Mt Taal 2009 - year end climb

Batangas Province
Minor Climb

Climb # 12 year-end climb

Day 1
1. Manila to Tagaytay
2. Late breakfast and early lunch along Tagaytay Restaurant

This is a comical story for me. We asked the chartered tricycle for an affordable carinderia with a delicious bulalo. Affordable meaning somewhere near the market or any food outlet within a budget price. He delivered us to this Restaurant with a pricey foodstuff, we where shock because for him, he have different understanding about “carinderia” and “affordable food”. That’s what we thought; anyway we cannot turn our back since were already here and we proceed ordering for a group meal at least to save a little. And for my verdict – the bulalo is just pricey but the taste doesn’t suffice our liking.

3. Tricycle to Talisay
4. Arrange pumpboat/ guides



5. Start boat ride
6. ETA Taal volcano, start trek

The trail is dusty and we thought we’re one of the horses, since we already smelled like them hehe.

7. ETA crater







8. Head back to jump-off point, return boat ride
9. Back to Tagaytay

We decided to stay longer in Tagaytay instead of going back to Manila. We rented a good for 4 pax room near Picnic groove. And visit the Picnic groove before it closed.

Day 2
1. Breakfast/Lunch at Picnic Groove
2. Set-up tent in grounds
3. Relax mode/ nap time :)









4. back to Olivarez
5. back to Manila

Santa Claus 2009

Even though grown-up wishes to Santa Claus…
I've been a good girl this year...

Fairy 2009

Dream of having wings… aren’t you?

Mt Daguldol 2009 - birthday climb

San Juan, Batangas
Minor Climb

Climb # 11

my first birthday climb :)

Day 1
1. From Buendia to Lipa



2. Rented van from Lipa to Brgy Hugom, Laiya
3. ETA Brgy Hugom, register
4. start trek along beach front





5. Halo-halo break along the way



6. ETA campsite
7. set-up camp, dinner & socials

Day 2
1. Breakfast
2. Ascend to summit













3. Descend to campsite, break camp
4. Descend up to Laiya beach
5. Side trip - swimming








6. wash-up
7. Back to Lipa
8. Lipa to Manila

Thanks to my KIT-ONE family for the effort of bringing the cake.

Mt Sembrano 2009 - part 2

Pililia, Rizal
Minor climb

Climb # 10

First climb of badz & Jhe (love of my life- cheezy :P) . Actually at first, Jhe is not in favor with my mountaineering activities. Sometimes we fight. In the end, he realizes that he cannot persuade me to stop so he better be with me anywhere and anytime (sweet!).

I’m not telling this to make a statement that I’m the “bad-influence” but the other way around. In our previous routine it’s like house-work-mall-sometimes out of town (one or twice a year). But when we started being outdoor enthusiast its more likely house-work-mall-monthly climb- sometimes out of town (4 or 5 times a year). Did you see the difference? Expensive- yes, but in exchange a livelier prospect in life. We appreciate more the natural wonders made for us. We are much aware that we have to help in protecting our nature and also promote its beauty. I’m totally in love with the mountains, the beaches and the sky. What easiest way to overcome stress in life than to be embraced by nature. And I’m glad that I experienced this in my existence. So much for my introduction...

Day 1.
1. From Manila to Tanay Rizal by PUJ.
2. In Tanay Market, ride another PUJ to Pililia Rizal





3. ETA Brgy Malaya, we didn't register since its late already
4. Start our night trek
5. Take 5 in Manggahan. The trail is different from my previous climb because a storm passed this Region.







6. Continue trek up to Summit, because one of Daryl's mountain friend is already there with his group.

One of the scariest climb I experienced, night trek plus strong wind from campsite to summit. Also, I'm scared for Jhe and Badz, since it’s their first climb. I really hoped that this experienced will not traumatized them from climbing mountains.

7. ETA summit, set-up camp and prepare dinner
8. Enjoyed our dinner and socials

We are worried about the stealing issue in Mt. Sembrano. So, one of the group assigned some night shift duty to secure the area since some of their climber are newbie’s too.

Day 2.
1. quick breakfast and break camp







2. descend to Manggahan for a "buko" break
3. Arrived in jump-off point, clean-up, socials

















4. Back to Tanay
5. Back to Manila

Pico de Loro 2009

Ternate, Cavite
Minor Climb

Climb # 09

Day 1
- meet-up in Baclaran
- Mini-Bus to Ternate, provide additional fee since they will unload us directly at DENR
- Register at DENR
- Start trek
- ETA basecamp
- dinner and socials

Since we started Night Trek, we also experience difficulties due to heavy rain. We decided to set-up in Base camp. We used the unoccupied Kubo and set-up our tent inside. Luckily we are still lucky.. hehe. We were comfortable inside the nipa hut and enjoyed our drinking socials

Day 2
1. breakfast





2. ETA summit.

This is another frightening experience, due continuous heavy rain; we descend from the summit in crawling & sliding manner. Sometimes, I never imagine that even when were in a situation of life-threatening, we still enjoyed the sliding moment. Thanks to God for keeping us safe.

3. Side trip - waterfall















4. ETA kubo and have a quick lunch
5. descend to DENR

We started our descend late and experience being lost. We missed a sign and continue our walk straight forward. We were alarmed that we are being lost when we felt an eerie atmosphere once we get ahead of a tunnel full of vines (we recall if we pass the same vine before but we haven’t). We head backward and try to find our way out. We started to argue regarding the path, and decided to find a way directly to the road since we cannot remember the right trail. Our head lamp failed again so we were blinded by darkness- 1 flash light in front, 1 in the middle and 1 at the back. And then we have to walk in pair. Darkness, rain and being lost – I’ll never forget that frightening moment. We’ve been praying to reach the road despite the fact that we’re crawling darkness. We are thankful when we reached the road (in any possible way) and proceed our path to DENR. The security was considerate to accept us. We wash-up and they sent us free to Main road were we can take a ride back to Manila using their own truck. One of our member mentioned seeing a dwarf castle in the middle of the forest will be try to find our way - a delusion or true-life?

Lesson learned. Before we ascend, descend or start our walk, always have time to pray and ask for guidance, safety and protection to our Father above. We learned that we forgot to do this in this climb. We were overconfident that we can do this climb even we started our trek at a rainy night. We were again overconfident since we already experienced night trek on previous climb. Being lost in the darkness teaches us to be humble and ask for HIS guidance and protection.