Tuesday, May 13, 2014

AYALA TRIANGLE GARDENS

Location: Bel-Air, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Operating Hours: 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Coordinates: 14°33'25"N 121°1'26"E
Total Land Area: 20,000 square meters
Nearby Cities and Municipality: Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Taguig City and Pateros Municipality
Descriptive Summary:
Ayala Triangle Gardens is a sub-district of the Makati Central Business District between Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas beautifully landscaped park and shaded with a hundred of trees of different variety including rain trees, golden palms, fire trees, kamuning and podo cerpus. It also showcases inspired public art pieces from some of the country’s leading artists. Formerly, this strip of land was the runway of the former Nielsen Field, Metro Manila’s main airport in the 1930s.

View Ayala Triangle Park in a larger map


The lush green Ayala Triangle Gardens Park


This park is a part of Makati City, one of the 16 cities and one municipality consisting Metropolitan Manila. Makati City is the financial capital of the Philippines where it hosts most of the main offices both big corporate companies, government offices and some multi-national companies. Metropolitan Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is also known as the National Capital Region (NCR).

This place is a refuge of the residents within the city of Makati for fitness and recreational activities like jogging, brisk walking, sports training for basic mountaineering course and even for purely people-watching. Others would just like to visit the place to unwind and to get close with nature in the midst of a metropolitan city.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Tower at the backdrop


Accessibility is one of the reasons why people come and go to this park where it is just adjacent to the busy street of Ayala Avenue, the Wall Street of the Philippines. Public transport is never a problem to get to this place.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Tower - The Gateway to the Park


The park has also the following attractions, namely: The Filipinas Heritage Library, Gabriela Silang Monument, Ninoy Aquino Monument The Sultan Kudarat Monument. It is also the venue of some events and activities.

The vibrant Ayala Triangle Gardens at night


The park is most busy starting early in the evening till it closes at 10:00 P.M. as the corporate populace and fitness-conscious people flock to the place for some to dine in the 14 restaurants serving of an array of delectable cuisines, namely:

* Amici
* Banapple
* BreadTalk
* Bon Chon Chicken
* C.B.D.
* Caramia Gelateria
* Chef Laudico's Bfast
* The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
* Golden Spoon
* Kanin Club
* MoMo Cafe
* Omakase
* Poco Deli
* Wee Nam Kee

The skyscrapers along the Paseo De Roxas side of the Park


No wonder the park is visited by a lot of people early in the evening as it is being surrounded with a lot of corporate offices housed in the skyscrapers visible in the picture above. The area has also Wi-fi hotspots which can be used for residents and employees, meetings or simply when hanging out with friends.

The dramatic landscape of the park as it almost closes at 10:00 P.M.


Tourists and nationals from the developed and highly-industrialized countries love to stay in this part of Makati as its world-class amenities give convenience to them.

HOW TO GET THERE

Ayala Triangle can be accessible through buses and taxi cabs from any point of Metro Manila. For public transport like buses, coming from the North of EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue), they should have a signboard of LRT/Ayala/Leveriza and lift in front of the Philippine Stock Exchange Tower along Ayala Avenue. Coming from the South or Baclaran, one has to take buses which has a route of Gil Puyat Avenue, which will pass through Gil Puyat LRT Station and has to lift in front PNB or formerly Allied Bank Corporation building and has to use the underpass to cross to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

On the other hand, it is just a walk away from Greenbelt and Glorietta Shopping Malls. It also across the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the corners of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. Likewise, it is just across Manila Peninsula Hotel in the corners of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

BACOLOD CITY

Location: Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Coordinates: 10°40'N 122°57'E
City Land Area: 162.67 km2 (62.81 sq mi)
Metro Land Area: 578.65 km2(223.42 sq mi)
No. of Districts: Lone District of Bacolod
No. of Barangays: 61
Time Zone: PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code: 6100
Dialing Code: 34
Date of Cityhood: June 18, 1938
Income Class: First Class

Descriptive Summary:Bacolod is dubbed to be the "city of smiles" because of its people's friendly faces. It being famous of its yearly Masskara Festival and the home to the prestigious Bongbong’s Piyaya, Inasal na Manok Bisaya


View Bacolod in a larger map


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

The Lagoon at the forefront with the Negros Museum at the background


BALAY NEGRENSE OF SILAY CITY

Location: Silay City,Negros Occidental, Western Visayas (Region VI), Philippines
Postal Address: Cinco de Noviembre Street, Barangay III, Silay City 6115, Philippines
Coordinates: 10.799539°N 122.973291°E
Descriptive Summary: The Balay Negrense was originally the ancestral house of Victor Fernandez Gaston, a son of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston and Prudencia Fernandez. The elder Gaston is a native of Normandy in France where he married a Filipina from Batangas where he initially began experimenting with sugar production before relocating to Negros. Balay Negrense is a museum in Silay City which showcases the lifestyle of a late 19th-century Negrense sugar baron. This museum was the first to be established in Negros Occidental in October 6, 1990.

