Mt. Daguldol

Another mountain that the province of Batangas can be proud off is Mt. Daguldol. It is located few meters from the beach area of the town of San Juan. This mountain is perfect for the people who want to start hiking as interest. The trail is simple and hikers can enjoy the good ambiance in here. This mountain has three major camp sites where hikers can stay. The summit is a wide open area that can accommodate a lot of tents. The wind on the summit is cool and fresh plus a perfect view of shoreline of San Juan. More photos here: Mt. Daguldol

Mt. Mantalingajan

Hiking this mountain is a dream come true! I left my job just for this climb. This mountain is part of MIMAROPAs Big 3 mountains which is situated in Rizal, Palawan. Got the 9/9 rating in terms of its difficulty and considered as one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the Philippines. In this climb, I met a lot of new friends, some were new to mountaineering and the others were the foundations. The whole journey in this climb was remarkable. Read our journey here: Mt. Mantalingajan Traverse.

Mt. Batulao

For me this is the most beautiful mountain that I've been to. Because of the gorgeous formation of its ranges, the cool ambiance, the green surroundings, the simple trails and the location is accessible from Manila. This hike was organized by JaVee for his 1 year anniversary in the mountaineering field. Read our journey here: Mt. Batulao Traverse.

Mt. Damas Traverse Circuit

Minor man daw sa paningin dahil sa taas ng bundok na ito, major naman pagdating sa difficulty. Nag-iisa lamang ito sa Pilipinas at Tarlac lang ang meron. Napagdaanan namin ang river crossing, steep trail, gasgas ng mga talahib, rope segments, bouldering at kung anu-ano pa. Naging masaya kami dito, kaya kayo check more photos here: TravellingCup

Mt. Banahaw

Mt. Banahaw is said to be the Holy Mountain located in the province of Quezon. This time, it's a different concept in climbing this mountain, we had an amazing experience in doing our Tree Planting event held in this mountain. We actually encountered Habagat and typhoon Maring while doing our event, so it added an extra spice to our journey, read our story here: TravellingCup at Mt. Banahaw Thanks to Cheng for the gorgeous photo above.

Pag-gulong sa Mt. Halcon

Sa aking pag-akyat sa iba't-ibang bundok, tanging sa Mt. Tarak lang ako nadulas, as in dulas lang yun huh, pero dito sa Mt. Halcon, ilang beses ako nadulas at gumulong nang ilang ikot, at pag-bagsak ko ay nasa ibabaw ang paa ko. Tapos nadulas pako sa sa Dulangan River na kung saan may 1cm akong malalim na sugat, at ako'y duguan. Basahin nyo nalang ang estorya namin dito: Mt. Halcon by TravellingCup

Mt. Talamitam

This mountain served as our place where we celebrated our 3rd year anniversary of Batang Hamog Mountaineers. It was a night trek, but we still enjoyed everything while walking along the trail. If you want to know more about this event, click here: TravellingCup at Mt. Talamitam

BHM Anniversary

Gusto ko lang batiin at pasalamatan ang Batang Hamog Mountaineers. Ang grupong ito lang naman ang bukas loob na tumanggap sa akin; regardless of gender, sex, mapa male of female man, o diba parehas lang yung mga yun, naganap ito sa Mt. Talamitam. For our story, click here: TravellingCup at Mt. Talamitam.

Mt. Guiting-guiting Traverse

This mountain is said to be the hardest mountain in the Philippines, so being in the group who planned to conquer this mountain, I felt pressured, but when I saw the gorgeous mountain, I said, I will do my best for this climb.  Read our journey, click here: Mt. Guiting-guiting Reverse-Traverse

Mt. Marami

Isang magandang araw po sa inyong lahat, alam kong mas maganda parin ako sa araw na ito pero gusto ko lang i promote itong travel blog post ko.  Gusto ko lang ishare to sa inyo dahil wala lang, may maipost lang ako, namimiss ko na kasing magpost dito sa personal blog ko e.  Pero wag kayong mag-alala, nasa mabuti akong kalagayan sa pagkakatong  ito habang binabasa nyo ang sulat na ito.

