Mt. Daraitan, Sampaloc, Tanay Rizal

One of the best hiking+trekking+caving+spelunking-experiences I had so far! Mount Daraitan is a hidden paradise and a great adventure to experience near Manila!

I'd often ask what's the difference between hiking and trekking. Here's what I've got from the net.

The main difference between the two is that hiking is mainly a leisure activity which is done by walking on well-made trails and man-made roads. However, trekking is more rigorous, and a more challenging activity. It tests one’s physical ability, endurance, and even their mental or psychological capacity.

Caving or a caver are those who were highly skilled, those who have equipments and gears. Spelunking, on the other hand is, the act of exploring a cave, other sources say it simply refers to an amateur caver.

We had 8 hours of foot travel with breaks as we climb the summit and decided to traverse that night. It was my first time to do a night trek and felt it was really fun, exciting, with bits and pieces of fears.

Here are some photos from Sir RJ and Beni's SLRs posted at PITS HIKERS FB Page.

Wear tights to protect you from the sharp edges in grassland.

 Bring lots of water!

Take five-minute breaks when you are tired and exhausted.

 Prepare to climb those rocks. 

 Have fun while inside the cave.

 Take time to buy halo halo along the road!

Be with fun people and bring camera!

Treat yourself to a good dinner!

For the itinerary posted on the Event created by PTS Hikers:

IT
Day 1
08:00 - Meet up in Cainta Junction (7-11)
08:15 - Ride Jeep bound to Tanay
10:00 - ETA Tanay / Rent Tricycle bound to Daraitan



Mon and Beni brought their cars so we didn't have to ride the jeep and tricycle!

11:30 - ETA Daraitan Brgy Hall / Eat Packed Lunch / 
We ate bruch at Jollibee Tanay

Pay Registation & Arrange Guides
12:45 - Prepare to climb
13:00 - Start Trek
15:00 - ETA Grasslands
17:00 - ETA Summit/Campsite. Pitch Tent

We decided to traverse right then and there but we ate dinner first!
18:00 - Cook Dinner
19:00 - Eat Dinner
Traverse from 7:40 to 1130. Night trek it was!
19:30 - Socials
22:00 - Lights out

Day 2
04:30 - Wake up, boil water for coffee/milo
05:00 - Cook Breakfast
05:30 - Eat Breakfast
We ate brunch (eggs, corned beef, luncheon meat, and sinigang!)
 06:00 - Break Camp
07:00 - Start Descent / Trek to Tinipak River
10:30 - ETA Tinipak River/Camp Site / Cook Lunch / Swim
12:00 - Eat Lunch
13:00 - Boulder hop to Tinipak Cave
13:30 - ETA Tinipak Cave / Spelunking
15:00 - Back at Campsite Trek to Brgy Hall
15:45 - ETA Bgy Hall / Clean up / Settle guide fees
16:30 - Ride Tricycle/Jeep back to Tanay
18:00 - ETA Tanay / Eat dinner somewhere
18:45 - Ride Jeep bound to EDSA Crossing / Cubao
21:30 - ETA EDSA Crossing / Cubao
Extra Details from last climb:

Guide Fee - 800 Php - summit then to Tinipak River
Tricycle Fee - 500 Php (4-5 persons) - Negotiable
Boat Fee - 5 Php (tawid lang ng ilog)
* Rough road ung papunta sa bayan ng Daraitan
* Parking ay nasa kabilang side ng ilog, tabing ilog lang ... yun pa ay kung may tulay, pede itawid. Nung last na punta ko, tinangay daw ng ilog ung tulay hehehe
* Masukal ung trail at Summit, except sa Grasslands na part
* Matutulis ung bato sa trail after grasslands at sa may summit
* Cogon ung damo sa grasslands (around 4 ft ung taas ng damo dati), kelangan ng arm & leg sleeves/warmers para di mahiwa sa damo
* Maliit lang ung camp site sa summit... mahihirapan isetup ung malalaking tent. Siguro mga 6-8 tents, puno na ung summit at dikit dikit na ung tents.
* May drinkable water sa trail papuntang summit, sa may waterfalls na part. Mga 2 hrs away from summit.
* May drinkable water din sa Tinipak River
* Pwede mag swimming... pero direkta sa araw ung ilog... mag sunblock
* May area dun na pwede mag dive pag mataas ung tubig sa ilog.