View Balay Negrense in a larger map


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

The Victor Fernandez Gaston Ancestral House in Silay City


The Balay Negrense (Hiligaynon for Negrense), an ancestral house of a wealthy Victor F. Gaston, is a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental which showcases the lifestyle of a late 19th-century Negrense sugar baron. Victor is the son of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston who is a native of Normandy in France and Batangueňa Prudencia Fernandez. The elder Gaston where he first experimented sugar production in Batangas before he relocated to Negros.

By looking at the following pictures, it's worth like touring inside it. Read on . . .



This house which was built in 1897 served to be the residence of Victor Gaston and his twelve children from 1901 until his death in 1927 and was vacated by his bereaved family. It was abandoned in the mid-1970s and fell into deterioration until it was managed by the Negros Cultural Foundation.



The year 1975 was a significant date when the house was donated by Msgr. Guillermo Ma. Gaston to the Philippine Tourism Authority which is now known as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. Its repairs and restorations were taken from both the funds provided by prominent individuals and a counterpart of P5,000,000 from the Philippine Tourism Authority.



After completing all the repairs and restorations which include the provision of period furniture and fixtures, the old house was officially inaugurated as a museum on October 6, 1990. Further, it was listed as a heritage house on March 8, 1994 pursuant to Board Resolution No. 1 of the National Historical Institute of the Philippines (National Historical Commission of the Philippines).



As described from its website, www.balaynegrense.com the mansion-turned museum is of house called bahay na bato, literally “house of stone”, however, it reflects American colonial influences where the lower storey is not constructed of stone but of concrete. The foundation posts are made out of trunks of the balayong tree, a local hardwood; the floorboards are of the same material. The house’s upper storey is constructed of wood topped with a roof of galvanized iron instead of tile.



The aforementioned website further describes the house to have a four-meter high ceiling and large windows with ventanillas, smaller windows beneath the large windows with sliding panels that can be opened to admit the wind. The lower storey itself is elevated from ground level by a meter-high crawlspace, allowing the wooden foundations to be aired, preventing dampness from rotting the wood.



Balay Negrense which is located in Silay City is just 4.7 kilometers from the airport in the name of Silay International Airport. It is 6.2 Kilometers from Talisay City where the famous The Ruins is located and 14.3 kilometers from Bacolod City. Silay, Talisay and Bacolod comprises the cities of Metro Bacolod.



When you visit the mansion, see to it that you are able to tour inside it. In-house guides are available where they will explain to you in detail the parts and the contents of the house. For an entrance fee of P50, you will learn a lot of what it is to live as a wealthy person in the late 19th century in Negros.



While in Silay, try to visit also El Ideal, Silay’s Original Bakery since 1920. Try their wide array of delicious cakes and pastries and some other delicacies. They can be good as “pasalubong”.



Of course, don’t miss also to visit the complete paradise of Mambukal Mountain Resort where you can enjoy their natural hotsprings, lagoon, water falls and other attractions. Of course, for a mountaineer, Silay is just two hours away from Guintubdan, the jump-off point of Mount Kanlaon.





HOW TO GET THERE:

From Bacolod, you can take a jeepney for 20 minutes travel at P18 fare one way. But if you want to relax and travel in convenience, you can take a taxi cab where Negrense drivers are honest in the truest sense of the word. Being in Bacolod, you can take the three cities for a day trip by hiring a taxi cab. For twice we have been to Bacolod, we only hired a certain Mr. Dante Nono for touring services where you can contact him through his mobile number at 09394494041.

