Manalmon-Gola: Complete Itinerary and a How to Guide

Manalmon-Gola: Complete Itinerary and a How to Guide

Mt. Manalmon (Right) and Mt. Gola (left)

A hiking destination in the heart of Biak na Bato Natural Park, Mt. Manalmon and its twin Mt. Gola is a go-to destination for every adventurers out there. It boasts numerous activities like hiking, swimming, spelunking, and rafting. Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola is definitely a must for any thrill seekers out there.

Aside from being a hiking and outdoor destination, it is also a good place to acquaint one's self to history and folklores. Mt. Manalmon is a silent witness to some of the most important events in Philippine History as well as few mystical stories to keep you entertained or creeped out for the entire duration of your hike.

Quickfacts

Height? 196 MASL according to Pinoymountaineer.com

Trail Difficulty? 2/9

Jump-off? Brgy. Bayukbok, San Miguel, Bulacan
Roped Segment? None

Guide? Required. Available at the JOP
Beginner friendly? 100% YES!

The Team

Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola are one of the earliest treks of Team Restless Soles. Same as always, there were only two of us in the team. Pearliloo and Iantot. Date of the climb was May 13-14, 2017.

The Restless Soles

How to get there

1. Go to Cubao. Look for Baliuag Bus Lines. It is just across Victory Liner, near the footbridge. 

2. Ride a bus going to Cabanatuan, and tell the driver to drop you off at San Miguel, Bulacan.  Fare is around 150 pesos each. Travel time is 2 - 3 hours, depending on the traffic situation. 

3. Alight at San Miguel, Bulacan. Ride a tricycle at the trike terminal going to Sitio Madlum. Fare is around 200 pesos. Travel time is 30 - 40 minutes. 

Things to Consider before Visiting Mt. Manalmon

Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola are both situated within a protected landscape - The Biak na Bato Reserves. The LGU is regulating the number of people entering the protected reserves by requiring an advance reservation for anyone who wants to climb either or both mountains. 

To make your advance reservation, text or call Tata Carling at this number, 09195746470 or send them an email at rrboyflorencio@yahoo.com. To be sure, send a text and an email. 

Tale of the Trail

The excitement starts even before the hike itself. The initial part of the road leading to Sitio Madlum cuts through residential area. But few minutes into the ride, the cemented road ended and we were bouncing up and down as the rugged tricycle navigated the rough road that will take us to our destination. 

You will notice the drastic change of environment as you continue with your travel.  No electrical post and sparsely populated, you'll realize that you already left "civilization" behind. 

There will be one or two "toll gates" (I don't remember, sorry) along the way which you have to pay 20 pesos each. The money collected is used in the local community development fund according to the people we had talked to. 

After 40 minutes of butt-numbing tricycle ride, you will be greeted by a bridge made of wooden beam. 

Crossing the hanging bridge to Mt. Manalmon

The hike will commence at the wooden bridge. Upon crossing it, you will pass by the house / store of Tata Carling. Your advance reservation will be validated by leafing thru the printed permission letters. 

Good thing about this is that the staff of Biak na Bato will be the one to print your permission letters with information lifted from the email you sent, so make sure to include the necessary info when you contact them. Yey!

A small hitch occurred when Tata Carling cannot find our permission letters from the pile. But instead of sending us back, he decided to let us continue since we came all the way from Cavite. 

We were assigned a guide, Kuya Robert, for our climb. Kuya Robert is a serious but very helpful and awesomely knowledgeable of both the history and folklores surrounding the two mountains. 

Yehey! We're halfway to the summit!

A mandatory orientation was given to us as part of the protocol of the nature reserve. After the briefing, we started our hike. 

The first part of the trail is a walk through a forest. The trail is shaded so you don't have worry about sunburn. The ground was a bit rocky and sandy, like walking along a river bank. This part of the trail will continue on for about 15 - 20 minutes until you reach the Madlum River. You will cross this river, so make sure you have the proper footwear. 

Kuya Robert for Scale!

The water was shallow, with the deepest part of the crossing only reaching our knees. But according to our guide, this river becomes a raging torrent during the rainy season. 

