MOUNT BATULAO CLIMB

My fourth climb under PNB Mountaineering Club was in Mount Batulao located in Nasugbu, Batangas dated August 29-30, 1998. The said climb was a fun-filled one because it was an overnight activity compared with the Mt. Makiling day-hike climb. We had enough socialization during night time because a lot of senior members joined us. But comparatively, it was not as enjoyable as the Banahaw de Tayabas and Pico de Loro Climb. The reason might be that some senior members were so arrogant to us and emphasized the member-initiate relationship wherein the members should always be above the initiates who were all vying for permanent membership in the club. Marrita Gregore was the most arrogant senior member of the climb. We were consisting of 20 participants in which 14 were members and six initiates. The climb was divided into two groups in which the first group was in a day trek while the rest of the senior members had a night trek. The members were: (1) Alberto “Abet”M. Zapanta, Jr. - Expidition Leader; (2) Sandy A. Alhambra – Sweeper; (3) Jun Galang; (4) Marrita “Marit” M. Gregore; (5) Sandra S. Reyes; (6) Norita “Norie” R. Jacala; (7) Policarpo Gregorio Osmundo “Ding” N. Capunitan; (8) Brenda B. Bernabe; (9) Noel N. Dollentas; (10) Rolando “Rolly” O. Villanueva; (11) Analiza “Liza” M. Astillero; (12) Manuel “Manny” I. Llesol; (13) Jessica Parina; and (14) Reynold Quiambao. The initiates were: (1) Boggs Estanilla; (2) Janet T. Lazarte; (3) Roy Pison; (4) Jenny Ferrer; (5) Noemi Amador and (6) I.

A wide angle picture of Mount Batulao

An added attraction was the panoramic and tranquil Caleruega Chapel which served as the jump-off point of Mount Batalao. A perfect wedding church for perfect couple like my best friend Noemi Ordiales Amador who was tied to Policarpo Gregorio Osmundo “Ding” Nuqui Capunitan in this chapel dated March 12, 2000.

You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio  and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).

THANKS FOR READING!

MOUNT CRISTOBAL CLIMB

Mount Cristobal in Dolores of the province of Quezon was my ninth climb under PNB Mountaineering Club dated November 14 and 15, 1998. The experience I had in this climb has a similitude of Mount Natib but the amount of rainfall in this mountain was comparatively high compared with Natib’s since we were totally trailing a rain forest. In fact, there was a continuous downpour just two kilometers from the jump-off point up to the camp site that we stayed overnight. But the continuous rains had not barred us to ascend to our campsite. Some of the folks we met there and other mountaineers who have gone there already forewarned us that the mountain was really enchanted and they even shared to us horrible stories. But for us, scaling the said mountain was just another exciting experience. We proceed with our socials in the evening which was a rain-free one but it was so cold and was very inviting to have an early bed rest in our warm tents. We were twenty-two then with 8 members, 12 initiates and two guest climbers. The members were: (1) Jun Galang – expidition leader; (2) Chika Vite – sweeper; (3) Ding Capunitan; (4) Elmer Daus; (5) Abet Zapanta; (6) Sandy Alhambra; (7) Rolly Villanueva; and (8) Marrita Gregore. The initiates were: (1) Jun Banela; (2) Jesie Sayas; (3) Susie Tagustos; (4) Victor Victorino; (5) Noemi Amador; (6) Jing Gumba; (7) Neil Raymundo; (8) Roy Pison; (9) Jenny Ferrer; (10) Janet Lazarte; (11) Benjie Autencio; and (12) I. Roderick “Rick” N. Vinluan of CIBI and Judith C. Palero of China Bank were guests.

You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio  and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).

THANKS FOR READING!

MOUNT MAKILING – PEAK 2 CLIMB

As per record, I had already two climbs in this mountain, all of which are day climb dated July 25, 1998 and May 29, 1999. It is located in Los Banos, Laguna with an altitude of 1,144 meters or 3,753 feet. It has 25 loveseats before finally reaching the peak. It is inhabited by tiger-color “Limatik”, a family of blood sucking leech.

