2016 At A Glance

Another year closes.  Looking back, I must say that it was but another adventure filled year for me.  I saw myself crossing the finish line of my first 100K ultra trail.  The longest trail run I have run and successfully completed, so far.  I wandered through some of the iconic and historical sites of my south east asian neighbors.  Gone solo at the UNESCO heritage site of Batad.  These are just some of the highlights of my 2016.  

TRAVELS
I can't see myself not doing this.  This is one thing I love to do with a group or even solo. Life in the metro aside from being routinary is at times (or should I say most of the time!) stressful!  A break to the beach or to some places I was not familiar helped ease the stress and bring back the sanity.  Hence, from time to time I go out my comfort zone, explore the countryside, run, climb a mountain to relax and enjoy.  This year I've been up north, headed down south and gone solo on a part of a visayan region .  I also ventured outside the country to my south east Asian neighbors.  Below are my most memorable travels.

1.  Vietnam - Cambodia - Thailand

A seven day amazing race like adventure starting at Ho Chi Mihn city in Vietnam and exiting in Bangkok, Thailand.  Places visited are the Cu Chi Tunnels and City tour of Ho Chi Mihn in Vietnam,  Angkor Wat, Independence Monument, Royal Palace, Wat Phnom and Genocide Museum in Cambodia,  Ayutthaya and Bangkok in Thailand.     

Angkor Wat

2.  Leyte - Biliran - Southern Leyte

Original plan was a two-day visit to Biliran but it turned out to be a twelve-day visayan affair. From Biliran, I headed to Leyte to visit Kalanggaman and Canigao Islands and spent a night in Ormoc City, then down to southern Leyte to visit Maasin City, Macrohon, Malitbog and Sogod.  

Sambawan Island, Biliran

3.  S. Cotabato - Maguindanao - N.Cotabato

A four day tour starting at Gensan then to Maguindanao then to South Cotabato then Cotabato and back at Gensan.  We visited Mosques, lakes and waterfalls.  Tried the longest zipline in the Philippines with a view of Lake Sebu's 7 waterfalls.

Asik-asik Falls

4.  Maligcong - Batad
This is a solo trip up north simply because I was missing the scent of the Pine trees.  I took the opportunity to hike the terraces of Batad a UNESCO heritage site and paid a visit to the hard to reach Tappiya falls. Before going to Batad, I dropped by Maligcong to hike Mt. Kupapey and Mt. Fato and to see also the equally marvelous Maligcong cluster or rice terraces.  

Batad Rice Terraces 

5.  Dumaran, Palawan
Another spot in Palawan that solidifies its being the last frontier of the Philippines.  This place north east of Palawan remains basically untouched by commercialism.  Islands had no amenities.  I spent a night on my hammock and liked it! This place also boast a rich marine life. Snorkeling is a must try!  

a white sand beach at Renambakan island

RUNNING
This year I tried some of the hardest trail runs in the country.  I didn't know where my confidence stemmed from but I had myself doing trail marathons and ultras.  One run after another.  Notable accomplishment was finishing the Four Lakes 100.  My very first 100K trail run.  There were also setbacks like the Hundred Miles and CM50 Miles.  But these were DNFs I'm very proud of.

Equally worth highlighting were the recons and training.  It was no longer just road runs for me but simulation runs on varied trails.  Some of these brought out the worst and best in me.  Also in these, I met and became friends with people sharing the same passion.  It was a fun learning experience towards a common goal.

1.  Four Lakes 100 (FL100)
I just can't believe that this happen to soon.  I still consider myself a rookie! Coming from a vacation, confidence was low.  But I let not pressure drive me.  Instead I ran as if I'm just having my normal run around the UP oval.  Covering more than 70 kilometers, fatigue started to kick-in.  Luckily, a veteran runner paced me towards the last kilometer and into the finish line.    

My medal and Finisher's shirt

2.  Mt.  Ugo Marathon (MUM)

This is where it all started, the first league of the King of the Mountain (KOTM) series. Finishing this trail marathon was a confidence booster.  I had myself setting a goal of completing the KOTM 2016 series.      

at the finish line

3.  Wawa - Malasya (Training)

After an off season or almost three months of rest, I came back by joining this training.  I was introduced to Wawa-Malasya route for the first time.  The route had me almost riding a horse going back.  After a long rest, going back to trail running was just hard.  It was like starting all over again.    

