MOUNT MARAMI

Location: Maragondon, Cavite, Philippines

Jump-off point: Sitio Bangkaan, Brgy. Talipusngo, Maragondon, Cavite
Alternate jumpoff: Brgy.Ramirez, Magallanes, Cavite
LLA: 405 MASL (1,328 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-3 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Rocky outcrops, scenic views of Cavite including bird's eye view of Pico de Loro or Mount Palay-Palay

Note: The Barangay Ramirez alternative jumpoff point requires 4-6 hours to summit according to Dr. Gideon of Pinoy Mountaineer.

While at the summit's Silyang Bato

It is my first time to scale Mount Marami which I did it on March 12, 2016. I have heard a lot of stories about the mountain and have seen its awesome pictures most particularly its daring "Silyang Bato" and since then, I have been dreaming. I was with Christian Seracon and the rest of 12 mountaineers who wanted to be challenged by Silyang Bato summit.

Extremely dusty road heading to Sitio Bangkaan jumpoff point

Our group started this trip when we met at the Coastal Mall at 4:00 A.M. and from there, we had a refreshing drive passing through the Cavitex where we left the Coastal Mall at 4:55 A.M. We arrived 7:40 A.M. at the Talipusngo Barangay Hall for registration which we paid P20 per head.

Sitio Bangkaan jumpoff point

After the registration, we boarded a jeepney and headed to a nearby restaurant where a few of us took our breakfast and buy for packed lunch. We need to transfer to a jeepney since, the road going to Sitio Bangkaan was really a tough one considering that it was bumpy with big boulders, extremely dusty and at some point there are sudden drops which will give a hard time for the vehicle to maneuver. The travel took barely 40 minutes. Along our way, we passed through climbers who were trekking because their vans drop them somewhere as the road is no longer passable for their vehicle type.

Mount Palay-Palay or Pico de Loro as seen from the summit

According to our guide, there are two options where we can take for our ascent to the summit coming from the jumpoff point. The first one is a short cut heading to the summit and the second one is cutting through the trail passing thru Camps 1, 2 and 3 and finally the summit. The first option is only an hour and a half while the second option will take around three hours. But since some of our companions were newbies in climbing, our guide opted to take the first option.

This is the photo of the massive summit stone wall which I captured from my guide's fb account

The alternative which we took was such an easy trail with gradual assaults cutting through a canopy of bamboos. Most of the trail were covered with bamboos and other kinds of trees. However, with the option we took, we have no chance to capture the picture above as it is only visible when one is at Camp 1.

Chasing the clouds at the summit

Being at the summit of Mount Marami is like being on top of the world where neighboring lowlands and mountains can be see and it includes Pico de Loro where like Mount Marami, it also has the massive monolith.

A closer photo at the summit's Silyang Bato

I noticed that there are so many climbers who wanted to scale Mount Marami. We were lucky to be the first to arrive at the summit since some other groups trek from the registration to the jumpoff point. Had it not for that, we might have been waiting in queue trying to have a picture in Silyang Bato.

Still a part of the summit

We have not stayed long at the summit since it was hot. Our ascent to the summit was barely 1 and a half hours and descending the mountain only took us a hour to the jumpoff point.

What was rewarding for this climb was our side trip to Pantihan (Balayungan) Water Falls

Bamboo canopies: the common sight of the trail

OTHER CONCERNS

For tour guide rates, P500 for day climb for a ratio of 1 is to 10 climbers or P1,000 for overnight with the same ratio of climbers. For the round trip jeepney rental from the barangay hall registration to Sitio Bangkaan for day cimb has a rate of P1,000 and P2,000 for overnight. Guides can be contacted at 09369682387/09065079694 for Aldrin Paiton and 09066921264 for Christian Seracon. Both of them can booked the jeepney for the guests convenience.

HOW TO GO THERE

DIY Option

Take a bus from Coastal Mall at a fare rate of P66 with travel duration of 2 hours. From Naic, take a jeepney with a signboard of Magallanes at a fare of P35 for an hour drive but tell the driver to drop you at the Barangay Hall of Talipusngo of Maragondon, Cavite for the Registration for P20.

From the Barangay Hall Registration to Sitio Bangkaan, a chartered jeepney is needed for it is quite far and vans or cars can’t get into its dusty and bad road condition.

Taking Tour Package Option

For worry-free visit to the falls, particularly to mountain climbers who wanted to have a side trip, take the "All-In Services" of the tour organizer Christian Seracon with mobile number at 09066921264 or through his Facebook account at Christian Seracon for only P800 inclusive of round trip van transport from Coastal Mall to Maragondon of Mount Marami, guide and registration fee as well as the jeep from Mount Marami's registration site to the jump-off point in Barangay Bangkaan of Brgy. Talipusngo.