The Pimp Daddy of Philippine Mountains - Mt. Apo

So... we decided to climb the highest mountain in the Philippines - Mt. Apo (9,692ft) last November 14 to 16, 2013. Actually, I had no plans of doing this in the first place but that plan was ruined early this year. This is why:

I was just restarting my climbing career (as if I have one. haha!) December last year after a 2-year hiatus. We were trekking Mt. Romelo last February when Hannah told me that they were going with Deo (our lead climber in Backpackers United) on a November Mt. Apo climb, then she added, "sama ka na rin!". She could've asked me this question on a better time, because at that moment, I was already sweating huge cold droplets because 1.) my legs are already cramping and 2.) I really need to poop - my mind's circuits are already going haywire and I could not think clearly. haha! So, without thinking through, I just replied: "o.. oo sige."

Weeks later, Deo booked my ticket. I paid my dues. Then come November, I find myself pooping at about 1,000+ meters above sea level, at the emergency camp of Mt. Apo. hahaha! Enough of the poop talk. I was just trying to ruin your appetite with the hope that you'll be disgusted and discontinue reading this blog.

Just kidding.

Anyway, since it is named so, I have selected three pictures that best describes our Mt. Apo climb. Ladies and gentlemen, let me start our count-to-three with this:

Nope. This is not the set of Lord of the Rings. This is THE BOULDERS, where dreams goes to die. HAHA!

Mt. Pico de Loro

To start off, let me manage your expectations. This blog is not a mountaineering blog, nor a travel blog so don't expect me to hand over itineraries and whatnot. I am just a happy hitch hiker who goes from one adventure to the next without thinking things through. So don't expect much from me. haha! To put it simply, this blog is where I dump off random brain farts accompanied by three pictures I shot. Kaya nga count-to-three title ng blog na to e. hahaha!

I know you're bored. Why else would you be here? So let me waste some of your time once more. Let me present to you: In Photos - Mt. Pico de Loro!

Pico de Loro or Parrot's Peak can be found in Ternate Cavite. It is about 660 meters above sea level, which can take you about 6 to 8 hours to the summit and back if you are planning to do a dayhike. Story goes that Spanish Galleons passing to and from the Manila Bay noticed this stickin-like-sore-thumb of a mountain that looks like a parrot's beak waiting to be fed with a gigantic earth worm by its equally gigantic momma parrot.  

Look at that. I really think something's fishy here. I think a Parrot Super
Mega Zord is hidden there waiting to be called by a Power Ranger.

A Date With Maria Makiling

Having been a student of UP Los Baños, I was always a big admirer of Mt. Makiling. She was overlooking our campus and gives us conducive climate for learning (as if I was really a dedicated student. hahaha). Anyway, I did not have the chance to climb Peak 2 (the summit, 1090 meters above sea level) during my 4 years' stay on elbi, mainly because I have other interests and priorities that time. 

I had a chance to ask her out last July 6. Not that good date to pick though, because we are already at the onset of the rainy season and that a typhoon has just left which will make the trail slippery and muddy. I just took my chances and just went through with the climb, making a calculated risk. Let me relate this experience to real life - dating real people. To start off, here's a Bob Marley quotation I got over the net:

"If she's amazing, she won't be easy. If she's easy, she won't be amazing. If she's worth it, you won't give up. If you give up, you're not worthy. ...Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for."

In keeping with this blog's count-to-three tradition  (that's why it was named as such), we'll dissect this quotation into three. So here it goes.

Images from #PROJECTJOMALIG wave 3.0

As a starter, let me answer some frequently asked questions: 

(a) What is Project Jomalig? 

Project Jomalig is an effort to lift up the island as 2011 and 2012's most nutritionally depressed municipality in the Philippines through a series of feeding program (for a period of six months) through the effort of volunteers. Some may argue that this effort may not amount that much, but it is our hope that this small step will make ripples and it is our duty to spread the word. For details about the project, here's James' site: http://journeyingjames.com/2013/03/project-jomalig-feed-the-kids-change-the-world/

(b) Where is Jomalig, Quezon?

From Real, Quezon which is about 2 to 3 hours from Manila, you will board a boat which ferries goods, cargo and passengers bound for Patnanungan Island. This will take about 5 hours. From there you have to transfer to a smaller boat which will take another hour or less. If you are lucky enough, you can catch a boat which ferries directly to Jomalig for about 6 hours. Now, you get the picture. It is quite hard to reach and it will take real effort to go there. That is the prime reason why it is nutritionally depressed - it is hard to reach. 

