Mt. Pulag Chronicles: The Climb

With all preparation done, I’m ready for Mt. Pulag. The checklist is reviewed and I’m ready to go.

My team: Kuya Jay, Fourth, Teddy, Joel Madera, Leah, Cyril, Daniel, Leo, Ricky, Rosebel (Ricky’s friend) and Gina (friend from CCC).

The ETD of our bus to Baguio is 9pm. All are already in Victory Liner Cubao Station, except for Daniel. His text message to me is he’s still in Baclaran. I started panicking. Teddy was suggesting that we all wait for Daniel but that would affect the itinerary of the whole group. I instructed Teddy to get some information from the dispatcher so that I could make an informed decision. The next schedule to Baguio is 9:30pm. I was thinking of just having him follow us and have his 9pm ticket as part of the incidental expenses because I have no idea of a trustworthy person within the station to leave his ticket. I’ll just reimburse him for his new ticket.

But Teddy and Fourth volunteered to stay behind for Daniel. So we started loading our stuffs and finding our seats. I was still negotiating with the conductor but he was so stern to leave at 9pm and he started allowing chance passengers to ride the bus.

I firmly instructed Teddy, Fourth and Daniel to get the next trip to Baguio so as not to affect the itinerary. Praise God they got the trip!

I had difficulty getting to sleep. Since I was the team leader, I was thinking about the climb. We are all first-timers and I wonder what we will experience. I was thinking about possible scenarios and how I will address and respond to them.

We arrived at around 3am in Baguio. It was cold. I was reminded of my college days in Baguio. While waiting for our jeepney and for the rest of our teammates, some of us took some refreshments and coffee.

Photo by Jayrus A

About 3:30am, Teddy’s company arrived. We left Victory Liner Baguio Station at around 4am and arrived at Ambuklao Dam at around 5:20am. We had some photo ops and then we proceed to Inidian View Deck at 6am to see the scenic view of the Cordillera mountain ranges and the Ambuklao River. It was also funny that the guys have to push the monster jeepney to jumpstart the engine before we left the dam because it was really cold.

Photo by Jayrus A

From there I decided to join the other guys on top of jeepney and we had a chilling rollercoaster ride. Along the way there are crows, mynas, probably pied bushchats and blue rock-thrushes along way. It was difficult to definitely identify the birds because of the jeep’s speed.

We arrived at the DENR-Protected Area Office in Ambangeg at 7am. We have to register in the office and have our orientation and briefing. We also have to pay our entrance and camping fees and green tax. We bought our souvenir items and applied for our climb certificates.

Photo by Jayrus A

We were quite tense during our orientation because Ma’am Emerita Albas, the park superintendent, is quite serious and strict. But she’s actually kind. She just wants to make sure that we conduct ourselves properly during our stay in Pulag. Take note my readers who will plan to climb Pulag: contact her directly or the DENR office in Baguio for proper and legal transactions, even for the ride to and from Ambangeg or to any trail to Pulag. It will help the livelihood of those depending on Pulag visitors.

After our orientation we proceed at Ate Gina’s residence for our breakfast. We arrived there at 8:30am. We had a treat of fresh vegetables, hotdog, eggs, red rice called kintoman and earthy brew of Benguet coffee. Ate Gina also prepared our lunch and dinner.

We left Ate Gina’s house at around 10:30am and arrived at drop-off point at 11:30am. The jeepney can’t proceed directly to Ranger Station because of ongoing roadwork. We have to hike to the Ranger Station under the heat of the sun. We arrived there at around 12noon. We had our lunch (fried Ambuklao giant tilapias, fresh vegetables and red rice) there and paid our guide fee and took some porters to carry some of our loads. We left for Camp 1 at around 1:15pm.

 

It was a grueling hike because of the heat and the heavy backpack but our tiredness was blown away by the majestic view of the mountains, the pine forest and the vegetable terraces of the Igorots. We all arrived at Camp 1 at around 2:15pm to have a good rest for the next stretch of hike. We already have a view of the summit so we are motivated again, plus we want to see the sunset on top of the summit. So we left at around 2:30pm.

There are times that I have to hike ahead of the team or be at the tail because I have to check the situation of the team members. I change my pace not just for the video and photo documentation but for the sake of the safety and security of the entire team.

We trekked the mossy forest. There’s a lot wild flowers, ferns, moss, pitcher plant and other plants along the way. Mom said that some of them are actually rare orchids. The second stretch of the hike is more arduous. I really thought that the trail is easy. The fog also descended at around 3:20pm. Along the way there are springs. The water is sweet and cold. Drinking them is so refreshing. Dad said that it’s beneficial to drink mountain spring water because it is high on oxygen and minerals that is good for the body.

I believe that I even saw a cloud rat during the trek between Camp 1 and Camp 2. It was just a brief encounter. It was hopping in the trail and then it disappeared.

