Likod Kwaderno

August Trek @ Mt. Batulao

Posted by BaDong Wednesday, March 16, 2011 5 comments

After the summer of 2010, we thought of doing something new and more thrilling the some adventures we did. We thought of something about spelunking, but we did that when we’re at Sagada Mountain Province.

Some time pass, and we saw one of our friend walking with a humungous bag with him and stick like something (Trekking pole) I thought is for old guys only. We approached him and had a talk about where did he came from. After some talk, our friend managed to seduce us to join him to his next trip to trek a mountain.

He did mention to us to buy some gears we might need for trekking. I did not expect and even realized that it will cost me so much for just buying a trek bag, tent (My first tent), sleeping bag, and other things like for cooking and stuff.

And there we go we’re headed to Nasugbu Batangas and on the way I was thinking that it will be easy because I go to the gym almost every week. We arrived at the parking area and that I thought it is the jump point and that I was wrong. We moved forward and find out the jump point Mt. Batulau is still far in front us. Yey! We just got at the jump off point after 1hr and 30mins with the path of a sticky mud, so expect that the mud will also be your enemy while it hangs under your sandals/Shoes.

It’s not my first time trekking this mountain, although my first trek is just from the parking lot to the second peak of the mountain. So we moved from one peak to another and I realized that every step with took is one more step harder. So we had some stops and breaks and there we go we reached the campsite just for 4hours from the parking lot. One thing that I hoped for is a spot to take a …… you know. For just a little time we finished preparing our campsite for some time, and after we managed also to prepare our meal for the night. We had some fun with other mountaineers and some accidents bruised one of our members but it was just nothing (falling of the trail due to alcohol but luck saved him for landing into another path that is now a potato field).

The night passed and the morning sun came. It’s time to eat our breakfast and prepare to summit the mountain. We expect it will be a cloudy trek to the top but we’re wrong, it’s sunny and hot. The heat drained our stamina and water, so when reached the summit we had limited water. It was stinging hot at the top, but there is a weird tent there. Thank god that there’s a little store there run by the natives of the town at the foot of the mountain. Trekking our way down is really exhausting because of the heat but thanks to the business minded natives who also sell mountain dew on the way down. About 3 later we reached the foot of the Mountain and YES!! we’ve conquered Mt. Batulau.

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I am back

Posted by BaDong Tuesday, March 15, 2011 0 comments

Hey! I am back but will be that active, but I will try to post all of the things I’ve done since the last post. All of my adventure and how’d I became a mountaineer even though we have no present group name.

Sorry for the last post, I did not meant to humiliate the Philippines but just to share the thing on how to respect things. So there again…

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Photo Perfect?

Posted by BaDong Wednesday, August 25, 2010 1 comments

I just saw these pictures everywhere at my wall @ Facebook. I know this can offend them but, what's is wrong with them.

What can you tell? Is it the school? family values? or just the Youth?

Picture Picture!

now you decide.

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A Hostage crisis, Police puke

Posted by BaDong Tuesday, August 24, 2010 0 comments

Television coverage of a hostage taking incident made by former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza was broadcast with no cuts yesterday. Started from 10AM yesterday morning till late 7PM, a hostage taking incident happened here in the Philippines. Many countries are for sure is placing their eyes on us for what happened. Mostly, Hong Kong will be the most upset because of the Chinese tourist that are the hostage on the incident.

There are many questions that are loitering in the country. What happened? Why former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza did hijack the bus? Why did the PNP assault team took some time to bring down the hostage taker?

The reason I know for why did senior inspector R. Mendoza did the horrible thing, was because he was removed from the service for I don’t know what reason. Former inspector R. Mendoza hijacked a Chinese tourist bus and negotiated for him to back to the service.

Negotiations were made, but I came out as a failure. It took some time, and people don’t know what’s happening inside the bus because of all the windows were covered of the curtains. Sometime passed and hours passed, a ruckus happened because of the brother of the hostage taker, was being held by the PNP police, and all I know some of the family member of the hostage taker was being caught by the police.

Arresting the brother of the hostage taker (Note: Television coverage was live and the bus has a T.V. inside), this made him more mad and killed some of the people inside the bus, said by the Driver who escaped just after sometime, using a nail cutter to release him from the handcuffs connected to the steering wheel.

Next that happened was the PNP sending their assault team to try to bring down former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza but, and a big BUT, what happened to the so called assault team? The assault team was obviously scared on doing their job as their job. Are they really trained to such things? Or just paid to rest all day? With 8 people dead, all I can say is WTH!

Also some of the police was pointing their finger to the media for the possibility of distracting them of their duty. Well for me, it’s not the medias fault to broadcast the PNP’s puke brigade, and tell the world what our police can do. Also now I know where the funds for the police go. If I can, really I’d laugh crazily because of the advance weaponry of the Philippines, a piece of rope and a sledge hammer.

