#TUCLAS

[womanlalaboy]

There used to be two farms in our neighborhood. Both have been 'developed' to subdivisions. Since then, more people have resided here and we've seen the rise of many businesses. This progress changed my environment and my childhood. I used to play sarangola and walk through the bukid every afternoon to get carabao's dump as fertilizer. We used to bring our food waste to the huge compost pit there and chase tutubing kalabaw. Nowadays, I can only get to see a carabao whenever that traditional nomadic vendor would go our way I can only get to see a horse whenever I visit Intramuros and when my schedule permits me to go on a hike. In more than seven years, only last week was I able to see dragonflies again. I was happy- it felt nostalgic. But it's sad that I can never turn these subdivisions around us back to farms that are home to many kinds of plants, birds and other creatures. It's sad that the kids in my neighborhood will never experience kite flying here ever. It's sad that things turned out like this. Feeling sad about all these, though aren't helping. Action will. And it has to start now. With me. With you. #trek #trekking #leavenotrace #lnt #tuclas #manalmon #gola #twinhike #manalmongola #biaknabato #hike #hiking #phmountains #mountain #mountainclimbing #personal #thoughts (at Mt. Manalmon/Gola the Twin Peak's) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rnEEKAUWo/?igshid=15weeun8a3puu

[pauloxpapa]

Mt. Lobo Batangas

TUclas mountain cleanup in Mt. Lobo Batangas.

[womanlalaboy]

Panhik #3: TUCLAS Climbs Gulugod Baboy

Do you ever get that feeling like you're supposed to be doing something else, but you’re just too stubborn to acknowledge it? I always do. But I'm slow in processing signs and was too scared to try different things. So when a hiking club was formed in my company that I've always wanted to establish or at least be a part of, I chickened out. Instead, I joined a more comfortable club: the book club.

I enjoy reading, discussing books with people, and recommending books, but the club I joined in wasn't in any way what I've expected it to be. I still tried to help make changes and move it towards a more stable direction, though, but I still can't quite feel the belongingness I should get from being a part of a group that does everything about what I'm infatuated to. All the while, I've been feeling a great and heavy connection to the email blasts of the newly established hiking club inviting other employees to join their climbs.

On November 2018, I decided to participate in one of their climbs. TUCLAS (TaskUs Climbing Association) facilitated a climb for a cause to Gulugod Baboy and a part of the fee the participants have paid for was allotted for the benefit of the Little Angels Home, Inc. Foundation. I did what I could to persuade my friends to climb with us, but no one would want to come with me except for a friend who has already hiked Gulugod Baboy. So needless to say, I went on my own. This is by far the only time I've tried being a lone joiner in a travel adventure, but I'd definitely do it again if I have to go back in time.

We met all the participants around 2:30 AM and waited for the others to come until 3:00 AM. You see, every one already knows every body. I remember how I nervously walked from the terminal to our meet-up place thinking of good ways to approach someone. The stupid little dork that I am stood a few feet away from those that I'm supposed to climb with who have already formed themselves in a semi-circle, tapping my phone- pretending I'm texting someone, thinking this wouldn't make me look awkward. But it did. Eventually, I mustered the courage to approach. I've decided to talk to someone and blurt out the lines I've been trying to memorize while I tell my inner self that I can do it and that I will make friends; I just have to start it right. Before I could even speak, the organizer noticed me walking towards them and asked if I've already filled out the attendance sheet. My enthusiastic greeting line faded and I only came up with, "not yet."

I filled out the sheet feeling like a dumb-ass, and went to being a tree trunk again; away from everybody. I wouldn't have been this awkward, I thought, had I attended the pre-climb meeting where I would have met all the participants before the actual date of the hike. It's basically a briefing and an opportunity to get to know everybody, and I failed to attend that. So I had to suffer the consequences and be left out of place feeling jealous of them having someone to laugh with. I was full of self-pity, but I decided to use this as an opportunity to learn how to make friends with strangers (which I'm terrible at), and enjoy how things will unfold (even when I'm surrounded by people I don't know and can't seem to connect with).