THE RUINS OF TALISAY CITY (NEGROS OCCIDENTAL)

Location: Talisay City,Negros Occidental, Western Visayas, Philippines
Postal Address: Hda. Sta. Maria, Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, 6115 Philippines
Coordinates: 10°44′N 122°58′E
Descriptive Summary: The Ruins of Talisay City is ranked 12th of the most fascinating ruins of the world (of more than 1,000 known ruins) in Oddee at http://www.oddee.com/item_96671.aspx is a blog with over 2.5 million visitors worldwide a month that “features the odd, strange and bizarre things of our world, Be amazed!”, its home page says. The rankings are as follows: 1-Machu Picchu (Peru), 2-Babylon (Iraq), 3-Palenque (Mexico), 4-Ruins of Ayutthaya (Thailand), 5-The Colosseum (Italy), 6-Tikal Ruins (Guatemala), 7-Chichen Itza Ruin (Mexico), 8-The Parthenon (Greece), 9-Jesuitical Ruins of Trinidad (Paraguay), 10-Copan Ruins (Honduras)and 11-Palmyra Ruins (Syria) .

View The Ruins in a larger map


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

The Magnificent Ruins taken at 6:30 P.M.


The Ruins is awarded to be the best landmark in the Philippines and is considered to be the Taj Mahal of Negros. It is just 10 kilometers from Silay International Airport. Talisay City where it is located is a part of the Metro Bacolod along with two other cities, namely: Bacolod City and the historical Silay.

The romantic fountain with the Mansion's ruins at the backdrop


Visiting this place early in the evening where it closes at 8:00 P.M. daily and likewise opens at 8:30 A.M. is such a rewarding experience as the whole place turns to be romantic. After all, Mariano Ledesma Lacson, a sugar magnate, built this mansion in 1911, where he designed it to be a monument to his enduring love to his wife, Maria Braga, a Portuguese lady from Macau. Mariano met Maria in Macau in some of his travels and deeply fell in love with her. Their marriage gave them 10 children and in 1911, while Maria was nearing the full term of her 11th pregnancy, she met an accident where it led to her death as well as the baby in her womb. Heartbroken and inconsolable, Mariano decided to build a mansion in remembrance of Maria, right in the middle of his 440-hectare sugar plantation here in Talisay City.

This is how The Ruins looked like when it was taken at 6:00 P.M.


How come that this magnificent mansion just ended up to be a ruin? Actually, this mansion has been the residence of Mariano and his 10 children where he set the rule that as soon as his children are married, they should leave the mansion. Mariano himself would abide by it, moving to a cottage nearby when he decided to remarry years later. But not until the eve of the World War II that it was burned down by the recruited guerilla soldiers so that it will not be used as headquarters by the Japanese forces.

The Ruins as taken at 9:00 A.M.


It has been recounted by the eyewitnesses that this mansion in the middle of a sugar plantation has smoldered continuously for three days, but the fire would not consume all of it leaving behind reminders of a glorious past.

As seen from the pictures above, the mansion has European architectural influences as introduced to Mariano by his father-in-law, who is a ship captain. Its over all design has an Italianate inspiration to the shell details on the roof. The structure of the house was of solid concrete and the interior floors were dressed either in tiles imported from Spain or 20-meter-long hard wood planks that were cut a meter wide.

The imposing and elevated side entrance of the mansion


After it was consummated by fire in 1942, it remained to be totally abandoned and served to be the place of refuge at day time for some sugarcane farmers while having rest from work as well as some livestock animals who made this as their shelter at night. It was only then when Mariano's great grandson, Raymund Javella, has initiated to rehabilitate the the ruins so that it can be opened to the public as part of a monumental museum in January 2008. This realization has been triggered by some of his travels abroad particularly in Europe where ruins are preserved and made to be tourist attractions.

Lovers find this place very romantic


As the place has been rehabilitated, some amenities were put in place as additional perks for visiting guests like a fine dining restaurant which sits 70 guests comfortably with Chef Michelle Lynn Lacson and Chef KC Lacson whipping up palatable family recipes, Mediterranean dishes that date back to the time of Mariano and Maria; 18-hole mini-golf course, laden with blue grass; a 500-square-meter garden of fruits and vegetables which afford the guests with freshly picked organically-grown produce without pesticides; plants and ornamental flowers shop; a souvenir shop that sells items such as t-shirts, key chains, memo magnets, hand-painted fans, postcards, eco-friendly bags and many more; and the luscious Spanish Garden equipped with tramvia for guests to move around the place.

This is a part of the spacious and verdant Spanish garden


By the way, there is of course an entrance fee to The Ruins. As far as I can recall, I paid P40 using my student ID but adults have to pay P80. I just don't know with the kids and senior citizens. Cars and vehicles brought inside are also charged with an entrance fee.

