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.

Myths, Stories and Mga Kwentong Barbero Along the Trail

One of my favorite past times while trekking is chatting with our guide. Mostly, we will be talking about the trail, their experiences as a guide, and so on. One of my favorite topics is all about the origin of the name, myths and folklore of the location. Here are some of the stories, told to us by our guides while on the move.

DISCLAIMER: Almost all the stories in this list were told personally by our guides in some of our climbs. These stories were passed down from one person to another. There can be multiple versions of each story but it is still interesting to put these into writing since all of them may be considered as part of our rich oral literature.

Now if you ask them who witnessed the actual events in the story, we will probably never know the exact answer.

1. Ang Mag-inang Kalabaw sa Hulugan Falls

Hulugan Falls

Let's start with this story. Hulugan falls is a 70-meter tall falls located at Luisiana, Laguna. Why was it called the Hulugan falls? According to the legend, the falls used to be a gentle river. Farmers from nearby towns used to bring their carabaos in that "river" to clean them. One day, a farmer brought his carabao and its calf (baby carabao) to the river for a dip. Unfortunately, while wading, the calf was carried by the current to the deeper part of the river. The mother carabao immediately came to rescue its calf. However, both of them were not able to return to the bank and drowned.

Starting from that day, the gentle river gradually turned into cascade and into a waterfall that we all know today. Hence, the waterfalls was named Hulugan, meaning "where they fell" as a remembrance of the mother and baby carabao.

2. Mt. Manalmon at ang Ibong Huwangko

Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola

Mt. Manalmon's name orginated from the term lumamon meaning the one that swallowed. According to the legend, there was once a couple who lived in the then unnamed Mt. Manalmon. The husband, Juan, made a living by hunting animals in the mountain. While hunting, he shot an arrow to a deer which killed the animal. Unknowingly, the deer was a pet of a Diwata "fairy". The fairy was angered by his deed. She held Juan hostage by burying half of his body on the summit.

When his husband did not return, his waiting wife came to search for him. She found her husband half-buried at the summit of the mountain. The fairy appeared and told her what happened. The wife pleaded forgiveness for the deed of his husband and his release. The fairy agreed to release him on one condition. She must fill nine large "tapayan" or clay jars with fruit nectar within three days. Only then will she release Juan.

The wife travelled around Bulacan, collecting fruit nectar for the release of her beloved. However, on the third day, she was only able to fill eight and a half jars. There are no more fruit bearing trees left in Bulacan to fill the remaining. In desperation, she diluted the last jar with water to fill it and presented it to the fairy.

The fairy soon discovered the deception and was angered. Juan was swallowed by the mountain and was never seen again. While for the wife, she was cursed to be a bird for all eternity. Despite her transformation into a bird, the wife continues to call on her beloved husband, "Juan ko!". Eventually, the unknown bird was known the ibon ng huwangko because of the sound it makes.

According to the guides, if you're lucky enough (or unlucky), you can still hear the bird beckoning for her long lost husband to this day.

3. Ang Mag-asawang Lawa ng San Pablo

Bunot, Mohicap, Kalibato, Yambo, Pandin, Palakpakin and Sampaloc, these are the names of the Famous Seven Lakes of San Pablo. If you've been here, you'll know that the most popular among the seven are the Lake Yambo and Pandin because of the various activities that you can do here. Bamboo rafting, lunch in the middle of the lake, swim in the cold water, and a mini-trek to visit both lakes. Lake Yambo and Pandin was such in close proximity, separated only with a thin strip of land, that they are dubbed as the "Mag-asawang Lawa ng San Pablo" (Couple Lake of San Pablo).

According to the legend, there was once an old childless, couple. The couple prayed to have a child which was heard by a diwata (fairy). The diwata appeared in front of the old couple and told them that she will grant their wish on one condition: the child must never set foot on the land. The couple accepted the condition, and nine months later, their wish was granted. The child, named Andin, grew up to be a very fair lady but ignorant of the outside world. Her parents were both traders, so they can be out of the house in few days. Before leaving, they always tell Andin to stay inside the house and do not let her feet on the ground. The young lady always heeded the words of her parents to the letter. On her lonely days, she will sit by the window and look outside, wondering what's out there.