White Island in Camiguin

The whitest beach I have seen {well, more or like Boracay}! The place is inhabited, no trees, no shelter, and  as it is only a sandbar located just about 2 kilometer from Mambajao. To visit the place is to rent a boat for Php450 (+ Php20/each for environmental or entrance fee) from Brgy. Agoho or Brgy. Yumbing (as for us, it was from Brgy. Yumbing as Paguia's Inn is near the place).  There are mini stores where you can buy lunch or snacks (really cheap!) or rent a table and chair for about Php100-Php150.

We had (or at least me had) the best lunch ever by the beach so far in this place! Good place to swim and snorkel.

Cagayan de Oro White Water Rafting via Kagay Rafting Group

Cagayan De Oro, also know as the “City of Golden Friendship;” has become famous for its whitewater rafting adventure. A serious yet fun experience.

During our 4-day Camiguin-CDO-Bukidnon trip, we have decided to take this adventure on our last day of Mindanao visit for the reason that we are staying in city proper for the last two days of the trip and our flight back to Manila will be in CDO (the Cagayan River is near airport).

White Water Rafting in CDO is really a must try experience when visiting Mindanao.

Whitewater rafting fee via  Kagay Whitewater Rafting Group
Php1k/ person for an advanced white water rafting experience with 21 rapids
Php700/person for beginners on a 14 rapids adventure
Php450 for a CD copy of all photos and videos taken during the white water rafting adventure

Each rapid is named after something fun that happened in the area. Our captain has a lot of stories to tell. He's one of the councilors in one of the baranggays (I presume)

Since we wanted to maximize the adventure, we tried the advanced whitewater rafting with 21 rapids and it was definitely a good choice even for beginners like us. More rapids, more stories to tell, more fun, more sunburn. They will also allow you to swim in safer still waters during the trip.

Based from my research, there are three rafting groups in Cagayan as of publishing:

-Kagay (they sponsored the whitewater rafting adventure in the movie, Forever and a Day starring KC Concepcion and Sam Milby, I haven't seen this movie!)
-Rafting Adventure Philippines
-The Red Rafts

Our contacts suggested the Kagay White Water Rafting Group.

Kagay White Water Rafting is located in Corrales ave. fronting Bombo Radyo 9000 Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

You will need to contact them for an arrangement if you will have to be picked up from a hotel/inn and other concerns. They accept credit card payments, too! Their crew are really cool, fun comedians. 

You may visit their website for contact information:
http://www.kagaycagayandeororafting.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kagay.whitewaterrafting/about

Though my suit has suffice for the trip, I highly suggest that you wear long sleeves, preferably rash guard, and yes, long bottoms, shoes or sandals with straps, and never forget to put on sunblock
(do not put sunblock on your forehead!)

Vjandel Pastel of Camiguin

I am a bread lover. I love breads. I <3 breads! Breads are love! 

It was a privilege for me to visit and taste the freshly baked special Vjandep Pastel of Camiguin (P12php each, 1/2dozen is P70, 1doz is P130) from its original bake house in Plaridel Street, Mambajao, Camiguin, Philippines, during our 4 days Camiguin-CDO-Bukidnon trip {April 30 - May 4, 2014}. The branch is located in the town's sentro (center) and it was 1 motorela ride away from where we stayed (Paguia's Inn).

VjANDEP means "VJ"-Virgilio Jose, "AND" "EP"-Eleanor Popera. For the history, you may visit their page at https://www.facebook.com/Vjandep/info

Since we have visited Camiguin first and we still have 3 days to travel and visit parts of CDO and BUkidnon, we dedicded to buy pastel and pasalubong on our last day of the trip at CDO. Vjandep's branch in CDO is in:

The VjANDEP Bakeshop Commissary, Zone II, Bulua High-way, 9000 Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Hanna here, my friend, bought 5 boxes of pastel to get that free paper bag! Hahaha!
For actual itinerary, fees, charges, here's the link to what happens in Day 1 of Camiguin-CDO-Bukidnon travel


M.F.K. Fisher
“The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight...[Breadmaking is] one of those almost hypnotic businesses, like a dance from some ancient ceremony. It leaves you filled with one of the world's sweetest smells...

CDO - Camiguin - Bukidnon Trip [April 30 - May 3, 2014]

Here's my time, activity, price, photo logs using my smartphone in our 4 days Camiguion-CDO - Bukidnon trip.