Relaxing at the cool Spanish Garden


When is the perfect time of the day to visit the place to capture perfect pictures? Personally, I was advised by the in-house guides that I have to be there from 5:00 P.M. until at least to 7:00 P.M. My first visit was around 6:00 P.M. Thus, I did not see the scenery of the sunset picture which gives a golden sky background to the mansion. With this, the following day I visited again the place but it was around 9:00 P.M. and I have no choice because I have to be timely for my flight in going back to Manila. This time, my four friends where with me in the name of: Rome Frias, Alan Valenzuela, Cesar Garcia and Benedick Manalang.

This is still a part of the Spanish Garden


If you visit Negros Occidental, do not miss to visit this amazing ruins as you can not claim you have been in this province. Either as an amateur or professional photographer, your sense of sight will really feast on its magnificent scenery. No wonder, it is becoming a favorite location for photography and filming, whether documenting special occasions, sharpening a skill, or just enjoying a hobby. Other interesting sights to include in your photography subjects are the original fixtures of the property like the four-tier water lily fountain and the muscovado sugar mill smokestack.

My in-house guide called this tramvia? where guests can ride around the Spanish Garden with a fee


The abandoned muscovado sugar mill smokestack was erected outside the mansion compound since this large hacienda ran then its own maquina de vapor de horno economico or steam-powered muscovado sugar mill or simborio where it clearly proves that once this technology has existed and now it just remains to be a relic of the past.

HOW TO GET THERE

First, if you are coming from Manila, you can take any daily flight to Bacolod via Silay International Airport. While in Bacolod City proper, you take a cab ride with a sign board of "Bata" for P8 as of this writing which will take about 30-45 minutes depending on the traffic. Ask the jeepney driver to drop you at the tricycle terminal to the ruins which you will pay for P15 per head and you will be dropped there. In going back to Bacolod City proper, just reverse the routes you have.

Alternatively, if you are driving then you can proceed to Bata (PEPSI bottling plant) and turn east. About 600 meters, you will see a cellsite above a two-storey building on the left. Opposite that building you will see a big sign that reads as "THIS WAY TO THE RUINS". You will enter that narrow street leading to Rose Lawn Memorial Garden. Follow the small red and yellow signs on the electrical posts which will lead you all the way to The RUINS.

Friday, April 18, 2014

MOUNT KANLAON CLIMB (GUINTUBDAN-GUINTUBDAN TRAIL)

Location: Negros Occidental, Philippines
Entry point: Guintubdan, Ara-al, La Carlota City
Exit point: Guintubdan, Ara-al, La Carlota City
Coordinates: 10°24'44"N, 123°7'55"E
Elevation: 2,434 MASL (7,989 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit:2 days / 8-10 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 8/9, Trail Class 4
Descriptive Summary: Mount Kanlaon ranks 6th among the TOP TEN "TOURIST GEMS" of the Philippines as shown is this link. It is the highest mountain in Visayas and is considered to be the Philippines largest active volcano. It has two known craters, one is the old extinct crater called Caldera with a crater lake in Margaja Valley just below the Makawiliwili Ridge with the size of 2 by 0.8 km (1.24 by 0.50 miles) and the second one is the active Lugud crater which already killed 7 mountaineers on its deadly eruption in 1996.

View Mt Canlaon in a larger map


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

This was my second climb in Mount Kanlaon where the first one was recorded on August 24-25, 2013 but due to Low Pressure Area (LPA), our group was not allowed to go beyond the Pagatpat Campsite for safety reasons. It was during my second attempt to climb that we succeeded to conquer its summit on April 13, 2014. To make sure that we get the scheduled we desired, our group climbing permit request was sent to DENR-PENRO addressed to Mr. Angelo Bibar on September 26, 2013 through LBC. Our group consisted of eight, namely: Peter J. Zabala, Alan A. Valenzuela, Benedick I. Manalang, Cesar H. Garcia, Rome A. Frias, Timothy E. Mislos, Jonathan L. Reales and I. DENR-PENRO only approves a maximum of 10 climbers for a day excluding the guides and porters. I was the Expedition Leader of the group for the second time.

Conquering the summit of Mount Kanlaon


This exciting climb has started with a PAL flight from Manila at 8:00 P.M. and arrived in Silay International Airport at 9:05 P.M. Our pre-arranged chartered van picked us at the airport and we drove to Bacolod City for dinner. Peter, Jonathan, Tim and Rome took the morning flight and so we picked them also from an agreed place and headed to Guintubdan Pavillon for an overnight.