We reached Camp 2 at around 4pm. We setup our tents. Kuya Jay, Daniel and Joel were left at the campsite and the rest of us climbed the junior summit. The hike is a good 20 minutes climb. We didn’t see the sunset because the fog was so thick already. We just had a glimpse of the thick cloud parting and sun rays trying to pierce through. I was reminded of Luke 3:21-22, were the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended to Jesus in a form of a dove.

My team and another group were the only group up in the mountain. So basically the mountain is ours.

We descended and had our chicken adobo dinner. Of course, we still have fresh vegetables and red rice. We decided to rest because we were all tired and the fog is thick. Teddy and Fourth were left outside and they were having some sharing time while boiling potatoes.

At around 8:15pm, Kuya Jay and I were awakened by Fourth’s remark that there were so many stars. We immediately setup our cameras to do our target photographs. Kuya Jay wanted to do a star trail. I wanted to capture the Milky Way Galaxy. But it was so cold and our gears are gathering moist. Our shots are even blurred so we decided to sleep. I even saw a comet in the northern sky before I slept.

At around 11pm, I was awakened by the extreme cold temperature. It was extreme for me because it’s my first time experience such cold temperature. We have no way of measuring the temperature that time. I found an article of another group who went a day prior to our climb and it is indicated there that the temperature range is from 3 to 14° Celsius. So it’s really cold! If our temperature experience is 3° Celsius that night, then it almost freezing point. Daniel was also awakened.

Kuya Jay, Leo and I were alone on our respective tents. Those who were together are Daniel and Joel, Ricky and Rosebel, Teddy and Fourth and Leah, Cyril and Gina. It was so cold I have to wear my second jacket, second bonnet and second pair of socks. What I don’t have is a second pair of pants. I was already coiling myself like a fetus but it was still cold. The moist is also penetrating my tent too. I guess my experience is representative of the entire group.

Good thing that I had a long hair then. It added insulation and protection from facial and nape sunburns.

At 3:30am, we have to wake up and prepare to assault the summit and see the sunrise and the sea of clouds. We had our headlamps prepared. I had a chance to capture the magnificent Milky Way before we left the camp. I was just having a lot of blurred shot. It was difficult because I’m time constrained and I can’t see the stars through my viewfinder. I just have to make estimates and some twist and turns with my kit lens. I have to make a lot of trial and error to achieve one or two keepers.

We left the camp at 4am and reached the summit at 5:15am. By God’s grace I was the one who first reached the summit. Kuya Jay and Joel got lost but they were able to reach the real summit as well.

From the campsite to the summit, the terrain is now covered with dwarf bamboos. This part of the mountain is called grassland. It’s funny that I’m now taller than the bamboos.

It was simply breathtaking up there. The sun is slowly breaking through the horizon and slowly, dramatically bursting forth warm rays on the sea of clouds. The crescent moon is also rising up and slowly disappearing in the overwhelming light of the sun. At 2,922 meters above sea level, the view is simply awesome and majestic. The only words I kept on saying are, “Praise God!” The only appropriate response for such favor from the Lord is worship! Since Pulag is the highest summit, we could see the other summits in the sea of clouds.

We also have a blessed time of devotion led by Kuya Jay up in the summit. It was really a blessing!

I’m so proud of my team! We endured and our dreams were fulfilled. My toils of anxious preparation are paid with smiles filled with joy. These things will never be taken away from me.

We descended the summit at around 7am. The descent is one hour. Upon reaching the campsite, they ate the potatoes boiled by Teddy and Fourth and the food items brought by Teddy. Rosebel heated them up for the team.

It was only then that I learned that Daniel didn’t have a sleeping bag. We are thankful that God sustained him through the night. He only had a sleeping mat and blanket. I told him that he should have informed me so that I could have borrowed one before we left Manila or we could have rented one in the Ranger Station.

We left the camp at 9am and reached the Ranger Station at 12noon. We settled our porter fees and went to Ate Gina’s house for our pinikpikan and grilled Ambuklao tilapia lunch.

I paid the food prepared for us and we left Ate Gina’s house by 3pm. We have to go back at the DENR-PAO to logout and to get our climb certificates. Ma’am Emerita signed them so it means we met the standards of proper conduct. Our certificate of achievement says,

“In recognition of his/her daring trek to Mt. Pulag Sacred Ground, the highest mountain in Luzon and the second in the Philippines from April 16-17, 2012 using the Ambangeg-Ambangeg Route.

He deserves commendation for observing the Cultural Code of Conduct in the area and the Mountaineer’s Credo. He/she is now included in the Mt. Pulag National Park’s book of honorary climbers.

Only the brave and the daring survive!”

As the certificates were being distributed, I could really see the big smiles on my teammates’ faces. I promised them that I will treat them for a Magnum ice cream because they deserve it and majority of the members, including me, have not tasted it yet. However, there was no stock of Magnum in the 7-Eleven store near Victory Liner Baguio Station. So I still owe them a Magnum treat.

