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.