-year-old mountaineer Adrian Alba was found dead near a hanging bridge on Wednesday morning, three days after he was swept away by strong river current of the Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal.
According to news reports, a boy saw an arm dangling near the banks of the river some 45-minute walk from the Wawa Dam. A group of barangay tanod, who was there to help in the search and retrieval operations, identified the lifeless body as that of the missing mountaineer's.
Search and rescue teams had been on the move since Adrian was reported missing last Sunday, September 4, 2011. He was doing a rope-assisted river crossing with a 22-member team when he allegedly got swept away by the current. Adrian was reportedly with the mountaineering group Outdoor Addicts. He was the group's guest climber that day.
To everyone's dismay, though, no one among the 21 other mountaineers Adrian was with that Sunday has come out to give a full statement of what has transpired.
The team reportedly paid a "gate pass" at the town's barangay office but skipped registering at the tourism office which would have required a guide to assist them in their activities. The tourism office is also responsible for allowing or rejecting any activities at the Pamitinan Landscape - which the Wawa River is a part of - depending on how strong the current of the river is.
Sir Adjhong, as he is fondly called by his mountaineer friends, has died doing what he loved. His remains lie in state at his residence located at Block 61, Lot 3, Mabolo St. Barangay Rizal, Makati City (near Market Market, Global City). For additional information, you may contact his sister, Ms. Faith Alba at the numbers 0920.223.7469 and (02) 903-0851.
My deepest condolences go out to Sir Adrian Alba's family and relatives. May his soul rest in peace.
Filipino mountaineer Adrian Alba got swept away by the strong current of the Wawa River in Rodriguez, Rizal while his team was doing a rope-assisted river crossing yesterday, September 4, 2011. Adjhong, as his friends call him, is still missing up to now despite various search and rescue operations done yesterday and today.
The Facebook wall of Adrian, 25, is now filled with messages from his friends – some are worried for the worse that could happen, while some are positive that the waters just brought Adrian somewhere and he's already safe. They know Adrian as a fighter, someone who doesn't easily give up. His close friends are sure Adrian wouldn't give up without a fight.
A news report said that the 22-member team was there for a Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) with river crossing. And if that is Adrian's first BMC, it's just too bad that the hands-on came a little too early.
It has also been reported that the team paid a gate pass at the barangay office saying they would only do sight-seeing. The team also failed to get proper permits from the tourism office of Rodriguez, Rizal. Had they done so, assistance could have been given to them as it is part of the town's ordinance to give assistance to whoever will hold activities inside the Pamitinan Protected Landscape where the Wawa River is located. It is also the tourism office's role to give permission or reject any activities depending on how big and strong the river's currents are.
Latest news reports said that Adrian's backpack has already been recovered. Also the Philippine Coast Guard has already joined the operation, which has gone from Search and Rescue to a saddening Search and Retrieval.
A comment thread on the Pinoy Mountaineer Facebook page said something saddening. I'm not really superstitious but I have heard of places, especially bodies of water, that regularly take away lives, especially of strangers visiting the place for the first time. The commenter said the Wawa River is one of those places.
Right now, all we can do is hope and pray that Adrian Alba is safe somewhere along the banks of the Wawa River, just resting to muster enough strength to look for his way back home.
Through this post, I'd like to reach out to his family to say that I, along with Adrian's mountaineer friends as well as those who have just known him through this bad news, will continuously pray for his safety until the time he comes back.
Below is the video of the news report regarding the Wawa River incident involving Adrian Alba.
* I took the liberty to use one of Adjhong's Facebook photos. I hope he doesn't mind.
Mt. Maculot's campsite, as I mentioned in my recent post titled Mt. Maculot: A Not-So-Pleasant-Surprise, has a big problem on waste management. It wouldn't have reached that point if all of us "mountaineers" are disciplined enough to "Leave No Trace" and if we really care about the environment.
Judging by the pile of liquor bottles, I think that some (if not most) of the hikers go up Mt. Maculot just to drink and party. Have the mountains become the new venue of Friday/Saturday/long weekend night-outs?
Perhaps some would argue, "What are the registration fees for?"
Do you think P10.00 is enough to let the locals chase our garbage in the mountains? To leave behind our water bottles and butanes so our backpacks wouldn't be as bulky when we go down?
These mountains were in peace before men learned the sport/hobby of climbing. These mountains didn't invite us to go up and spend our nights in its wilderness for a thrill. But we climb these mountains, nonetheless – as environmentalists, as thrill-seekers, as tourists. For what we don't know, these mountains perhaps consider us as unwanted visitors.
But whatever purpose we have for climbing, let's just do the mountains a favor. Please do not leave anything, especially your trash, behind.
I took a couple of videos just to show how not-so-pleasant Mt. Maculot's Rockies campsite has become.
Take a look:
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