Wake Up, You'll Be Alright!

Papa woke me up this morning.

In my dream, i was sleeping in what seemed like a garden where from afar there is a silhouette of a two perfectly shaped mountain.

Between them the sun slowly appeared, very much like the way i drew them in my childhood.

Standing beside me, Papa was lovingly watching me as the sunshine slowly kissed me.

Leisurely, i opened my eyes to find the dorm flooded with sunlight, the room was quiet and my roomate has already left.

For a change i was not crying.

Today, I started my day with a smile in my heart. Thankful for the early morning visit from the one who truly loves me

That dream was an echo of my visit to him yesterday morning at the Hardin where from afar you can see Mt. Balagbag and another mountain.

Yesterday, it was me who was lovingly staring at his picture in his grave as i talk to him in my mind and in my heart.

Today, it was papa's turn speak to my heart. He whispered "you'll be alright".

And for the first time in months i really felt and believed that i will be alright!

Missing you always, Pa.

T.R.E.K Quirino

Last August 25, 2012 with the help of TRails to Empower Kids [T.R.E.K], I had one of the most meaningful and most memorable climbs of my life thus far.

Thanks to the invitation of Ms. Kelly Austria, the sister of a good friend and one of the founding members of TREK, I was given the opportunity to be part of this worthy adventure. 

It was very humbling to be with this group of adventurous people who came from all walks of life and gathers together at least twice a year just to share and extend their blessing to students from the most remote of places.

When I signed up for TREK Quirino, I was completely clueless as to the scale of their outreach program. That was until I saw the boxes of goods being unloaded from the bus, the transportation which in turn delivered us right at the doorstep of Nagtipunan Councilor, Keith Coronado (who generously prepared breakfast and lunch for the group). 

I was surprised to see the goods loaded into a truck and was even more overwhelmed when the boxes consumed every nook and cranny that no space was left for the members and volunteers to sit on.

Days before the climb, I had been wondering how the goods would be transported from the foot of the mountain up to the Kakidugen and Tamsi Primary school. 

For the nth time that day, I was taken aback when I saw the answer to my silly question. Waiting for us were the locals, with their carabaos and carts, who went down to help carry the goods with smile and excitement on their faces.

Seeing everyone in action, I couldn't help but feel diminished as I compared my modest contribution with the amount of work, time and dedication poured in by all the members in organizing the climb in support of their cause.

It gave me goose bumps just thinking about how they prepared for and completed Trek Quirino.

From visiting the schools, to coordinating with the locals and the local government units, to soliciting donations, to buying and packing the provisions up to that day when the other volunteers and I stood and moved amongst these unsung heroes.

I know they've been doing this for five years already and I've seen photos of their other climbs and being there in person gave me a sense of pride and a reason to smile.

After a short prayer from Atty. Jong (another founding member), the exodus began.

And as we started trudging our way up I couldn't imagine how the animals carrying the heavy loads will get pass through the rivers and the rocky and steep stretches. 

As for me and my fellow volunteers, the five-minute interval between trek and rest, the photo-ops, the fruit picking on the side and the friendly chit-chat with members, old timers and founders made the climb not only bearable but ultimately enjoyable. 

Despite the physical exhaustion from the 4-hour trek everybody was in high spirits the following day.

The members and founders who stayed up until the wee hours of the morning preparing the food for the locals went about their chores as if they've had a full 8 hours sleep in a comfortable bed.

The mood was festive and there was laughter anywhere you went.

Before the children started arriving with their parents, the slippers and rain boots were arranged on the school grounds, forming the name of the group inside a heart. The books, school supplies, loot bags and t-shirts from the generous donors had been arranged inside the classroom ready for distribution.

Once the children started lining up in the glare of the morning sun the surroundings became brighter than ever,  illuminated by their grins as they receive their presents.

  

Their faces was painted with pure joy and excitement as they compared their loot with each other and as they showed it off to their families.

The school ground was a picture of heartwarming chaos as the children with their mothers and fathers ran around looking for the perfect pair of slippers and boots that would fit them and with TREK's ates and kuyas helping them try every pairs on.

After the gift giving and a couple of games, the parade of food, lovingly prepared by the food committee headed by the resident cook (and another founding member) of the group known to us volunteers as Boy C, followed shortly.

This time the children lined up with their families to get their share of spaghetti, sopas, chickecn tinola, chicken afritada and rice.

After a sumptuous lunch, we all gathered to take pictures with the children to officially end the program. This while the others demonstrated the use of the solar panel, another donation from TREK. 