We rested for a few minutes and had a bit Kodakan (photoshoot) with Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola at the backdrop. According to the legend, a Filipino supernatural hero named Bernardo Carpio was imprisoned between two large rocks. These rocks were splitted when Bernardo escaped, thus the creation of the two mountains. 

After our extended rest (hahaha!), we continued on to Mt. Manalmon since this mountain is more suitable for camping than Mt. Gola. From the river, you will have to walk for about 10 minutes before you reach the actual foot of Mt. Manalmon. 

Welcome to Mt. Manalmon

There are two trails leading to the summit of Mt. Manalmon - the difficult, and the easy trail. Well you know how it is. Why make life more difficult? So we chose the easy trial. 

From the marker, the angle of the trail becomes steeper with every step. The trail was rocky and solid but shaded nonetheless. 

A little more before the summit, Kuya Robert led us to another trail which is more precipitous but at the same time more picturesque by a thousand times. This is considered as a viewing deck and the photography spot especially during sunset. This is where we had our favourite silhouette shot courtesy of Kuya Robert.

P.S The rock we were walking was not flat but rather rounded, so caution is required. 

From the viewing deck, the summit is just 5 - 10 minutes away. Before reaching the summit, you will pass by the campsite where you can leave your things first before assaulting the summit. 

We unslung our backpacks on the campsite and jogged to the summit. Assaulting the summit of Mt. Manalmon means you will have to climb atop large, smooth, rounded rocks. Good thing it did not rain during our climb or the trail leading to the summit will be slippery and many times more dangerous since falling off the side will likely result to a fatal drop. 

After a few minutes of knee-shaking assault, we finally reached the summit, and it was worth it! From here, you can see the Madlum River and the distant mountain range. 

Yes! Summit!

In the opposite direction, feast your eyes with the flatlands of Region 3 and the majesty of Mariang Sinukuan or Mt. Arayat.

Uy! Si Arayat!

We stayed on the summit of Mt. Manalmon for about half an hour before we decided to go back to the campsite.

I quickly set up our tent while Pearliloo attended to our dinner. We had the entire mountain for ourselves so we had the privilege of occupying the best spot in the campsite.

After dinner and a little talk, we finally called it a night to prepare for more adventures the next day.

Day 2

Cooking Skills Level: 53

We woke up before 6 am the next day to greet the sunrise on the summit. The viewing deck on the summit is oriented away from the east so you cannot actually see the sunrise but it is nice to see the sunlight shining away the darkness from above. 

After loafing on the summit for an hour, we descended on the campsite and prepared our breakfast; hotdog, salted egg and rice.

After eating and a few minute-rest, we quickly descended Mt. Manalmon and to the foot of Mt. Gola. 

Climbing Mt. Gola

The trail going to the summit of Mt. Gola was really, as in, really difficult compared with Mt. Manalmon. At some point, the angle of the trail can be as steep as 65 degrees or more. It was also craggy that going 4x4 (on hands and knees) was painful. 

Mt. Mabio

The assault going to the viewing deck of Mt. Gola is about 20 - 30 minutes, depending to your pacing. It is not an exaggeration to say that climbing Mt. Gola is twice difficult than Mt. Manalmon. 

With a little photography skills, you can use the sparse vegetation as effects for your phoro

Despite the difficulty, the view above is simply spectacular! The viewing deck is rocky, with little vegetation. So make sure to reach this spot before noon time.  Mt. Mabio, a relatively unknown hiking destination,  is visible from the deck. You can also climb this mountain but you'll have to secure a special permit to do so. And it's a half day's worth of hiking from the location of Mt. Manalmon and Gola.

Mt. Gola Marker

According to Kuya Robert, the only thing you can see in the summit of Mt. Gola is the marker since it is covered by vegetation. We decided not to summit Mt. Gola. But if you want, the summit is just under an hour away from the deck.

We were quick on the way down, not because of ease but because we want to get over the difficult terrain fast. (hahaha!)

From the foot of Mt. Gola, you'll have to cross Madlum River once again, and backtrack towards the jump-off point.

What to do After Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola

Is this the end of your Bulacan trip?

Of course not! there are lots of other activities that you can do after your hike. 

