Mt Batulao on a Sunny Day

I consider myself lucky for having been able to climb Mt Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas both in rainy and sunny weather. Mt Batulao's rolling trail is mostly open and exposed. Closer to the summit are grasslands on its flowing slopes, while in the lower hills are farmlands tilled by the local farmers. 

On beautiful sunny weather, the trail can be hot and scorching. The cool Tagaytay wind makes up for the heat but it's enough to give anyone a nice tan. On rainy days, the trail gets terribly muddy because the same lower part of the trail is used by farmers in transporting their produce on horseback. While the higher parts of the trail are not frequented by livestock, certain parts are steep and can be very slippery.

For this hiking destination, I decided to make two blog entries- one for the rainy hike, and another for the sunny day. Rain or shine, Mt Batulao is always worth the trip.

View from the trail

In October of last year, hubby and I decided to take two American friends, a newlywed couple, on a quick dayhike in Mt Batulao. It was sort of a double date and a chance for us to show them our neck of the woods since both hubby and I grew up near the Tagaytay area. Mt Batulao was a perfect destination for us since after a quick hike, we could also do some sightseeing and go on a quick food trip in Tagaytay City.

Gianne at the Fully Booked Junior Book Crew 2012

My daughter Gianne has always loved books. By the time she was 12 years old, she has read a number of fiction series such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. She has also become a fan of Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Though she started her love for fiction with books for younger readers like Nancy Drew and The Babysitters Club, she maintains her all-time favorite is the philosophical novel Sophie's World.

Last summer, Gianne qualified to be among the 30 kids who were part of Fully Booked's Junior Book Crew (JBC). The kids had to go through an application process where they filled out a form with their personal information, their hobbies and interests, and details about the books they've read, their favorite authors, and their favorite genre. They also had to explain why they wanted to be part of the Junior Book Crew. Soon after the last day of the application period, applicants were contacted by phone to set up an interview appointment.

Fullly Booked Junior Book Crew 2012
(Photo by Fully Booked)

Fully Booked gives this description of the Junior Book Crew:

The Junior Book Crew is a month long workshop that will give children ages 11-16 an opportunity to expand their love for books and the written word, plus a chance to experience what it is like to perform certain tasks in the bookstore. 

Mt Batulao: A Dayhike in the Rain

I consider myself lucky for having been able to climb Mt Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas both in rainy and sunny weather. Mt Batulao's rolling trail is mostly open and exposed. Closer to the summit are grasslands on its flowing slopes, while in the lower hills are farmlands tilled by the local farmers. 

On beautiful sunny weather, the trail can be hot and scorching. The cool Tagaytay wind makes up for the heat but it's enough to give anyone a nice tan. On rainy days, the trail gets terribly muddy because the same lower part of the trail is used by farmers in transporting their produce on horseback. While the higher parts of the trail are not frequented by livestock, certain parts are steep and can be very slippery.

For this hiking destination, I decided to make two blog entries- one for the rainy hike, and another for the sunny day. Rain or shine, Mt Batulao is always worth the trip.

The Rainy Dayhike

On a holiday in August 2012, we scheduled a dayhike to Mt Batulao with our then 12-year-old daughter, Gianne. She's been on a few hiking trips with us but this was going to be her first dayhike. She was on her first year in a Science high school and we figured it would be a good way for her to forget her academic load and free her mind from the pressures of school. It was also an excellent bonding opportunity for us as a family.

This trip was our first time to drive to the jump-off because we usually take public transportation. We drove from Manila to the jumpoff right outside Evercrest Golf Club in Nasugbu, Batangas but we planned to spend the night at hubby's parents' house in nearby Silang, Cavite and this meant hubby would not have to drive all the way back to Manila after a potentially tiring 6-7 hour hike.

Conquering Myself at the Ateneo Aquathlon 2013

I swam like there's no tomorrow. I ran my farthest race. I conquered myself at the Ateneo Aquathlon.

I'm not an athlete. Never was, perhaps never will be. But I do try to stay healthy, and I love to swim.  The feel and the sound of the water soothes me to the core. When I'm in the water, I feel isolated from everyone and everything else in the world and being in that state can be very calming. It clears my mind and I emerge revived, refreshed, recharged.

I'm a fitness swimmer at best. My strokes are far from perfect, my speed in the pool is less than average, and I remain doubtful of my endurance since it has never really been tested. Moreover, I can't dance. I have no such talent nor ability in it and I'd be clueless if I ever find myself on the dance floor. Swimming is the closest I can get to making rhythmic coordinated body movements.

As a runner, I suck. I rarely enjoy the act of running. It doesn't give me the isolation I get from swimming, but the sound of the wind, rustling leaves, and chirping birds are a welcome treat. Most people would say running is easier than swimming. I beg to disagree. I run because I have to, when I have to, and that's usually when I'm training for a hiking trip. Plus, there's a quiet strip at a nearby village close to where I live giving me no excuse not to run as a fitness activity.

That being said, why did I join the Ateneo Aquathlon?

Mt Maculot: Same Mountain, New Trail

The Philippine mountaineering community classifies Mt Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas as a beginner's mountain and therefore an easy hiking destination. I've been hiking since I was a teenager, but ironically for me, I never had an easy Mt Maculot hike.

The first time was an overnight hike when I was in college and new to an outdoor student organization. My bag was heavy and even though it was not my first hiking trip, I was still what most would call a "newbie".

The Return to Tinago Falls

In January 2012, I happened to be in Cagayan De Oro when a group of friends and my brother-in-law were also scheduled to be there and I had a chance to show them around. I didn't realize until that time that it's been 10 years since I've been to Tinago Falls. Tinago Falls in Iligan City was still it's beautiful self, the water still clean and refreshing, and the sound of its cascade both scary and magnificent as always.

True to its name, Tinago Falls is hidden in a ravine that can be accessed by a long series of descending steps. From the top of the stairs you can hear the loud sound of cascading waters, but you wouldn't see the falls until you get to the bottom of the ravine where the water falls into a pool about 90 feet deep. 

It turns out that there are two entry points to Tinago Falls. In 2002, we took the entrance from Linamon, Lanao Del Sur. This time, we took the one from Iligan City. Each has a long staircase that takes you to the pool below. 

This was the easier part of the stairs.

The Fun Part

We planned to stay there about an hour, see the place, take photos, swim a bit. We were supposed to head back to Cagayan De Oro before noon but we enjoyed the view and the water so much that we stayed the entire morning.

It's been so long...

My oh my! It's been almost another two years since my last blog entry. The last time I promised to maintain this blog, I had just resigned from my job and was looking forward to a lot of time for leisure and recreation. I was wrong. I was busy still, and my internet connection sucked. Uploading was such an ordeal that I gave up blogging altogether.

After 3 internet providers, we were finally able to get internet connection with satisfactory performance. So now I can blog again and I have so much catching up to do, so here goes...