Finding Biki: Unknown Body Found

I got a call from Ange a little before lunch, who said that Biki's mom called, crying that they found his body. Panic, panic mode! I was hungry but I didn't have appetite because we were too anxious. People were texting us, saying that the local channels were confirming that there's a body found, and that they're thinking that it's Biki, because of the clothes. So there we were, waiting anxiously in base camp, present, but no equipment, not ready and cannot help even bring supplies.

JM who is constantly on night duty was awake, so he's the best one to tell the story:

3:45 to around 4:00 AM, a SUV arrived including 4-6 people na naka orange. found out that these are the members of TV 5. then another SUV arrived. THe locals are there (ung mga nakakita sa katawan ni Biki) then 2 motorcycles arrived as well, including 2 another locals na kasama sa operation.

around 4:15 locals start to inform us na "positive" nga. then i asked kung saan ung picture ng nakuha, sabi it would be tomorrow pa daw na pede na ipakita/makita namin. then the story started. 

one of the locals (the injured one) sabi nila na hindi daw tlaga makikita ung dahil nde daw ganuon kalakas ung alingasaw ng katawan (questionable) kaya baka nde daw nakita lahat. they are claiming that the team who went down did not reached that area an based on the discription, impossible na doon daw babagsak si biki. 

then i asked kung paano nga nila nakita ung body. bumaba sila sa 1500 steps and nag boat after that nag climb sila ng around 3.5 hours and dapat daw according to the locals on that barangay e 5 hours daw. sabi ng guide (and i quote: mabilis lang naman namin nakita ung katawan, madaling nakita) which i would think na contradicting kasi later pagka kwento nya is meron silang map dahil hindi nila kabisado ung lugar so they walked and meron silang naamoy na smell (hindi malakas) they followed it until nawala.. naghanap parin sila and around 30 mins meron ulit nangamoy which is a "sign" daw na gusto na daw makita si biki. then nag light sila ng lighter to determine which way the wind would blow. "sa baba pre!" sabi. tapos nag split pa rin sila to determine. then parang naligaw sila.... 

not to mention na ang lugar e mushy, madaling malaglag ung mga rocks and limited lang daw ang person na pede pumunta kasi baka gumuho at nalalaglag dahan dahan ung body. then nung naligaw sila, nde nila napansin/nalaman agad na andon na sila sa site na merong amoy. so hence, nakita nila ung katawan ni biki.. 

we were able to take a look at the pictures. confirmed that the watch, shoes (missing ung isa), pants, damit ay ke biki

So we saw the pictures taken by the locals.  For privacy and human dignity, pictures were deleted after viewing them. We just want to see if it really was Victor. Our observations:

1. We gasped when we saw the red shoe, because it was certainly familiar!
2. The position of the body was twisted and tattered. The head was covered in a pile of rocks (as if it was intentionally put on there). The body was faced upward (?), with the brown shirt worn way up (I'm not sure if it even reached the armhole or just the neck). The body was facing downward, with the pants Pittman Outdoors seen on the pocket. The position of the hands were spread, while those of the feet was close together. The shoe was found about 1 meter away from the body. There was no camera bag, no other shoe, no hat found around the area. (Or did they really look?)
3. First, you would expect a dead person to be pale and cold, with blue-purple on the bottom where the blood would pull to gravitate. But instead, his skin was orange... with grey to black scorches. It even has a seemingly-looking blister on the right upper arm. It looks like balat ng lechon... My conclusion, the body was burned. My friends also noticed the black scorch particularly on both ankles, like he was tied.
4. Second, there was an open bone there. It wasn't a fracture, it was an exposed left shoulder joint. Now, who would think that the bone would be clean, if the fall was made while the body was alive, wouldn't there be blood and gore? And it won't be that easy to separate the tissues from the bone? The picture seemed to show that his whole left arm was completely detached from the joint. If this is a live body prior to falling, it won't detach that easily.
5. We saw some wounds and scratches which he could get from falling, but it doesn't seem to bleed much. Post-mortem wounds, maybe?
6. Two weeks, at this time, wouldn't it smell? Or have maggots and insects in them?

Now let's talk about the missing items and generally just weird items...

