A Quiet Place: Sta. Lucia Falls

A Quiet Place: Sta. Lucia Falls

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place? Why would I want that? Isn't that scary? No, of course. (Thanks to you Hollywood!) 

Spending a day of peace and quiet is such a rare thing. What's more difficult is finding a place where you can remain silent for a long time, not minding your emails, deadlines, bills and other stressors.

With the sudden spike of interest in travelling, it's almost impossible to find a single square inch of peace in supposedly "peaceful settings" like mountains, seashores or even a parks. 

Try to sit and meditate on the summit of mountains near Manila and you'll know what I'm talking about. I'll not be long into your meditation before some 'igers and FB travellers start invading your peace circle. 

Anyway, fret no more! 

We got your back on finding the best to finally unplug. Let me introduce you to Sta. Lucia Falls. 

The Team 

Team Palavern

Team Palavern namely, Memay, Dj Plywood, Denver the Dinosaur, Syrill Mariposa, JayCo and Pearlilooliloo and Ian (photographer). Travel date was July 8, 2018. 

How to get there

Sta. Lucia Falls is located in the town of Dolores in Quezon Province. It is about 80 kilometres south of Metro Manila.

1. Ride a bus going to Lucena, Quezon then alight at San Pablo Medical. If you're coming from Alabang, the fare is 98 pesos each.

2. From San Pablo Medical, ride a trike to the jeepney terminal plying to Dolores, Quezon. 10 pesos each. 

3. From Dolores Jeepney Terminal, ride a monster jeep going to Dolores, Quezon. Fare is 40 - 50 pesos each. Tell the driver to drop you off at Sta. Lucia trail head. 

The Trek

Upon getting off the jeepney, you will be greeted by a quaint talipapa. There, you will find stalls selling various amulets and even water jugs. Water jugs? It is said that the water from the falls has some miraculous healing properties. Locals and visitors alike fetch this miraculous water for different purposes. (Sorry no photos here!) Despite the stores, there are only few people present outside so we were not able to ask permission to snap some photos. 

From the talipapa, just continue walking straight until you see a cemented trail. This trail will cut through a community. This part of the trail last for about 10 - 15 minute walk. At the end of this path, you will find a stair leading down to the water below. 

Stair to Sta. Lucia Falls

The stair leading down is quite steep so be very careful. Compounded by moss, this descent from steep stair is a  recipe for a nasty tumble. 

Steep stairs to Sta. Lucia Falls

Sta. Lucia is a pilgrimage site first and a trekking destination second. Upon your descent, the first thing you will see is a grotto. Here, you can light a candle and offer a prayer for you and your team's safety. 

One of the many grottos in Sta. Lucia Falls

From the top of the stairs, you will take about 20 - 30-minutes before you reach the bottom. Halfway through, you can easily hear the flowing water below. 

There are many large boulders along the waters of Sta. Lucia Falls

This place has a very different vibe to it. Upon arriving on the falls, you will find the place almost devoid of human noises. The only thing you can hear is the flowing water, the rustling of leaves and the sound of wind. Going here will not give you an "outing" like experience but rather like going on a nature retreat.

We thought we had the entire place to ourselves until we stumble on several groups of pilgrims.

Religious statues and inscriptions are present along and above the flowing water. We opted not to snap any of it for two reasons. 1. There are people praying on them so we want to be respectful. 2. We just feel inappropriate to do so. This place is more of a sacred place first before a tourist spot.

Stone Cairn

This is, for me, one of the best place to meditate and reflect. The water was very cool, and refreshing. It was not very deep so instead of swimming, wading is more of a proper term on what you can do here. Aside from water wading, you can just sit on one of the many rocks and enjoy the view and the ambience. If you're the pious kind of person, Sta. Lucia Falls offers a sanctuary for prayers

Things to Remember

ONCE AGAIN, let me remind you of some things you have to consider if ever you want to visit Sta. Lucia Falls.

1. Practice Leave No Trail Principle. Despite the relative obscurity of Sta. Lucia Falls, it was not saved from the acts of vandals and litterers. Let's help in preserving the beauty of the location.
2. Be EXTRA silent. This is a sanctuary and a holy place.
3. There are no fees to enter the place. But this may change depending on season. E.i Holy Week. So check with the local officials for confirmation.
4. Check for weather forecast. Threats of slipping and possible flash flood can occur in times of heavy downpour.
5. Though named Sta. Lucia Falls, the actual cascade is not seen on the immediate vicinity. We were not able to find the source of the water but we reckon that the actual falls is just a few minutes upstream. Before doing so, please have a guide with you.

I hope you enjoyed our guide. Now, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags now and just go!

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Gallery

Team Palavern

Dj Plywood

Memay 

JCO

Sy Boss Manager

Pearlilooliloo

Denver The Last Dinosuar 

Iansky

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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Ten Things You'll Learn as a Climber

So you've climbed numerous mountains now. Or maybe just your first. But regardless of the number of peaks you had conquered, we all learned a thing or two on our adventures.

This is the list of top ten things you'll learn as you start climbing mountains.

1. How to Save Money

Do you remember the time before your climbing days, that you always end up short in funds by the end of the month? Or if you make a comparison of your salary or wage then and now, you find that there is no substantial increase in your income yet you can now afford to go to different places without actually getting as broke as before. 

The answer to that lies in your climbs. While others may argue that climbing will cost you more money, in reality, it will channel your funds into something more meaningful. You'll learn to scrimp on coffees, fast food, and gadgets now that you have something more important to spend on.

So save up for that cool vacation that you well deserve.

2. SMALL THINGS Make Big Differences

How important are minor details to your climb? It is more important than you think. I learned as a climber that small things can cause you a lot of inconvenience when you are up there. 