We were 3 in the group: Hanna, Genelle, Rencel
Day 1 - Touchdown CDO then head to Camiguin
Amount spent on Day 1: Php614.25

		Activity	Type	Price (Php)
6:00	AM	Arrival at CDO Airport
6:30	AM	Road Travel: Van to Agora	Transportation	199
7:00	AM
7:30	AM	Breakfast	Jollibee	59
8:00	AM
8:30	AM	Road Travel: Van to Balingoan Port	Transportation	150 (120-150)
9:00	AM
9:30	AM
10:00	AM
10:30	AM
11:00	AM	Sea travel: Balingoan to Benoni (Camiguin)	Sea Transportation	177 (170, 2+5 fees for environment and port)
11:30	AM
12:00	NN
12:30	PM
1:00	PM	Camiguin Island touchdown	Find Transpo or contact Inn	1500 (whole trip tour)
1:30	PM	Katibawasan Falls	Swimming + Tried Kiping P25/3	30
2:00	PM
2:30	PM
3:00	PM	White Island (in the picture above)	Beach Swimming and Lunch	(450/3)+20 (entrance)+80 (white island lunch)
3:30	PM
4:00	PM
4:30	PM
5:00	PM
5:30	PM	Sunken Cemetery (in the picture above)	Sunset	Free
6:00	PM	stop by Gate of Volcano		Free
6:30	PM	Cold Spring	Swimming	30
7:00	PM
7:30	PM
8:00	PM	Hot Spring	Swimming	30
8:30	PM
9:00	PM	Dinner	Kamayan ni Maestro: Bulalo, Four Season, Rice	280+140+100
9:30	PM
10:00	PM
10:30	PM	to Inn	Paguia's Inn	1000/3
11:00	PM	Sleep	onwards
11:30	PM

On Travel

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give,to roam the roads of lands remote. To travel is to live.” {Hans Christian Andersen}

Picture after surviving Mount Pulag.
Now excited to Camiguin, Bukidnon, CDO!

Gungor+Jars of Clay | Church Simplified:Walkway [April13, 2014]

April 13, 2014, CAN friend Ruth invited us to see Jars of Clay+Gungir concert in BGC. VIP ticket is free for a certain purchase but since it is an open ground concert, we can grab sidewalk seats to see them. We were there early and we've been blessed to receive free VIP tickets! I was with Lovely, Ayi, RG, and Grace. Fun night! Some photos below.

Controlling Emotions and How to React

The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile.  ~Plato

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:26
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

There are a lot of people who sinks through quicksands of life by letting their fears, hatred, and anger conquer them. The bible says, a great offense to hard situations is to be composed. (Ecc. 10:4) It allays great strength to overcome, subdue and gain victory over your madness and anger.

No matter how tempting it is to shout and let other people know how resentful you are, it is still awesome to handle your words with care. Most of the time, it is better to leave angry words unspoken than to mend a heart those words would be broken. It is an asset to be a controlled man.

Romans 8:16b says, the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

iYAM Ready Pampanga

On April 9, 2014, I was invited to go with YAM Council in their visit to JIL Pampanga's iYAM Ready YAM gathering.

LGL Summit 2014

Life Group Leader's Summit 2014, Cuneta Astrodome attended by church members and life group leaders.

Bakasyunan Resort Tanay Riza

April 12, 2014, with Ortigas Life Group in Bakasyunan Rest Tanay Rizal.
2 hours of road travel from EDSA.

Mount Pulag 2014

Said to be the 2nd highest mountain in the Philippines, next to Mount Apo, "Mount Pulag is  at 2,922 meters above sea level (copycat!)".  The place is in Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya. There are four major trails to summit, the Ambangeg, Akiki, and Tawangan trails from Benguet and the Ambaguio trail from Nueva Vizcaya.

Here are the things to bring to Mount Pulag.

• Clothes (3 pairs)
• Jackets! (warmer+fleece+windbreaker)
• Poncho
• 3 pairs of socks
• Trekking Shoes/Hiking Shoes
• Gloves (you may also add surgical gloves to keep your hands warm inside)
• Headgear and neckgear
• Plastic bags and garbage bags
• Sleeping bag or earth pads
• Flashlight/Headlamp
• Whistle
• Medicine and first aid kit
• Tissue Paper/ Wet Wipes (a must!)
• Utensil
• Water (2 to 3 liters) and water bottle
• Trail food (chocolates, nuts, raisins)
• Camera!

Some of the shots I've taken from Mount Pulag.