July 25, 1998 was my first climb in PNB Mountaineering Club as an Initiate and the third in my mountain climbing portfolio. It happened when a PNB Mountaineer member and officemate, Pablito “Apple” Ongleo and Philnabank Director Rolando “Rolly” Villanueva and one of the directors of Philippine National Bank Mountaineering Club (PNB MC), convinced me to join the said club. I finally filed for membership on July 20, 1998. I attended the Club’s Basic Mountaineering Course on October 17, 1998. I was an Initiate then in this club and was required to complete some minor and major climbs to qualify as a regular member. We were nine then consisting of four regular members and five initiates. The regular members were: (1)Elmer C. Daus -Expidition Leader (EL), (2) Agnes “Chika” F. Vite – Sweeper of PNB Institute of Banking; (3) Romeo “Jun” B. Galang of PNB IT Group; (4) Sandy A. Alhambra and the initiates were: (1) Noemi Amador; (2) Jenny Ferrer; (3) Janet T. Lazarte of PNB GSD-Accounting; (4) Roy Pison, (5)Jaime “Bogs” Estanilla Jr. of PNB Special and Global Accounts Department and (6) I.

Another workout and minor climb was on May 29, 1999 which was a day-hike climb. We joined with 10 initiates and 5 members of PNB Mountaineering Club. With me was my favorite Jenny Ferrer and we were not able to join the group in the assembly area. With this, we were left and we took a separate trip going to UP Los Banos. Unfortunately, Jenny and I were not able to meet them in the jump-off point and so we had a separate assault towards the peak. When we were about to reach the peak, we met the group but we decided to go on with the assault. They agreed that, they will just wait for us in the jump-off point.

You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio  and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).

THANKS FOR READING!

MOUNT BATULAO FOR THE SECOND TIME

Note:  This post was August 30, 2010 and accidentally while updating it appeared on the latest post.

This climb in Mount Batulao in Nasugbu Batangas is dated August 30, 2010 with Jrich Macasero, a very good friend from Philippine National Bank Mountaineering Club. It has an elevation of 811 meters above sea level or an equivalent of 2,660.08 feet. We had contracted a young boy who served to be our guide in the name of Randy Brusas. Actually, we do not need a guide but as part of helping the kids there, we took him as our guide. Jrich, Randy and I started our climb from the Evercrest jump-off point at 7:54 A.M. and we were in the summit at 11:09 A.M. We had a lot of stopover for the picture taking including the halo-halo refreshments along our trail. We cooked and had our lunch in the summit. We were actually using the old trail and in descending, we trailed towards the new trail. We were in the jump-off point at 2:55 P.M. It was a fantastic climb for the second time where my first time was wayback 1998 as an of the initiates of PNB Mountaineering Club. By that time, the sun was not so hot and there was no rain. There was a perfect weather then. Thanks God and thanks also to Jrich who volunteered to be my photographer and also to Randy who was with us telling us so many stories about the mountain and his family.

You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio  and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).

THANKS FOR READING!

MOUNT BATULAO CLIMB FOR THE THIRD TIME

Note:   This was posted on October 31, 2010, but while updating this blog post, it accidentally appeared on the recent post.   This was an overnight climb dated October 30 - 31, 2010.

This is my third time to scale Mount Batulao of Nasugbu in the province of Batangas. This mountain has an elevation of 811 meters above sea level or 2,660.76 feet which is categorized as a minor climb, level 2 and moderate. It has steep and open summit offering such an awesome panorama when one is on top of it.

This climb has offered me another exciting experience as I have guests with me and a fellow PNB MC Member, Rome Frias and another seasoned mountain climber from OWWA in the name of Mr. Anthony Bueza, Rome’s officemate. Our guests were: Doctor Cesar Garcia – Rome’s and my friend; Raymund Leonor (OWWA) and my colleagues (SPED teachers) in Angels Institute of Learning in the names of Ella Krizia and Emlou Vargas. It was the first time for them to experience mountain climbing. For Doc Cesar, Raymund and Ella, it was such a great milestone in their lives conquering the mountain’s summit and overcoming their fear of heights. The long legged and long-haired Emlou, on the other hand, is a daring woman without any fear of high altitude. She just find it thrilling being in this endless scaling activity.

This climb started boarding a bus in Pasay Taft Rotonda at 6:20 A.M. and we arrived in Evercrest of Batulao at 8:48 A.M. We fixed first ourselves in the nearby store in answering the call of nature and proceed with a 12-minute tricycle ride for P20 per head going to the nearest jump-off point. Melvin Brusas (Grade III pupil and a school drop out for 3 years), the cousin of Randy was our local guide then. It was my first to climb where I forgot to lead a prayer for I was as excited as my guests. The trekking started at 8:58 A.M. The skies then were open and the weather was perfect. It was not so hot and small amount of clouds accompanied us to shade us while on trek. Along the trail, the panorama was so inviting that our guests requested for an endless picture taking. After one hour and 31minutes, we have to rest and regroup in Halo-Halo Refreshment Point. It was a 17-minute break along with some other climbers having their Halo-halo moments to quench their thirst from a grueling trekking session.