Ang picture na nasa kaliwa ay kuha sa Mt. Marami sa Batangas.  Ito lang naman ang ika 11^th na bundok na nahawakan ko – ay naakyat pala, medyo bastos lang diba? Pero naging masaya ang pagtahak namin sa bundok na ito. Kasama ko ang Batang Hamog Mountaineers sa pagkakatong ito, pero kulang parin kami.  Kaming mga pasikat lang ang nag-attend sa event na iyon.  Marami kaming nakilala, at marami rin kaming pinagdaanan.   Napakainit ng mga panahong iyon, pero okay lang samin, dahil nagpapaitim naman talaga ako.  Pag summer kailangan sumusunod ang balat ko sa panahon.  Kung gusto nyong basahin ang buong post ko, klik nyo lang ito oh: My Travel Guide.

Mt. Maculot

After the tiring Cebu Tour, here's another unforgettable mountaineering experience.  Although, I admit that this month is my busiest month in my blogging career.  Almost every rest day, I have schedules to visit different places. 

Mt. Maculot is an amazing mountain that everyone should try.  It is perfect for those people who just started their journey in mountaineering.  The new trail is actually simple, no need to worry about the marks because aside from ribbons, you can easily notice the signs in some trees on the trail. 

Before ascending, the ambiance in the whole area is really good.  The people on the neighborhood were so kind, they greeted us saying magandang umaga po!  So, we just replied them by saying hi and hello.  The air is not that warm, so it's very advisable to travel enthusiasts.  Tricycles are available in every corner of the Barrangay, so it is really accessible.

Celebrate Love and Lust at Mt. Pulag

Today is February 14, 2013, the Valentines Day, it is the start of my Pulag invasion.  This day is also my last day in the office and I will be back on Monday, imagine that!  I am not yet prepared for this event, my jackets and everything are still not yet in my backpack; I'll prepare it tomorrow, Friday, while washing my clothes.  I will also going to check my tent as well, if it's still okay, the last use was at " Lamyerda sa Borawan " in Quezon.  After my shift, I went to Greenland in Pasig City to borrow a sleeping bag just for this event.  As usual, every time I go there, we have drinking sessions and that's what happened.

Friday, February 15, 2013 - I was really busy cleaning my apartment, washing my used clothes and preparing for this huge celebration.  After my house chores, I think it was 1PM, I took a rest while surfing in facebook and getting updates from the participants of this event.  2PM I decided to sleep while the tv is on.  I woke up at around 4PM and I felt that I gained a lot of energy, so I continued my preparations.

9:13PM - I left the apartment wearing my blue clima-fit long sleeves, brown trekking pants, shoes and my 60L backpack.  For Security Purposes: I removed everything plugged in the electric outlet.  I can't explain the feeling that time, excited and pressured, I don't know.  Before going to bus terminal, I also took tricycle for 8 pesos, jeep for 8 pesos, bus for 16 pesos and then taxi for 100 pesos. TOTAL: 132 pesos.  Now, think a slim and gorgeous woman with a huge backpack, riding in a public utility vehicle - that's me!

PM - reached Victory Liner Inc. Terminal in Cubao - the meeting place of all the 17 participants.  I already met some of them but I truly excited to meet the others especially the cute boys - if there are, no comment yet.  I took a taxi from Galleria going to Five Star terminal in EDSA Northbound, then walked few meters and crossed the foot bridge connecting the two sides of EDSA in the area.  Continue Reading by clicking this link: My Travel Guide

Borawan Island

This photo was taken at Borawan Island in Quezon Province, Philippines.  This is part of my event "Lamyerda sa Borawan "  This Island is absolutely perfect for the people searching for an island adventure.  It can give a lot in terms of pristine beauty; the clear water, green surroundings, powdery white sand beach and fresh air can be found here.

You just need to sacrifice your 3-4 hours to visit this lovely place.  The people living in this place are so kind, they can give you everything they can offer.   From the high way, it is just 15 minutes boat ride, and take note while on the boat, you can also see how the whole area received a real gift from the nature.  More of my journey? click here: My Travel Guide

Mt. Batulao - the Bloggers Climb

Pagkatapos nang isang challenging na linggo, sa wakas at natapos ko rin nang matiwasay ang Mt. Batulao sa Nasugbu, Batangas.

Unang pagkakataong makasama ang ibang travel bloggers, and naging successful at masaya ito.   Maraming salamat sa isang napakagandang araw na ibinigay samin.

