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!

Mt. Balagbag: Easy and Complete DIY Guide

Life is all about making choices. If you have P500, how would you spend it? Either you choose to buy a venti frappe complemented by a slice of blueberry cheesecake with few coins to spare, or watch a movie in the cinema and buy a large butter popcorn and drinks. 

But wait, we have a better option aside from all that. How about you spend that money on a quick getaway near Manila? A place where you can inhale fresh air and just be mesmerized by the stunning city lights at night and the Sierra Madre mountains in the morning?

Then let us introduce you to one of our favorite mountains, Mt. Balagbag. 

Quick Facts

Height? 777 MASL according to Pinoymountaineer.com

Trail Difficulty? 3/9

Jump-off? Barangay Hall, Sitio Balagbag

Roped Segment? NONE

Guide? Not required but available at the Brgy. Hall

Beginner friendly? 100% YES!

Mt. Balagbag is one of the numerous landforms connected to the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. It offers a spectacular view of the Sierra Madre mountain range to one side and the picturesque city of lights of Metro Manila. It is located in Sitio Balagbag, in the city of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

By far, Mt. Balagbag is one of the easiest yet wonderfully beautiful mountains near Manila.

The Team

Pearliloo and Iantot, the restless soles of Balagbag

There are only two of us in our climb. Our climb date was November 27-28, 2017. 

How to get There

1. Ride a bus going to Tungko
2. Alight at Tungko, then go to BDO building. There is a jeepeney terminal behind it.
3. Go directly to the last line of jeepneys and look for those with Licao-Licao signboard. Fare is 27 pesos, one hour travel time
4. From Licao-Licao, you may choose between riding a trike which will cost you 30 pesos each (5-10 minutes) or just walk to the barangay hall which is considered the official jump-off (20 - 25 minutes).

Tale of the Trail

The initial part of the trail

The trail from the jeepney terminal to the barangay hall is a rough road with minimal ascent. It is well established since Sitio Balagbag is still up ahead and locals constantly ply through it. 

It will take you about 20 - 30 mins to reach the Barangay hall if you decide to walk. For us, we chose to walk for a  more fulfilling experience since the trail from the jump-off to the summit will be just an hour long. 

Barangay hall serves as the registration area for climbers

Everyone is required to register at the barangay hall and pay the registration fee of 20 pesos  per head. For everyone's safety, it is prudent to list down all the names of members of your team and save the cellphone number of the person in charge in case of emergency. 

From the barangay hall, the trail becomes a bit steeper but still manageable. However, it is more exposed than the previous part of the trail so sun exposure will surely be an issue during the hottest part of the day. 

The trail to the summit

About a half kilometer before the summit, you will pass by a sari-sari store. It serves as a second registration area which will require you to pay the additional 20 pesos per head if you want to spend the night at the summit. At the left side of the second registration, continue walking on the trail until you find a gate. This path will take you directly to the summit. On the way up, you will pass by some nipa huts and other man-made structures.

The gate to the summit

The Summit

The best way to appreciate Mt. Balagbag is to spend the night at its summit. Be mesmerized by the Manila Skyline at the distance that gives a very romantic vibe to anyone. Though I want to share everything, my photography skills cannot give justice to the view that we had seen atop Mt. Balagbag.

Poor photography skill

Since it was already sunset when we arrived at the summit, we quickly pitched our tent and prepare our dinner. We did not have much time to explore the summit so we just waited until the next morning to do just that. 

Our dinner, luncheon meat and rice

Funny thing is that, we had everything we need. We even brought our beach mat just for comfort but we totally forgot to bring utensils so we have no choice but to eat with our bare hands. 

The sky decided to give us a light rain shower that night so we have to call an early lights out. 

We finally had our chance to explore the summit the next morning. There are numerous nipa huts in the summit. According to the locals, it was constructed for other climbers who do not have tents with them. We are yet to know if there is a fee to use those huts since no one really supervise it.

Start your day right! Drink Milo everyday. hahaha!

Nipa huts at the summit of Mt. Balagbag

Aside from the summit itself, there are lots of interesting things to see. 

Stone cairns or better yet, stone stacks

First, there are lots of stone cairns at the summit and the path going down. Stone cairns are used by people for different purposes. One of which is to tell other hikers the right path. NOTE: Do not stack stones just for the fun of it. It may cause people to get lost in the wilderness. Luckily, Mt. Balagbag is not circuitous so getting lost is not really a problem. 

