Katipuneros in Daet

My college friends and I were considered to be "Katipuneros" because we would always traverse the intense heat of lunch to Katipunan just to eat. Anyway, after two years of hibernation in designated hospitals, the four of us met again for some quality time and outing together! (We missed Rizza and Jike though... Okay, maybe Jad... for them? Ha!)

Originally, Loi suggested Anawangin Cove because it's cheap and there are several deals on it. I agree, actually. But then, a friend's sister mentioned the beauty of Calaguas, read on that, and so, I suggested that instead.

Three words: It was beautiful!
Okay, another three words: It was hot!
Got tanned and burned in the process of appreciating this beautiful isolated place.

Anyway, we started with catching a night bus on May 21, 2012, using Philtranco Gold Service, priced at PhP 720.00. (The difference between the two was there is a comfort room in the Gold Service, which people didn't use because nobody saw it! Hmph! I think they're deliberately hiding it...) Basically, the bus was delayed plus there was a road construction somewhere in Quezon, so we arrived in Daet, around 7 am.

Gold Express Philtranco Bus (seated in front; which is a bad idea. it's better to sit at the back)

We had breakfast at the Lourdes Hospital, which my cousin's husband's family owns, then briefly went to the private port, which was still under construction.

Then on to our two-hour boat ride...

Calaguas Islands

We reached Mahabang Buhangin, the popular tourist spot of Calaguas Islands, where we had our lunch. We were scheduled to go to the private island at around 4 pm, so we better get used to the heat and start swimming! At first, I didn't go because I'm not really a beach person.

Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte

This is the life: lounging in the hammock, listening to the waves, feeling the ocean breeze

Buffet in Calaguas Islands (compared to the usual roughing it out)

After lunch, there's no way to go around it but to swim in this freakin' heat! It's so hot! But the sand is so powdery and soft! We basically stayed around the boat's shadows, trying to protect ourselves from the scorching sun, but it was no use. We tanned! Hehe

Powdery White Sand of Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Islands

Anyway, sad to say, but we had to transfer and go to the private islands while it's high tide. En route, we saw a floating fish, which our boatsmen caught. It was a very big talakitok. It seems so heavy, I wanted a picture with it, but there wasn't time hehe

A very large Talakitok

In the private island, we had our own bathroom and everything. We had some photo-ops by the rocks, set up a camp, had dinner, washed up, and proceeded to the main event for the night: drinking and talking and star gazing!

View from the Private Island

Rocky Formations

Shoreline of the Private Island

In the morning, we had some photo-ops (except for Loi who's feeling feverish maybe from the alcohol or the hot seat last night hehe), breakfast, and changed clothes again (We had minimum of 3 sets of clothes! Bwahaha! This is an outing meant for pictures and the pictures we got wasn't even enough!). 

When we got back to the mainland, Doc Philip was already waiting for us. We bought some souvenirs, and he toured us around the city for a while. We went to a church (sorry, no picture!) and Bagasbas Beach. Wow, I wanted to surf! The waves look so inviting... even in the midday scorching heat! We also saw the historically first Rizal monument.

Bagasbas Beach on the left, Runway of the airport on the right; View from a beach resort

Bagasbas Beach Shoreline (Low-Tide)

First Rizal Monument in the Philippines

We had free lunch, from the hospital which was actually for the Diabetic seminar participants (well, we are doctors and nurses hehe). Then we went to the Mampurog River for some swimming. (I just love fresh water compared to salt water.)

Panoramic View of Mampurog River

The river was rocky (as obviously seen from the picture), with varying depths because of the rocks. There was a slight undercurrent, which was no problem for me to swim through. Apparently, I made it appear easy to swim across the river. But Loi was basically... washed with the current to say the least; she lost her slippers in the process.

Loi lost, er I mean, donating her slippers to the river

There were lots of palm trees around, and we had some buko juice afterwards.

We went back to the hospital to wash ourselves up, and fix our things. Then we had dinner, and caught the 8 o'clock bus back to Manila.

