MAMBUKAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

Location: Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental, Philippines Elevation: 366 MASL (1,200 feet) Descriptive Summary: Mambukal Resort is the gateway to Mount Kanlaon Natural Park. It was originally developed by a Japanese architect named Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927 which started its operation as a bathhouse and picnic garden providing cool haven for Negrenses and their guests. It is currently maintained and managed by the local government of Negros Occidental. Its vast expanse of more than 23.6 hectares is dominated by verdant landscape and refreshing beautiful natural features which includes a big mountain stream fed by several tributaries, descends in a series of seven waterfalls which cuts through the center of the resort that feeds the water holes and boating lagoon.

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This is a part of my April 11 – 15, 2014 Mount Kanlaon – Negros Occidental Trips which includes: Mount Kanlaon Climb; Bacolod City Tour; The Ruins of Talisay; and Balay Negrense .

The Warm Sulfur Dipping Pool which is closed for operation every Tuesday for maintenance

Guests can avail of many types of accommodation facilities like the Villas, LGU Cottages, Family Cottages, Tourist Lodge, Dormitory, Picnic Huts/Trellis and Conference Hall which is entirely versatile with audio-visual, lighting and meeting equipment for seminars, conferences and banquets. It also has a food court which offers catering services with set meals and buffet choices.

The Japanese Ofuro Hot Pool – a Mikawa Onsen River View Rotenburo Outdoor Bath Hotspring

The entrance fee of P100 a day in the Japanese Ofuro Hotspring is not that much as its medicinal waters provides a therapy particularly for highly exhausted bodies. While dipping on this pool, one may see the resident bats of different species on top of the trees which totally arch the totality of the pool. In fact, guests can also enjoy bat watching with species to include: the golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon Jubatus), the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) and the common island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus). As of this writing, there are more than 4,000 fruit bats around the area.

The resident bats in Mambukal Resort

Aside from hot spring pools, guests can also enjoy recreational activities like: the challenging slide for life and wall climbing; boating; canopy walk, butterfly watching on is butterfly garden and have the trekking to have a close encounter with the seven water falls. The Canopy Walk can be done through interconnected hanging bridges.

Enjoying a dip in the Japanese Ofuro Hot Pool

It was my August 26, 2013 visit to the resort that my group of six including Connie Vasquez, Marie Jane Gumba, Dr. Cesar H. Garcia, Rome A. Frias and I enjoyed for almost four hours at the Japanese Ofuro Hot Pool but we missed the seven water falls trekking then. Thus, in this recent visit, April 14, 2014, I only accommodated the latter activity.

The standard swimming pool (not a hot spring) just adjacent to the LGU Cottages

Trekking to the seven waterfalls will take just for two hours back and forth with an almost cardiac assault trails though the trails are already concrete equipped with metal railing. The time may exceed if you guests will enjoy a swim or a cool dip. The location of the Canopy Walk precedes the Seven water falls trekking. Engaging into this forest trek, one may see the slopes and dips forming interesting rock formations and lush forests of tropical and semi-tropical trees. The first three water falls are just for viewing and dipping or bathing is not allowed. The fourth water falls is not accessible as there is no trail to view it. The fifth water falls can be viewed only on its top and guests can only enjoy it if they know how to dive from atop its viewdeck. The sixth water falls is the only water falls where guests can enjoy a swim but it is surrounded by shanties which sells food and snacks. The seventh water falls is not accessible as the trail towards it is being inhabited by private residents who might cause trouble to tourists as per the tour guide advice.

The lagoon where guests can enjoy boating

Boats for rent are available for guests for P30 per head which is only good for 30 minutes. After the boating, the next activity is to visit the adjacent Butterfly Garden to see the abundant species of butterflies in their splendid and marvelous colors.

The thrilling Canopy Walk over the hanging bridges

Guests can enjoy the resort either through a day tour or an overnight. Entrance fees vary from: Adult – P50; Kids 11 years and below – P20; Light Vehicles – P15; and Trucks and Buses – P30. Regardless of a day tour or overnight, guests will pay these fees. It would be convenient if a reservation for accommodation is booked at (034) 213-2715 before the day of intended visit to avoid problems.