7. There was a watch, which he wore on the right hand (which according to Ange, he only wears on the left hand.) Surprisingly, the watch doesn't seem to have a drop of blood. Also, the way it was attached, it wasn't attached securely and the watch face was turned towards the ventral side of the body, which is usually on the dorsal side.
8. We know that he wears gloves EVERY where, but there wasn't any on the body.
9. We know that he has bracelets on his wrist, but there wasn't any at all.
10. Angelyn know that he has a ring, that he never removes. It cannot be easily feel from the body.
11. Surprise, surprise! There was no camera bag in the crime scene. Along with the cellphone of course.
12. One shoe was found 1 meter from the fall. But if one falls, does the hiking shoes really separate from the shoes? Maybe if it's loose right? But the socks looks looser...
13. Socks are usually positioned in such a way that the heel and the toe will fit exactly with that of the sock. But the socks seems to be disarranged, like it was just put on.

How about the location?
14. The body was found in the Rockies, a place where Maricris fell two decades ago. So it was combed, rapelled 3x at least! And yet they didn't found anything? There was even a dog then, and it wasn't able to sniff anything!
15. From the Rockies, it was another descent going down, spiraling until you reach the covered area. Weird thing is, you kind of have to curved a bit to get to the part where they say they found the body. Else, it would have been a straight descent.

16. Actually, the crime scene doesn't seem to bleed that much. Hmm... Actually, I would look at where he fell from the Rockies and follow that line going down. See the blood splatter...

So um, yes, we can confirm that the clothes and the shoes may belong to Victor. But the body? I'm not sure. I still believe that Biki is NOT that body; that body also died from torture and burn, and was pushed (or dropped) afterwards.

Sigh... Only the autopsy will confirm anything... Actually, the DNA test will confirm it. I just hope the parents agree.

Finding Biki: Part 2

Engkanto, in Wikipedia means "are environmental spirits that have the ability to appear in human form". They lead travelers astray, unless you have agimat or anting-anting. In some movies, they can also cause human madness, fevers, and unexplained sickness. Do you believe in them?

I don't know, but I believe that there are things in this world that cannot be explained, cannot be seen or experienced by the five senses. I believe that there are other dimensions currently presiding but maybe in a different plane. I know that the easiest and most logical explanation would be those that can be seen. And sometimes, it usually is the answer. But when our senses are exhausted, and our logic seems far-fetched, we believe that other reasons are possible.

Could this be what happened to Biki? Statements pertaining to this kind of angle:

1. Another mountaineer got lost in the Maculot for 2 days. He experienced it first hand, what it means to be played on by the engkanto. He was found in the Ligaw na Daan part of Mt. Maculot. (Deo said they searched this part but it was a dead end.)

2. The locals claim that there were several incidents of people missing in the forest. One man, found after several weeks, looking at a tree, naked, holding a picture of his girlfriend. "Na-engkanto daw." I don't know what happened to him afterwards.

3. There was a trail found by the psychics in the Ligaw na Daan, which was claimed by the locals to be a dead end with a wall of solid rock at the end (and Deo did confirm that). But when they get there, they claimed that there was a hole, where a person can pass, and a trail. They wanted to push and see what's on the other side, but the locals said they need a rope. (I think that they're thinking it to be a portal at this point.) and it was a little before 6 pm, so it was also getting dark.

The locals claim this wasn't supposed to be here before

This is supposed to be a dead-end. One big wall of rock.

4. There appears to be engkanto because there were reported incidents of spontaneous combusting fire that happened in Cuenca last year, as I have researched in the news. This was eventually solved by another psychic... Whom I am still researching about and trying to contact but cannot get the details.

5. According to another psychic in Palawan, Biki is being held by engkanto. And what do we do so he can be returned? We will know on Friday what needs to be done. Why Friday? I don't know. Is it a full moon? Maybe it's a ritual? Maybe as they say, Friday has a greater signal for this psychic connections. Or maybe it's the day before Biki's birthday? Maybe the engkanto will convene and decide what they want in exchange for Biki? Grabe, kung telenobela ito, ito na ang weekend at kailangan maghintay after 2 days kung ano ang gusto ng engkanto.

6. I don't know if this is related or not, but since I'm just writing my thoughts and trying to organize them and remember them all, I'm gonna write it anyway. The father of the ex-barangay kagawad (who was the guide for BU in Del Pilar) has been missing for several years and was never found. But my cousin told me that he "visits" his home. The family would claim that they saw the slippers at night, but in the morning it would be gone. I don't know if that means it's a ghost or as I said previously, simultaneous people living life in different dimensions or plane.