(Non-Gold Service) Aircon Philtranco Bus

It was just an overnight trip with the girls, but it was fun (Okay, 2D/3N, but since 2 of the nights were in the bus, it didn't count). I really like the star-gazing part (I found two wishing stars! Guess what I wished for? Clue: Inspired!). I really like Mahabang Buhangin too.

For the financial part, we paid a whopping PhP 8,000 for our boat (which if you can compare, you can get from other boatsmen at around 3-4k)... A boat that can fit 35-45 people! And there were just 4 of us, right? Anyway, we didn't know at the start (but we were billed afterwards) with additional PhP 1,000 for the cook. (Hmm, if I'd known that I would just insist we could cook. It would even be more fun that way!) My cousin also told me that there's basically Php 3,000 worth of food items bought (over-budget since we didn't eat that a lot; there's just four of us!), so we paid for that too. Then the bus ride going home costs PhP 540 for the non-gold aircon bus, which was actually faster and I had better sleep than the other one! Since I'm a very budget-conscious person, it feels like we paid a huge amount of money for this trip (rounded to PhP 5,000 per head), when we could have had this trip for a bargain, and still fun! (Maybe more fun, because we would be staying in Mahabang Buhangin. And sometimes, it's actually the "roughing" it out part, that's fun.)

Though if I was really honest about this trip, I sort-of wished I didn't tell my cousin that we were going to Daet. There was just the four of us! Maybe if I had a bigger group (maybe 35 or something?), I would tell her. But since there's only four of us, I don't think the boat or the private island is worth it. Actually, I think I would rather stay in the tourist beach Mahabang Buhangin, because it was just... really... amazing! I was satisfied there already, even if we don't have our own bathroom in the private island. The private island was great with rocky formations and such, but I would rather go with the Mahabang Buhangin. Actually, we didn't even have enough time to go and explore Mahabang Buhangin... Sigh, maybe next time...

Mt. Marami Climb

Climb another mountain for May - check
Reflecting - still ongoing
Socializing - still ongoing

Since I was so pleased with myself for climbing Mt. Pulag, I must have caught the fever, because I want to climb again, as early as one week after climbing that! Haha I even sent a message to one of my mountaineer friends, to invite me even if it's just a dayhike! (Once kumapal na ang mukha, dire-diretso na pala! Hehe Of course, I was still high from the climb, so I was kind of in this feeling where nothing can make you feel down, even if you were rejected?? Hehe)

Mt. Marami was a different mountain altogether. It is located in Cavite, not in Cordilleras. That alone should have given me enough warning about the weather! That and there was Deo's email that it's a hard climb!? (Whatda?!? I invited my friend along, and this will be her first mountain! We thought it was a beginner's climb!) The itinerary seems simple enough:

Day 1 (May 19, Saturday)
0430 Assembly at Lawton Post Office, Manila.
0630 ETA Naic
0800 ETA Magallanes. Registration.
0900 ETA Brgy. Ramirez, Brgy. Hall. Registration.
0930 Start trek
1000 ETA Ilog na Kayrayag
1100 Cross three segments of Bangkaan River; Nuestra Señora de la Paz trail
1200 ETA Kapihan Nipa hut. Lunch
1300 Resume trek to Campsite 1
1400 ETA Campsite 1
1500 Reach Bamboo Forest
1600 ETA Campsite at base of Mt. Marami Summit.
1630 Assault the summit; explore.
1800 Return to camp.
1830 Dinner. Socials
2200 Lights Out.

Day 2 (May 20, Sunday)
0530 Wake up call. Sunrise viewing
0630 Breakfast
0730 Break camp
0800 Start descent
1030 Back at Kapihan nipa hut
1230 Back at jump-off point at Brgy. Ramirez. Lunch
1400 ETA Naic. Bus to Manila
1700 ETD Manila

I was able to invite my friend Tin, to come with me. Deo told us to pack light, and that there was no need for sleeping bags. So there we were, carrying school-like back packs, while most of them were carrying their mountaineering packs! Hehe I know some to most of them already, so we just said Hi. Still, I find it very awkward and generally intimidating because there was a lot of them who has been through a lot already. That and the fact that I need to buy some water, prompted Tin and me to go out for a while to buy some. (Originally, two of my sisters were to go with me, but they got sick, vomiting. So I told them to just stay home, it was a good thing they stayed, because we hardly made it to the climb without some sort of dehydration, what more for them?)