                                        rainy season training                                (c) John

4.  Miyamit Falls 42 (MF42)
My second to the last run of 2016.  I joined the event to visit the enchanting Miyamit falls (part of the route).  The rainy season added more challenge with a large number not making it to the finish line.  I was all smile in the picture below because I finally made it to the falls.  I had four attempts before to no avail.  Finishing the run was the bonus.  

5.  Clark-Miyamit Falls 50 (CM50)  Recon
This is a part of my preparation for my last trail run of 2016.  Together with some passion driven people, we familiarized the first 20 kilometers of the 80 kilometers route of CM50. We had a couple of wrong turns but made it back to where we started.  Sadly, I suffered an injury during this recon which bothered me during the race day.  I got DNFed because of it.  Heartbreaking but I had no regrets.  I hope to come back this year and finish the unfinished.

HIKING
Hiked a few this year and mostly were dayhikes.  No major climb and overnights.  This year however, I brought friends to mountains.  Never thought that sharing and showing my love for mountains would be an enriching experience.  The excitement and the smiles on their faces upon reaching the top was just priceless.  

1.  Tarak Ridge
I've been to Tarak Ridge couple of times and it's never the same each time.  This time, I brought my college classmates with me.  On a fine summer day, together we patiently negotiated Tarak Ridge's beginner friendly trail.  Occasionally stopping to catch breath and re-hydrate, slowly we made it all to the ridge.  Seeing them all enjoyed the journey and amazed by what they achieved was priceless.      

friends in action

2.  Mt. Batulosong
My first dayhike of 2016 was in this playground-like mountain of Batulosong.  It was one hot and sunny day which had us all stopping under shades many times.  It was so hot that some decided not to proceed up to the summit.  The day ended with a side trip to a nearby waterfalls.  We dipped with excitement upon seeing the waterfalls.

enjoying the playgound

3.  Mt. Tapulao
This is a solo day hike on Zambales highest mountain.  My fifth time on this very challenging mountain.  Since I started mountaineering, this is the only mountain I made a climb each year without a skip.  If only this mountain can talk, it would probably tell me how I matured as a mountaineer over the years.  Did I??!      

one with the pine trees

4.  Mt. Marami
A supposedly day hike but ended late at night.  With me are three friends, new to mountaineering.  Early on in the trek we got lost for almost an hour.  After we found the right trail, we got lost again.  Moral of the experience is to never under estimate a mountain.  We did not secure a guide believing that we can still remember the trail.  I've been to Mt. Marami twice but still got confused by its labyrinth trail.  It was a humbling experience. 

the famous silyang bato (rock chair)

5.  Mt. Batulao
A solo hike on one of the most frequented mountains of the Philippines.  It was a Sunday and there was traffic on the summit and going down to old and new campsites.  I was happy that a lot of people are going outdoors but at the same time sad for its impact on the mountain.  Many of them are newbies and I could just wish they new LNT or someone would impart to them on the basics of mountaineering.  

Batulao and the traffic

I'm thankful for the opportunity to do all these things I have done last year.    I learned so many things I could not have learned in my comfort zones.  The experience let me met a lot of people from all walks of lives and learn from them.  Above all it brought not just sanity but also happiness to me. 

This year, I yearn for more of these adventures.  Maybe more of hiking especially major ones.  I also see myself joining TNF100.  I have also a goal to complete all the 81 provinces of the Philippines. To date, 26 more provinces to go.  

May this year be adventure filled as last year.  May happiness continue to reign in all of us.  Cheers to more adventures!!!      

Isla Pulong Pasig

When the organizer posted the event for would be joiners,  I did not hesitate to join. Knowing her, I know that it's going to be nothing but pure fun and adventure.  Also, the past months had been full of knee-pounding activities.  I needed vitamin sea to relax, unwind and recover.

