Mt. Malipunyo Adventure: The not so Twin but Worth it Hike

Disclaimer: It's been 2 years since I wrote in this blog, now I will always update this for sharing my exploration in different places. Hope it will help you :)

Long climb but full of thrill for my 2nd time exploring mountain life. Mt. Malepunyo Range, Mt. Malepunya, Mt. Malipuño and Mt. Malarayat are other names for Mt. Malipunyo. It is an extinct volcano located on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located between the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon and has three interconnected destinations: Mt. Malepunyo, the highest; Bagwis Peak (also known as Mt. Susong-Cambing); and Mount Dalaga (also known as Manabu Peak).(according to wikipedia)

Additional Facts:

MT. MALIPUNYO (MT. MALARAYAT)

Batangas and Laguna

Entry point: Brgy. Talisay, Lipa

Exit point: Brgy. Talisay, Lipa

Elevation: 1,002 metres (3,287 ft) above mean sea level

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 2-3 

Peaks: 7 Peaks but we only reached 2 peaks, most popular peaks are stated above.

Let's start our journey. :) Originally the plan was twin hike from Mt. Malipunyo to Mt. Manabu but...

Start of Trek

We crossed two waterfalls

"Nampucha Trail" -bullsh** trail 'cause you will experience crawling and rock climbing plus slippery mud. ;)

Balete Peak (1st Peak)

While we're resting at the Balete Peak and enjoying the smoking of fog, we decided to go to Biak na Bundok (Slice Mountain) because some of our members are newbies and they're tired after almost 3 hrs. of climb. Kuya Mario also advised us too, so we can save more time if we choose to go to Biak na Bundok and enjoy the same scenery that we can also see from other peaks.

Tree destroyed by Typhoon "Lawin" 

Thorny plants along the way :D

Took a rest at Kuya Mario's hut




The only Kubo (hut) at Biak na Bundok



180 degree view of Laguna and Batangas from Biak na Bato Peak

All I can say that it's worth the pain! From walking to climbing to crawling to climbing again, all pain fades away when we reached the grassland of Biak na Bundok! Me- with the green top, facing at San Pablo City Laguna and Malirayat Range.

#TeamSawi - we're not able to finish the traverse but we learn a lot from experience. That's the spirit! :D

Since most of us were tired and can't continue to traverse Mt.Manabu we decided to descend to jump off for our safety. Even though we didn't follow the initial plan due to uncertainties we enjoy the long climb that took 9 hrs. to finished and we're grateful that we went home safe. :)

Super thanks to Kuya Mario, our guide! "Hindi baleng ako masugatan wag lang po kayo." - how sweet naman ni kuya. :)

Journey/Itinerary: 

(we're 14 in a group and most of us were came from Laguna and Cavite)

3:45 - 4:00 AM - Meet up at 7/11 Balibago Complex Sta.Rosa, Laguna

4:10 - 4:40 AM - Jeepney travel from Balibago Complex to Calamba Crossing, Laguna

4:45 - 5:35 AM - Jeepney travel from Calambe Crossing to Fiesta Mall Brgy. Talisay, Batangas

5:40 - 5:45 AM - From Fiesta Mall we rode in a tricycle going to Registration House 

6:00 - 06:09 AM - Tricycle travel from registration house to Meet Kuya Mario our guide

6:30 - 6:48 AM - Going to Jump-off

6:50 AM - Start of trek

9:00 AM - Arrival at Balete Peak (1st peak) and enjoy the fog :) 

9:30 AM - Start trek to Biak na Bundok 

11:20 AM - Quick rest at Kuya Mario's hut

11:30 AM - Continue trek going to Biak na Bundok Peak

1:00 PM - Arrival at Biak na Bundok Peak, ate our lunch and took selfies/groupies

2:00 PM - Descend to jump-off at Brgy. Talisay

3:30 PM - Arrival at Brgy. Talisay jump-off

3:30 - 5:00 PM - Rest and took shower 

5:00 PM - Ate Special Lomi Batangas and went home

Tips:

• Pack light (so you can make it until peak 7)
• Jog/Run/exercise before you climb so you can prepare your body strenght and cardio
• Wear long sleeves - for sun rays, insects and thorny plants protection
• Wear trekking shoes instead of sandals or rubber shoes
• Carbo loading a day before the trek
• Enough sleep (7hrs)
• Eat more bananas before the trek
• Better to start the trek at 5 or 6 AM so you can enjoy the sunrise and fog

Don't forget to bring the following:

• Pocari Sweat/gatorade - but I'll recommend pocari since it's a little bit salty than sweet so you can't easily get thirsty.
• Gloves - my biggest mistake was--I forgot my gloves! So learn from my mistake! :P
• Extra Shirt
• Wet Wipes/Tissue
• Power banks
• Canned Goods
• Disposable plate, spoon and fork
• Water - of course!
• First Aid Kit
• Jelly Ace!!! - power food for all climbers! ;)
• Cap/Shawl
• Selfie Stick
• Umbrella
• Shades
• Extra Money
• Garbage bag - leave no trace ok?!
• Sunblock
• Swiss knife/Balisong - for thorny plants

Expenses: (from Meet up place- Balibago Complex Sta.Rosa City, Laguna )

• Balibago to Calamba Crossing - P 25.00
• Crossing to Fiesta Mall - P 52.00
• Registration - P 20.00
• Tricycle from Fiesta Mall to Kuya Mario's place - P 10.00
• Guide - P 100.00 (but we prefer to add P 50.00 for Kuya Mario's hospitality, I think we can't make it without him, better if you personally give it to him)
• Jeep from Jump off to Lomi Batangas Eatery - 600/14 - P 42.80
• Tricycle from Lomi Eatery to SM Lipa - P 10.00

TOTAL : P 309.00 (our estimate budget is P 500 - 700.00 including the food)

Guide: Kuya Mario - 0998-409-4899

Trivia: 

• According to Kuya Mario during the shooting of "Born to be wild" featuring Alamid with Doc Ferdz Recio they released 2 phyton in Mt.Malipunyo forest to eat insects and balance the  forest ecosystem. (so be alert and careful during the hike)
• Biak na Bato - is the unfinished project of local government, the sliced part was created by bulldozers
• Mt. Manabu - is came from "Mataas na Bundok" (Highest Mountain)

Boracay de Cavite: The Hidden Paradise

Summer is the best for exploring nature and if your are looking for a place where the nature is in your hand. Come and visit BORACAY... in CAVITE! Being Caviteña I never thought that this place was really beautiful and historic. Boracay de Cavite also known as the little boracay of the South and located at Gregorio Lim Marine Base in Calumpang Ternate, Cavite. The Katungkulan Beach Resort upkeep by Marines was totally secure.

from Manila to Boracay de Cavite

 The road was zigzag and you can feel the magnetic field in some area. My kuya tried it, he put the gear into neutral and our car facing downward but amazingly it goes upward(that's power of gravity)!

What you need to know... 

The beach is open for the public.
2 kilometers from main gate.
First come, first serve. No reservation.
From the entrance you must provide list of your member(must prepare it before you go), Senior citizen and children below 6 is free.
Entrance fee : P100 per day and P200 for overnight stay.
Cottages : 350-1500
Parking Fee : 50-100(overnight for vehicles), 10-20(overnight for motor)
Rooms : 750
You Can...
Bring alcohol, pets, tent and take pictures
But NO...
bonfires and trekking on rocky places(for safety and security)
There's... 
Stadium(1 in front of the beach), videoeke(must reserve before going), grilling station, open and closed shower, comfort rooms, sari-sari store, restaurant(1), souvenir shop(mostly marine stuff).

Marines maintain the peace and order inside and outside of the beach

Boracay de Cavite Panorama

During holidays the resort was crowded.

Restaurant- Salty Boots

AWESOME for Selfie!

I saw Corregidor!

View from the edge of the cove

I just sit back and relax for almost an hour while watching the people together with nature. :)

Experiencing nature is one of the remedy in your toxic life especially for those workaholic. It's time to unwind and recharge!!!

My COUNTRYMEN My BRETHREN

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."-Romans 11:36

Blessings from above! 