The First Water Falls just after the Canopy Walk

One thing I like in Mambukal is the availability of food services which are affordable. It is like a food court located in one part of the resort accessible to some other facilities. You can afford to have sizzling and grilled food with rice at a rate of P150. You can also have a pork belly of P85 with rice. Fruits shakes are available at P50 only. Eating breakfast is like dining in fastfood chains like McDonalds at P75 per order. You can also have the option of having your food delivered to the convenience of your room.

The modern LGU cottages with spacious car parks and concrete pavements

Parking lots are spacious not to mention that roads inside the resort are also wide with well-developed pavements where joggers can enjoy. The whole place is just so shady with lots of trees and ornamental plants around.

Marie Jane Gumba on her way to the refreshing Blade SPA

If the guest is not contented with the hot pools, he may avail of the services of the Blade Spa just adjacent to the Warm Sulfur Dipping Pool and the Japanese Ofuro Pool. Here, the guest is assured of a refreshing massage to invigorate himself from an exhausting city life.

The vendors of flowers and ornamental plants

Guests may also have the chance to buy a variety of flowers and ornamental plants at affordable prices. These includes a variety of pines, ferns and orchids that thrive on its cool climate and rich soil known as Mambukal clay.

Mambukal Resort Amenities Map

The map above will help you visualize the whole picture of the resort so that you can plan out the activities you will have depending on the location and accessibility of the facilities.

So far, this is my second time to visit Mambukal Resort but I am considering to go back to witness its annual Mudpack Festival – a unique event which celebrates the harmony of man and nature which features Mambukal’s distinct multi-colored clay to stir the people’s awareness of the importance of our environment.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take any daily flight from Manila to Bacolod (Silay International Airport). Then take a minibus going to Mambukal for P35 only (one way) with a travel duration of 55 minutes from the city of Bacolod. You can also hire the services of chartered vans from Bacolod to Mambukal or vice versa. You may either contact Mr. Charles Ea at 09173092985 or Mr. Dante Nono at 09394494041.

FOR RESERVATION:

Contact the following numbers: Mambukal Reservation Office (034) 213-2715, (034) 433-8516 and (034) 709-0990; Mambukal Resort (034) 473-0610

MOUNT DULANG-DULANG CLIMB

Location: Lantapan, Bukidnon Major Jump-off: Sitio Bol-ogan, Brgy. Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon (Ideal) Exit point: Sitio Bol-ogan, Brgy. Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon Coordinates: 8.097980N; 124.96050E Elevation: 2,938 MASL (9,649 feet) Days Required/Hours to Summit: 2 days/9-10 hours Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail Class 2-4 Specs (Traverse): Major climb, Difficulty 8/9, Trail class 2-4 with roped segments Description: Mount Dulang-Dulang is the second highest mountain of the Philippines, second only to Mount Apo of Davao at 3,412 meters (11,194 feet) and slightly higher than Mount Pulag of Luzon, the third highest at 2,922 meters (9,587 feet). Descriptive Summary: This climb is actually a part of Mount Kitanglad – Dulang-Dulang Traverse Climb. The itinerary presented here is an ideal non-traverse climb and not necessarily what the blogger did.

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The surrounding mountains taken from the summit of Mount Dulang-Dulang

Originally, my plan was to have a Dulang-Dulang – Kitanglad Traverse but my guide told me that it is so expensive to do this since you have to pay for the ritual to be officiated by the datu as well as the chicken costs P1,500 not to mention that you have to pay for the climbing registration. Part of the ritual is the hanging of bands of white cloth at the summit with coins in it, as they say that it is a show of respect to the native culture. All these are paid to the datu where it will reach around P4,000 and since I was alone to climb the mountain, I have to shoulder the whole amount. With this, I changed my mind and sought the advise of my guide who suggested to me that I better opt to have my entry point in Kitanglad and traverse to Dulang-Dulang to avoid these expenses.

Approaching the vertical trail of Mount Dulang-Dulang from Kitanglad side

That is why, it is really difficult to climb this mountain without prior contact because you do not have a local knowledge about the place and you might end up spending much. It is recommended that groups who wanted to climb have to join the Mindanao-based groups where they know more about the existing climb regulating policies. It is highly recommended, too, that you should have an experienced guide. To make it lighter in your pocket, you arrange with the guide that he is also your porter at a rate of P1,500 per day. Guide and porter has a rate of P1,000 a day.

Another panoramic view from the summit of Mount Dulang-Dulang

In my case, I just bargained to pay my guide the amount of P1,500 but I shouldered all the expenses ranging from our food, transport and registration/park fees for the five of us. My guide asked my permission to allow him to have three companions including a student nurse.

