Pico De Loro at Mt. Palay-Palay, Ternate Cavite

Pico De Loro in Mt. Palay Palay in Ternate Cavite is one of my favorite mountaineer.

May 2013,  I have been seeing this mountain on different blogs and heard a lot from the mountaineers that I had encountered through my mountaineering journey. This mountain really caught my interest because no one can deny that this is one of the most thrilling and one of the most fulfilling mountain to climb once you conquered the challenge that this mountain has for the mountaineering community.

The Parrot's Beak May 2013

Tarak Ridge, Mariveles Bataan

Mt. Tarak Ridge- My First Major Climb.

After four minor climbs from Mt. Balagbag Rodriguez Rizal, Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu Batangas, Mt. Gulugud Baboy in Anilao Batangas and the Manabu Peak in Santo Tomas Batangas. I guess this is about time to test myself and apply things that I have learned from my previous climbs and take the real challenge of the mountain.

Tarak Ridge View from Peak

When i was in  Mt. Manabu, I met a group of  freelance mountaineers along the trail. They invited me and my other KA-ESKAPO to join them as they climb the Mt. Tarak Ridge in Mariveles Bataan. I heard a lot about the mountain and one time I saw a picture of this when I was on the web reading some blogs. I also heard about the famous river in the middle of this mountain which called " Papaya River".

When they invited me, I did not have a second thought because this is one of the mountains I want to peak. I asked their contact number for the updates and they said that the climb would be on next weekend.  Since my rest days was Saturday and Sunday  the set day for the climb was not really a big deal for my schedule. I was really excited during that time. A day after our Manabu climb, I invited few of my members who's free on coming weekends. Jackie Vargas, Lea Legazpi ,Jennifer Padrigon, Jayson Padrigon and Carlos Yao. I called the leader of the group but unfortunately because of their work schedules changed they decided to move the climb on the next month. When I heard that I dont know what to say and i just said "Okay po magtext na lang ako kung makakasama kame". Frustrating!

On the same day I got a text message from "unregistered number" said "Sir Chito po ito sa Manabu"

I remember there was another group who asked my number for future invites. And i replied to Sir Chito." Oh Good pm Sir!Musta?!. then he replied.. "Sir baka pwede kayo sumama samin Mt. Tarak on weekends" WHATTHE..... I immediately replied and said "Sure Sir dapat pupunta talaga kame with other group kaso na cancelled eh". I felt i was really destined to climb this mountain because of all the things happened.

Mt. Manabu Traverse, Santo Tomas Batangas

APRIL 2013 CLIMB

Mt. Manabu is located in Sto. Thomas Batangas.  This mountain stands at 760+ MASL which considered as a minor climb. This is the fourth mountain of the ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS.  We were ten in the group all were new to hiking and no mentor was with us. That's why  i cannot forget this climb because this is the first mountain  that i lead the group.

        From JAC LINER Buendia LRT. With Leah,Me,Lyn,Jen Bel, Janine,Jm, Carlos, Philip and Jackie.

We took a JAC LINER Bus going to Sto Tomas Batangas at 3 o'clock PM. It took almost 2 and a half hours to get to Sto. Tomas Drop off .That was Saturday and there's a huge traffic around Manila and in Turbina Laguna. Along the way we saw the range of Mt. Makiling-. Which is the famous MT. MAKILING TRAVERSE/MAKTRAV starts and ends at LOS BANOS jump off.

Mt. Gulugud Baboy Anilao and The Sumbrero Island, Anilao Batangas

Mt. Gulugud Baboy is located in Anilao Mabini Batangas. This is one the favorite destination of water sports enthusiasts because it offers a great experience for diving and snorkeling.

February 2013

This is the third mountain of  "ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS".

A workmate of mine Mr. Brian Tonua who is my mentor and used to be a member of "INTEL MOUNTAINEERS" shared a story about his experience in Mt. Gulugud Baboy. He told me about the terrain of this mountain. The beautiful hills of this mountain made this called as " Little Pulag". Since Mt. Pulag is one of my dream mountain to climb, I decided to bring my group in this place.

 Photo by RyeRye Descending from Peak.

We left at GMA Jam liner around 6pm and took a bus going to Batangas City. We asked the "konduktor" to drop us off to Bauan Batangas which is 30 minutes away from  Batangas City proper. From Bauan Batangas we chartered a jeep to bring us directly to the jump off which is the Philpan Resort.

The "Taal Volcano" Tricycle,Boat Ride,Horse Backriding and the Crater.

December 24, 2012 with my three closest friends I decided to spend our Christmas Eve at Cavite Alfonso in our friend's house (ESKAPO member). We came up to a plan of spending the whole day in Tagaytay exploring the tourist spot in there. It was a good timing since it was the best season of Tagaytay. The cold breeze on a sunny day that is how  i described the weather when we were there. The plan was to go to Picnic Grove and eat bulalo in - TAPSILOGAN our favorite "bulaluhan". And we never thought that there's an adventure waiting for us.

We had breakfast at Mcdonald's ( Josh, Me and Alynna ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS)

Mt. Balagbag Rodriquez Rizal- Start of my Adventure. My Home Mountain

This is where all of my mountaineering adventure started.

Year 2010.When i was in College taking Literature Subject. My professor decided to have our class make an Indie Film. Class was divided into two groups and I am the leader of the 2nd group. We had come up with an idea of "Aswang Aswang Film" and we entitled it "Takas"- inspired by our stage play in Tanghalang Gintong Lahi when i was still an active member of the said theater. The story line was made by my theater mate Krista. There were few scenes that we needed  to shoot in the forest and there was a falls scene where the " Aswang" does their rituals.  

A coincidence happened. A friend of mine "Carlos Yao" invited me to come with him for a nature tripping.  He said he will bring me to a falls.. It was really a good timing because of the film that we were doing back then. I had immediately informed my actors to pack their stuff because we will go to Mt. Balagbag in Rodriguez Rizal for our shooting. Everybody was excited. We left at 6:00am from Malabon.

Monumento to Balntawak

From Balintawak we took a jeep to Nova Bayan.

From Nova Bayan another jeep to Tungko

From Tungko took a jeep to Licao Licao and start trek.