One day, a young man named Ambo passed by the town on one of his travels. The fair lady looking out of the window immediately caught his attention and fell in love. He introduced himself to the young lady which also fell in love with the young man. The young man visited and serenaded his beloved lady. The love was perfect except for one thing - he cannot see Andin completely as he can only see her through the window. One night, Andin was busy knitting while Ambo watched her from outside. Andin was using a knife he borrowed from Ambo to cut loose threads.  She accidentally dropped the knife on the floor which fell to the gaps of the bamboo floor and into the dirt. Andin told Ambo to get the knife on the ground. Finding the chance to finally see her beloved lady, Ambo convinced Andin to get the knife instead since he cannot fit under the silong (crawlspace). Andin reluctantly agreed, thinking her parents are just being too protective of her. Both lovers were oblivious of the condition set by the diwata years before. The moment one foot of the lady touched the dirt, the ground begun to tremble, the stars hid behind the dark clouds. Starting from her feet, Andin slowly turned into water. Ambo immediately came to her rescue and held her hand. Upon touching, he also slowly turned into water but he held on. The two held on to each other until both of them and the surrounding area turned into bodies of water. The two resulting bodies of water were later on called Yambo and Pandin to remember the two unfortunate lovers.

4. Ang Nagpatong at Buntis sa Bahay na Bato

Mt. Buntis

Silyang Bato ng Mt. Marami

Katipuneros are really cool guys. Fighting for our freedom, wielding bolos against guns (now that is badass) using own blood to sign documents (not all documents, okay?) and naming mountains in a very colorful way. As we all know, we have these mountains with funny sounding names, thanks to the Katipuneros. We have Susong Dalaga (Maiden's Breast) and Susong Lola (Grandma's Breast) because of Katipuneros. But one group of mountains stand out against all the others since it seems to relay a very colorful story which brings smile on our face.

Mt. Nagpatong (100+masl), Mt. Buntis (280+masl) and Mt. Marami (405+masl a.k.a Bahay na Bato) are just few of the many mountains within the Maragondon Mountain Range in Cavite. The story of these mountains follows.

There was once a couple living in Bahay na Bato (Mt. Marami). Both of them did the deed atop the Silyang Bato (iconic picture taking spot in Mt. Marami). So literally, Nagpatong sila sa ibabaw ng silyang bato thus the name Mt. Nagpatong. Dahil sa pagpapatong nila, nabuntis ang babae which resulted to the Mt. Buntis.

Short story made shorter. (Mt.) Nagpatong ang mag-asawa sa (Mt. Marami) Bahay na Bato kaya may (Mt.) Buntis.

5. Mt. Manunggal at ang Makulit na Unggoy

taken by: Sebastian Voortman, pexels.com

March 17, 1957 was a sad day for the Filipino people. President Ramon Magsaysay, along with other government officials, mediamen and cabin crews were killed when their plane crashed on the slopes of Mt. Manunggal in Cebu. A total of 25 people died in the unfortunate accident. 

As sad as the story is, we Filipinos have a way of turning any tragic story into comedy. According to the official statement, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay was immediately killed in the plane crash. But another version can be also heard among the folks in Cebu. According to this version, Ramon Magsaysay actually survived the initial impact of the crash and was thrown out of the plane. He only avoided instant death when he grabbed on a branch. While hanging on waiting for rescue, a monkey landed on the same branch with the president. The president shooed away the animal repeatedly to no avail. The monkey was irritated because of the constant shooing. The monkey then moved closer to the hanging president and tickled him. The president laughed and laughed while the naughty monkey continued to tickle him. While laughing, the president lost his grip and fell to his death. And that's the end of the story of the naughty monkeys in Mt. Manunggal. 

What are you waiting for? Go out there and find your own story! There are still more stories you can find out there. 

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Top Five Mountains to DIY for Beginners

Are you thinking of going more outdoorsy this year, but still can't decide on where to go? Well, you're in luck! This is our Top Five Mountains to DIY for Beginners.

1. Mt. Ulap

Ridge walk to Gungal Rock

Gungal Rock, considered  one of the three summits of Mt. Ulap

Considered to be the mini-Pulag of Itogon, Benguet, Mt. Ulap offers spectacular views of the Cordillera. Experience ridge walk, confidence challenge pose - atop Gungal Rock, and mess around in the beautiful grassland of Mt. Ulap.