Sa dami na nang mga bundok na naakyat ko, ito ang pinaka maganda.  Ang hangin ay napaka lamig pero may kasamang mga alikabok.

Napakaberde ang makikita sa taas nang bundok na ito.  Puro mga damo at puno ang nasa paligid, perpekto para sa mga taong mahilig sa kalikasan.  Ang akyat naming ito rin ang naging Reunion Climb nang Batang Hamog Mountaineers.  Sublit kami nila Te Sharon, We-wen, Whab at si Bunso ang nakarating, humabol parin si Ginger at ang anak nyang si Ian, sayang wala ang tatay.  Para sa mga litrato at at mga isturya nang akyat na ito, klik nyo lang ang link na ito: TravellingCup at Mt. Batulao.

trip sa Mt. Samat

Isa sa pinakamahalagang lugar sa history ng Pilipinas ay ang Mt. Samat dito mismo sa Dambana nang Kagitingan.  Ilang kilometer din ang aming nilakad para lang marating ang tuktok nang bundok na ito.  Naabutan man kami ng ulan, init at ulan ulit, tapos uminit bago kami dumating sa tuktok, hindi kami bumalik.  Pero noong nasa taas na kami ng Krus mismo, sobrang fulfilling ang mga nakita ko, ang sarap sa mata ng mga magagandang tanawin, ang sarap ng feeling na humahampas ang malamig na hangin sa mukha ko, buti nalang walang batong kasama yung hangin no??

Ayan ang video, para hindi na kayo magalit at maiingit, So you think amalayer, ate? hahaha, kelan kaya ako magtataray sa bus naman. . kaso nakakahiya. . talon nalang ako dito sa Krus para sumikat.

Planking in Mt. Pico de Loro

PLANKING - " Lying face down in an unusual place "

and look, let's combine planking and yoga

it's equal to a perfect photo:

from the Summit of Mt. Pico de Loro

Mt. Pico de Loro

July 7-8, 2012 was remarkable in my mountaineering career, why? because I was able to conquer Mt. Pico de Loro - the highest mountain in the province of Cavite.

Mt. Pico de Loro lies and serves as the boundary of the provinces of Cavite and Batangas.

Ternate, Cavite
Major jump-off: Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite
LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3

BACKGROUND

According to history, many years ago, it's the Spaniards who discovered the form of a giant parrot, perched in the mountainous part of Cavite. They named it "Pico de Loro" or "Parrot's Peak." And now, Pico de Loro is one of the first option in the list of mountains for the newbies in this field.  Thus, mountaineers who visited Pico de Loro discovered it's natural beauty of both flora and fauna.

INVADING " PICO de LORO "

After my shift, that would be July 6, 2012, I went to an outdoor shop in a Mall in Pasig and bought rain cover for my 50 liters backpack as a preparation for my climb.  The weather was not friendly, so, I've been waiting for any weather update by watching tv and waiting for a tweet from PAG-ASA.  While my tv is on the weather channel, I was preparing my mountain gears and everything that I can use in conquering Pico de Loro.

Same thing that I brought last month in Mt. Manabu, and since my mountaineering gears are separated from my regular stuff, I just put those things in my bag.  But this time, I put my tent in the lower part of my bag instead of putting it inside, which occupies larger space.  I didn't forget my swimming cap and gogles, I don't know why, and I know that I will be on the mountain not at the beach, right? but, I considered those things as a part of my bag and maybe myself I can't live without 'em.

Again, using my BlackBerry, I set an alarm at 4AM, July 7, 2012, that's my regular alarm time even if I go to work.  After waking up, I plugged everything, like my BlackBerry, Nokia QWERTY phone, Apple Ipod and my Camera at the same time at the same outlet? ooohhh  commmonnn, just imagine that.  I am just wondering why I am giving out my brands? hahaha, I really dunnnoo. . . . . . . . . . . . and also, why am I speaking in English? I am getting a hard time doing my blog. . . . greeeeee!!!!