One of the pools I saw in Guintubdan Pavillon Resort in my early morning walk on April 12, 2014


Bong Marcelino, our head guide, met us at Guintubdan Pavillon as we arrived there at almost 12 midnight and we arranged our meals to be cooked by them for breakfast and pack lunch for the following day. The groceries, butane and other necessary items were marketed by Rome Frias as an advance party and these items were equally divided to all our three porter guides.

Our accommodation of two rooms in Guintubdan Pavillon


We had a soundly and tight sleep in a Guintubdan Pavillon where due to its elevation of 900 meters above sea level gives a cooler temperature. The Pavillon is so picturesque overlooking the scenery down the place.

Connie Vasquez having her breakfast in the scenic Guintubdan Pavillon dated August 24, 2013, one of our climbing buddies during our unsuccessful first Mount Kanlaon Climb


Having breakfast in Guintubdan Pavillon is just rewarding as you see lush green scenery of rolling hills and mountains. How we wished, we stayed longer and savored the joy that this awesome sight had delighted us.

Our Climbing Team of Eight


The moment of truth has started as we carried our backpacks and in a moment of silence, our group prayed hard for God’s guidance and presence to give us safety all throughout the climb. The Pavillon serves as the jump-off point. We took the Guintubdan-Guintubdan trail which we believe is easier than the Guintubdan-Mananawin Trail. At exactly 8:00 A.M., we left the jump-off point.

The Busay Buslugan Falls as taken on April 12, 2014 (Summer Time)


We regrouped in Busay Buslugan Falls at 9:15 A.M. and had an endless pictorials. Our guides warned us that at this point “limatik” abounds and we have to avoid them by not sitting on the ground. The water then was so clear and quite inviting for a swim. We stayed in the place at 9:55 A.M. up to the point where we were dropped dead tired in our pictorials.

The Busay Buslugan Falls taken on August 24, 2013 (Rainy Season Time) during our unsuccessful first climb


I still recalled the first time we visited this water falls last August 2013, it was filled with cascading water and the place was foggy and quite cold. By that time, it was not inviting for a swim as the water was freezingly cold.

Taking a lengthy rest at Patay na Suba


We just passed in Patay na Suba (Dead River) at 10:15 A.M. Panoy and I did not stop there but the rest of the group when they passed through this point had a lengthy siesta including a snacks break. As you see, Panoy and I were not in the picture.

Our group had regrouped at Camp 1 for our lunch


We arrived in Camp 1 at 11:56 A.M. just timely for our lunch. As far as I can remember, my exclusive guide in the name of Rexon “Panoy” Pieldad and I being in the lead pack, had only rested for thrice from Buslugan to Camp 1 at a maximum of 2 minutes each. Longer rests made me feel chillingly cold and so I avoided it. Thus, we both arrived first in Camp 1 and the next pack arrived at 12:15 Noon. With our excitement, “limatik” (a sucking leech) was remote in our minds. Before we reached Camp 1, we had to hurdle three long assaults.

A 5-minute rest at Camp 2 with Jonathan Reales and my guide, Panoy


Trekking from Camp 1 to Camp 2 is only 18 minutes all of which are cardiac assaults where we left Camp 1 at 12:55 noon and arrived there at 1:13 P.M. From Camp 2 to Pagatpat Campsite, deep ravines were evident. Cardiac assaults were increasing in number and I have to stop to catch my breath. In some instances, I have to call Rexon to stop for a while and usually for barely two minutes, we resumed.

The first ravine after descending Camp 2


The scenic foliage is becoming richer, thicker and closely intertwined as the we trekked deeper into the rain forest of Mount Kanla-on Natural Park. This park was reenacted into law through Republic Act No. 9154, Series of 2001 establishing Mount Kanla-on located in the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos and in the municipalities of La Castellana and Murcia, all in the province of Negros Occidental, and in the City of Canlaon and Municipality of Vallehermoso, both in the province of Oriental as a protected area and a peripheral area as buffer zone providing for its management and for other purposes.