The road trip was basically silent. We're all tired and some of us went straight from their shifts. We arrived at the junction around 6 AM. There, we did our prayers, stretching, the negotiations with the coordinators and there, we also discussed who would form the head, mid, and the tail of the group. I was supposed to be a part of the mid, but I was too fast for it (since I don't have anyone to talk to and no one to distract me) so I eventually transitioned to head. We were going too fast so there were a lot of stops to accommodate those that were being left behind. There were a few times when we had to stop to treat those who felt nauseous and dizzy. The org. officers are really efficient in those times. They're very caring and flexible to go back and forth, to check up on the others. Sometimes I wonder if they were able to maximize the hike while carrying those responsibilities.

The hike was still fun. I allowed myself to be present in that moment. I allowed myself to enjoy the opportunity to be within and without. The goal changed from definitely making friends there so I wouldn't feel left out to just enjoying their company without feeling the need to be a part of their circle. I felt like a spectator, but not as detached. Weird, but oddly satisfying. I got to observe my body as I go through the entire experience. My mind was thinking non-stop, but it's filled with good thoughts unlike the usual. I get to practice listening without the intent to respond, but to understand. Most importantly, I've learned how to turn this trip from a sad and uncomfortable one to a fruitful one without having to try too much.

After a few hours, we finally reached camp. I've heard that there were 3 peaks at Gulugod Baboy (from SE to NW: Gulugod-Baboy, Gitna, and Pinagbanderahan). We required ourselves to visit two, I guess. Those peaks were where we took our group photos. We then stayed at the sari-sari store near the summit so that everyone can get their breakfast. We rested there for a while. The owner said she has tableas for sale which many of us bought for souvenir. I didn't. Our hike was along the days of petsa de peligro so reasonably, I didn't spend more than I'm supposed to. After that, we went back down and stayed at the Philpan Dive Resort. There were some miscommunication between the officers and the coordinators there so we had to shell out a hundred peso on top of the Php 600 we paid for- all to get us a cottage. Some of us went to the lomihan first before staying by the beach for lunch.

Before leaving the place, we did a game which wasn't planned at all. I recommend Pinoy Henyo at any team building or group trips. It’s hilarious! After the game, we did a post-climb meeting. The organizers thanked us for participating, cooperating and for being understanding. They then asked each one of us the things we could say about the hike- the pros and the cons. Only a handful of people mentioned the cons of the trip. Someone said that it would have been better if there was an activity that will let us to get to know each other better. Someone said that there was a little problem when it comes to money management- that they should have foreseen the conflicts so they could have been more prepared for it. The officers took it nicely and reassured us that this will be practiced in the coming hikes.

Many among us mentioned how nice it was to have a sound trip while hiking. We all agree as well that the officers were really responsible. Some have commended one of them for constantly checking up on those being left behind. I commended all of the organizers for practicing what they preach. See, when they announced that there will be a pre-climb meeting, they've sent out a presentation with the agenda of the meeting being included there. They said that we should prepare our own first-aid kit (I didn't), and when someone got wounded after the hike, two or three from them immediately went for their own kits, and I think that is something to be recognized.

I thought we'd leave after lunch, but we stayed there laughing the hours away until the sun set. There were still a few moments where I go, "fuck it. I just wanna go home," but I reminded myself to find something to be grateful for. Luckily, I hiked with funny people. Luckily, the sunset was so good, and that I get to experience a few moments of stillness. I think I needed this, but I wasn't aware or was too stubborn to notice. There have been many things going on around us and within us, but we don't understand what those are for until the very thing everything happened for comes. There are many things knocking at our doors, but when we’re too caught up with other things, we choose not to listen. And maybe sometimes we don’t have to, but the gut feeling lingers there and it stays at the back of your head, telling you something.

Maybe I needed to experience how to be alone again in a crowd and be okay with it. Maybe I needed to learn how to go along with a situation without the intention of controlling it to my preference. Maybe I needed to learn not to crave fitting in. Maybe this experience will prepare me for something in the future. I don’t know. I don't think we'll ever fully understand how this world works. I don’t think we’ll ever be certain on what doors to open and when to answer a knock, but we always have a choice on how to look at things. I chose to look at things as opportunities to learn. I chose to look at things with gratitude. I hope you do too.

MORE...

