Climbing Mt. Pulag -DIY

“Static people don’t fall! You fell because you were either climbing, or running. This is a sign that you are on track. Don’t stop where you fall; rise up and do it again!” 
― Israelmore Ayivor, Daily Drive 365

During a break for business presentation skills training, a mountain climbing junkie and colleague mentioned he is to climb Mt. Pulag, solo. The wanderlust blood in me rushed in. And before we knew it, five of us found ourselves at Victory Liner - Pasay for the trip.

At around 4:30 am, we finally arrived at Baguio. Freezing, we went down Session Road for some walking so as to hunt for gloves and of course, breakfast to pacify our growling tummies. All of my climbing companions here are officemates except Kuya Michael who is working in a BPO. 

Being the only girl, I was pushed by the men to charm (of which I bet didn't work) the van driver to get a discount for our trip to Bokod, Benguet. At P2500, he finally agreed to take us up to the ranger station. Another 2 climbers arrived and we were just so happy to share a ride with them to lessen our fare. A couple of minutes later, we were on our way to DENR-Kabayan that took care of the orientation for all Pulag climb. 

A typhoon has just a passed around the area putting our climb in jeopardy. In fact, we were not allowed to climb until the last minute. It had been pouring real hard the days prior of our climb. Fortunately, the weather brighten on the climb day. But then there was a landslide on the way up so we took a motorcycle in lieu of the van.

We were starving for lunch when

we arrived at the ranger station. Too bad as there were no carenderia food sold around the vicinity as they were not expecting climbers after the bitching weather. Luckily, a sari-sari store offered us to cook what we bought from them. Thank heavens!

Kuya Michael and JJ  ready to explore the mossy forest.

As work often demands me to travel once in a while, I stopped going to the gym (Ehem, lame excuse). My last climb was four months ago. And my heart was starting to fail me. It behaved as if it was not used to walking with a heavy baggage. Add the freezing temperature and I was ready to give up. I felt dizzy and my nose felt like it was ready to fall anytime. I was tempted to pretend I was good but my surrounding started to blur. Then and there I asked our guide to carry my bag. 

Panting like hell at Mt. Pulag's Camping Ground 2

Seemingly battered comfort rooms. But in such area, it does really provide comfort. Hoho!

The Boys enjoying  groufie.

With lots of chitchats, once in a while rest, and occasional sharing of trail food, we finally arrived at Camp 2. I was so excited to see a comfort room. It seemed uncomfortable but then again, bawal ang mapili sa bundok. My colleagues washed up after we set our tent. I did not bother. It was too cold for me. I thought I was just hungry and maybe the shivering will be gone after a meal. It did not. And it was getting worse. My head hurt. I was frantic how I supposed to last the night. Day 1 was over.

At around 5 am, we started our trek to the summit.

Mt. Pulag off the bucket list.

The Boys were not just contented of getting up there. They also wanted to show off their muscles (supposed there is any:) up there. Kidding aside, they just wanted to test if their fats can withstand the cold.

The view on the way and up the peak is spectacular. We were very lucky to have the Camp and the peak all for ourselves as there were no other climbers the day before. We were even more lucky because just right after we set foot back at the Ranger Station, a heavy rain began to take over the sunny sky. All climbers on that day were advised not to go. 

Despite the seemingly endless cold night, I would say Mt. Pulag is worth the climb. I wondered before why this peak made it to almost all Filipino climber's list and even foreign. On my way up, I saw it myself. The people, the mossy forest, the wild berries, the vibrantly colored flowers, the trees that seemed like a garden of broccoli, the sea of clouds and the frostbiting weather--they are just too hard to resist.

Expense

P890 Bus Fare to Baguio (back and forth)

P65 Breakfast

P60/5 Cab Fare Session Road to Terminal

P2500/5 Van Fare From Baguio to Kabayan
P250 Kabayan to Baguio

P150 DENR fee

P500 motorcycle fare (back and forth)

P80 overnight fee at camp 2

P600/5 guide fee -

P190/5 lunch

P65 lunch for day 2

Pico de Loro Day Hike

World under your feet.

Cheers to climbs...and more climbs.

Straight from the can.

Bibliophile at the peak.