The "fauna" of Mt. Balagbag

By "fauna", what we really mean are the dogs and cats of Mt. Balagbag. Cute doggos kept as company during the night and all morning. We even had an experience when a small puppy took shelter in the second wall of our tent. The most popular of them is the orange cat which has the moniker "Garfield". This cat is really accustomed to the company of climbers that it will comfortably approach you to have a back scratch. 

Going Down

The hike going down is a lot faster and easier which will only take you less than an hour to reach the jump-off point. However, the beautiful sceneries kept our pace slow and enjoyable. On the way down, the UNIVERSE GRANTED US a double rainbow. 

Pearliloo's special skill: Ability to summon rainbow

Feel the wind blowing

Shower facilities and stores are available at the barangay hall. There are also food stalls and carinderia if ever you feel hungry. 

It took us almost an hour since we deliberately slowed down our pace. Always remember that the destination is not everything there is. The process of going there, the travel, is sometimes more important than your destination. After using the facilities, we decided to ride the trike so that we will not be sweaty, (and smelly) by the time we reach the bus stop. 

We bid our farewell to the people at the barangay hall, and rode the trike with satisfied hearts. As we look back, we longingly declare, we will be back.

- Pearl and Adrian, March 2018

Tip and Concerns

1. As always, practice LNT Principle. If you are not familiar with it, I suggest you research for it first before climbing a mountain. The mountaineer's creed; Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprint and kill nothing but time.
2. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE A MOUNTAIN. Even if we say that this is an easy mountain, it doesn't mean that you should not prepare for it. Take note that the difficulty of the mountain is all about the condition of your body and your equipment. 

   

   RIP Shoes

3. Always register and get the contact number of the people at the registration in case of emergency.
4. The entire trail of Mt. Balagbag is relatively short, compared to other Rizal mountains. Since the highlight of the climb is usually the city lights and the sunrise the next day, I advise you to start your trek at around 4PM. Hiking too early will mean that you will have to spend more time at the summit under the sun.

CRIMES at Mt. Balagbag

The most compelling reason that some climbers avoided Mt. Balagbag now are some cases of theft in the area. And last January 2018, the mountain witness yet another case of robbery and physical injury done by scoundrel to our fellow climbers. In light of this event, some climbers were proposing a temporary boycott on the mountain until the case is resolved. 

We climbed this mountain with only two of us in the team. Luckily, we did not experience any of it. 

Here are some suggestions

1. Have a large group. Large groups usually deter robbers and thief from approaching the camp
2. REGISTER so local officials know where you are.
3. Tell people at home where you are going and what time you should be back at home. 
4. Avoid hiking late at night

Despite everything, I want you to understand that this mountain is calling upon us. Everything will be back where it should be, in the future. So what are you waiting for? Let's go and make memories!

Travel Goals to Accomplish Before You Die

Travel Goals to Accomplish Before You Die

Here are the compilation of the top Travel Goals you have to accomplish before you die! 

Top Five Things to do in Sagada

Sagada is a 5th class municipality in Mt. Province situated about 400 kilometers north of Manila. This idyllic municipality can only be reached by land travel. It has a cool climate all year round, with a stunning view of the Cordillera mountain range. Activities in Sagada include hiking, spelunking, foodtripping, swimming, and(click to read more)

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Top Five Things to do in Sagada

Watching the sunrise at Kiltepan Viewpoint

It's time to unplug and do some adventures! Here are the top five things to do in Sagada. 

Background: Sagada

Sagada is a 5th class municipality in Mt. Province situated about 400 kilometers north of Manila. This idyllic municipality can only be reached by land travel. It has a cool climate all year round, with a stunning view of the Cordillera mountain range. Activities in Sagada include hiking, spelunking, foodtripping, swimming, and many more. 

How to get there

There are several ways to get to Sagada but if you are coming from Manila, the most convenient way will be to ride a bus from Coda Lines. Their buses are brand new with comfy seats, and for safety, has two drivers driving alternately. 

The beautiful purple bus of Coda Lines

One thing I also love about this bus line is that they have a sidetrip to Banaue Viewing Point. I was able to witness the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces which made our Sagada Trip more awesome. 

Banaue Rice Terraces

Coda Bus Line Terminal had already moved from near Trinity College since 2015. Their buses now shares terminal with HM Transport in Cubao. 