Also read: Womanlalaboy's Travel Guide to Gulugod Baboy Also see: TUCLAS Climbs Gulugod Baboy photo sets

📷 : Aldrich Dherrick Juanillo

[womanlalaboy]

Womanlalaboy's Travel Guide to Gulugod Baboy

SUMMARY

Elevation: 525+ MASL Jump- off: Philpan Dive Resort, Anilao, Mabini Days / hours to summit: Half-day / 1-2 hours Climb: Minor  Difficulty: 2/9 Trail class: 1-2 Features: Scenic views of Batangas Bay and Balayan Bay 

Type of Travel: DIY + package Date of Travel: Oct. 2018 Duration: 1D Budget: P700 Where we stayed at: Philpan Dive Resort

Joiners are common for many climbing activities. A lot of people do this to be a part of a larger group as this would mean lesser expenses and a merrier climb. Joiners usually join, though, with some of their friends, but when I climbed Gulugod Baboy, I was on my own in a group of groups. It was fun, though- got the chance to learn a lot of life lessons and understand a few things about myself. I’ve gotten to meet interesting people and of course, experience the beauty of Anilao Batangas. 

Gulugod Baboy would be an adventure enthusiast’s amusement park. It’s no longer required to get a guide to climb the mountain since 2005 and there are many trails to choose from to get to the summit. Climbers are also offered a panorama view of the coastal areas surrounding Mabini. More than that, there are many side trips to add in your adventure including island hopping to Sombrero, snorkeling, and possibly diving.

ITINERARY

3:00 AM - Meet up Imus Lumina 6:00 AM - ETA Phil Pan Junction 6:30 AM - Register Site. Breakfast. 7:00 AM - Start Trek 9:00 AM - Summit 10:00 AM - Start Descent 12:00 PM - Philpan drive resort for lunch, swimming 4:00 PM - ETD Phil Pan 8:00 PM - Imus

I joined a company club called TUCLAS (TaskUs Climbing Association) for their climb for a cause to Gulugod Baboy. Their beneficiary was Little Angels Foundation, Inc. They always do hikes with a purpose, and I think that’s beautiful. I found no reason not to join, so I did and I regret nothing.

SAMPLE BUDGET

for 30 pax

1050 - Environmental Fee per head is 35 500 - Guide's fee (divided by the number of persons included in the group) 3000- Entrance fee to Philpan Dive Resort per head is 100 1000 - Cottage per head would be 34 12000- 2 vans; Van transpo per head is 400 3450 - Fund for Little Angels Foundation, Inc. ___________________________________

21000 - 700 / head

We initially paid P 600 inclusive of transportation, cottage, and donation. Other activities such as diving and island hopping are not included in the package, though, as well as the entrance fee of P 100 per head to Philpan Dive Resort. The plan was to hike in the morning and do an island hopping for those who were interested, but we settled by the beach, swam and rested. If you’re just gonna do the climb, you wouldn’t need to shell out that much. Just leave a budget for your transportation, guide fee, and environmental fee if you’ll bring a private car, and you’re all set.

HOW TO GET THERE

Commute from Manila: Board any bus bound to Batangas Grand Terminal  > board any jeep bound for Anilao, Batangas, drop off at Philpan- Mabini Junction  > Rent a tricycle and drop off at Philpan Dive Resort/registration area  

Bus liners are available along LRT-Buendia and Taft in Pasay, and Cubao and EDSA-Kamias in Quezon City (Jam, Jac Liner, ALPS). The fare for a ride to Batangas would be around P 170 depending on the bus liner you’ll catch or from what terminal you’ll come from. From the Batangas Grand Terminal, you can simply ride a jeepney to the Philpan-Mabini Junction for a fare of P 35. From the junction, ride a tricycle and drop off at the registration area. Fare is P 40.

Commute from Bacoor/Imus Cavite: Board a jeepney/bus bound for Dasmariñas Pala-pala terminal for P 25 (the terminal is right after 7/11 from your right) > Board a van bound for Anilao, Philpan- Mabini Junction > Rent a tricycle and drop off at Philpan Dive Resort/registration area for P 40)

The vans available in Pala-pala don’t really follow a schedule. They usually wait for the vans to get full before heading to Batangas. The jeepneys going back to  Batangas Grand Terminal, though, are hard to find later than 8 PM. If you happen to miss the last trip to the Grand Terminal, ride a jeep bound for Bauan instead then board a jeep bound for Batangas Grand Terminal.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

Diving

If you’re into diving, you’ll find Mabini irresistible. They’ve got a lot of Scuba Diving Resorts in the area like Halo Anilao Dive Resort, Aquaventure Reef Club Dive Resort and Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort, but the closest from Gulugod Baboy, one of the cheapest and the most famous would be Philpan Dive Resort. They’ve got cottages for as low as P 500.