If this is the cab route, daily commute is never tiresome.

24-Hour Life in Dalaguete, Cebu City

Considered as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu, Dalaguete fervently treats inhabitants and tourists alike with

Ocean Bay Resort and Hotel, Dalaguete, Cebu

the splendour of its sparkling blue waters and majestic uphill vista. The old edifices, the laidback life, the sound of crickets at night… These are worth coming and coming back for.

I just boarded the plane with no certain destination in mind. I should have utilized the more than an hour flight reckoning where to head but I just slept. Dalaguete was just one of the places that came to mind when the steel bird landed to Mactan Airport hence, I headed South.

Transportation:            

Cab from Mactan Airport - South Bus Terminal (more or less P200)

Ceres Bus with Moalboal at the sign board or ask the driver which bus passes through Dalaguete (P95)

                                   

Dating with book, shore, and sunset.

I got off at Ocean Bay Resort. This is haven for both domestic and international tourists for their affordable accommodation, foreign owned restaurant fronting the pristine sea, and scuba diving.  Room rates start at P1, 000 - P3, 000. The 3-hour ride standing in a non-air-conditioned bus was insanely exhausting and starving so indulged with a plush Filipino breakfast or I would say brunch while reading Water for Elephants (book of the day) as the humid breeze drenched me with sweat which I washed with iced cold orange juice.

My tummy was happy but my back was not. My bloodshot eyes needed a rest before frolicking Dalaguete. Intuition said I wasn’t up staying at Ocean Bay so I walked around and ended up at BB’s hideaway. It wasn’t much of a luxurious treat but you'll have access to a pool and an air-conditioned nipa hut for a night at P700. Aside from having a refrigerator where you could store booze (yes, I’m a drunkard), the best bargain I got for my stay was walking down the highway  once in a while  and exchanged ‘Bie’ (‘Good evening’) with the community people amidst the dogs barking and crickets chirping signaling the night is getting deeper. Such a love!

Seashells, Shore and Sun

Late in the afternoon, I decided to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset while relishing the saltwater.

Mother and child on the shore checking out litub for dinner.

My very intention was just to read somewhere at the shore but I saw a bunch of locals collecting litub, a seashell, so I asked one of them to teach me how to spot one. My back numbed after an hour or two of wading the shallow water for good finds and so I halted to sit, read and just savour the picturesque of the blue sea bathe in sunset’s hue. I was alone on the shore so I shamelessly practiced my vocals singing out loud with Alterbridge, Paramore, Halestorm, Jake bugg, and Cold Play until the last piece of pale orange light.

Laid Back Dinner at Food Lane

I vowed not to dine at fancy restaurants because 1) I am on a budget travel and have to be frugal with my expenses; and 2) I need to be out of my comfort zone and see what is beyond the well-listed menus, cocktails, and sophisticated ambience. Tatay (as I called the caretaker of the inn) told me to go to Food Lane for good food at affordable prices. Going there was such a treat because you’ll passed by the Municipal Office of Dalaguete which very Spanish. It has a plaza before it where teenagers fancy hanging around. Food Lane is situated in front of an old church (indeed, Cebu is full of vintage architecture) and is an eatery chain. You’ll have the karaoke competing with the sea waves ruffling as background. Both residents and tourists obviously love to dine here. It is under development and will surely turn to a boulevard in few years time.

Peeking Osmeña Peak

Call time is 5:30 am but the driver I agreed to bring me at the peak fetched me at 5:00 to ensure I’d be

Osmeña Peak, Dalaguete Cebu.

able to watch the sunrise. I was a bit pissed (because I hate waking before the sun) but I realized it worked for my favour. It was really a freezing climb (that justifies to be called Little Baguio) for it made me realized how incompetent my jacket was. Waaah, I missed my shawl.

Osmeña Peak I guess is the chilliest climb I’ve ever had. As per trekking. Hehe. You’ll just have to walk your way up for 10-20 minutes. Cabbages are abundant here. Residents farm them with spring onions, chili, sayote, and other leafy vegetables.

Since cabbage is a staple here, I asked Lyka, my 13 year-old guide, how they usually cook it.