This is how I described my feelings about our "Kabayan Ko Kapatid Ko" last February 22, 2014 at Barrio Maligaya Palayan Nueva Ecija. I am grateful to witness this event for the "Centennial Year" of Iglesia Ni Cristo. The sixth Guinness World Record of INC -"THE MOST NUMBER OF HUNGER RELIEF PACKAGES DISTRIBUTED IN 8 HOURS". In the commemoration of the 49th anniversary of Barrio Maligaya, for the INC families of the place who had sent away from Hacienda Luisita in 1965 and for the 22nd anniversary of the resettlement site in Barrio Bagong Buhay, for those affected families in Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

Our departure time was 3:36 am (Feb.21-friday) .The road trip was almost 200 km and I saw of course, mostly wide plains and farm as they said that Nueva Ecija was the "Rice Granary of the Philippines". At 10:09 am we reached Barrio Maligaya. Since it was too early we took some rest, ate our lunch and went around to take pictures. We also meet our  brethren from different local and like us they had a long travel going to Palayan. I'm so happy because it was also my first time to travel going North and it's fulfilling! (I'm inspired to climb a mountain and that's my next mission!)

Departure time

My Brethren in Local of GMA

It took kilometers from our parking lot up to the venue tent, so we do some warm up and be ready for a long-dark walk.

INC Concert - performed by different INC artist (Davey Langit, Faith Cuneta, Gerald Santos, Apple Chui,etc...)

INC Cinema- "Centennial Project" 

"College of Evangelical Ministry"

"Philippine Arena"

"INC Museum"

The performance ended at 12 midnight then afterwards we went to the  huge tent which is having the capacity to accommodate 250,000 people  for the Special Worship headed by Brother Eduardo V. Manalo. 

The Special Worship was attended by half a million of INC member. The Worship started at 7 am.

Before and after Special Worship <3. This is my second time to heard the preached of our beloved Bro. Eduardo in person. I feel blessed!

After the Special Worship, at exactly 9:18 am the relief distribution was started. The operation was successfully done and after 8 hours...

(picture by https://www.facebook.com/Accessthetruth)

“I have the pleasure to announce the world record attempt for the most number of hunger relief packages distributed in eight hours, single venue, with an achieved number of 302,311 hunger relief packs. Mabuhay ang Iglesia Ni Cristo and you are all officially amazing!” - Seyda Subasi Gemici. So very well said. The 6th GUINNESS WORLD RECORD of Iglesia Ni Cristo. Purihin ang AMA! 

SPECIAL WORSHIP & MY COUNTRYMEN MY BRETHREN

This is one of the more upcoming events in our Centennial Year. I'm so fulfill, blessed and grateful at the same time for being a part of our celebration. I can't wait for July 27 to come and see the world for the INC CENTENNIAL! GLORY TO GOD! Have a STRONG FAITH until we reach HIM in the HOLY LAND!

Visit: http://incmedia.org

http://www.kabayankokapatidko.org/

It's more fun in Batangas!

(the river-estuary)

It was a great experience going in Lobo, Batangas last March 27, 2013 together with my family. A family get together and unwind from work and stress. It took up 114km from our hometown in Cavite up to the Lobo Beach Resort, the road was something creepy because we started from top of the mountain going down and the road was covered by tall trees. The houses was too far from each other, but it's worth to wait after a long drive which almost 4 hours we experience the true beauty and sumptuous nature of Lobo and literally it was in the tip of Batangas province. There's a lot of attraction that caught my heart, I really love the white sand, the sea way during low tide(especially in  the morning), the scenery and the most I love is the estuary(the part of water where the river meets the sea) they called it "Wawa ng Lobo" or Lobo river. It was amazing because there's a lot of marine life on the said estuaries, actually it was my first time to see and interact with the group fishes and other marine species! (giggles) :)) and believe it or not I taste the water and it was not salty. :)

                                      I'm catching some fish...but it was kind of fail! hahaha..

                                                 the sea way during low tide...:)

                                                                        my family <3

first step in LOBO.

                                                                      the bakawan

                                      

spa hut over the river...I'm imagining that there was an alligator there.haha

                                                                until we see you again Lobo...

we are all grateful for the experienced we had on this place. <3