Island Hopping and Snorkeling 

Since it doesn’t have to take too much time to climb Gulugod Baboy, many opt to do Island hopping afterwards to Sombrero Island. Boats can be hired from your lodging area or you can go to Anilao port to board boats going to Sombrero Island.  Boat rental is around P 2500 to P 2800 for 10 pax. 

WHAT TO BRING

Packed lunch if preferred

Med Kit/ Personal medicines

Raincoat when necessary

Extra clothes

At least 2 liters of water

Whistle

Trash Bag

Toiletries (esp. alcohol)

Trail food (energy bars, peanuts, chocolates, banana, salt)

Sunblock

Cap

Headlamp when necessary

Gloves (not required)

Trekking pole (not required)

Handkerchief / scarf

NOTES

Pack light if you’re going to commute. Those who will visit this place with their private car or van would have it easier. They can simply leave their stuff in the van and hike only with those they ultimately need.

Don’t eat heavy before the hike. Energy bars are better for activities like this.

Sun exposure is notoriously acute when dry. Apply plentiful of sunblock whenever needed.

When you encounter something that would hinder you from descending using the trail when you ascend (e.g. an accident / you suddenly felt ill), you can rent a tricycle from the camp to the registration area or to your lodging/resort for P 150.

When you miss all trips to Grand Terminal, you can rent a tricycle, but this would cost P 400 for 4 pax.

It’s not that safe to swim around Philpan as the rocks and pebbles would be too sharp for our bare feet. The place is a diving spot after all. It would help, though, if you use aqua shoes there.

While hiking, wear quick dry clothes and stay away from cotton fabrics and denim pants since you will be sweating profusely during the climb.

Wear a pair of hiking shoes or sandals.

LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT): Kill nothing but time, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

MORE...

Also read: Panhik #3: TUCLAS Climbs Gulugod Baboy Also see: TUCLAS Climbs Gulugod Baboy photo sets

[womanlalaboy]

Womanlalaboy’s Travel Guide to Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola

SUMMARY

Elevation: 196+ MASL (Mt. Manalmon);  192+ MASL (Mt. Gola) Jump- off: Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel Days / hours to summit: Half-day Climb: Minor Difficulty: 2/9 Trail class: 1-2 Features: Beautiful  landscapes with various terrain types, a view of the Madlum River, with access to 2 caves

Type of Travel: Package and DIY Date of Travel: Jul 27-28, 2019 Duration: 2D1N Budget: P 1100 - 1500

If you want a climb that is filled with adventure and a variety of sights, Malmon-Gola twin hike is just right for you.

Both are nestled within the protected area of Biak Na Bato National Park. The trail leads to bamboo forests, grasslands and rock formations. There are areas that need to be climbed with the aid of ropes, including Mt. Manalmon’s peaks. Side trips are available for adventure junkies and history enthusiasts. You can sample the Bayukbok Caves and the Madlum cave. You can also go to Madlum River for a dip, and try the monkey bridge.

To get from Mt. Malmon to Mt. Gola, hikers will have to cross the Madlum River with water raising up to chest level when raining and with current strong enough to pull anyone of any size. But if the weather’s on your side, this twin hike would be very easy for any beginner. Some would even call it a ‘pabebe’ hike, but never when the conditions change. Like what people always say, “never underestimate a mountain.”

HOW TO GET THERE

Commute from Manila: Take a bus from Pasay or Cubao terminals to Cabanatuan (Baliwag Transit, ES Transport, and Five Star Transport) > drop off at Brgy. Kamias, San Miguel, Bulacan > Ride a tricycle to Brgy. Madlum

Private car: NLEX > Take Sta. Rita exit >  Follow the road to Cagayan Valley, passing by Plaridel,Pulilan, Baliuag, San Rafael and San Ildefonso >  At San Miguel, ask directions for Brgy. Madlum

It should only take 2-3 hours to get to Bulacan from Manila, but you should always give more allowance to heavy traffic especially when it pours. We were lucky enough to pass through EDSA with ease, but we encountered heavy traffic along Nueva Ecija and Bulacan so it took us about 6 hours to get to the Jump off from Cavite.

