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!

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

Moalboal - Osmena - Kawasan and back in Less than 1000 pesos

Osmeña Peak

So finally, you got that leave or vacation you've been wanting to for months. Now that you have the time, you are probably thinking of places you want to visit. And poof! You think of Cebu. What are the things you can do in this island down south? If you are in a tight budget, then you're in luck! this is the ultimate guide for one segment of South Cebu Trip; Moalboal - Kawasan - Osmeña in less than 1,000 pesos. 

Background

Moalboal is a 4th class income municipality. It offers various activities like swimming with sardines, watching sea turtles, and island hopping. It is approximately 2 - 3 hrs away from Cebu City. 

Kawasan Falls  is probably most famous because of the canyoneering activity here. It is located in the municipality of Alegria. For the purpose of our itinerary, we will track our travels from Moalboal instead of Cebu City. Kawasan Falls is approximately 30 - 40 minutes away from Moalboal. 

Osmeña Peak, the highest peak of Cebu towering 1,013 MASL, is located in Badian, Cebu. This peak is about 1.5 to 2 hour - motorbike ride from Moalboal. 

Usually, travellers pair up Osmeña Peak and Kawasan Falls, or Moalboal and Kawasan Falls. But now, we will give you a definitive guide to hit all the three destinations in one day. 

How to go to Moalboal

1. Book a flight going to Cebu, then from Cebu International Airport, ride a taxi that will bring you to the South Bus Station. NOTE: Tell the driver to drop you off on the terminal of Ceres Bus. In our case, we were dropped at Librando Lines. Well, you can ride this bus but it has smaller leg space and non AC.

2. Alight in Moalboal Town Proper, then ride a trike to your accommodation. It is better to reserve a room in advance to get better deals. 

3.  Drop everything at your accommodation. You have to travel a bit light since the next leg of your travel will be exhilarating. 

Where to Stay in Moalboal

There are lots of accommodation in Moalboal, catering both local and foreign visitors. People here speak English so language barrier will not be a big issue. For us, we stayed at Roos Guesthouse 

It has AC rooms, WIFI, and free breakfast. Probably the best thing about this guesthouse is its owner, Werner and Hanna. Both are good conversationalists, helpful and kind. Be sure to talk with them if you visit. Aside from all of this, Roos Guesthouse is just a short walk away from Panagsama Beach. 

Negotiating your Ride

Upon arrival, we just dropped our bags in our room before heading out. It's time for your negotiating skills come to play. Riders will definitely flock around you offering to take you to different places. There will be no fixed price, so be wary of those who will try to milk away your budget. 

It's okay to turn down offers, just be sure to be polite in doing so. We were able to negotiate a good deal. We were able to get 2 motorbikes with drivers for me and Pearly for only 1600 pesos (800 pesos per head). The deal was to take us first to Osmeña Peak, then to Kawasan Falls and finally back to Moalboal.

We shook hands and off we go. 

First Leg: Osmeña Peak

From Moalboal, it will take you about 2 hours to reach the highest peak of Cebu. This is quite exhilarating since the motorbike will take you to rough roads, coastal roads, twisting mountain passes, and forests. It is definitely a feast for the eyes, but sadly, we were not able to take any pictures since we were holding to the motorbike for our dear lives. 

NOTE: Motorbike riders here do not usually wear helmets. I suggest that you ask for one. Do not do what we did. We pushed through without helmet and was immediately praying for a safe trip after we realised how fast we are going and how adrenaline pumping the road will be. 

We arrived at Osmeña Peak at around 11AM.  You are required to pay an environmental fee of 50 pesos. Getting a guide is not mandatory since climbing the highest peak of Cebu is actually very easy. In fact, it is the easiest hike of my life! From the registration, you only have to walk 30 - 40 mins to reach the summit. In our case, 20 minutes because we have to hasten a bit. 

Rules and regulation in Osmeña Peak

NOTE: There are some local kids who will offer to guide you to the summit. It is against the policy to hire them so just say no. But you can give them sweets if you have extra. :)

The trail going up is a bit rocky, with few houses selling variety of products. 