Anyway, so we took the bus to Baclaran, and had another bus to Naic, Cavite. Since I already know some of them from the Pulag climb, I befriended some of those who are new to me (besides, they seem to come in twos, so it's easier for me that way). I started joking around that we should stay together because there were 3-4 pairs of us with a beginner; and if we rest for a long while, it wouldn't matter because we were all beginners hehe

Backpackers United Before the Climb in front of the Barangay Hall

The route was really, really HOT. There was no wind. And Tin and I just brought 2 liters of water! Ha!! Though in fairness, we have a fan each haha The trail started with a few meters of grassland, then dried mud, and wet mud when close to the river (oh yeah, I got into this because of the 3 river crossings; which was negligible by the time that we climbed because it was dry/summer season). It only reached up to my ankle!

Of the four rivers that we "crossed", this is the biggest

"River" Crossing

It wasn't that bad, because there was no inclines yet. But after approximately 1 1/2 hrs of trekking, the incline starts! And there was no trees! It seems that we need 30 minutes of rest, but we just go on a 30-second ascent, our "rest" washes off! Grabe, I thank God that I get bored easily (and doesn't last long) with jogging in the threadmills, and would rather do the stepper or the incline on the threadmill! What more for those newbies, who didn't had cardio fitness? Haha And they're still carrying heavy backpacks! Hehe

The Sweepers Caught up with The Beginner's Circle

There was a "potable" water source, but I'm not sure how potable it is. I saw a carabao drinking from it, maybe it's potable for them? The locals apparently drink it, but it was still water, coming from the rocks, so I don't really trust it. (I can imagine the bacteria and E. coli...)

By the time, we reached camp, it was around 1 pm in the afternoon, so the sun was really, really hot! We had packed lunch (Tin and I didn't realize; it's a good thing she brought Tuna Paella, while I brought Sisig.) Everyone wanted to nap, nobody wants to go the summit in this hot weather! Everyone was also conserving their water, bartering for water, which was the gold up there! Hehe

I tried to sleep inside the tent, after eating. Unfortunately, there was no wind. I don't know how Bea took it, but she was able to sleep! Olive, Tin, and I all had our fans. I couldn't take the oven anymore, so I went out. I asked if there was still space where I can insert myself in their little huddle.

Inserted and fitted myself successfully in this little area of shade

Since we didn't go to the summit that afternoon, Deo made dinner, as early as 4 pm, so we were eating by 5 pm! I wasn't even hungry yet. Anyway, at least that means that we can have our socials early, and sleep early too.

Made our climb worthwhile

Mt. Marami Summit

Tin and I at the Summit

 After climbing the summit, we head back to camp. Found breakfast ready, thanks to TL Deo, who didn't come with us to the summit. (Hmm, I wonder why? :) ) Anyway, we broke camp, fixed the tent, and started the descent. One of our stop-overs was where we can get some buko juice. We were running very low on water by that time. (By the way, I managed to survive with my 2L of water! 1.5L consumed on Day 1, and 500mL consumed on Day 2. Barely made it! I had two buko juice!)

Stop-Over During the Descent

Waiting for the Buko Juice

Eventually, we reached the barangay hall. We ate lunch, and washed up.

Squeaky Clean Backpackers United after the Climb

Grabe! It was a pretty hard climb because of the lack of water, lack of wind, lack of shade, and full of inclines! Yet, it was still memorable because of the company and our complaints against so many things (especially for Tin because this is her first climb yet! Haha Hopefully, there will be a second time for her) hehe But I wouldn't go back to Mt. Marami anytime soon hehe

Mt. Pulag "Solo" Climb

Climb Mt. Pulag - Check
Go on a Solo Trip - Check
Socialize - Check
Reflecting - Not so much...