ITINERARY

Day 1 10:00 AM – ETD Lumina, Imus 02:00 PM – ETA in Sitio Madlum 06:00 PM – Pitch Tent 07:00 PM – Dinner 09:00 PM – Light's off Day 2 04:00 AM – Wake up Call 05:30 AM – Start Trek to Mt. Manalmon 06:30 AM – Summit Manalmon 07:30 AM – Descend 09:00 AM – Summit Mt. Gola 10:30 AM – Descend 12:00 PM – Lunch 02:00 PM – Monkey Bridge 03:00 PM – Bayukbuk Cave 04:00 PM – Swimming @madlum​, River 05:00 PM – Break camp 06:00 PM – Post Climb 10:00 PM – ETA Lumina Imus

It was pouring rain when we arrived at Sitio Madlum, so we had a hard time following the itinerary. We’re just lucky to be spared by the weather every time we get to a peak. It’s as if the Gods are giving us time to take photos and enjoy the scenery. We’re really glad for moments like the above photo where the sky started to clear out and we just rested for a fer minutes to marvel at the beauty of the entire Biak Na Bato.

Before our actual hike, we had an outreach program and there’s supposed to be a tree planting activity included in the itinerary, but we ran out of seedlings to use. There was a huge tree planting event before our hike so there were nothing left for us to plant, but we’ve successfully executed the distribution of food, school supplies and slippers to the kids of Sitio Madlum, so all was well except for when we had to descend from Mt. Gola. Our guide opted to change our route. We followed the river instead of crossing it in that condition. Being prepared for situations like this proved to be very essential so I’ve listed below the things you may want to consider.

THINGS TO BRING

Head lamp or Flashlight

Rain jacket (depending on the weather)

Sun Block Lotion & Insect Repellent

Food (Lunch, Snacks, and Trail Food)

Water (2-3 liters)

Extra Clothes

Trekking Clothes, Shoes or Sandals

Gloves

Bonnet/Head Gear/Scarf/Malong

Garbage bag

Sun Protection (hats, headgear, sunglasses, sleeves)

Personal Medicine and First Aid Kit

Personal Toiletries

Tent

Cook set

Portable stove

Spoon,fork,plates,mugs/tumbler

FAQs

Is there mobile signal in the area? Yes, even at the peak, but thunderstorm and heavy rains usually affect the signal at the foot of the mountain.

Are there stores in the camp site? Yes. There are a few stores there that offers the usual sari-sari store stuff. You can also reserve your lunch or dinner at Tata Carding’s.

Are there comfort rooms in the area? At the camp site, yes. And there are fees. P5 for change of clothes, P20 for taking a bath, P10 for taking a dump and P5 for when you need to pee. 

Is there a parking are? They don’t have an organized parking area. We parked our vans near the hanging bridge.

Are the guides required? Yes. P300 per guide for 5 pax.

Can you hike both mountains in just a day? Definitely! if you’re a beginner or with beginners, 2hrs tops and you’ll reach one peak. If your group is pretty fit, you’ll do good with an hour of trek, but things can get really challenging when it pours.

NOTES

As always, practice LNT (Leave No Trace). We are mere visitors. Let’s respect the place and its people by taking with us what we brought there. You might get tempted to dump your waste in their trash bins or makeshift trash bags, but please be mindful that what you bring in the place aren’t supposed to be there. Dispose of your own trash.

Kill nothing but time, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

When in doubt, practice UPS (Upo Para Safe) and GPS (Gapang Para Safe). For some, steep areas can get very tricky and dangerous, so sit or crawl if you need to.

Establish a good relationship with your co-hikers and guides just because :)

Camp if your schedule and itinerary can allow you. Their campsite is by the river and it gets so majestic at night when the moon reflects on the surface of the water.

Communicate with your body. This twin hike is supposed to be easy, but it can get really dangerous when it rains.

Hiking these two mountains are best done with fun friends and to maximize your stay, swim; enjoy the caves and do the monkey bridge. The site has so much to offer than just hiking Gola and Manalmon, but for me, the sight of luscious bamboo forest, carabaoes living the life, and seeing wild dragonflies again are more than enough to compensate the hassle of camping and hiking whilst raining. 