Another worth-sharing panoramic picture taken from the summit

My guide and porters did not observe the time stated in our itinerary as initially agreed and so I find it not worth sharing for purposes of giving the accurate information.

On top of bonsai tree at the mountain's summit

According to my guide, this mountain is regarded by the Talaandig tribe of Lantapan as a sacred place. It is also within the ancestral domain of the tribe.

Mount Kitanglad's summit as viewed from Mount Dulang-Dulang's summit

Just imagine, we woke up at 6:00 A.M. at our Kitanglad’s abandoned bunkhouse but we started the trek at 10:50 A.M. We descended the 90-degree vertical trail equipped with a rope at 11:00 A.M. where this part is grown with cogon grass and was at Kawa-Kawa Campsite at 12:00 Noon but we had our lunch along the trail at around 1:30 P.M. since we had our breakfast late.

Our group enjoying the cool breeze at the summit early in the morning

Later in the afternoon, our group was heading for a Dulang-Dulang Traverse where we were trailing lofty forests. True enough, that according to my previous research, this mountain is a home to a variety of fauna and flora. Accordingly, it was revealed that it is a home to 58 mammal species including bats, squirrels, monkeys, wild boars, flying lemurs, shrews and deer.

A part of the summit where white bands of cloth are hanged with coins as part of the tribal ritual

The Fairy Land just adjacent to the summit

Further, it was revealed that the Philippine Eagle is also sighted within the vicinity of this mountain but that I have not experienced. It maybe disappointing but I only sighted two squirrels along the trail and nothing more. Most of the mammal species in this mountain are endangered species and so climbers should be responsible enough not hunt them or cause damage to their habitat.

The enchanting Fairy Land

Walking through various trails was quite rewarding as you will see pine trees and forests where cicadas can be heard. As you enter the densely forested area, the air is becoming cold and what you will hear is the sound of your footsteps. You can see thick moss abounds along your trail and in open trails you can see clouds on top of you.

Enjoying the mossy forest of the Fairy Land

Nimrod and I were climbing a muddy vertical trail at 4:20 P.M. and finally reached the summit at 5:15 P.M. where we pitched our tent. It was extremely freezing at night comparable with that of Mount Pulag. With this, it is highly recommended that you bring thick and thermal clothing and gears like jackets, gloves and other thermal outfit.

Wanted to stay longer in the Fairy Land

Late in the afternoon until early in the evening, our group was in the summit capturing with our camera the changing hue of the sky and the distant mountains. We had our dinner at 7:00 P.M. and rested at 10:00 P.M. after our socials.

Some more time in the Fairy Land

We woke up at 5:00 P.M. and stayed at the summit while the rest were preparing for hot beverage drinks. After taking hot milk and a pair of bread slices, we stayed in the ‘Fairy Land’ just adjacent to the summit. My companions were getting the coins from the white bands of cloth hanged from the trees. I noticed that trees around are like bonsai.

Still at the Fairy Land

Gasiong and I started to trek at 9:00 A.M. and were at Manny’s Garden at 9:30 A.M. where we stayed there till 11:00 A.M. for cooking our food for our brunch.

The royal grass crown at the Fairy Land

After that was a long and exhausting trek until we reached the jump-off point at 4:00 P.M. in Sitio Bol-ogan. We have not booked for a chartered vehicle and so we waited for a passing jeepney just up to Barangay Balila where we dropped Gasiong and McDong who will be heading to Mountain View College Main Campus while the three of us: Nimrod, Shiela Mae and I headed to Valencia City for three cutting trips.

Last glimpse of the Fairy Land

While at the summit campsite

Sunrise at the summit

Still at the summit witnessing the scenic sunrise

Below is the recommended itinerary from www.pinoymountainer.com which is an ideal one to guide your future climb:

ITINERARY

Day 1
11:00 From CDO’s Agora Terminal, take bus to Malaybalay
15:00 ETA Malaybalay market, meet with the local group
15:30 Take jeep to Lantapan
17:30 ETA Lantapan, Courtesy call with Datu
18:00 Prepare for next day’s climb, dinner
19:00 Attend ritual sacrifice by the Talaandig tribesfolk
21:00 Lights out