I’m really upset of what happened and really sorry for those people that were harmed and even the families of the people that is caught inside, and also want to tell the world that it’s just an accident and a plus if the PNP police can now train their ass out and prevent this happenings again.

I’m not pointing it on Philippines itself but on the Police and so called Assault team that they sent to the operations. One question can be thrown, what happened to the budget for the security of the our country?

Again, apologies for all Chinese nationals and even to the world, please it’s not the fault of ALL the Filipinos but the fault of SOME of the authorities here in the Philippines. May this be a lesson to us all.

* Picture are not mine but just been tagged from Facebook.

* Inquirer news here

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The trip to the cold top. Sagada Summer Trip part 2

Posted by BaDong Monday, August 23, 2010 0 comments

The second part of our journey is where all the people want to go, because of its view, fresh air, culture, and nice people. Sagada mountain province is one of the treasured places of the Philippines. I also think that all the adventurers needs and is required to go Sagada.

We went there by car from Manila >> Baguio >> Sagada, took us about 10-12hrs to reach our resting place. Getting on the high ground sagada we managed to see some views other places don’t have, actually also run from some rocky roads we never come by before. Well, when we arrived after that trip our car had a remembrance of that road and we spent a big amount fixing our Starex van. I think the road became like that when typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng came by the place.

Going back, before the headache the road gave us, another problem came because our reserved place was taken?! It is somehow grueling right? However God was good to us so he gave us a good place to stay at the top of a hill which has a nice ambience. Remembering what happened when we arrived, we just prepared food and tidy ourselves up then the lasting I know waking up early in the morning. So we prepared the breakfast and planned the whole day while eating.

Our place to stay.

1^st destination was at the Sumaguing and Burial cave but before that we stopped at the town because every tourist or anyone who stays at Sagada needs to be registered at the municipal hall. Also that’s the place where we met with someone that can guide us through the place, and buy us something to drink in case if we get tired (which is YES).

So there we go went at the mouth of the cave and start the adventure. First trial is the slippery rocks, it’s your guess what’s the thingy that makes the rocks slippery. After the slippery trail we are advised to remove our slippers and shoes for the next trail because it will be smoother walk being bare footed rather than having any footwear. I can give you spoilers and tell all the trails inside the cave but, I decided no, you may look at other sites and pictures but, all I want to say it’s worth the walk inside the cave.

Passing the first cave, we also managed to ask our guide to guide us through the Burial cave. As the name says, Burial cave is where the bodies of the people’s ancestors were buried. It’s creepy inside but, well it’s our country men’s ancestral culture and maybe the early way of respecting their perished families.

Caught taking pictures @ burial cave

A walk with Bestfriend

Next stop and our last stop were at echo valley, where we enjoyed the view of the hanging coffins. After that, we went home, bought some “PASALUBONG” gifts for our families, ate dinner and drink our last day at the Sagada mountain province.

The next day we packed up and try to stay at our house at Baguio and ride our way to Manila.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our trip and thanks for reading. Here are some Photographs taken from my phone SE C902.. Edited a bit.. Enjoy :)

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APRIL summer get aways: Part1 Zambales

Posted by BaDong Monday, July 26, 2010 2 comments

First outing for April is @ Zambales Philippines. April 2, 2010, departed from manila straight to Zambales with just one stop over at McDonalds at 5am. So after a long trip at the road we managed to get to our first stop at the private resort of our friend and same time visit him at San Felipe, Zambales. After some rest we start heading our way to the last stop of the day, our house at Sta.Cruz, Zambales and rested till the end of the day.

Another morning came and we’re on a trip to Sunbloom Resort to take a boat ride to Potipot Island. For Php800 we got a boat and its set to take us across and take us back at the Sunbloom resort. We are thinking on having the night at the beach but it’s a negative thing to do for it is summer and same time holy week here in the Philippines so we just remained awhile and pack and get back at our house again to rest for the night.

The other day we traveled to San Fernando to take another boat ride to Anawangin Cove (where we will try to trek at 2011.). We had so much fun here and drunk without noticing that we’re overpowering the other people near us and got a complaint later at the morning. I had to sleep at the shore with 2 of my friends for there is no available slot for us at any tents, but it was fun because before I slept I manage to see one greatest creation of the lord, the starts and some meteor rain plus the ray of the moon. It’s now a good morning Anawangin day, still had the hangover of the brandy we drunk last night so what would you do to let that headache pass! Climb the mountain top of the cove. After having liters of sweat run our body and some scratches and dirt we head back to our camp to wash and prepare to go home and say the goodbyes to our friends.