BANAHAW DE TAYABAS CLIMB

This is so far my very first climb which at first, I was hesitant to be a part of mountain climbing, but Maricris B. Ballon of Allied Bank – Edsa Extension Branch, a friend of my officemate, Jennifer T. Ferrer, convinced me to join their Banahaw de Tayabas Climb dated May 1-3, 1998 in the province of Quezon. I thought then that such activity is not really exciting but after the climb, I realized that it was really the cup of tea I would like to have for the rest of my life. In this activity, too, I felt the essence of brotherhood and a lot more about camaraderie because there was close bonding for the whole duration of the climb, helping and assisting each other and sharing all the fun, laughter, inner thoughts, ingenuities, values, peculiarities, point of views and some other things that excite us. My companions then were so friendly and supportive and they were as follows: (1) Jennifer T. Ferrer; (2) Maricris B. Ballon, (3) Raymund “Mon” S. Crisol, and (4) Josie J. Gustilo of Allied Bank; (5) Mel M. Mata and (6) Edwin “Didin” F. Reyes of Dual Technology in Edsa, Pasay; (7) Alfonso Rodrigo “Goy” Y. Quemuel of Amkor/Anam Pilipinas; (8) Glenn Carlos Abitria de Guzman of De La Salle University; and (9) Aldwin A. De Guia of Adamson University

After the climb, we headed for Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Brgy. Dapdap, Tayabas, Quezon for a sumptuous lunch. This is a famous restaurant in Tayabas with floating and artistically designed nipa huts in the heart of man-made cascading falls and fish ponds and awesomely landscaped environment. While it was still early, we decided to have swimming in Bukal na Buhay Resort. It is a natural cold spring developed into a concrete swimming pool. Finally, since May 3 was Sunday, the group agreed to attend the 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. Holy Mass in the Basilica de San Miguel Archangel Parish in Tayabas town clad in our mountaineering gears and paraphernalia.