The Mt. Pulag Proposal

Mt. Pulag Climb, October 28-29, 2011

Mt. Baloy 2011

A Story Form Summer Solstice: 

Situated between Iloilo, Antique and Capiz, Mount Baloy proudly stands at 1900 meters above sea level. This mystical mountain holds the prestigious name as one of the tallest mountains of Antique and Panay.

This is my third climb this year and all I can say that this climb is a mixture of everything extreme. This experience is indeed priceless for what we experienced is far more than what we bargained for. A group of 8 people began their journey at the break of dawn of March 17, 2011 not knowing what's in store for the next 24 hours. Little did we know that for the next 12 hours we are about to experience the most extreme habal-habal ride ever, the muddiest track you could ever imagine and the warmest people you could ever met. It took us 3 hours of heart stopping motorbike ride before we reached the last barangay where motorcycles are accessible. After a few minutes of rest we started our muddiest trek ever and for awhile we are actually enjoying it. But as our feet grew tired and our backs are hurting we are dreading every step that we took. 

We arrived at Manong Artem’s house (our guide) at around 6pm smelling like carabaos, like seriously and man I could almost swear I was thinking to go back the next day. After a nice cold bath, a full dinner and a massage I doze off like a baby. The next morning I found myself getting ready to experience Mount Baloy. We were informed that the river crossing is extremely dangerous due to heavy rain for the last few days and so we decided to go the other way and avoid the river. We know that we are short of time and so the group decided that wherever our feet takes us at the end of the day that’s where we are going to camp and head down the next day. 
At 3pm our group decided to camp near the water source that our guide found. The place is not even good for camping but since we are already freezing our ass off we started fixing our tent while our guides are busy fixing our kitchen and dining area (check out the pictures if you don’t believe me, only in Baloy I guess). Yep, first class all the way . After we had our sumptuous dinner thanks to our Master Chef Anton we started hearing different animal sounds and our guides even told us that there are some centaur (tayho) sightings. Even Edz is excited to see one and she even asked how we could lure the centaur to come to us. Not a good idea Edz hehehehe. But the highlight of the night is when our guides introduced the organic smoke, a rolled tobacco wrapped in a leaf. So the four of us; Lance, Anton and Renel had our first organic smoke session 1500 feet above sea level. 

Our trek down the next morning is nothing but easy. Each of us are watching our steps as we descend and there are times that I need to crawl my way up and then slide my way down. After the gruelling trek we came face to face to the dreaded part of the trail, the river crossing. Our group decided to do it all together and just like the phrase “there is strength in numbers” we hold hands together and conquered our fear. We passed by almost 6 rivers that day and we had a blast all the way back to the house of our guide. 

A home cooked eel greeted us with special spaghetti on the side. Thanks to the birthday celebrant Niel. We had our last minute repacking and head our way to our next pit stop of the day. But before we could even begin our hike down Hadji had an ingenious idea. He proposed that each of us should get a porter if we wanted to have a head start the next day. And without even blinking everybody said yes. But even without our bags it was still hard walking in the sea of mud. We arrived at the school where we are supposed to spend the night at around 6pm. Before we get there we met the Ex-barangay captain and he said that there’s some rumours going around that we are a group of treasure hunters. Like dude, seriously? We just laughed it out and continued walk with a big a smile in our face.

Our last day began with a big breakfast and I have some croutons dipped in a tuna spread as appetizer. We finished packing at around 7am and I can’t believe that I am wearing the same clothes for the last four days. But oh well whose complaining. And so we started walking in the sea of mud again until we reached the Barangay Karatagan where the motorcycles are picking us up. 


To the guide and porters, thank you so much. To Edz and Niel, thank you for planning this climb. And to the rest of the group hope to see you guys again in another place and in another mountain. Be safe everyone!  

From Mud To The Star 2012

From Mud To The Star 3 Mt. Nangtud Invitational Climb March 28- April 1, 2012 Day 1: 7am-11am: Assembly at PNP Barbaza 11am-12nn: On the way to jump off 12-1pm: Lunch/Rest 1pm-5pm: Start Walking To Camp 1( River Bed) Day 2: 4am: Wake Up Call 5am: Start Walking 10am: Camp Alangan 10am-11am: lunch 12nn-5pm: Camp 2( Ranchohan) Day 3: 4am: Wake Up Call 5am: Start Walking With Pack launch 10am: ebj peak 12nn: Summit/ Lunch 1pm: Start Backtracking To Camp 2 5pm: Camp 2 Day 4: 4am: Wake Up Call 5am: Start Walking 10am: Camp Alangan 10-11am: Lunch 12nn-5pm: Start Walking 5pm: PNP Barbaza/Lumbuyan Day 5: Socials All Day Note: No reg. fee Free I.D 25 climbers only( invitees only) Free 1 guide, additional guide will be shared by invitees. Priority for these climb are the climbers from mt. madja-as alojipan-flores climb( from mud to the star 2008 ) & mt. madia-as flores-alojipan traverse ( from mud to the star 2 2010 ). Updates will be posted and send to the invitees. A message will be send to invites for the confirmation.