Aside from Ms. Ron (the organizer),  there were only five of us who responded positively.  Well, it could be because it's the holiday season and people are busy with parties and get together.  On the day of the event, another one backed out due to work related reason.  Final headcount was five persons. Ms. Ron, Ken, Woody, Mamang and myself.

We agreed to see each other in Lucena grand terminal 12 midnight to catch the 1:30 am bus bound for Calauag.  Kamuning was more accessible to me so I boarded at Jac Liner bus from there at around 8:30 pm.  The other four boarded the same bus line but in Buendia.  As expected on a Friday, traffic was heavy going out the metro.  We arrived almost the same time in Lucena at around a little past 12 midnight or after 3 plus hours of travel. 

Mangroves we passed by going to the beach

Weather was awful while enroute to Calauag.  It was cold and drizzling when we arrived around past 3 am.  Before heading to the port, we dropped by 7/11 to buy supplies and a nearby roadside eatery to take our early breakfast.  Arriving at the port, we learned that the trip of public boat going to Pangahoy was not certain due to the poor weather condition.  Actually, the port was almost empty.  We tried looking for boat for rentals to no avail.  Other passengers told us to wait until 8 am or when the weather improves.  We did.  Fortunately, the public boat arrived past 8 am.

The usual boat trip to Pangahoy on a fine day took 2 hours.  However, it took us almost 3 hours because of the poor weather condition.  From Pangahoy, we needed to take a small boat to get to Pulong Pasig island.  We arrived at our final destination past 1 pm, a little tired and hungry.  Nanay Vergie's nipa hut was our home base (where we hanged our hammocks) during our stay.

Pulong Pasig as viewed from afar

Talking to the locals, I learned that Pulong Pasig is an island sitio of Santo Anghel.  Santo Anghel is the barangay of Calauag, Quezon having the jurisdiction of the island.  Pangahoy, where the public boat anchored is also a sitio of Santo Angel.  Pulong Pasig is privately owned but remained undeveloped.  There is a small community living in the island.  No electricity.  No concrete structures.  Sporadic cellphone signal.  Fishing is how they make a living.

There was nothing much we did during our stay due to the bad weather.  It was windy and cloudy with waves high enough to crash our confidence.  We did a beach walk and took photos on day 1 but that was short.  Instead, we headed back to home base and kill the time over a bottle of vodka and exchanges of stories.  Having no cellphone signal, we were disconnected to the outside world.  No temptations to check our FBs and instagrams.  I enjoyed the night as I got to know each one.  I slept on my hammock with the wind still howling.

Pulong Pasig as viewed from the sandbar

Waking up the next day, the weather was still bad.  It was raining in the morning.  We ate our breakfast over exchanges of personal stories and experiences.  Nanay Vergie and husband also share their stories about the island.  How they became inhabitants.  How on a fine day, Pulong Pasig is beautiful.  How on a fine day the sand bar was flocked by birds hence they named it Pulong Ibon.  How on a fine day, the locals got bounty catch of varieties of fishes.   I can't help but wish for the sun to show up and for the weather to improve.  The sun did show up!  With excitement, we walked to the beach, swam and visited the sand bar.  But like some romance, it was short lived.  Rain poured again while we're on the beach.

On a fine day, one can go beach bumming, swimming, snorkeling, beach walking and visit the sand bar.  However on our stay we were not able to go snorkeling due to the poor weather.  We also just had a little time at the sandbar  as there was already a need for us to return to Pangahoy to catch the boat trip to the Calauag.  Despite all of these, I still enjoyed our stay.  The simplicity of the island life amazed me.  Locals were kind and entertaining.  The island was untouched by any form of commercialism.  If ever I'm going back I'll bring candies and chocolates for the number of kids there.

the short lived blue sky

Upon return to Pangahoy, we had our late lunch.  Fresh catch of fish, fried and grilled satisfied our hunger.  A bottle of beer followed while engaging in a karaoke.  It was already past six in the evening when we bid goodbye to Pangahoy.  We may not had the best of weather, I can still say that the short stay at the island was such a relief from the stressful life at the metro.      

the beach walk

Sharing my travel notes below.