The solar panel will provide electricity to the school which incidentally, also serves as the residential quarters of the two devoted teachers who stay the whole week there for their students.

The moment the crowd started leaving we also began packing our stuff and in no time we were all marching down headed to our next stop, the Kakidugen Primary school.

Once again, we found ourselves surrounded by the children's faces lighted with their sunny grins and curious gazes but before long our smiles were sunnier than theirs once the gift giving  commenced.

Witnessing these acts of sharing never fails to make me feel as blessed as the ones receiving the gift of love. 

This heartwarming experience left me wanting for more and I am looking forward to climbing new mountains with these big-hearted people as they continue with their commitment to empower more kids and as I strive to give back in my own little way.

****************

Photos are from Marz Luciano, Kelly Austria, Khnowell Dulay, Ponga Saracho, Judy May Jadulco, Myrla and Mon Corpuz - most them I just grabbed from their FB accounts =)

Thanks to my friend Nina Galang for the edits and Pia Tagaro =)

Pico de Loro....Our 1st Day Trek.

In preparation for our Quirino Trek this coming August 24, 2012 where we are expected to trek for 4 hours and cross at least 7 rivers according to the coordinators, my travel buddy Marie and I joined the practice climb at Pico de Loro, Maragondon, Cavite last Sunday - August 19, 2012.

It was our first day trek and the first time we encounter this kind of trail (not that we've been to a lot of climbs) it was mostly rocky and muddy due to the rain the previous night. 

Compared to Mt. Pulag's Ambangeg trail, Mt. Pico for an amateur like me is  a hard terrain.

(Marie's pair of not so white socks)

(May's footprint in the mud?)

The climb was unbelievably tiring, I'm not sure though what exhausted me most, the trekking or the laughing?

  

Marie and I really had a good laugh on the way up and down. Everybody was funny and friendly.

(Doc, sir Arnold, Pong, Uncle and May)

(Uncle, the funny man!)

This climb is one for the record, we got lost on our way to the summit and the rain started pouring on our  way down........ good thing Marie and I came prepared.

Finally, we got to use the rain coat that we bought last year for the Pulag climb and which we've been bringing in all our trips.

(Marie with one of our new found friends)

While the boys try to find our way, the girls took the opportunity to rest.

(Spell foggy....)

Though we didn't have a clear view of the Parrot's Beak it didn't stop us from having our photo-ops. 

Look even Patrick came to joins us!

This is us before going up......

And when we came down.....

Since Marie and I didn't experience going to the rockies, there is definitely going to be a part 2!

Thanks Marie and May for the photos and special thanks to sir Arnold's relatives for accommodating us and allowing  us to have quick shower and preparing us a dinner.

FALLING IN LOVE IN SAGADA (Day 1)

posted from my FB account May 5, 2010 

They say love comes when you least expect it.
Cliche! That's what it was for me before I came to explore Sagada.Though one of my all time favorite tagalog movies was shot in Sagada I have never pictured this place as romantic.

Scenic for its lush green rice terraces, panoramic in its abundance of pine trees and picturesque for its mountainous surroundings, that’s how I imagined this paradise.

As the itinerary prepared for us by Ms. Jen of Explore Island Philippines spelled of big ADVENTURE, I have never expected to fall in love with Sagada, atleast not in the same way I fell in love with the romantic Vigan and Laoag.

Six hours of spelunking on our first day, with hardly a clue as to what to expect, my friends – in alphabetical order, Abi, Aiza, Annie, Baby, Charm, Ellen, Marie, Pia, Radney and I braved the Lumiang or burial cave and Sumaguing cave.

Excitement was all over our faces as we started our hike downhill to the entrance of the Lumiang cave.

Each step heightened our sense of thrill and uncertainty all at the same time. Thrill as this will be our first taste of spelunking, with the exception of Annie and uncertainty because we honestly didn’t know if we made the right judgment in joining this quest.

After a short account of how their ancestor buried their dead and a safety briefing, Gareth, the lead of guide - with his occasional jokes managed to calm down our chaotic emotion.

One by one the guides who will not only escort us inside the cave but will also be our rope and our HOPE, our ladder and our BROTHER and the LIGHT that will lead us out of the cave safe and in one piece was introduced to us.

Drew, Clyde, Clement, Jeff, John, William and Sylvester of SAGGAS (Sagada Genuine Guides Association) were our guide-and-angels whose extended helping hands, shoulders and legs became an extension of every rock that provides extra step where there is one missing.