Backpacking Southern Antique

After so many discussions of where to go next, Hajji and I headed to the southern part of Antique, Philippines. Armed with our camping gears and little information, We’ve reached our destination, took a dip at the hot springs of Siraan and explored the protected Nogas Island of Anini-y.

Mountaineering

The humbling experience! The experience that you can’t find in any sports if ever you would consider mountaineering as a sport. Spending so much time and savings and ended up walking under the sun, through the rain even night trekking and that what you would get after all those expensive equipments you bought. the reality is all about your strength and not how fast you can to reach the campsite not by the comfort of quality gears you are wearing in the climb it is in the heart of the climber to keep on walking how difficult it was all day.




It was heart whelming having your step at the highest point of the mountain crowded by so many thoughts while ascending and as soon as you conquer him it was like nothing, nothing had just happen but climbing doesn’t ended up their we need to descent whatever it takes. Coming back home safe and unharmed means a successful climb. We shared story’s and others would ignored it some would stop and listen and still it wouldn’t be that expressive as to be their to be the one walking on the ridge, camping in the wild. It would be a like a page turner book when told with your mates of the climb.



A Dulming moment with your buddies on trail is always on the mind when on camp, disregarding the all day walking. What is on each mind to sit and have a sharing of moments and laughter’s with rhum on the round instead of having a rest and sleep for the next day of trek. The high light of the climb is not of what we had with us but how can we mingle to some one without worrying of what to say, you can share and laugh, the most experience is friendship despite of each one difference. Their will be no price, no goods, no awards for your kindness but a warm smile that you would bring to the next climb.




Climbing mountains doesn’t end up soon. There is no age to define that you are not qualified to do it as long as you got determination to walk, mountains is just waiting for us to when we will be there to step over him. That climbing is a humbling experience that some how by the end of the day it will make us a better person.

Mt. Madia-as Itinerary: Flores- Alojipan Traverse Climb

Day 1:

6am-12nn: Assembly at Culasi

12nn-3pm: Culasi to Brgy. Flores

3pm-5pm: Trek to Suli ( Camp Site )

Day 2:

2am: Wake-up call

2:30am: Continue trekking

6am: Tree Line ( Water Source )

8am: Continue trekking

10am: Bantang River

12nn: Continue trekking

4pm: camp 3 ( Camp Site )

Camp 3

Day 3:

5am: Wake-up call

7am: Continue trekking

9am: Ridge 

11am: peak

12nn: Continue Trekking

2pm: Boundary

4pm: Hanggud Tubi ( Camp Site )

Day 4:

5am: wake-up call

7am: Continue trekking

12nn: Brgy. Alojipan

1pm: bound to Culasi

2pm: at Culasi

More Info, Mail me.

From Mud To The Star 2010

Flores to Alojipan Traverse Climb March 26-29, 2010. Special thanks to the 23 participants who share a enjoy and safe climb. 

To the sponsors of I.D namely Amy,Edz,Ola. Timoy Labandero for the Streamer. Lester de Julian for the certificate. Biboy for the Lunch on the 29th @ Culasi. Renel for the Heavy Dinner @ San Jose, Jason Malaga for the Socials @ Bundoks Bar. 

To Nung Jelly the man Tracker. Tay Dimas and friends for teh safe guide to the traverse and Doc Abby who Qoute "From Mud To the Star" salamat abyan!

Sea of clouds in Mt. Madia-as

See you again on 2012 From Mud To Star lll. 

TAGS: HAJI AMSI, MT. MADIA-AS, MT. MADJA-AS

Christmas In Brgy. Alojipan 2010

Christmas Escapade 2: Xmas In Alojipan. Every year we give a little back as much as we take and shared to the communities. This time we go back to Brgy. Alojipan to shared something and to connect and build more friendship with the local's and guide's. Brgy. Alojipan is one of the jump off when climbing Mt. Madia-as in Culasi, Antique.

Repacking at VML Molo Iloilo

Shared blessings to the people of Alojipan from the Mountaineers and friends whose name are listed below. Xmas in Alojipan would like to thank:

Joyce Penasa iloilo
Adonis Lloren Luzon
Amy remollata iloilo
Anton Cerrada Bacolod
Rhove Dadis Luzun
Andre Balderas Iloilo
Shiela Ola Iloilo
Chris Jaleco Iloilo
Renel Sarmiento Iloilo
Shiela Ola Iloilo
Carlo Tamba Antique
Marlin Abutas Antique
Hardy Espinosa Iloilo
Timoy Labandero Antique

And;
Sunny Maximo, tricycle driver sa pagbulig hakwat ka bagpack pagto sa alojipan kag pagpanugro. Duru-duru gid na salamat from the people of Alojipan. Thank you sa inyong lahat and mur blessings!!