Bilbo's House in Osmeña Peak

Cebu's version of the Chocolate Hills, but with pointy peaks

We stayed at the peak for about an hour, enjoying the view. From the summit, you can see Cebu Strait. As a Lord of the Rings fanatic, I can't help but to think that the view atop Osmeña Peak is reminiscent of the Middle Earth. For the locals, this is the Cebu version of the Chocolate Hills but with pointy peaks instead of round. 

We descended the mountain briskly as the sunlight became more punishing. 

Second leg: Kawasan Falls

Let the inner child play once in a while

We did not stop for lunch but rather have a quick bite with anything we can lay our hands on before we went for another ride going to Kawasan Falls. The ride going there from Osmeña Peak is about 1 to 1.5 hours. The usual rate for that trip is around 1,000 to 1,500 pesos from Osmeña Peak to Kawasan Falls. Good for us!

Entrance fee to the falls is 50 pesos. You have two choices of activities in Kawasan Falls. First is to do canyoneering, or just swim in the turquoise water of the falls. Since we are not very keen in jumping to water in great heights and their is only two of us, and both of us do not actually push each other, we decided to just swim in the cold water. 

If you are a "good" swimmer like us, life vests are available to rent for only 50 pesos each. You can only rent lockers to put your belongings into for 100 pesos for whole day.

Just one of the puddles before reaching the falls

We really enjoyed our dip in the turquoise water of Kawasan. It was one of the hottest days in summer, but the water was refreshingly cold. We could have stayed longer if only our room is nearby.

We spent two hours just enjoying the water when we decided to call it a day and head back to Moalboal. We decided to cut our Kawasan trip short because we do not want to ply the highway with our speeding bike without a helmet at night.

After 30 minutes of exciting ride, we were back in our room. We slept early for our exciting activity the next day.

Third Leg: Sardine Run at Panagsama Beach

We woke up early, around 6 in the morning. Hannah served us our breakfast of rice and corned beef which we downed with gusto. Another good thing about staying in Roos Guesthouse is that they are willing to lend snorkelling equipment, free of charge.

Snorkelling equipment are also available for rent on the beach. You can rent a life vest, and snorkelling equipment for 200 pesos.

Panagsama Beach has fine and white sand. However, it is quite narrow so it is not so popular for beach bumming. But the great thing about this beach is the SARDINE RUN. You do not have to go very far from the beach to watch as millions, as in MILLIONS of sardines, swam.

Panagsama Beach

Swimming with the sardines! Too bad, we do not have an under water camera to capture the majestic sardine run. (Aww men!)

We spent a great deal of our morning watching the sardines and enjoying the waters of Panagsama Beach. Aside from the sardines, be mesmerised by the very diverse aquatic life. Coral reefs, colourful fishes, and other marine life are present in this place.

Snorkelling in Panagsama Beach

Around 11am, we finally decided to go back to dry lands for wash up before heading out again. And that concludes our Moalboal, Kawasan and Osmeña Trip. Watch out for the next segment of our Cebu-Bohol Trip.

CIAO!

NOTES

1. LNT is not limited in the mountains. Practice Leave No Trace Principle in beaches and falls. Pick up litters and throw them in proper garbage cans. 

2. Everyone wants to save money in travelling. But always remember that economical choice must give way to humanity. Though this guide highlights that we were able to get our ride in less than 1000 pesos each, always remember not to haggle so much. We are travelling for leisure, they're working for a living. 

3. Request to wear helmet for safety. 

4. Underwater cameras are available for rent in both Moalboal and Kawasan Falls. Price ranges from 500 - 1000.

5. You can find cheap food around the town proper of Moalboal. If you are a foreigner, try eateries and local restaurant instead of visiting fast-food chains. 

6. Reserve your room in advance. Moalboal is a booming spot for international and local tourist so hotels and transient houses tend to be full during peak season. 

Gallery

Yehey! Love this shot

Model Pose atop Osmeña Peak

How high is the sun? 

The bloggers in Panagsama Beach

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.