As the trudge to the unknown began every gaps, cracks and hole became visible and every corner that comes in contact with the light emitted by the lanterns revealed of art in its natural form.

My friends along with at least a hundred other adventurers bare witness to the magnificence hidden in the cave.

I will try but I don’t think I’ll ever give justice describing how beautiful it was down there. Words will never be enough in this attempt to relive what we experienced and what we survived.

As we start slithering our way into small openings we never thought we would fit in and as we rappel down a 12-feet gap where only one people can squeeze in, our respect for our guides began mounting the same way our admiration for the beauty of the cave builds up.

But it was not all small cracks and hole down there. I was amazed every time we’d end up in vast ballroom like area after coming out of a tiny gap in the boulder of rock.

The temperature was cold in the dry and damp areas but an hour or two later it was icy and freezing yet bearable as we progress deeper into the cave. Another hour later we came into contact with the ice cold water as we near the Sumaguing cave.

The adventure itself fired us up and gave us energy we wouldn’t imagine we’d still have in the absence of a decent meal but the bitter cold water awakened our senses all the more. It was like a brain freeze except that it was in our feet.

After a 45-minute rest in one of the cavernous areas Drew announced that we will be gliding our way down the slope using our butts instead of the rope. 

By this time we completely entrusted our lives to them but I can't help but ask why we  wont use the rope when the group before us did?

The answer got us to the bottom of the slope in less than two minutes while the group ahead of us took almost an hour.

This earned us an applaud from our guides and we were awarded the title “best group” to which we are proud of even if we know they’ve awarded this same title to all the groups they’ve guided before.

As we cross the boundary for Sumaguing in the region where the spelunkers from Lumiang merges with the spelunkers from Sumaguing a spectacular site awaits us.

The crystal clear water that runs through the limestone formations in sparkling amber, the golden glow of the lanterns in procession and the parade of colors represented by the hundreds of tourists in that cave was absolutely breathtaking.

Suddenly, all our physical exhaustion was forgotten.

Everybody just went gaga as each group took turns for a photo-op with the formations resembling of miniature rice terraces, giant mushroom and giant chocolate cake, a curtain and so on....

What we experienced next was the toughest challenge my friends and I ever came face to face with: the highlight of the Sumaguing – the secret cave!

At this point of the journey, for once – we were given the choice to proceed or not to proceed.

Being the brave souls that we are and after what we’ve been through for the last four hours, we thought why not! We may never try spelunking ever again, we might as well make the most out of this journey.

By now we already have an idea of what to expect: a chest deep pool of water where we are required to submerge to get to where we should be next.

With the exception of Abi and Baby, we await our turn for the death-defying stunt in silent prayer.

For the second time since I entered these caves, I asked myself the why I ever tried this. I have no idea what my friends are thinking but somehow I have a feeling that they were asking themselves the same question.

This portion of the cave proved to be the most challenging of all for only here did I hear my friends SCREAMING!

First to cross the devious crevice was Aiza who screamed her way to safety non-stop.

Next in line was me. If Aiza with her long legs had trouble crossing the tricky surface, what will become of me? How will my short legs and short arms manage?

My ears did the trick. I listened intently the way I’ve never listened to anyone in my whole life. I could only hear kuya Jeff’s instruction and nothing else. In no time I reached the end of the rope in quiet terror.

As soon as I jumped into the chest deep water I started shaking. Though I thought of waiting for Charm, I couldn’t stand the freezing water so I scampered to higher ground where I witness how she “splak” and almost fell at the bottom where our guide-and-angels say there is a deep hole.

It was a scary site: flat on her stomach, leg spread like a frog kuya Jeff struggled to stop her from sliding all the way down and brought her back to her feet. All these time I was afraid for her but Charm wasn’t. She was even trying to convince our guide to let her swim instead but kuya for her own safety did not allow her.

After Charm, I no longer have the courage to watch Marie, Annie, Pia, Ellen and Radney go through the same stunt and so we waited for them in a corner where we can still hear them screaming.

After the perilous secret cave everything else was chicken for us and so we thought, until we reach the final stage where we are to climb a steep slope of approximately of 120 degrees. But climb we did not as we literally crawled our way up and held on to the surface full of bat poops for our dear lives.

We were literally romancing the bat poops as we pressed our whole body (and soul) so we can all go home.

Who said bat poops are yucky? It is not! Not when you still want to explore and discover the rest of SAGADA.