Another deep ravine between Camp 2 and 3


As a background, Kanlaon Volcano, also spelled as Kanla-on or Canlaon, is an active stratavolcano which is the favorite spot for mountain climbers being the centerpiece of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park which was originally established on August 8, 1934. It is a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Another deep ravine almost near Camp 3


Mount Kanlaon has three hot springs on its slopes: Mambukal Hot Springs on the northwest, Bucalan Hot Spring and Bungol Hot Spring. Its adjacent volcanic edifices are Mount Silay and Mount Mandalagan, north of Kanlaon.

Carefully scrutinizing the trail of a ravine if it is slippery


Left Camp 2 at 1:13 P.M. and was in Camp 3 at 2:05 P.M. We passed through the crash site at 2:35 P.M. where former President Ramon Magsaysay plane had crashed. Panoy and I were at Pagatpat Campsite at 3:40 P.M. and waited for the rest of the group.

The tranquil Pagatpat Campsite


We stayed longer at Pagatpat till 4:15 P.M. to ask the rest of the group if they can still manage to push for the Saddle Campsite for overnight and since it was still early, the rest gave a resounding "yes" to resume the trek to the Saddle Campsite where we reached there at 4:45 P.M.

The sunset at the saddle (photo courtesy by Peter Zabala)


I felt cold when I arrived at the Saddle campsite for I have been wet with perspiration and so after Panoy helped me to pitch my tent, I comfortably had an ample rest and waited for the call for dinner. The rest of the group went out to enjoy the sunset. There was no socials as everybody wanted to sleep but the campsite was so noisy with the LGU official climbers of Negros Oriental who had boisterous laughter until dawn. Our group had barely slept.

The sun sets completely at its rest as viewed from the saddle (Photo courtesy by Peter Zabala)


The night was not so freezing as compared to Mount Pulag but somehow one may not afford to have a comfortable sleep without socks and cold clothing gears as the coldness was really annoying.

Ascending from the Saddle to the Summit (Photo courtesy by Jonathan Reales)


Scaling midpoint from the Saddle to the summit


The wake up call was at 5:00 A.M. for us to witness the beautiful sunrise. And so without anything in our stomach, we headed up to the summit where it took us 40 minutes to completely conquer the summit. We first kissed the big stone on the foot of the summit as first timers to climb the summit.

The Margaja Valley – the old extinct crater of Mount Kanlaon (Photo courtesy by Jonathan Reales)


Scaling up to the summit has given us opportunity to capture the totality of the Margaja Valley where it really looks magnificent. It was so breathtaking and no word can ever describe how beautiful it is.

A closer glimpse of Margaja Valley or Caldera Crater Lake (photo courtesy by Benedick Manalang)


Scaling the summit was quite dangerous as the trail is consist of loose rocks and down to Margaja Valley is approximately a thousand feet below. Thus, how can I afford to miscalculate a step where it will cost my life.

I almost have seen the hole of the active Lugud crater


The summit has an active crater on it but we were advised not to look down for a strong wind can blow us down into it. We have to crawl and the guides were obliged to hold our feet for safety.

The hole of Lugud crater was not really possible to be seen by mere crawling (Photo courtesy by Jonathan Reales)


More or less, this is the only view available to our naked eyes as it is very dangerous to go beyond. We were following closely the instructions of our guides for our own safety. We cannot even stand at this point.

The hole of the active Lugud crater as captured by our camera through extended arms


Though it was scary, I managed to extend my arms to capture what is beyond my sense of sight but I was completely held by my guide in my two feet. This summit has a peak elevation of 2,435 meters above sea level (7,989 feet) and the mountain has a base diameter of 30 km (19 miles) and is dotted with pyroclastic cones and craters.

Our group with the backdrop of the Makawiliwili Ridge taken from the summit (photo courtesy by Jonathan Reales)


Based on what I've learned from my online research, Mount Kanlaon has erupted for 26 times since 1919. Eruptions are typically phreatic explosions of small-to-moderate size that produce minor ash falls near the volcano. In 1902, the eruption was classified as strombolian, typified by the ejection of incandescent cinder, lapilli and lava bombs.

Peter Zabala or Pete Zee provided most of the pictures in the climb


Grateful to meet, Pete for the first time who is a friend of my friend, Jrich Macasero where his artistic inclination in photography has provided me a lot of materials for this post.

Timothy Estanislao Mislos jubilant while at the summit


Another travel buddy made a difference in this climb as I learned some tips from him regarding some photography and IT tips. So glad to meet him for the first time.

Jonathan Lusares Reales – a keen macro-specie photographer


A silent but deep photographer has its own way of documenting every specie he captures with his camera whether it belongs to flora or fauna category.