7. Biki's parents went to Dolores, Quezon to another manggagamot, saying that Biki was indeed na-engkanto. These psychics keep on telling us to pray. Apparently, our being prayer-fulness doesn't seem to be enough. But then again, I've been with this group of people, and I admit that they don't really pray much. I seem to be the only one who is concerned on making it to Sunday mass after a climb. And Biki climbed a mountain instead of observing the usual traditions during Holy Week. Is this really telling us something? Or is this just another coincidence?

Do I believe? I don't know. I just want to talk to those people who said that they found the rock to be open... But I don't know what to ask them. Or see the picture of the rock and the trail.

Though I must say, I don't know which I believe more: the foul play or the engkanto angle. This just doesn't seem to be reality anymore. It's... surreal, actually.

UPDATE: Okay, they checked the place where the rock was supposed to be solid, but according to them, it was opened like that. Like, it wasn't really closed according to other locals. That was confusing. Dahil diyan, tanggaling na ang statement 3.

Finding Biki: Part 1

It's been a week since Biki was reported to be missing. Here is a basic summary of what happened:

1. Biki came from a climb in Mt Guiting-Guiting in Romblon and arrived in Batangas Pier on Sunday very early morning... As evidenced by an ATM transaction.

2. He was estimated to arrive in Cuenca at around 4 am. Since it was probably very early, he wasn't able to register. Plus, it was Easter Sunday. He left his pack at the Mountaineer Store, and can only speculate that he brought his camera bag and water with him since he will only stay for a couple of hours.

3. There is a photo submitted by a mountaineer with Biki in the Rockies at around 6 to 7 AM, probably waiting for the sunrise.

4. Apparently, his last text message to Leo stated something like he has to turn off his phone to save battery around 5 am?

5. He had allegedly talked to the store owner in the campsite, Mang Richard, who sold him a bottle of water at around 9 AM, while he was on his way down.

6. At around 10 AM, he was allegedly seen by a mountaineer on the fork of the old and new trail, near the Lumang Sapa, which was just 10-15 minutes away from the jump-off point... Which was another 10-15 minute walk from the Mountaineer store, where he left his things.

7. He was supposed to meet Angelyn in Manila by 12 noon, but he didn't show.

8. Angelyn, Sofia, and his father went to Cuenca, Batangas on Monday to search for him. The police shrugged it off, thinking he might be in Manila. Especially since someone claimed to see him board a bus going back to Manila on Sunday afternoon. And an alcohol-intoxicated driver (What?! Since when did driving and drinking can combine? And driving a public transportation like a bus?!) claims that he remembers leaving Victor in Megamall at around 8 am.

10. On Tuesday noon, Angel went to Megamall to verify through the CCTV cameras if Victor indeed get off, but a written request was needed, and she wasn't able to view them. On that same day, someone from Cuenca texted Angel that an unclaimed backpack was left in the mountaineer store. Hence, it was concluded that Victor was missing somewhere in the mountain. And so the search started.

My stories for Monday and Tuesday mostly came from Patrick and Angel. I wasn't present during Tuesday night and Wednesday of the search, but I came directly from work in Cavite to help. These are my observations and personal opinions during the search:

1. Most of the areas in Maculot was already searched. Clean. Negative for any signs of Victor or his things. Except for that part in the foot of the mountain, near the town proper. We were discouraged by the chief to go, was not offered police escort, and the locals there told us we cannot pass unless we travel with a local so we won't get lost. While we were there, everyone was staring at us. One man came to talk to us... then another... then another man was approaching, playing with his bolo like waving it around... When Leo saw him, he just conceded and we went down. Besides, why would an area be closed off when one is searching for someone?

2. The debriefing done by the chief has a questionable ending, simply ending with a recommendation that we stopped the search, saying that it is possible that Victor is not in the mountain, but doesn't want to be found. Huh? As his friends, he is not that kind of person. He's even slowly getting famous through his photographs. Secondly, a missing person could also be missing due to crime-related reasons, right? Even folk ones...

After the debriefing, the mayor did not stop the search, and told them to search the caves. This is the time when Deo asked if we can search that portion of the foot off the mountain. And he let us be. Just to be on the safe side, we got his councilor's number who told us that he will be sending a guide to go with us. Unfortunately, a police escort wasn't volunteered.

3. The local guides didn't seem to be volunteering much. Even the police didn't seem to be that fast or motivated in searching. But then again, maybe because it's just a job to them.