Location: Brgy. Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet

Difficulty: 3/9 

Rope Segment: None 

How to get there: 

• Bus ride to Baguio - P455.00, 5-6 hrs
• Taxi Ride to Jeepney Terminal going to Brgy. Ampucao - P40.00, 10 mins.
• Baguio City to Brgy. Ampucao - P35.00, 30 - 40 mins

Caution: Having your photo taken atop Gungal Rock is an epic experience but exercise caution as one mistake can be fatal. 

2. Mt. Tagapo

You don't have to go out of CALABARZON to experience getting on an island to climb a mountain.

Mt. Tagapo or to quote Jose Rizal's, "Susong Dalaga" is located in the island of Talim in Laguna de Bay.

Mt. Tagapo offers a very different experience as you have to ride a barge for an hour to reach the jump off. Enjoy the stunning view of Laguna de Bay and the city lights of nearby Metro Manila.

Location: Brgy. Janossa, Talim Island, Binangonan, Rizal
Difficulty: 2/9
Rope Segment: None
How to get There:

• Alight in Shaw Boulevard, proceed to the jeepney terminal across Starmall
• Ride a jeepney  going to Binangonan, tell the driver to drop you off at Pritil (Fish port) P40.00, 1 hour
• Ride the barge going to Brgy. Janossa. P30.00, 45 mins

Concern/s: If planning a day hike, make  sure that you reach the port early as the barge has to be full before it sails. Another is that, due to its relative isolation, it is quite difficult to leave the island immediately in case of emergency. You'll have to charter a barge if you have do so which will cost you about P1,500.00.

3. Gulugod Baboy

Want a cute climb then take a dip afterwards? Then Gulugod Baboy is for you. 

A fairly easy climb with a spectacular view, GB (Gulugod Baboy) has grassy landscape were one can roll over like Heidi (batang 90s).

Spend the night and watch as the sun disappears in the horizon. After the climb, you can go to the Philpan Resort for a refreshing swim to conclude your trip.

Location: Anilao, Mabini, Batangas

Pardon my poor photography skill

Difficulty: 2/9
How to get There:

• Ride a bus going to Batangas City Grand Terminal, P160.00, 3 hrs
• Jeepney to Mabini, P35.00, 1 hr
• Tricycle to Jump-off, P50.00, 30 mins. 

Concern/s: Based from our experience, dispatchers in the Batangas Grand Terminal will try to persuade you to rent an entire jeep to take you to Philpan Resort which is also the main landmark to the jump-off. This will cost you about P500.00 - P600.00. But if you don't mind the little hassle, continue with our guide on how to get there. 

You may be tempted to roll over  and pitch your tent immediately on the grassland when you reach the campsite, but since there are many cows around, be watchful for organic mines (if you know what I mean). 

4. Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola

Satisfy the adventure junky in you by having these two mountains at your bucketlist. 

These two mountains do not have great heights but the various activities that can be done here compensate for it. Enjoy the  spectacular view of the flatlands of Region 3, and the snaking Madlum River. After the climb, be sure to  experience river wading, monkey-bridge crossing and even spelunking in many caves of the Biak-na-bato National Park. 

Location: San Miguel, Bulacan

Difficulty: 2/9

How to get there:

• Go to Cubao and ride a bus going to Cabanatuan P140
• Alight to Brgy. Kamias, San Miguel, Bulacan
• Ride a tricycle going to the jump-off (kinda pricey) P200

Special Concern

Since Manalmon and Gola are situated within the Biak na Bato National Park, every climbers are required to secure a written permit days prior to the actual climb. 

5. Mt. Marami

 Looking for a climb in Cavite? There is more to Cavite climbing scene aside from Pico de Loro.

Mt. Marami is considered the twin sister of the more popular Pico de Loro. Experience awesome view while sitting atop the famous Silyang Bato.

Location: Maragondon, Cavite
Difficulty: 4/9
How to get there:

• Ride a bus going to Naic Grand Terminal P40.00
• In the grand terminal, ride a jeep going to Magallanes, P50.00
• Alight in Brgy. Ramirez and ride a trike going to the barangay hall. 

Silyang Bato

Concern/s:

Mt. Marami is being true to its name. Maraming lakad, maraming liko, maraming chance para maligaw, maraming baka rendering some parts of the trail to be eroded and become muddy when there is a downpour. 

We'll update for the individual post for our climb for each mountains. Be On Look Out!