We resumed our trekking at 10:27 A.M. But we have to stop shortly at a Buco Stop Point where the entry point for New Trail awaited our guests. Then we went down trailing to the direction of the Old trail. We arrived at Camp 1 of the Old Trail at 11:49 A.M. after a series of 5-minute stop and regrouping with accompanying picture taking with a registration of P20 per head. We agreed that we will spend overnight in Camp 1 to really have some rest and refreshing moment with mother nature. Besides, our guests would like to avail of the comfort room facility which costs P20 per pail of water. A water source is available in the camp for cooking. We pitched then our tents and took our lunch. We slept in our tents for almost two hours and after that the group except for Raymund and Anthony scaled towards Camp 7 to capture best shots with the backdrop of the summit. We cooked our dinner at around 5:00 P.M. and had eaten at 6:30 P.M. where socials followed, the usual wine drinking. Of course, I am a non-drinker and so I have to be contended in sharing some conversational moment with the group. Lights out was at 10:21 P.M. but I slept earlier than the rest of the group. We hand really a soundly sleep as almost all of us were snoring.

We woke up at 5:30 A.M. and cooked for breakfast. While others were cooking, Raymund, Anthony and I scaled up to Camp 6 for picture taking. We had our breakfast at 6:22 A.M. and cooked again for our pack lunch. Break camp followed at 9:35 A.M. for we opted to stay in the camp to enjoy the place. Ascending towards the summit started at 10:11 A.M. Our guests find ascending towards Camp 7, Camp 8, Camp 9 and Camp 10 (the summit) with extreme difficulty though I still initiated to take some pictures to capture the action while my group mates were ascending the summit. We were at the summit at 12:06 Noon and stayed a little bit longer. We resumed a more relaxed trekking towards the new trail passing on a narrow and breathtaking ridge. We arrived at the New Trail registration camp which cost us P20 per head at 1:49 P.M. and stayed longer for our late lunch. We arrived in the exit point of the New Trail at 2:14 P.M. and stayed longer for a buco treat costing P20 per order. An endless trekking followed up to the jump off point at 4:15 P.M. where we took a tricycle to take us to Evercrest. Anthony and Raymund left earlier due to scheduled appointment. The rest of us in the group had fixed and cleaned up ourselves in the available stores and took a 22-minute jeepney ride for P17 per head to Tagaytay City for a Special Bulalo treat at the Diner’s Restaurant. Bus rate from Tagaytay City to Pasay is P87 per head. We arrived Pasay City at 9:09 P.M.

You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio  and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).

THANKS FOR READING!

CARROT PEAK: THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF MOUNT TENGLAWAN

Location:  Bakun, Benguet, Philippines
Jump-off Point:  Brgy. Sinacbat, Bakun, Benguet
Elevation: Approximately 1,943 MASL (6,374 feet)
Days Required / Hours to Summit: 1 day / 3-4 hours
Specs:  Major Climb, 5/9 Difficulty, Trail Class 1
Features:  Mossy and pine forests, water source at almost midpoint, open trails equipped with concrete stairs and metal railings, carrot peak defines the summit, deep descent after the jump-off point, overlooking mountain slopes of vegetable plantation, continuous assaults to the summit and breathtaking sceneries of Mount Lobo, Mount Kabunian and the surrounding mountains of Ilocos Sur during clear sunny days.   The locals believe that God Insaking resides in this mountain, the ruler of the wicked spirits, thus, they called this a devil mountain.

While at the summit of Carrot Peak

Mount Tenglawan is considered a moderate climb, rated 5 out of 9 in difficulty, making it a minor hike rather than a major or extreme one with a total trail length of about 13 kilometers total.  Its Carrot Peak which towers over its summit is a unique, towering and narrow rock monolith that sharply mimics the shape of a carrot pointing toward the sky.  It is characterized by stark limestone cliffs, sheer drops, and dramatic rock promontories.

After 4 minutes of trekking from the jump-off point

Mount Tenglawan is a part of my 2-day twin-climb of  Mount Tenglawan and Mount Kabunian.  I was a joiner of this climbing package organized by a highly professional Win Calleja who even cater international climbs from Asia to Africa.  As usual, the trip started on the evening of a Friday leaving at 10:00 PM from the Sunflower (Mayflower) Parking of Greenbelt Districit in Mandaluyong City of Metropolitan Manila and arrived at the jump-off point of Barangay Sinacbat, of Bakun, Benguet the following day at 7:21 AM, the same place where we had registration at its barangay hall boarding a chartered van.