MORE...

Also see: Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola photo sets Also read: Panhik #6: TUCLAS Gives Back + Manalmon-Gola Twin Hike Also read: Panhik #5: Dayo Sa Daguldol Also read: Womanlalaboy's Travel Guide to Mt. Daguldol

[womanlalaboy]

Panhik #6 & 7: On TUCLAS Giving Back and Pushing Limits

When TUCLAS sent out an invitation to do a hike which will give me the chance to camp near the river, visit the caves, enjoy the monkey bridge, marvel at the beauty of the Biak na Bato National Park and give back to the community, I saw no reason to decline. After all, I had to cancel my previous climb with them at Nagpatong Rock Formations due to an accident and I also failed to join them in their Tarak Ridge hike. It was my way of saying, “babawi ako this time,” but the weather wasn’t really in favor.

We were to visit Sitio Madlum and conduct an outreach program to provide slippers, food, and school supplies to the kids. Before the actual climb, the officers organized us into groups to make sure that there would be people in charge of some outdoor gears since we will have to camp by the end of our first day after the outreach program. It was an efficient way of designating tasks and making sure we have everything we will need. 

It was raining a few weeks back, so the officers reminded us to bring our ponchos and to water-proof our stuff. My friend and I failed to take that into consideration because we had too much trust that the weather would be in our favor. It wasn’t.

It wasn’t just the weather that wasn’t going our way. Heavy traffic unexpectedly delayed our arrival by 3 hours, and surprisingly it wasn’t in EDSA that we encountered this terrible situation. In Nueva Ecija and all through out our travel in Bulacan, trucks were lining up as if evacuating from somewhere else. 

We were worried that the kids would get disappointed, but they were really happy and warm when they welcomed us. All the hassle and waiting paid off when we saw those smiles on their faces. They were so excited that some of them dirtied their feet hurrying to get to the shed. They were patient enough to wait for us organize our stuff and they were diligent to follow the line.

A kid wearing enormously thick eye glasses was carrying a boy almost the same as her size. She was comforting the crying boy who at the time was waiting for his mom to be back home from work. We prioritized the kid and asked an elder to take care of the kid while we distribute the rest of our stuff. We didn’t expect that despite their size in height, their feet aren’t that small so we ran out of bigger sizes and had to apologize to the kids who were expecting new slippers. The rest went well and we went straight to the camp site to pitch our tents.

The sun was quick to set and we were only left with moonlight and flashlights to guide us through the forest. We had a hard time finding the camp site as there were a few clearings before getting to the actual camp. Tired and hungry, we started pitching our tents next to the river. It was an elevated flat area with a few tables around it. Some of us went cooking, the others settled for their packed food. My friend and I ate the hard boiled egg I brought with me supposedly for tomorrow’s hike and tree planting. We were too tired to wash up so we merely changed clothes and went straight to sleep to get the energy required for tomorrow’s possibly harder than expected hike.

It was tough sleeping in that condition. The rain didn’t look like it’s gonna stop anytime soon so we always had to be on the lookout as the water from the river might get too high to reach the camp. On top of this, the mosquito in the area aren’t the typical urban ones. They’re bigger and bite ya real good. Halfway through our sleep, someone from us woke us up to give us a coil of katol to repel the mosquitoes. The rest of our sleep were peaceful despite some of our co-hikers drinking the night away.

The weather calmed down by morning so we expected the day ahead to be sunny. We were wrong. It seemed like we were only given a glimpse of how differently it would look like if it was sunny. The climb would have been easier and we would have been able to follow our itinerary. 

After washing up, preparing the things we ultimately need to bring to the hike, we went to the registration area to fill out their forms. The people there are already up at such an early time. We were given 3 guides- perfect for dividing our group into head, mid and tail. My friend and I went to the head team since we’re fast walkers. Also, it makes me anxious when people are waiting for me. I like establishing the pace and waiting for the others instead. 

We prayed for our safe trip and did a few exercises to loosen up the joints and muscles. After that, the head guide provided a few reminders before heading towards the mountains.