Being a photography enthusiast and an amateur adventurer, here are three pictures I'd like to share to you  during my June 14-16 Project Jomalig stint:

Project Jomalig wave 3 team with the children of Brgy. Apad, Jomalig

Things I learned in the past 25 years

I don't know the authenticity of this claim, but apparently on the day I was born, the skies cleared up and the sun's rays pointed towards our house as if it was being spot lighted. Then there came the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bringing gifts of katana, nunchucks, and a kung-fu pole. 

Seems legit.

Here's what I know based on what I heard from oral accounts from my aunts who were with my mom during the day I was bound to come out: apparently, my mom while carrying me in her big tummy was doing the laundry when she experienced the first contraction. She refused to be brought to the hospital at that point because she insisted in finishing the laundry first. I am not sure about the part about my mom driving our owner-type jeep with my aunts to the hospital. We were already at our second case of Red Horse when I was told this story so the authenticity may be questionable. hahaha!

Yeah, my mom was a true badass. She was a military nurse and she was even at the height of her military training when she was pregnant with my older sibling.

I was born on June 8, '88 8:35pm, Zamboanga City. Twenty-five years on, there's three very important things I learned so far:

Why we climb

I will not claim to be a pro mountaineer, I am just an enthusiast. I haven't even climbed many mountains yet, in fact I have just climbed 4 mountains as of writing: Mt. Pulag (2009 and 2012) in Kabayan, Benguet, Mt. Maculot (2010 and 2013) in Cuenca, Batangas, Mt. Batulao (2013) in Nasugbu, Batangas and Mt. Romelo (2013) in Sinoloan, Laguna. What brought me to this kind of hobby? I guess it is just an offshoot of my days as a Boy Scout in high school, and an inextiguishable urge to go outdoors. Who brought me to this kind of hobby? These people:

Our six-man team at the summit of Mt. Pulag November 2009

My first ever considered climb (if you exclude the countless trekking we had in Boy Scout to earn merit badges) is at Mt. Pulag in 2009. Sir Io (left most) and Sir Wek (right most) were my mentors both in and outside of work, they were men of the outdoors. Those four in the middle are first timers who did not know what they are getting themselves into. haha!

People sometimes wonder why we do this. It is risky, sometimes dangerous, and VERY tiring. Why do we subject ourselves to these kinds of conditions just to climb a gargantuan lump of soil, rock, trees, grass and an entire ecosystem? I may not have concrete answers for this yet, but I'll try anyway. 

Why do we climb?

Why exploration is fun

There's just too much that this world has to offer, have you taken the first step to explore the world? If not, then get off your lazy ass and get moving! I haven't been to many places as most of you guys, but here's what I have found out in some places I have been. My personal preferences for places to visit are those exotic ones, our country is a big jungle afterall.

#1. There are interesting people to meet.

Sometimes people tend to shy away from travelling or exploring, mainly due to the fear of uncertainty, unfamiliar places and people. We tend to stick to our comfort zones, it IS comfortable after all. But in sticking to what's comfortable, we are missing a LOT of things.

Tribute to Victor Joel Ayson

However disheartening the news about finding out about our friend and fellow mountaineer's fate in Mt. Maculot, I think it is not right to sulk in sadness (which, being the badass that he is, would not want to see us so gloomy and sad). Actually, I would not claim that I know him very much because I just met him just last year in Backpackers United Mt. Pulag Christmas climb. But you know, mountaineers has this sacred bond, the love of mountains makes us all siblings. I had the priviledge to accompany him in his budding climb group, the Snapshot Adventures by the Adventureman, which he offers its participants instant copies of epic photos he shot right after the climb. He carries a laptop with him to do this, that's right, a laptop. Along with his heavy-ass gears. Truly badass. Now, to celebrate Biki's badassness, here's some things I knew and learned  from him.

#1. No room for negativities.

"You can complain all you want, but don't you spread any negativities. This will lower the group's morale." This is mainly the idea of his disclaimers during climbs, especially if there are newbies around. He may be cocky sometimes (considering his climbing resume), but he will never leave anyone behind.

Reasons why I like taking photos of landscapes and sceneries:

#1. They are simply breath-taking.

You see, seeing beautiful things works wonders. It clears your mind and leaves you speechless, sometimes all you can say is "wow". In my case, there's just no fitting way to admire their awesomeness but to insert some expletives like "T*ngina ang ganda!" (So f*cking beautiful!) to emphasize its beauty. This is true both for sceneries and people. If you know what I mean. hahaha

Just.Look.At.That.

In this world where we are so caught up worrying about many things, jobs, personal problems, horrible clients, assholes, and even financial problems, it is vital to stop thinking once in a while and just admire these wonders. I like taking these pictures simply as a reminder that they do exist, and most of the times, they're not that far as you have imagined. Well, conservation is another thing.