The Devolution of Philippine Mountaineering

The year 2006 will remain an important milestone in Philippine mountaineering history. That year, the battle cry of the First Philippine Mount Everest Expedition "Kaya ng Pinoy!" reverberated across the country when Leo Oracion set foot on the roof of the world saying "Kung kaya ng Pinoy umakyat ng Mt Everest, kaya ng Pinoy magbago"! Indeed one faction of the Philippine society changed. With that feat and the social media, more and more Pinoys have become inclined with the outdoors. The only difference is that it's much easier now! With just one click, one can already be a part of Wave 76 of a Mt Pulag eco tour! I remember a time when climb itineraries were still hunted printouts. That was also the time when mountaineering clubs were scrambling for the few remaining meteorological terms like hamog, unos, ulap and bagyo which had not yet been used by other groups to name their club. These days, those clubs are starting to find competition in the growing number of tour operators catering to backpacking and climbing. And that's the rule of the game now! You only need to be a member of a Facebook group and wait for a PTP Admin post and you are one step away from your first legit climb! No more training climbs, no more BMC; just your non-refundable reservation deposit!

Honey a la Fear Factor

If it's white then it has larvae

Everyone loves honey but have you tried eating a honeycomb? 

How about a honeycomb with larvae?! That was the first time I did it. But the maggot-like creatures didn't bother me that much. I mean nothing could get any more authentic than that. 

I was just feeling my tongue for itchiness because I was worried that I had some undiscovered allergy to beeswax or bee larvae. The place was three hours away from the nearest clinic.

Okay you may have passed the larvae challenge but what if I told you that this honey could have been harvested from the most repulsive of places!

Tacadang: The First Lagataw Invitational Trek

Les-eng rice terraces that turn vibrant green during the rainy season

A local farmer in Tacadang once apologized to a guest for serving domesticated chicken because there was no available canned sardines at the local store. This was the story that got me wanting to visit the place. And now I regret that I had allowed myself to wait that long a time to finally set foot on this paradise.

Tacadang is at least seven hours away on foot from the last road access in Kibungan, Benguet. This is the primary reason why it has remained unspoiled by tourists who can only bear to trek Sagada and Batad in spite of the fact that the beauty of Tacadang surpasses that of those two places! When I saw the whole barangay of Tacadang at a very good viewpoint, I couldn't come up with a better description of the place than 'a plateau that God pressed with his his thumb and bled countless waterfalls that nourish the rice terraces that flank the walls of the cleft'.

the whole plateau that is Brgy Tacadang symmetrically cleaved in the middle;
Les-eng on the left and Tacadang Proper on the right

This is one of the very rare moments when I have to break my "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" travel dictum. I want to share this to a few individuals who are ready to face the physical challenge of the trek this coming August 21-23, 2015  and take on the responsibility of helping preserve this paradise.

The rice terraces of Les-eng become pastureland when rain is scant. Talaktak Falls on the background.
This sight is something you won't see in Batad and Sagada.

between the terraces of Tacadang Proper (left) and Les-eng (right)

falls # 1

the breath-taking drop of the waterfall just 200 meters away from waterfall # 1

The waterfall I thought to be Betotong Falls which turned out to be just the lowest cascade of the inaccessible Betotong

the Machu Picchu-like view of Beneng Falls with a faint view of Kamayan Falls on the right

Kamayan Falls up close; stronger when it rains

Kamayan Falls as seen from Falls # 1

the very tall Talaktak Falls and the inaccessible Betotong Falls

Mt. Timbak: The Never-Before-Seen Edition

You can all flock to La Presa so I can have this view all to myself

Mt. Timbak has been an easy prey for climbers who want to have an 8000+ footer under their belts. Being an easy hike, it often becomes a side trip or a pre-trip to Mt Pulag. And this is how the full splendor of Mt Timbak evades the hurrying tourist.

The glorious sunset of Mt Timbak

Four days ago, while waiting for the endorsement letter (for my ultimate journey) from the governor, I decided to pay a visit to my favorite hideaway in Benguet--Mt Timbak.

And yet another good vista at the summit

In the three days and three nights I spent there, I learned more lessons in life and I got to accomplish a ten-year old mission! I was finally able to see close at hand the unnamed waterfall I had been intending to get to. I had to climb down and up Mt Timbak's version of the Akiki trail to gape at the tallest waterfall I've seen in my life.

I used to always stick my head out of the window on the bus coursing Halsema Highway just to have a glimpse of you!

Now I've finally seen you from the top, side and bottom!

The Ultimate Lagataw Journey

Can my Mobex last six months?

Ten years of travelling is probably enough to prepare me for my ultimate journey.

Many would liken this to Supertramping but just like most of my journeys I don't intend to emulate any personage. And I don't want to be different either. Without reference to any other activity, I do what I come up with.

I leave tonight but I don't know when the journey's gonna end. I don't have a concrete plan for my journey, I let my destination guide my way and determine how everything's gonna unfold. I always welcome changes! After all, that's what life is all about! One thing's for sure, though. I plan to be off the grid while doing this. And I'll probably be under the radar throughout the journey.

This is all the plan I have

I would just like to thank my two friends Melo Sanchez of Tingguian Tribe (the official shelter of Lagataw) and Christian Zamora for going out of his way to help me out with the stuff I need.