4. While on their way to the "forbidden" area, someone in a motorcycle passed by, saying that Victor was found. It was a good thing LJ called me to verify, because I told him, no! Continue on the search. Our trek was just starting too. It was like there really is something in that area that they are hiding.

5. While they were searching that "forbidden" area, several thoughts came up. The local guide, who was the ex-baranggay kagawad, was suggesting to offer monetary reward. During the case of Maricris, another mountaineer who disappeared for two weeks, say that her body was found after posting the reward. Same thing happened to another guy who got lost, but was found, barely alive. Then, he apparently knows some family background of his parents and where they work. They even believed that the helicopter was rented for 1.4M! They didn't believe that we just got it for free, through our many connections and donations. They think Biki's family is very rich.

6. While they were searching, the guide seemed to be guiding them towards other places such as the grotto, etc. It was only when they showed him the GPS/map that he finally conceded. There were even parts when the guide would say that there's no trail, but my friends claimed that it looks more like a trail than the one they were currently on! And on that trail, they were lots of places that they could search. Their team was even divided into two (because there were two guides, the ex-brgy kagawad and the one send by the mayor). They feel that the guide was getting irritated with every fork they see, asking where it leads to.

7. Whenever I ask the locals stories about Maculot such as hold-ups, they deny them. But I saw a blog (well, it was dated 2005) saying that a hold-up occurred in the campsite. Also, mountaineers also agree to this. But the locals seem to know nothing about it. Maybe they're just protecting their reputation?

8. Maricris' death was said to be due to suicide, that she was drunk that night, because she was pregnant (according to my cousin) or her boyfriend broke up with her (according to another blog). But according to my cousin who knows her personally, said that the police report stated that there was foul play involved because it seemed that she was pushed off the Rockies. My cousin said that she also climbed Maculot several times, and on that night, she was with 1 or 2 people. I don't know why her climbing-mates would let her out of their sight, especially if she was drunk at night. Second, they also combed through most parts of the mountains, including the Rockies, and nothing was seen. It was only after the monetary reward was it discovered. And the way it was discovered, they say she was pushed off the cliff. Third, we think it's very hard to climb that steep portion of the Rockies if you're drunk. Because you really have to push yourself upwards using your arms. Fourth, she was said to be missing a shoe when she was found... Though that part can be explained by other things.

9. My friends and I impromptly stayed overnight on Saturday. LJ followed, arriving before the sunrise in Cuenca. He rode a tricycle, with the driver asking him all sort of weird questions: "Saan ka pupunta?" (Where are you going?) and "Mag-isa ka lang ba?" (Are you alone?). Then the driver took him to the jump off point for the Grotto, which was dark and there was no one at sight! It was a good thing he knows his way around, so he adamantly refused saying that he's headed for the jump off point for the Rockies. Then the driver asked him questions like "Madalas ka na bang umaakyat ng Maculot? Alam mo na ang pasikot-sikot? Hindi ka na maliligaw dito?" (Do you climb Maculot frequently? Do you know your way around it? You won't get lost, anymore?) And I was thinking.. What if Victor was asked these same questions? And he replied, even sharing that he will only be going on a dayhike? He's very familiar with the mountain so he might feel comfortable enough with the local to share this. Thinking it was just small chat. I mean, I would.

10. Biki has climbed lots of mountains. I agree that this mountain is a bit slippery, especially if one is running, but if he slipped, there is usually something else that can be hold on to. And they searched the cliffs and points where he could fall, but it's just simply negative.

Coincidence? Or just watched too many movies?? Imagination override? I don't know. But these are my thoughts and opinions, and there are just too many coincidences. It's driving me crazy, but it seems that foul play is possible.

So what are the possible conclusions? Victor falling was the leading conclusion but seeing that most of the mountain was combed without any signs of him, it may be something else. Second, Biki was kidnapped or a hold-up occured. Third, engkantos cannot be explained and this can definitely fall under that. I listed it in another entry, because I cannot sleep again last night.

The Great Visayan Road Trip: 2nd day

Day 2:
We woke up early so we can start our sightseeing at 6am but the driver fetched us at 630 am. We went to the nearby beach while waiting to catch remnance of sunrise.

Our first stop was the old balete tree. After 3 shots, we went to Lazi. We took several shots in Lazi church and convention. We passed by a bakery where we could eat some quick breakfast.