The terrain after 6 minutes trek at 8:44 AM

Even at the start, one can see dramatic and scenic hillsides, vegetable plantation and mountain slopes.  The cold air adds up comfort to us, climbers.  Honestly, in this climb, I knew nobody of my fellow joiners, just the organizer.

The vegetable plantation along our trail at 8:49 AM

Walking along the trail was so relaxing.  I could not start any conversation with my fellow joiners as they, too, are busy with their lens capturing the highly splendid scenery that unfolds to their eyes minute by minute.  Besides, they, too are complete strangers to me.  During our night trip, we were all asleep at the van where we boarded.   There was no introduction from the organizer as most of them knew already each other.

Strutting along the shady pine forest at 9:27 AM

After 49 minutes of relaxing trek, we entered the pine forest called Benguet pine, locally referred to as saleng in Ilocano, where this tree is the dominant species making up the tropical pine forests of the Cordillera Central range under its scientific name Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis.

Scaling thru the ascending concrete stairs with metal safety railings at 9:30 AM

Ascending thru this concrete staircase with steel railings where locals call it as "Hagdan ni Bulilit" offers a breathtaking view, as this steep staircases are embedded directly into the side of the mountain.  Reaching these stairs marks a shift in the environment, where the exposed vegetable terraces and grassy hillsides transform into a shaded, refreshing pine forest.

The exposed narrow concrete staircases

The frequency of the concrete staircases sometimes confuses my eyes and I was constantly on guard with my steps since they were wet and slippery.

The rocky and slippery trail at 9:56 AM

At this point, we were trekking along notoriously slippery and moss-covered rocks and since the trail is densely grown with vegetation supplemented with damp climate, limatik (blood sucking leeches) thrive in a great number along these trail segments.  A damp climate is a regional weather pattern featuring high levels of moisture, frequent precipitation, and high humidity in the air.

Passing thru this densely grown pine forest at 10:03 AM

Honestly, despite the endless assaults, I did not get tired.  All the time, I was just amazed of what I saw around.  However, I did not have a climbing buddy.  Some of my fellow joiners knew each other already and they trek in two's or three's.  While I do trek alone having my own pacing.

Our first rest and regrouping at 10:21 AM

As far as I knew, we only had one regrouping before we reached the summit.  We need to do this, since some of our companions were left far behind.

Contented with a selfie shot

Hesitant to ask for a picture from my companions, I just took a selfie shot.  But, you know, my fellow climbers here became my friends after the climb.  And one of them 

My turn to scale the Carrot Peak

Our group reached the summit at 10:50 AM. However, scaling the Carrot Peak was done one by one.   I just waited for my turn to climb the peak.  Those of us who were waiting took our lunch.  Each of us were given ample time to do this and we were allowed to do whatever we want while at the Carrot Peak including the picture taking and video recording.

Setting foot on top of Carrot Peak at 12:27 Noon

The assault to Carrot Peak was literally steep, though there was a rope we took support as we navigate up and down.  The assault was easier since, I can pull myself faster with the use of the rope, but descending using the rope was rather scary as I felt so heavy and my body swings, not to mention that strong winds playfully pushed my body, thus, my body swings.

While on my descent at 12:55 Noon

I really wanted to have a picture and video of my own.  Thus, while on our descent, I requested our guide to take me a picture and video.

Same spot of regrouping before we pushed down

Descending requires shorter time compared to ascending.  I can even run along the trail if the trail is no consist of moss-covered slippery rock.

Same trail for our descent at 1:29 PM

On my personal record, it took me 1 hour and 7 minutes to completely descend to the jump-off point.  From the jump-off point, we had the option to avail of the shower facility at the registration site which is the barangay hall of Barangay Sinacbat for hikers returning from Mount Tenglawan with the rate of P20 or US$0.32 to P50 or US$0.80.  Alternatively, hikers can choose to utilize local home-stays or the barangay hall for lodging for a fee of P150 or US$2.39 to P160 or US$2.55 per night that usually includes full use of the kitchen, restroom, and bathing facilities.

On our part, since we were in a packaged tour, we just had our clean-up or shower at the barangay hall of Sinacbat, and then, boarding the same chartered van, we had a road travel of more than 3 hours heading to Barangay Poblacion of Bakun staying overnight on its barangay hall via the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun-Sinipsip Road for a total of 43.4 kilometers.  The travel should only be for 2 hours, but we were lost at few times and so we had been extended to 3 hours road travel.

You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio  and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).

THANKS FOR READING!