Just Keep Walking...

Friendship Climb 2009

Friendship Trek 2009, The 28 trekkers of this event enjoy the grandeur of the Sibalom Natural Park.

From Mud To The Star 2008

Mt. Madia-as Traverse: Alojipan-Flores Oct. 23-26, 2008

Ahhh… Everyone except Niel, Taking rest and the river beb near by alojipan lets say 20 minutes in a distance, Their you can see the long neck man of the day as he say.. kampai!

Riza,lester,carlo,edz..(L-R)

As everyone as to enjoyed the gift of nature and commune with all its goodness we do have a guitar for peace. Heehaw and most do they wanted it ruins the silence of the night. Probably it won’t happen to bring an extra guitar maybe next time with bongos and a base drum. Nah! They are just making fan.

3 Ati’s could melt you down turn you to a headbangging or even worst let you dance in the night. ( Carlo,Biboy,Noel, L-R) 

We take refuge for the night at the Brgy. Hall of alojipan for a 1am jump off. They say that climbing mt. madja-as is strenuous and difficult climb. But for us as long as we enjoy it doesn’t matter how far we can reach on the trail it doest matter if we can set foot on the top, will conquer it nextime. We haven’t sleep on the first night of the climb until it was wake up call of 12mn and still we are up, we all just fix everything and are ready to start at 1am to begging the climb. 

At past 1 am we started to walk with most of the guys here are walking with a hang over yet with a smile in each face. We do all have? I guess. Heehaw. We start to walk as early as 1 am to avoid the heat of the sun in the open ridge of alojipan it would be better to have it pass before the sun is up and aside that we have much time to take it slow coz we do have a long way up to the campsite. Most of the laughing moments happen on the trail some laughing out loud seeing your buddy has a height frightened. hahaha lester kaw gid to. hahahaha

 

The night is the night for el terrible. The socials before the climb.

They seem too tired but they are not. They just wanted to say “ gutum na ko pard” hahahaha .Front-back: Carlo, Renel, Neil, Edz, Riza, Micheal, White, Bing.

  

Riza on the side of Mt. Madia-as mountain ranges. Damul eyebag ya!.

The island of Mararisn on the near left and on the far right is the island of Batbatan

   

  

The guitar man strumming his strings for the last sound he can play for the climb. Heehaw it was on the last open ridge before he turns out to a live concert climb. Don't knows what I mean but it takes three to enjoy the climb with a guitar man on trail. Heehaw peace.

 

The smile on every face of us. After a 10 hour walk in the open ridge we find ourselves under this bamboo portion for our breakfast. We reach this place at 9am since we head the jump off at 1:30 am. But as everyone smile to continue our trek. I was fooling a while ago it was not the last strums of the guitar man as u ca see.

The 1^st 10 footer open sheer drop ridge...mm? di pa ni amu to.

Nung jelly for the smoke on the ridge.

   

Morning of October 25^th.

The campsite at the boundary of aklan and antique. We reach the campsite at 4:30pm it was wet and the rain continues to pour down.  Not to bad for us to walk 13 hours. Fast forward. heehaw

 

Add caption

The tour guide

 

We leave the campsite at past 12noontime to back track back to bry. Alojipan as we all agree to canceled the trek to the peak as weather condition is stil the same foggy campsite rainfall continues to cold us as we descent we at started to to break to two the leadpack and the mid combined and the swept remains walking slow descending, it was awesome! Ga kudug man japun ang iban hahahahaha  istorya lang kun ka inum wala na lakton ya lang ang ridge? Hahaha istorya a. at swept are forced to rest and sleep at the small flat surface at 9 in the evening along the trail. 

We just laid our trapal as gropundsheet and also trapal for our blangket hahahaha tinamad mo. Leaches are everywhere damn! Sayang ang karate lessons ko if I couldn’t kick this sticking leaches.  Sometimes at night when leaches on renel damn he wud pull it and pass it to arhtur and Arthur pull it to his face and smack it to lester the same would lester  pass it to my face and I would pill it and pu tit to the head of nung jelly we are a pile of logs when one moves everyone change position.hahahaha  sleeping with very cold surface, wet feet cos we didn’? resulta ka tinamad kay kun nag set up b ka tent? But it was a very humbling experience since we haven’t eat our dinner and lunch. Like they say just keep on walking. And when worst come to worst it’s for better lester say. 

Right! We leave there at 4 am put our headlamp and slowly, surely start walking again and keep on smiling.hahaha talking what happen to the leadpack, the leadpack also reached their capsite at tay dimas ricefield at 12mn that’s when they start to rest while the 3, micheal,bing, carlo with tay dimas continues to the barangay alojipan they reach it safely at 3 am. While others remain.  All of us seen each other again unharmed at about 10 in the morning at the bgry. And start to tell its story... dulming but humbling.