Top Five Things to do in Sagada

1. Mt. Ampacao traverse to Lake Danum

Sagada seen from above 

Looking for a dayhike while in Sagada? Worry no more. You can definitely squeeze a minor climb to your Sagada experience by climbing Mt. Ampacao. Its trail difficulty is  2/9 which can be managed in 1.5 - 2 hours of relaxed pace. Feast your eyes on the scenery of the Cordillera mountain range and the town of Sagada below. Then, to make it more worthwhile, do a traverse to Lake Danum for sunset viewing and picnic.

Lake Danum

2. Hike to the Marlboro Hills, traverse to Blue Soils, then explore Sumaguing Cave Connection

Sunrise at Kamanbaneng Peak, Marlboro Hills

The best time to hike to Marlboro Hills is early in the morning. Start as early as 4:30 to make sure you witness the majestic sunrise and the awesome sea of clouds. This requires about a 30-minute hike to a gentle trail but it is less crowded than Kiltepan Viewpoint. After watching the sunrise, you can hike towards Blue Soil for about an hour. 

Walking up and down the Bluesoils

You will pass by pine forest, rock outcrops and many beautiful sceneries before reaching Blue Soils. Blue Soils is like snow-covered hills sprinkled with blue dye. It is an incredible view that it seems you are in other country. If you inspect the soil, you will notice that the soil if somewhat powdery with evident shade of blue. Climb and play in a place that you fancy as a child. 

Now if you still have energy, you can complete this traverse by going to Sumaguing Cave Connection on foot, but if you have extra budget, you can charter a van for P250.  

Sumaguing Cave: What animal are we sitting on?

From Blue Soil Hills, you must hike for about 45 minutes before you reach the Sumaguing Cave Connection. Take note that the trail will be a cemented uphill road which can be brutal if you are not accustomed to hiking. Upon reaching the cave, be prepared to be mesmerized by the awesome limestone formations, stalactites, and stalagmites within the cave. Aside from that, guides have these particular way of entertaining the guest by letting you identify what animal or object resembles the natural rock formation inside the cave. Take a look at the photo. What animal resembles the rock where the bloggers are sitting on? The answer at the end of the story.

4. Watch Sunrise at Kiltepan View Point

Sit atop the same rock where Angelica and JM sat in the film "That Thing called Tadhana"

Sagada's sunrise is just too dang awesome that there are multiple viewpoints to see it. The most popular is the Kiltepan Viewpoint (because this is one of the sets of the film "That Thing called Tadhana). You can hike or charter a vehicle to take you here for P250. Sacrifice a bit of your sleep to watch as the sun slowly creep above the clouds. 

5. Central Sagada Tour

Hanging coffins of Sagada

The Echo Valley Tour encompasses multiple locations and activities within the town of Sagada. It means hiking and sightseeing and most importantly, learning the culture of Sagada. This tour is physically extraneous and at the same time educational as the guides explain the significance of things that you will find along the way. 

Locations included in the Echo Valley Tour:

• The Church of St. Mary the Virign
• Sagada Cemetery
• Echo Valley
• Hanging Coffins
• Sagada Underground River
• Bokong Natural Spring

Shout at the top of your lungs at the Echo Valley

Scene along the trail of Central Sagada Tour

St. Mary the Virigin Church

Inside the Sagada Underground River

A Note for Everyone

1. Coda Lines only has two trips at night. One at 9PM and the other at 10PM. One way will cost you P720.00. Reserve early as the bus gets immediately fully-booked.

1. As you can see, most of our destinations are interconnected and mostly done on foot to save money. A budgetarian Sagada Trip can be done but you have to sacrifice some hours of sleep and degree of comfort. (opportunity cost). 
2. Meals are very expensive. Instead of going to restaurants, I recommend to buy your food from stores catering for the locals. We always have our lunch at the market eatery while dinner is in the local ihaw-ihaw (grilled barbeque) in front of Igorot Inn. This saved us considerable amount of money.
3. Respect the locals. It was given emphasis by Kuya Baste, our guide, that some tourists treat the people and their houses like they are some kind of display in a museum. Respect boundaries!

BONUS: The answer to the question is a TURTLE.

 So, are you ready to go? Grab your backpacks and just go. Check out our other entries for other destinations. Peace out!