Anyways, after packing up part 2 in the morning, I left the house at around 6AM.  I took a cab going to the office for our meeting place in pasig for 100 pesos fare and waited my two friends.  At 6:45 AM, we started walking going to Meralco Avenue to ride a jeep going to Ortigas for 8pesos and it took less than 30 mins. till we get there.  Then, we took a bus for more than a hour going to Baclaran - Simbahan for 23pesos.  We stayed at KFC, waited for the Couch Surfing Manila group.  And while waiting, we took our formal breakfast, bought everything in 7-11.  But, when Couch Surfing arrived, some took their breakfast in there.  We waited Ate Sharon for more than an hour (pagtumatanda nga naman, bumabagal na ang pagkilos) hahaha and we all understood that, right Te Sharon? hehehe.
 

And at last!!! Te sharon arrived!!!!! then we took an aircon bus worth 83 pesos going to Ternate, Cavite.  Then, we rented a jeep worth 40 pesos each going to DENR.  And before DENR, we passed on the magnetic hill and we did an experiment.  While it's raining hard, the driver stopped the engine and look what happened, the vehicle climbed up by itself and that was a fascinating experience.

After few minutes of travel, we reached the DENR base, we paid 20 pesos for the fee.  In DENR, you can take a shower for 5 pesos, wash your face, cook, eat for free and you can also buy food and drinks.

2PM, we started walking along the muddy trail.  We were 30 conquering the challenges in the trail.  The trail is simple, it's not confusing compared to other mountains.  But the most challenging part is the rain, after wearing the poncho, the rain stops.  hahaha, so when you noticed that the rain stops, of course you need to remove it because it's warm right?, but the rain will drop again on you head, . . . hahaha. . . . that was really bad but I enjoyed it.

When we were on the trail, I noticed that my colleagues took pictures in every 5 steps, hahaha, let's do math, we will be taking more than five kilometers, if we'll take photos in every 5 steps, how many hours would it take to reach the summit? hahaha.  and we reached the summit after 4 hours.  Now, do the calculation it's now your job now.

While, invading the trail, we met other groups going down and some was going up with us.  Helping other people is my role, because I am an ambassadress of goodwill, so, I helped others in climbing the steep part of the mountain with the sticky and muddy trail.  At 6pm we reached the summit, with mud on our trail pants and leggings, we just put our bags on the grass and take a rest.  That was a tiring day, hahaha, but we enjoyed everything especially the social night.  hahaha, drunk 3 bottles of GSM blue, and of course chikahan challenge was there, question and answer portion for Miss Spain - Alicia Gimenez, Miss Canada - Tara Olivia and hosted by Miss Philippines ROMBLON - Dharzie.

Early in the morning, we prepared our breakfast (bread, liver spread and canton).  Followed by photos shoot in all angles.  Next, went to the summit for few hour then going back to DENR.  I just want to make comment, DENR don't have any serious ordinance in preserving its office in that area.  And also, the tricycle drivers did a verbal abuse to our driver and showed a very bad image.  And the driver just went back to where he came from, just to eliminate anyone to fight that may result to a serious injury.

Mt. Pico de Loro

Being on top of the mountain is really fun;

I was able to fullfill my dreams since I was a young girl?

and now, look at the real beauty of nature,

WE NEED TO SAVE AND PROTECT THIS WEALTH

Camp Sandugo

I am pretty much excited for tomorrow.  Today is Friday, it's my last day in burning my eyebrows while sleeping in the office.  Tomorrow, Saturday, I need to wake up early and need to prepare myself for Mt. Pico de Loro, together with Batang Hamog Mountaineers.  And as a part of this activity, I bought this rain cover from Camp Sandugo - Sta. Lucia.  I need this cover to protect my stuff inside my North Face 50 liters bag and to add additional color in the mountain.  Here are the photos:

with Tent inside

Batang Hamog Mountaineers

A Group of Young Adventurous Professionals from Metro Manila, with common interest in outdoor activities formed an Organization for other like-minded people. Born out of pure love of nature, the outdoors and its exploration, the group started out through the efforts of its 10 founding mountaineers.

HAMOG (or Dew) is actually a metaphorical symbol. It represents US, the mountaineers, as it represents the significance of Dew to the ecosystem. Dew is very essential, it actually serves as an important source of moisture for plants, soil, insects and animals, thus, giving life to the nature. For us,mountaineer, as a means of promoting environmental awareness in general and forest conservation in particular.

photos from FREEDOM CLIMB 2012  at Mount Manabu