Cautious of every step I made while descending the summit


While loose rocks are so dangerous for any false move, I made it to a point that I surely locked my feet in every single step I made for me not slip out.

Relaxed as I set foot at the Saddle Campsite


When I was at the summit, I was so worried of the research I made that on August 10, 1996, a group of 24 mountain climbers were on the same summit when the volcano suddenly erupted without any warning killing British student Julian Green and Filipinos Noel Tragico and Neil Perez, who were trapped near the summit. The authorities rescued the 17 others including 10 Belgians, another Briton and six Filipinos. The 17 were identified as Belgians Frederick Carraso, Philipp Couche, Caroline La Grange, Sophie La Benne, Darmien Gaitan, David Rycaert, Florence De Corte, Jean Francois Ossengeld, Caroline Verlinde and Delthme Ferrant, Briton Gordon Cole and Filipinos Pepito Ibrado, Wovi Villanueva and Albert Devarras.

We had then our breakfast as we returned to the saddle campsite and had breakcamp afterwards. The following is my personal record on how I descended the mountain with my guide, Panoy which I made it for FOUR HOURS AND 8 MINUTES to Guintubdan jump-off without taking any trail food and lunch and literally I was non-stop then. Left saddle - 9:20 A.M.; Pagatpat – 9:37 A.M; Crash site – 10:04 A.M. ; Camp 3 10:17 A.M.; Camp 2 – 10:49 A.M; Camp 1 – 11:03 A.M.; Patay na Suba – 12:17 Noon; Buslugan – 12:38 Noon and Guintubdan jump-off – 1:28 P.M.

On the other hand, I scaled Mount Kanlaon from the Guintubdan jump-off point to the saddle campsite for a total of EIGHT HOURS AND 45 MINUTES inclusive of occasional rests due to excessive cardiac assaults, lunch break, trail food and water break and siesta time in Buslugan for a lengthy pictorials. From the saddle to the summit is only 30 minutes if no pictorials are made along the trail.

Below is a suggested Itinerary:

Day 1

08:00 ETD Guintubdan
09:30 Buslugan picture-taking
11:30 Lunch at Camp 2
03:30 Pagatpat Campsite
04:30 Pitch tents at the saddle - There is an option to scale the summit if weather permits
06:30 Dinner afterwards socials
08:00 RON:

DaY 2

05:30 Wake-up call:
06:30 Breakfast
07:30 Breakcamp
08:00 Scale the summit with backpack
08:45 Start descending from summit
09:45 Pagatpat Ridge
12:00 Lunch at Camp 1
04:00 ETA Guintubdan Jump-off point
04:30 ETA Guintubdan Pavillon
04:35 Shower in Guintubdan Pavillon
06:00 ETD Guintubdan Pavillon
07:20 ETA Mambukal Resort

BUDGETARY CONCERNS

The total budget does not include the plane fare which is P3,500. These expenses include the registration of P300; 3 porter /guides for P7,000 including a tip of P1,000 for their extra services for cooking and made us like boarders waiting for sumptuous meals inside our tents; all meals from/to manila airport; all grocery items, butane, bottled water and other climbing supplies; chartered van of P3,200 from Bacolod airport to guintubdan; chartered jeep from guintubdan to mambukal for P1,500; mambukal accommodation of P3,300; guintubdan pavillon accommodation for P1,200; airport terminal fee in Bacolod for P200; hotel accommodation and taxi fares for the advance party in marketing food – P800 and other common expenses which were all divided into eight persons.

OTHER CONCERNS

Porter/Guides have a rate of P1,000 per day. On our part, we hired 3 porter/guides where we paid P6,000 and an additional of P1,000 for our tip. Our porter/guides had served also to be our cooks, photographer and safety advisors.

HOW TO GET THERE

Take any daily flight from Manila to Bacolod. Hire a chartered van from Bacolod airport to Guintubdan Pavillon for overnight so that the following day the climb can start as early as 8:00 A.M. It is cheaper to have a side trip to Mambukal than to hire again a chartered van from Guintubdan back to Bacolod. Chartered jeep from Guintubdan to Mambukal is only P1,500 and the minibus from Mambukal to Bacolod is P35.

Mount Kanlaon Climb is a part of our 5-day Bacolod-Mount Kanlaon Climb-Mambukal-The Ruins of Talisay Trip and I am sharing what we spent in the entire trip which does not include the "pasalubong".