1. Spelunking at Bayukbok Caves

Bayukbok Caves are a series of underground caves that were used by both Filipino Revolutionaries and guerillas of World War II. Exploring this cave system will take you about an hour. Experience what our forefathers experienced before, look closely to the natural wonders like stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars and many more. 

Entrance of Bayukbok Cave

2. Cross the Monkey Bridge

If ever you feel a bit ballsy, then make sure to cross the "Infamous" Monkey Bridge of Mt. Manalmon. Probably fifty feet in the air, and a length of more than its height, this is surely for the dudes and gals with serious cajones. Try it! I double dare you!

Monkey Bridge of Mt. Manalmon

3. Swim or wade in the Madlum River

This is a seasonal thing. During the summer season the water is too shallow and has debris since the flow of the river is quite slow.  But during the rainy season, it swells to a dangerous depth. Be guided. 

Things to Remember

1. For the nth time, follow Leave no Trace Principle. There was a time when visitors don't have to go through the mandatory orientation. But due to recklessness and irresponsibility of others, the government has to be more strict. 

2. Do not touch stone formations like stalagmites, stalactites and stone pillars. These speleothem has a distinct shine. But if you touch them, oil from your hands will stick to it so it will no longer be shiny. This effect is irreversible. 

3. Contact the caretaker of the natural reserve beforehand. Use the contact number and email above to  reach them. 

4. Prepare yourself physically, mentally and financially. As always, all mountains are difficult for the unprepared. 

So here we are at the end! I hope you found this guide helpful for your trip. Do you have any questions or anything to say? Let us know in the comment. We would like to hear from you.

Mt. Manabu: Travel Guide and Itinerary

Mt. Manabu: Travel Guide and Itinerary

The Cross at the Mt. Manabu Summit

Mt. Manabu is one of the most popular hiking destinations for beginners and experienced climbers alike due to its close proximity to Metro Manila and its relative ease. But do not commit the mistake of missing this mountain whether you're a seasoned climber or not. It has a lot to offer - from a magnificent view of Batangas, forest walk, and of course free civet coffee!

Quickfacts

Height? 760 MASL according to Pinoymountaineer.com

Trail Difficulty? 2/9

Jump-off? Sulok, Brgy. Sta. Cruz
Roped Segment? Yes

Guide? Not required but available at the Brgy. Hall

Beginner friendly? 100% YES!

Manabu is the short term for "MAtaas NA BUndok".

The Team

Pearliloo and Ianpot, the restless soles of Mt. Manabu

There are only two of us in the team. The climb date was March 10, 2018.

How to get to Mt. Manabu

1. Ride a bus going to Lipa. Alight either on SM Lipa or Festival Mall junction. 

2. Ride a trike going to Sulok, Brgy. Sta Cruz. Fare is around 60 - 100 pesos one way. 

3. Halfway thru the trike ride, you will have to alight to the barangay hall and register.

4. Registration fee is 20 pesos per pax. Barangay officials will ask you to save their cellphone number in case of emergency. 

5.  Guide services are available for 500 pesos day hike but not required. 

Tale of the Trail

Initial part of the trail

From the barangay hall, the actual jump-off point is still a 10-minute ride away. The main landmark that you are already in the jump-off point is a sari-sari store and a gated parking lot. 

Do not go inside the gated property but rather turn right to the dirt road. There is a water tank there that serves as the First Station. There are eight stations along the trail of Mt. Manabu all together. 

The Map of Mt. Manabu

The trail is shaded by trees all through out, so getting sunburned is out of the question. From stations 1 to 4, the trail features gentle slope and some brook crossing. But during our climb, the sky decided to gave us a downpour which made the hike a bit more difficult than expected. 

The trail is rocky so we have to watch our step so we don't slip on the wet stones. 

One of the streams you have to cross while climbing Mt. Manabu

There are other groups when we started but when the rain turned into a downpour, a lot of them decided not to continue on since they were not able to waterproof their belongings. Pearly had her poncho with her while I used garbage bag as an expedient raincoat (improvise, adapt and overcome!).

