MOUNT MACULOT CLIMB

Location: Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines
Major Jumpoff: Mountaineer’s Store, Brgy. 7 “Siete”, Cuenca, Batangas
Exit point (traverse): Brgy 5 (to Grotto), Cuenca
Elevation: 706 MASL at Rockies (2,316 feet) / 930 MASL at the summit (3,051 feet)
Days required / Hours to Rockies / summit : 1 day / 1-2 hr / 2-4 hr
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9 (Rockies); 4/9 (Traverse) Trail class 1-3
Features: Scenic views of Taal Lake and other mountains along Taal Lake, rock formations, forests, steep trail.

Taken at the Rockies with Taal Lake at the background

I was able to climb Mount Maculot twice dated October 11, 1998 and February 7, 1999 located in Cuenca, Batangas with a breathtaking scenery of Taal Volcano and the majestic Taal Lake. Mount Maculot are good for fun and workout climbs.

The first time under PNB Mountaineering Climb was an Initiate wherein we were all fifteen with six members, 8 initiates and a guest. The members were: (1) Chika Vite – Expidition Leader; (2) Abet Zapanta – sweeper; (3) Jun Galang; (4) Manny Llesol; (5) Sandra Reyes; and (6) Sandy Alhambra. The initiates were: (1) Neil James G. Raymundo – Abet’s friend; (2) Jesiebel “Jesie” V. Sayas of CIBI; (3) Jun Banela; (4) Victor Victorino; (5) Roy Pison; (6) Noemi Amador; (7) Maricris Ballon; and (8) I. For the second time, Joel Dimacali was our guest climber. It was my first meeting with Neil James and I find him a nice guy. He was such a witty conversationalist.

Ascending to the summit of Mount Maculot

Our batch really missed mountain scaling. With this, we suggested to a few PNB Mountaineers who were close to us to organize climbs in preparation to major climbs. On February 7, 1999, eight of us, namely: (1) Jenny Ferrer, (2) Abet Zapanta, (3) Neil Raymundo, (4) Chika Vite, (5) Lito Capuz, (6) Sandy Alhambra, (7) Manny Llesol, and (8) I decided to scale Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas for just a day hike. This was the second time that I have been there and my objective for that time was to minimize the time in the assault and descending to the jump-off point because at least I already defined the trail and the required effort I need to successfully complete the climb in a minimum period of time. The climb, on the other hand, was very inspiring because the participants were all close to me. They were the few chosen ones for me. My favorites Abet and Neil were with me to attend the 5:00-6:00 P.M. mass in San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Taft Avenue, Pasay City because it was Sunday.

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.