Ingredients:     Chopped Cabbage, Garlic, Onion, Salt, Oil, Water (Optional: other vegetables and meat )

How To:          Sauté onion, garlic in oil. Put the cabbage. Season with salt, add water and simmer for few minutes.

That simple!  I failed to ask what the dish called but one thing is for sure. It is healthy!

Transport: Hire single motor P250 (advisable to have company to avoid paying double)

Guide: P50 will do  but if you have extra cash, a bonus will be much appreciated of course!

Life Lessons at Obong Spring

Clockwise: Tatay Sally showing me the sahid method of catching fish.
Freshly caught tuyom, Ah! That spiky bad boys!
Two generous men teaching me how to get the meat and eating them for free!
With my newly found gulp sessions pals.

There is no other chilling way to end up my stay in Dalaguete but get drenched at Obong Spring. Yet more than splashing at the freezing water was having the opportunity to learn a fishing method called sahid (where you are to trap small fishes in a net by fencing the net around the rocks where they hide). I’ve watched Tatay Sally do it a couple of times with so much expertise. It’s quite a tedious thing to do because at the end of every trap are just a number of kicking small fishes. The half bag of those fishes was just sold for 50 pesos and I could not imagine how long he did get them.

Realization: I should not waste any single dime. Money is hard-earned. No matter how I tried, I fall victim of unnecessary spending. Now every time, I find myself lavishing, I would think of that 50-buck fish and the hardship it takes to get it.

Life in the sea is pretty much interesting. After the fishing lesson, I met these guys hanging around cleaning tuyom (spiky black sea urchin). I wish I was able to join catching these beautiful, thorny bad yet sumptuous creatures but I was a bit late. The cleaning lesson was more than enough though. It’s quite a feat for me to get the meat, dip it in a spiced vinegar and (uggh,my mouth waters) savour! You could taste the sea, the fat, the … gush I cannot explain it.

Lesson:            That tuyom has one devilish turquoise eye at the center. Darn! They are amazing. Sure thing I’ll learn them from books but discovering them first hand is a totally different thing. Unforgettable!

Residents here are very much willing to farm fish and other sea foods but dishearten by the fact of having no sure buyer for their goods. Should they have one, I guess, they need not have to leave their families to earn a living.

The view, the people, the culture… These are worth coming and coming back for.


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Lone Climb Turned Out Trio at Mt. Maculot Batangas

Feeling queen of my own empire at Mt. Maculot, Cuenca Batangas.

Excitement is an understatement when an officemate mentioned about Mt. Maculot. It is barely an hour and a half from Pasay and can be clambered at a minimum time. Just perfect for a quick lone getaway.  I cannot wait! No itinerary. Just me, myself, and I dating nature. But like any other story, there was a wicked witch—my darling, darling sister. She found out I would be mounting alone and just taken back her words of allowing me to do such thing. Darn! Why in the first place did I mention I’ll go alone. I mean, what is the big deal? I’m an independent woman (chos!) and I can handle myself. Many people do the same. But I do not want my family to worry so I did find two on the go buddies. By the way, lesson learned. Never mention where to go and who’s with you to avoid 'gala' plan disrupted. 

The Experience

Dismayed that my first plan did not materialize, I thought I'll journey up totally flabbergasted. Thanks to Ipay and Ryan being the 11th-hour amazing travel buddies it turned out otherwise. Mt. Maculot is just a chill climb and even chiller if you have 'not maarte' and 'go lang' company. The ascend is lung-friendly which I enjoyed given I have a weak one. Thirst is surely quenched with iced cold buko juice at every station and if you are lucky enough hitch a shot of Emperador with the locals.

How to get to Mt. Maculot?

Jam Liner (Buendia) bound to Lemery and get-off at Cuenca (P149)

Ride a motorcycle to the registration area that will also get you to the jump-off

Motorcycle Fare P20     

Registration 20

Note: Bring ID

There are guides on queue at the registration area so worry not if it is your first time to go up. Minimum fee is 300-400 pesos.

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A quadrology day hike turned trilogy day hike with AMCI. Such a friendly bunch of people. Never underestimate boredom if it takes you to trekking and mountain climbing. This affair made me ask for a leave the next day due to extreme muscle pain.

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