Day 2
05:30 Start trek
11:30 Lunch at water source (near river)
16:00 ETA Plaza
16:30 ETA Manny’s Garden (campsite near summit). Set up camp
17:00 Visit the summit (just 5 minutes away)

Day 3
05:45 Wake up to watch the sunrise at the summit, Spot Mount Apo
06:30 Breakfast
08:00 Break camp
08:30 Start descent
12:00 Back at water source
16:00 Back at jump-off point; take jeepney back to Malaybalay
17:30 Take jeep or bus to CDO

Our group enjoying a siesta at the summit campsite

While at the Manny’s Garden

Manny’s Garden is a mystical forest right after the summit area of Dulang-Dulang if you are in a Kitanglad-D2 Traverse. It is named after the late Manny Serina, the great pillar of mountaineering in Mindanao. He was among the pioneers who explored and introduced Dulang-Dulang as a climbing destination.

Preparing our meal for brunch at Manny's Garden

We spent long at the Manny's Garden where we had our brunch since we only have a coffee and a pair of slice bread in the morning.

Trekking a very, very long and winding rough road leading to the jump-off point in Sitio Bol-ogan, Brgy. Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon

TRIVIA

As Guiting-Guiting is dubbed as ‘G2’, Dulang-Dulang is now coined as ‘D2’. It is now high time to correct textbooks and other reference reading materials which give unverified information that Mount Pulag is the second highest mountain in the Philippines as D2 is 16 meters (52.55 feet) higher than Mount Pulag.

HOW TO GET THERE

Take an airplane from Manila to CDO. Take an airconditioned Rural Trans bus from CDO Integrated Bus Terminal going to Valencia for 3 – 4 hours for P180. Take a jeepney from Valencia to Aglayan for P20. Take a multicab from Aglayan to Lantapan town proper for P25. Take habal-habal from Lantapan town proper to Barangay Balila for P10 and a jeepney from Brgy. Balila to Sitio Bol-ogan of Brgy. Songco, Lantapan Municipality.

GUIDE'S CONTACT NUMBER

Nimrod Solis - +639267977522

MOUNT KITANGLAD CLIMB

Location: Between Malaybalay City and the municipalities of Lantapan, Impasug-ong, Sumilao and Libona Major Jump-off: Sitio Intavas, La Fortuna, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon Exit Point: Traversed to Mount Dulang-Dulang Coordinates: 808’2”N; 124047’0”E Elevation: 2,899 MASL (9,521 feet) Days Required/Hours to Summit: 2 days/6-7 hours (Ideal) Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 2-4 Description: It is the fourth highest mountain in the Philippines and an inactive volcano located in the Kitanglad Mountain Range. Blogger’s Note: This climb is actually a part of Mount Kitanglad – Dulang-Dulang Traverse Climb. The itinerary presented here is an ideal non-traverse climb and not necessarily what the blogger did.

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A panoramic view of Kitanglad Mountain Range

The habal-habal ride from Intavas crossing at La Fortuna was quite breathtaking as I see the full view of Kitanglad Mountain Range. My guide has pointed for me where in this part of the mountain range Mount Kitanglad and Mount Dulang-Dulang were located. We passed through typical rural houses with garden of vegetables and fruit trees. The long road where we took was not cemented but it was not dusty unless a vehicle pass through us.

The mountain derived its name from a legend where according to the tales told, there was once a great flood that submerged the land the native settlers and what remained to be visible (“Kita” in Tagalog) then was the tip of the mountain as small as the size of the “tanglad” (a lemon grass). By then, the place was called Ki’tanglad where it is now considered to be the domain of several old cultural communities like the Bukidnon, Higaonon and Talaandig.

The Intavas crossing in La Fortuna where habal-habal can be hired to the jump-off point

This climb was the second time that I was alone like that of Mount Apo where I only hired one guide in the name of Nimrod Solis and two porters (Mcdong and Asher “Gasiong” Lumayag) along with a student nurse (Shiera Mae Luces) where I paid for all their expenses ranging from food provision and transportation not to mention the guiding and porter’s fee.

With me in the picture is Shiera Mae Luces

With me is one of the tribesmen while heading for Sitio Intavas

The rich green plantation of vegetables

The province of Bukidnon is just one of the fertile land in Mindanao as it is blessed to have a favorable weather and so farmers can easily grow vegetables in their farms.