All of my siblings have already been to Mt. Pulag, all of them saying the same thing to me: Climb it! After 6 months of coordinating my schedule and finding a climb-mate, I finally had an opening in my schedule to climb Mt. Pulag on April 21 and 22, 2012. I was still hesistant, though because I couldn't find anyone to climb with me. (I was thinking of even paying for one of my siblings' fare so they could go with me.) But what the heck, after subscribing to a My Super Charged Life, and boosting my courage levels, I finally went out of my comfort zone and just climb with a group where I didn't really knew anyone (except for the group leader Deo of Backpackers United, who happens to be my sister's ex-boyfriend).

I was really hesitant, because I didn't know where to go. I am prepared for much awkwardness and shyness because I know my expectations. I find it hard to socialize! (It's one of my new year's resolutions!)

Anyway, I arrived in Victory Liner Cubao, precisely as Deo instructed. Unfortunately, there was still some time left. I didn't know where to go. But you could see our group, because they were talking and laughing, with their big backpacks in the middle. But me? I have my backpack with me plus a separate bag for my sleeping bag, sat on a chair, and just quietly read the e-book from my phone (I was finishing the second book of the trilogy of the Hunger Games). I really don't want to call attention to myself, but made myself known to Deo that at least I was in the vicinity hehe When they started walking to the bus, I followed them. Problem was, I don't know where to sit, so I just sat on one of the chairs. Fortunately, knowing I didn't know anyone, Deo sat beside me. He introduced me to some of his friends, who was seating behind us. Deo unfortunately, introduced me as a doctor! Great! What happened to the Not Calling Attention to myself? People tend to remember doctors...

It was a 6-hour bus ride, comfortably enough, and we arrived in Baguio City around 4 am, I think? (I don't have a watch so I'm estimating! Haha) We waited for the two jeepneys, which Deo rented for us. Then it was another 3-4 hrs of bumpy jeepney ride along the winding roads of Cordillera before we reached our first stop, Jang-Jang eatery, where we had our breakfast. Another awkward moment for me, since I can't help thinking, "Who or where do I hang out?" (There's Danna, whose friends with my sister, but they have their little group of 4. I find it intruding to put myself in.) One of our jeepney mates was telling Deo that he's dizzy. Doctor that I was, I offered Cinnarizine for the dizziness. I introduced myself, and thought to myself, "Yey! I made a friend!" At least, there is someone I can eat breakfast with. We first went to the hanging bridge, where there's a very shallow river below.

Thanks Ron for the pic, taken from his iPhone 

Then we ate breakfast and introduced ourselves. (I introduced myself as a marketing associate of our family business, which is partly true, but I don't really practice! I handle the company accounts... Right, now I remember, I'm supposed to contact some companies... Okay, I will... after finishing this blog hehe) Then another 2-hr jeepney ride to the Visitor's Center for some orientation. Unfortunately, there was a moment where the guide was asking about a medic, and Deo said, "We have a doctor, si Meme." (Boom! There goes my cover... And as I suspected, people started remembering me, and calling me Doc. Hmph! Low profile pala ha?)

Anyway, we went back to the jeep and started from the jump-off point. Actually, it wasn't really the jump off point, but we got down sooner because the road was under construction. I was really envious on how they managed to pack everything inside, even their sleeping bags because I couldn't manage it! I vowed I will fix it when we're in camp! Grabe, sementadong daan palang, nakakahingal na! But no, I vowed I will not use a porter like my sisters did! (Competitive?? Hehe) Anyway, we ate lunch at the Ranger Station. And started the trek from there.

Backpackers United at the Ranger Station; Pre-Climb

I brought two liters of water, but actually a liter will do. Aside from the fact that there are water sources available, for some reason I didn't want to drink that much or eat trail food during rest stops. The trail was okay, generally long, but there wasn't much incline; it's just that I find my backpack really heavy and I have another bag in my arms for my sleeping bag!