Station 2 

We are making good time so we reached Station 2 in under 15 minutes. We stayed there for a few minutes and waited for the rain to peter out but with not much luck. We soldiered on to the next station while I pray that my garbage bag/raincoat holds until the end of our climb. 

Tatay Tino's Residence

Half-way to the summit, you will pass by the residence of Tatay Tino, the brother of Tatay Pirye, the "Man of Mt. Manabu". Here, you can have your share of unlimited civet coffee that for me, beats the pricey cup of Starbucks and other coño coffee shops in the city. 

We really enjoyed our pit stop at Tatay Tino's residence not only because of the free coffee but also because of the warm welcome we experienced from them. 

Tatay Tino: The Man of Mt. Manabu

We bought a couple of small jars of civet coffee as pasalubong before we left Tatay Tino's. Aside from the coffee, you can also try their home made lumpiang gulay  or vegetable springroll made of sayote. 

Naughty naughty!

Civet Coffee for Sale!

From Tatay Tino's, the trail diverge into two trails. The left trail leads to the grotto, while the right trail is the traditional trail. You can use both trail to complete the rosary trail of Mt. Manabu, ascending from either of the two then descending on the other. 

But for our case, we are not able to do so since the grotto trail was closed-off due to the bad weather. According to some locals, the grotto trail is steeper than the traditional so more perilous especially in bad weather.

From Station 4 to the small cross, is a whole lot steeper so prepare yourself. But don't worry since fixed ropes are in place to help you on your ascent and descent.

One of the roped segments in Mt. Manabu

It took us 30 minutes to jump this hurdle before we arrive on a small clearing where you can see the small cross. The sun finally peaks shortly after we arrived on the clearing.

Mt. Susong Dalaga as seen from the clearing of Mt. Manabu

From this vantage point, you have a clear view of the Malarayat Mountain Range. We decided to have a breather and just enjoy the view of Batangas and the cold weather that day.

The Small Cross

From the clearing, the actual summit is just about 5 - 10 minutes away so we decided to continue on to avoid the glaring noon sun.

The Cross at the Summit

The summit is marked by a large cross and a small altar made of stone. The view here is magnificent. From below, you can see the towns and cities of Batangas and the other nearby mountains like Susong Dalaga and Maculot in Cuenca. 

Admiring the scene from the Summit of Mt. Manabu

We loafed around the summit for about 30 minutes before we decided to descend since the sky darkened once more. We back-trailed since the trail leading to the grotto was closed-off due to heavy rains. 

The descent was painfully difficult because of the mud and slippery rocks. Mud caked our boots, making each step laborious and a bit dangerous but fun nonetheless!

We made light of the situation by making fun and taking unguarded pictures of each other on the way down. 

The slippery descent; laughing despite the difficult trail

Despite the difficulty, we were able to finish the descent in just over an hour. We passed by Tatay Tino's residence again which we bade our farewell. We finally reached the jump-off point a few minutes past 1 PM. 

There are facilities present where you can wash up and have a lunch. Use of shower and bathroom are 25 pesos per head. After washing up, we ordered adobo with rice for only 50 pesos per serving. 

Mt. Maculot in the distance, as seen from the summit of Mt. Manabu

We may have endured the cold rain and the slippery trail but it was not enough to dampen our experience of this beautiful mountain. We were happy when we started this climb, but we descended much, much happier. 

But even how happy an experience is, it all have to end. 

So we rode a trike back to the city, and bade our farewell to yet another beautiful mountain that will have a special place in our hearts. 

Things to Remember 

1. Again, Practice LNT.  I will never get tired of reminding everyone about this. Before your climb, familiarize yourself first about the Leave No Trace Principle. Let's preserve the beauty and the identity of the mountain. 
2. Respect the religious icons you'll find in the mountains. It is disrespectful to hang on the arms of the cross at the summit, or have a rather wacky pose in front of it. It's not worth the few Facebook or Instagram likes peeps. 
3. Never underestimate a mountain. Online resources state that Mt. Manabu has a difficulty level of 2/9. However, if you are not prepared physically and mentally, then all mountains are 9/9. 

So here we are at the end of our post. I hope this post can help you in planning your next getaway. We are happy to be part of your travels and adventure. Aja!

Thank you from the Restless Soles!