One of the steel staircase in steep trails

We started the trek from Sitio Intavas at 8:15 A.M. in a wide road running through rice fields and vegetable paddies and arrived in the foot of the mountain at 9:55 A.M. Our group stayed there for a long time cooking a lot of food

Uprooted huge trees along the trail downed by previous typhoons

From the foot of the mountain, we resumed our trekking at 1:00 P.M. I noticed that some of the trails were well-established with steel staircase which according to my guide were intended for the employees who work in the communication facilities at the summit. These steel stairs were a big help in ascending the very steep trails. We were trailing with a densely refreshing forested area and met some climbers who are on their way of descending the mountain. We have to work through big roots of the trees and some big trees were even uprooted due to typhoons that hit the area.

Resting over an uprooted tree after a series of cardiac assaults

Trekking was not only difficult due to a number of cardiac assaults but what made it more difficult that I have to jump, climb and walk over huge logs and in some cases the trail is not traceable because of the logs that covered it.

The photo shows my swollen right foot worn with sandal and the other one with shoes

Trekking with swollen right foot was an agony most particularly that it was not only muddy but you have to walk over with wet trail of muddy pond-like holes and your feet are dipped in the muddy cold water. You are trekking producing a squelching sound of shoes filled with water.

Most of the trails were muddy and steep. But I was amazed to see the aerial roots and some mountains along high cliffs. I became weak then and my numbed feet can hardly move that all my companions left me trekking in the darkness of the night.

Freezing inside an abandoned soldiers' quarter at the summit

I reached the summit at around 8:00 P.M. freezing in coldness. I was disappointed that because of this night trek, I was not able to see the many mountains and places in the Northern and Central Mindanao like the Balatucan mountains, Mount Ragang and the other peaks of the Kitanglad range not to mention Mount Dulang-Dulang. At the summit, our group occupied an abandoned soldiers’ quarters for an overnight since the summit was erected with around seven communication towers.

The following day, we trekked down to the other side to have a traverse to Mount Dulang-Dulang (see the the blog on MOunt Dulang-Dulang Climb).

Communication facilities at the summit of Mount Kitanglad

Early morning at the summit

Other communication towers at the summit

ITINERARY (Recommended from www.pinoymountaineer.com)

Intavas Traip

Day 1
04:00 Depart from CDO to Impasug-ong
08:00 ETA jump-off at Sitio Intavas. Register and start trek.
12:00 ETA “Aerial Roots” area; lunch along the trail
03:30 ETA summit
18:00 Prepare for next day’s climb, dinner
19:00 Attend ritual sacrifice by the Talaandig tribesfolk (Our group did not do this)
21:00 Rest Over Night (RON)

Day 2
06:00 Mountain-viewing session; Mount Ragang, Mt. Balatucan, D2, etc.
07:00 Breakfast, break camp
08:00 Start descent via Intavas trail, muddy and steep
11:00 Reach “Aerial roots”: roots suspended in air
13:00 ETA rough road
14:00 ETA jump-off point at Sitio Intavas
15:00 Take jeepney back to Malaybalay or CDO
18:00 ETA CDO
Note: Our group had a different itinerary since ours was a Kitanglad-Dulang2 Traverse Climb.

The scenic communication towers scraping the rich blue skies

SPECIAL CONCERNS

To avoid a freezing temperature at the summit, you may reserve in advance the DENR – Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park at (088) 813 3453 to reserve for bunk-bed at the summit. Because of the chilling temperature, two persons can warmly fit in one bunkbed. Since the summit is a communication center, there is electricity where you can even watch TV and enjoy a mobile network signal throughout the climb.

Watch your step as you ascend up to the summit since the electric wires run parallel to your trail which might pose a potential risk since they are high-voltage lines. This may also apply with the erected communication towers at the summit which might also be potentially hazardous.

Descending through the 90-degree vertical trail heading to Mount Dulang-Dulang

The mossy and densely forested trail heading towards a Mount Dulang-Dulang traverse

HOW TO GET THERE Take an airplane from Manila via Cagayan De Oro City. Take an airconditioned Rural Trans bus in CDO Integrated Bus Terminal going to Valencia for 3 – 4 hours for P180. Take another bus from Valencia to Intavas Crossing at La Fortuna for 1 hour and 10 minutes for P65. Take habal-habal from Intavas Crossing to Sitio Intavas for 30 minutes for P60 per head or P120 for one habal-habal with 2 maximum riders. GUIDE'S CONTACT NUMBER

Nimrod Solis - +639267977522