I can still remember when we climbed Mt. Pulag the very first time. We were confident on how prepared we were, only to find out that the lightning cord for our powerbank was defective. We were not able to document our climb to the summit since our phones ran out of juice. 

In my campsite experience, there are lots of times that I saw and heard campers with awesome tents, butane stove, hammocks, drones, and so many other cool stuff, only to find out that they forgot to bring spoons and forks, or a garbage bag. 

Remember, small things matter.

3. Being Prepared

It goes without saying that a climber must always BE prepared: physically, financially, and mentally. 

I hate to say this but there are still too many people going to the mountains, so ill-prepared that they may hurt themselves and the people around them. I once saw a girl who went to an extended day climb without any food and too little water with her. According to her, she was told that  the mountain is for beginners and the rest was history. Or this team that we met in Mt. Talamitam that spent the night at the summit without food and tent. Most of them were weaken by hunger and exposure to cold. Fortunately, other climbers and guides came to their aid.

As a climber, the sense of preparedness must be ingrained in your personality, be it outdoors or not. 

4. Being Health Conscious

This one is very important. The mountains require you to be in decent shape if you want to enjoy the climb. You don't have to be a gym rat or a hardcore cross fitter, but you must be able to take care of yourself and your belongings. We once shared a trail with a girl who bragged about how easy this particular hike would be but ended up as another baggage since the guides had to carry her alternately on their backs.

If you always need someone to carry you down the mountain, then probably you are not in the right place yet. Fret not, because you'll get there eventually, if you prepare yourself properly.

RUN. SWIM. RIDE A BIKE.

5. Spend on Quality

On my first climb, I bought this YIXI outdoor sandals at the nearby wet and dry market for only P150. And this gave me countless moments of discomfort and fear. First, it didn't really hold onto the ground. It gave me micro heart attacks every time my foot slipped a bit on the steep slopes of Mt. Batulao. Second, it didn't have a decent strap to keep my feet in place. 

In climbing, like in any other sports, you really have to shell out hundreds or even thousands to buy equipment. And since you're already spending, we suggest that you buy something of good quality. Buying quality equipment will eventually save you lots of money in the long run, instead of buying cheap but easy-to-break items. You can consider each purchase as an investment. I still have my sandals that I bought years before and it continues to serve its purpose. 

Do you have to buy all the most expensive brand to ensure the highest quality? I cannot answer that question since I am yet to own all the products, both cheap and expensive, to test and compare them myself. But one thing is for sure, if you do your research correctly, then you can find durable but economical products in the market. They are out there. You just have to do your assignment. 

P.S. BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

6. Being Decisive and Intuitive

There is a heavy downpour and you are just from the jump-off point. Are you going to continue climbing or stay put until it passes? The sun has already set, should you continue going to the campsite or pitch an emergency camp right now? 

One of the life skills that you will learn as you go on climbing is the ability to think on your feet. As covered in the previous number, being self-sufficient also means being able to decide for yourself or your team. There will be times that you will be faced with a situation where you have to step up and call the big shot. 

Most of the time, you will not have the privilege of having all the information and advice that you may base your decisions. Sometimes, all you have is your intuition or gut feel to assess the situation despite the scarcity of facts at hand.

However, can you really trust your gut feel? Well, intuition is a skill so in order to be useful, you have to practice it. How can you practice it? By exposing yourselves in many experiences in which you can practice fast decision-making. 

7. Resourcefulness

A climber can live off the land. He or she can and will make do of what is available at hand. The outdoors will give you too many unexpected things that you have to draw out from your reserve of creativity to answer them all. 

No poncho or raincoat? How 'bout a garbage bag? A can of plain century tuna can help you if you forgot to bring a cooking oil . Put your shampoo, facial wash and other liquids inside a drinking straw then seal it with fire to make them lighter. No butane stove? All you need is a tin can and an alcohol. 

Always remember that solutions to all our problems are just there in the fringes of our creativity. 

8. It is All about the Journey

If you're given a chance to ride a helicopter to all the summits of the Philippines, are you going to take it? 

One thing I've learned is that the summit is not everything when it comes to climbing. It's all about the process. Why do we feel accomplished whenever we reached the summit? It is because of the hardship attributed to the process of going up there. Without the experience of climbing up, how can we appreciate being on top? 

Your experience as a climber will never be completed without the hardship of the ascent and the pain of descent. Climbing is like a movie and the summit is the climax. You will never understand and appreciate the movie by just jumping to the climax.

9. Experience is Everything

As a climber, you will learn that the most precious things in life are not the things that we own but what we experience. This is not really a news but it has to be reiterated all the time. We tend to be distracted while we are in the rat race. That's why it is important for us to disconnect from our unappreciative world from time to time. 

Sometimes we can only appreciate the majesty of the sunrise, the elegance of the stars, the awesomeness of the sea of clouds, the warmth of companionship by going out there in the mountains. To sum it up, it is the experience of being alive. 

If you want to be really alive, then you have to go out there. 

10. You Lose Some, You Win Some

As you go on this lifestyle, there will be things that you will be leaving behind and also things you will bring with you on your journey. You could lose old habits, hobbies that you used to like, priorities that are no longer aligned with your goals, or even friends that can no longer catch up with your lifestyle. We all have the problem of scarcity. The scarcity of time, of resources, of attention,- and even love. We just cannot spread our selves in all direction. 

I used to spend a considerable amount of cash for in-game purchases. But since I've started climbing, I have to scrimp on that to save for my expeditions despite the fact that I really love playing video games. Like me, you could also be put into that kind of situation that you have to give up something to pursue the other. 

Now the biggest question here is, are you willing to give up something for the joy of climbing? 

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comment. We would really appreciate it. 

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!