Look at them, all laughing! And me? Silent and alone, but ready for the pic! Haha

 
I had no idea of the time, but we reached camp maybe around 4:30 pm? There was still some light when we arrived, and we were able to climb a nearby hill for photo-op purposes. Initially, I started hanging out with Danna, and offered to help with dinner (generally, because I don't know what to do; I feel restless to sleep, and I don't really want to miss the mountain wind!) I did ask her if she wanted to climb a nearby hill, close to our camp, but looking at it, makes us feel tired already haha But then, another group asked us if we wanted to go, and I changed my mind and went with them. (I remembered my sister Matel telling me she wasn't able to climb the nearby hill because she fell asleep unexpectedly haha)

Going uphill? Or downhill?

There's our camp, behind and below us

After climbing, we helped with dinner (I just love slicing!). We had sinigang na baboy for dinner. Then we had socials. Socials is usually a fun social interaction between the climbers to bring them closer together, but since Deo wasn't able to prepare any game, it was actually a moment of awkward question-and-answer Haha Especially for me since for some reason, I was in the hot spot. (Ganoon pala pag mag-isa? Nagiging hot spot?? Hehe)

Sinigang na Baboy for dinner (Not your usual camping food)

We waked up around 4 am to climb the summit. It was still dark when we get there, a few minutes just before sunrise, but it was glorious! The view was just... amazing. No matter how good the camera or the photographers are, it wouldn't catch the view.

Taken at the summit, still dark, waiting for the sun to rise, with Dino, Jasper, and Danna

Sea of Clouds

Sea of Clouds behind me

Jump Shot at the Summit with Ron, Jomar, and Clariz

Rein, Ron, Jomar, Clariz, me, and Miko

Grabe, kung kanino lang talaga ako sumasama! Initially, I was with Danna and most of the group in the summit. But I find that there are so many people, so I walked to another area to have a solo picture with the clouds! Siyempre, hindi maganda pag ako ang nag picture kasi masyadong malapit. So pakapalan lang ng mukha, and asked someone else (who came from our group) to take a picture of me with my phone camera. Before I knew it, I was asking them to take a picture of me, and tag me in facebook! Haha (How's that for stepping out of my comfort zone?? Hindi ko alam kung mas nahirapan ako diyan or going skinnydipping with my friends!)

After a while, we went back, had breakfast, and break camp! It was about 9 or 10 am, when we finally started our descent. (By the way, I consider myself one step closer to becoming a true mountaineer because I was able to pack my sleeping bag within my backpack, and I have therefore two free hands! Yey!)

Backpackers United at Mt. Pulag

Ranger Station Post-Climb

After the Ranger Station, we went back to the Visitors Center for graduation and some post-climb pics.

Congratulations! (unfortunately, thanks to Deo, that's not my name!)

Backpackers United at Mt. Pulag Visitor's Center, Post-Climb

We went back to Jang-Jang Eatery, where we had a late lunch, and had a chance to wash up. Unfortunately, there were only two comfort rooms. And there was a lot of us. Basically, I just want to get wet and just change my clothes! I'm going to do a full bath once I get home anyway. Fortunately, a few of them were going to the river and were going to wash up there. My love for freshwater made me agreed wholeheartedly! And I really thank them for inviting me! Hehe

Since no alcohol was allowed during socials, we consumed our alcohol inside the jeep going back to Baguio. (Imagine, that the journey can already make one dizzy because of the zig-zags, plus we're drinking? It was a good thing that no one vomited!)

Inside our Jeep (there were two)

We got in Baguio City, around 7:30 pm. We had dinner, and left, catching the Victory Liner bus back to Cubao.

It was a very fun experience for me! Considering that I don't know anyone, and I'm really shy! Haha This is a real test of comfort zone for me. Thanks Backpackers United for making me feel so welcome! It's actually because of the comraderie (and the scenery) that made me want to climb a mountain monthly... Okay, plus it's also the feeling of adventure and achieving something :)