Like many travel or hiking blogs you’ve probably already seen before this, you’d see how Manalmon-Gola twin hike is described as a piece of cake- even for beginners. But none should underestimate a mountain. They can be very challenging and in some cases dangerous to climb. I remember climbing Batulao for the first time- there was a typhoon and our hike lasted for more than 9 hours. It was traumatic.

We were supposed to finish the entire Manalmon-Gola twin hike in no more than 5 hours including the tree planting activity, but we finished it in more than 7 hours with minimal rest. The most challenging in this entire experience was dealing with mud on steep areas. Since there were 3 other groups ahead of us, the path we had to take have already been smeared with sticky mud. The rain made everything messy and dangerous, but not hard enough to wash away the traces of mud on the rocks.

Once we’ve descended from Manalmon, we had to cross the Madlum River to get to the other side. The current was something to be feared. There have been cases of death in the area because of that same current. When we reached the bamboo forest near Gola’s summit, we were welcomed by a short downpour. After descending from Gola, we had to assess the situation as the rain started to pour again. We decided to take the longer route, and immensely harder trail given the conditions. But it’s proved to be safer than crossing the harsher river again.  At first, it was mostly muddy fields, but then we had to follow the river and trek through the boulders with no clear path to take. This was the climax of the trek. It was new for all of us, including those who have already been hiking with TUCLAS. There are rough boulders which are easy to climb as they give enough grip, but there are smooth ones that are very challenging to climb. It didn’t help that that the rain poured heavier. By this point, no one could take any photo. The boulders are huge for small hikers like me and they are covered with sharp branches  

Before going through the Madlum cave, we had to wait at a small clearing for the tail team to reach us. It was the same spot where 9 of Bulacan State University’s students were pulled by the flash flood. Our guide told us that 7 were found dead and the 2 were rescued by one of the survivors. The BSU students were found underneath the mud. One of them was found under a crevice. That proved how strong the current was. There are videos online of their final moments and they were seen holding each other and bonding a group which the guide said is something we shouldn’t do. If one of them loses his or her balance, all the others would be swept away.  Only a few meters away from where we were standing were boulders and a small waterfall. We went on imagining how hard it would have been to survive a flash flood with that kind of environment. Once smashed to a boulder, your chances of survival would fluctuate to a zero.

Manalmon and Gola are two different mountains with distinct characteristics. Manalmon is serene, but somehow playful. Gola on the other hand is enchanting and shows a variety of environment. I’m not sure if many people could relate to this, but mountains for me feel like people. Actually, when it was announced that New Zealand gave legal rights to Mt. Taranaki the same as a living person’s, it didn’t shock me. But it sure did fascinated me. I thought I was the only one thinking and treating mountains as if they are people.

We failed to do the tree planting since a bigger group did a tree planting activity as well before us so there were no seedlings left for us to plant. But we’re glad that though we weren’t able to do it ourselves, at least a bigger team did it, and that’s what mattered the most. Some people did it on our behalf. The seedlings were planted as planned. All was well.

I guess my takeaways from this trek are: 

Hiking doesn’t have to be purely for leisure. We climbed for a cause and we will continue to do this no matter how small or cliche it sounded for some. There is nothing else like giving. 

We are more than what we think we are. “Kaya pala namin,” was the common line at that time. We hiked with total newbies and they finished the rather difficult hike with flying colors. It was hard, but it was fun. They went there thinking the hike would really be 2/9 in difficulty. They’ve pushed their limits and they’ve made it. In my case, I was able to do something I swore I wouldn’t do. I was terrified to hike during rainy days, but I did it. And I would do it again given a chance.

Tragedies that have happened don’t have to happen again. The variables were already given even before we started the hike: 7 students died, there was a flash flood, they were taking pictures while crossing the river, they were holding each other. We didn’t have to repeat those. It’s one thing to push your limits because you know you really can do more, but there are internal struggles that hinder you from reaching your full potential; it’s another to know your limits. 

Even with preparations, accidents can still happen so hike or travel with caution and never underestimate a mountain. We are mere humans against nature. We all know how that would’ve ended had we challenged nature and crossed that river once more during a downpour.

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Also see: Manalmon - Gola photo sets Also read: Womanlalaboy's Travel Guide to Mt. Manalmon and Mt. Gola Also read: Panhik #4: Batulao Revenge Hike

📷 : Aldrich Dherrick Juanillo 📷 : Winnie Mea Marquez