Then we reached Cantambuhay Falls after 126 steps. We had some photo ops, went to the highest level of waterfalls (there were 3 levels), and had more photo ops. Some locals came and jumped from the falls. Ingitero kami so that's why we also jumped. We also did the Tarzan jump, but the landing was shallow so I had abrasions in my knees. Nevertheless, it was still fun hehe

Next stop was Salagdoong Beach where we could slide and cliff jump. It was nearing 1030am and kat had to go early to catch the noon ferry back to Dumaguete because she had an entrance exam the next day. Fortunately, she was able to peek at the cliff. We had some photo ops, and had lunch. The slide was dry so we didn't slide. The cliff was really high and I feel dizzy when I look down. Fortunately, seeing the picture of Ralph jumping gave me courage to jump too hehe (ingitera talaga ako hehe).

After jumping, we told our driver to take us back to the resort where we can take a bath and just catch the next ferry back to Dumaguete. It just so happened that we were just slow so we rode the 530pm ferry, which was the latest schedule at the time.

We thought we wouldn't make it because the fery suddenly changed ports because of the wind but, actually the roro was very late and we left siquijor at around 7pm.

When we arrived in the port, we walked towards Scooby's thinking to have dinner there. We passed by Siliman University, showed them the Boulevard and had 'tempura' there. We wanted to show them Watever Ktv and reserved a slot for later. We saw that Barbecue Jones was open and cheap, so we had dinner there instead. At 12mn, there was a room available for Ktv where we went inside.

Some were really sleepy, so I laid my sleeping bag for them haha some were working and charging phones, because there was also free wifi. While the rest like moi, were singing our hearts out hehe

These came on for 3 hours. Much cheaper than staying in a motel! Haha less than 500 for 11 people to do their own business hehe at 3 am, we went to the Ceres bus terminal to go to Oslob. To be continued...

Expenses:
Siquijor Multicab 2000/12 pax
Island Rendevoo 2400/12 pax
Bread breakfast 100/12 pax
Driver's lunch 140+parking fee at cantambuhay falls 50+20 parking at salagdoong
Entrance at Salagdoong 15/pax
Lunch in Salagdoong est less than 100 (food usually by 2 to 3 ppl)
Ferry to Dumaguete 180/pax ?
Terminal fee 20/pax ?
Dinner in barbecue jones less than 100
Watever KTV 480/11 ppl

The Great Visayan Road Trip: 1st day

Arrived in Cebu. Traveled to Dumaguete. Catch a ferry to Siquijor. Back to Dumaguete as a transit. Swim with the whale sharks in Oslob, Cebu. Back to Cebu City for the Sinulog festival. Rode a ferry to Ormoc, Leyte. City day tour in Tacloban with Jom. Hiked with Fernz for 7 hrs to a waterfall. Joined a local birthday celebration in Catbalogan, Samar. Bus to Legazpi. Back to Manila. The gist of my first roadtrip for the year 2013.

7 days. 6 provinces. 5 islands. 4 days with my sisters and climb friends. Another 3 days of roadtrip with my best friend. 10 kg of clothes and baggage.

Day 1:
Matel, Macy, Kat, Ralph and I went to Cebu, taking the first flight via cebupac and arriving at 5:30 am. We were greeted by our second cousin and we went to their house for a while. We were to rent their van to take us to Oslob but because of a long story, we just borrowed 2 of their cars to take us to Liloan port in Santander, Cebu.

We visited Mary's Castle on the way to the port where we had some photo ops. I didn't think our second-cousin Cory expected that we would take so long hehe


Anyway, we arrived in Liloan at around 130pm. We took the ferry for 30 min, it was a very very bumpy ride, causing most of the passengers to be seasick. I was a bit seasick myself so I went to the upper deck for some air.

When we got to dumaguete, we filled up a multicab to take us to Hous of Sansrival where we await the schedule of the ferry to Siquijor.

We had a good lunch with good desserts, that most of us wanted to walk for a while and digest our food. As macy mentioned, we've been traveling the whole day! We just took the 7pm ferry to siquijor and arrived at 9pm.

In siquijor, we rented a multicab to take us to the resort at Php 500, which I believe to be expensive.

Anyway, that ends our first day :)

Expenses:
Breakfast at Mcdo
Gas going to the port - est 1300/12 ppl
Ferry to Dumaguete - 60 per pax
Multicab to Hous of Sansrival - 25 per pax
Late lunch at Haus of Sansrival
Fast Ferry to Siquijor - 200 per pax
Multicab to Island Rendevoo - 500/12 ppl
Takeout food from Scooby's Dumaguete

Pictures to follow