Photo by Jayrus A

What more can I say. We are so blessed! Perfect weather condition, all my target photos are taken, fellowshipping and bonding with brethren is achieved, good food, safe travel, no injuries, no sickness, we had fun, dreams were fulfilled, prayers were answered, servant and male leadership is exercised, character is refined and God is glorified!



Here's a video compilation of our adventure: Mt. Pulag National Park (April 16-17, 2012)

Here's a the final edited video and photo compilation of our adventure: Mt. Pulag (April 16-17, 2012) - LR

In my next post, I will share how God dealt and is continually dealing with my heart issues using the climb adventure.

Mt. Pulag Chronicles: Dream and Preparation

It was my dream since college to climb the second highest mountain in the Philippines. There were groups I knew then who go there but I wasn’t really comfortable climbing with them. I was hoping to climb with members of my old church then but nothing serious came up from the discussions.

2011

A decade after, my college organization planned a reunion with a Mt. Pulag climb expedition. Honestly, I was more interested with the climb than that of the reunion. I tried to prepare for the climb but I was at lost as to how I would properly prepare physically and how I will gear up. Since there were no instructions from the reunion coordinators, I tried to research on my own. The schedule of the climb is almost near and the weather up north is not really okay. I started getting apprehensive to join since I was targeting to take photos. I wouldn’t want to spoil my photography.

I tried to give feedbacks to the coordinators but my posts were deleted in Facebook. I was really dismayed and wondering why would they do that. I decided not to join. It wasn’t an easy decision for I have to wrestle with the Lord with some heart issues that arisen against the coordinators.

I was frustrated and angry because I felt that the concerns I raised about the climb was just ditched. In my heart I was saying, “You are so proud! Let’s see if you will get to enjoy the climb with no proper preparation and bad weather.” I was blinded by my anger that I wasn’t able to see that my heart is also proud.

2012

I shared this story with Kuya Jay, a pastor friend, during our church prayer retreat and he said that it was also his dream to climb Pulag. He encouraged me to gather church members and see if we can form a group who will join the adventure. I took a survey of the single adults of HRCC and found more than ten people who were interested.

Since I got a good number, I started researching and preparing. I scoured the internet to find helpful information regarding the climb. I searched for itineraries of previous Pulag climbers and their expenditures. I also looked for the items that they normally bring for an overnight stay up in the mountain. I searched also for key persons to contact.

Discouragements still came during the preparation. First blow: there were those who were invited who backed out because they learned I was the climb coordinator. Their main reason is my health condition. They know that I have a disk bulge and they wouldn’t risk climbing with someone like me that might end being carried using a stretcher. Other friends, who were not invited but know my plan, were also hesitant to give their approval. I got hurt and offended but I remained adamant with my position.

So I gathered those who were interested and set the guidelines for preparation. We agreed that we will prepare physically, mentally, financially and spiritually. We agreed that we will exercise. We agreed that we will give installment deposits for the climb fee. And in the event that one cannot join, his/her deposit will be reimbursed. And we agreed that we will pray.

Second blow of discouragement: the finalized schedule coincides with the wedding of church friends and Kuya Jay is also the videographer of the wedding. It was difficult to decide on another date. We have agreed that we will not climb on days that there are important church activities, namely, Sunday worship gatherings, camps, retreats and conferences. I’m thankful for my team who upholds our commitment to our church so moving the schedule became easier.

Third blow: one by one, those who signified attendance are posting “Maybe” in Facebook or are totally backing out because of conflicting schedule, wife being pregnant or leaves not approved. If my team composition would go down from ten it means more expenses. I could only encourage those who have conflicts with schedule to pray and have a positive outlook. I couldn’t coerce them not to back out, of course. Good thing that there are some Christian friends outside the church who were really ready to climb and I willingly accommodated them.

Fourth blow: the weather condition during March became unpredictable. Sometimes it’s so sunny, sometimes it’s raining continuously. I really feared that our climb would be spoiled by the rain.

Fifth blow: my disk bulge pain recurred. Bad timing! Good thing that my office applied for an HMO and our card was delivered on time for me to start on my physical therapy. Praise God! Since the rehab center is just near our house and the BGH Rehab Center therapists are very good and strict to me, my recovery is quite fast. Praise God!

Sixth blow: the North Korea rocket launch was scheduled during our climb. Kuya Jay advised me to wait. I was already supposed to buy our bus ticket to Baguio when he texted me to consider the situation. One of the news sources said that there is a Luzon-wide evacuation plan because of the dang

er that would be caused by the rocket launch.

Worst case scenario: Evacuation in Luzon

I was thinking, “What if Kuya Jay says that we call it off? Hmmm. I will still climb Mt. Pulag!” Look at my proud heart. So I prayed to the Lord. I mustered all the faith I have and asked that He intervenes. The day North Korea was supposed to launch the rocket was suspended due to bad weather condition. The following day they proceed with the launch but it was a failure.

North Korea launches long-range missile; launch fails

Seventh blow: Mom acted weird two days before our climb and some friends told me that it’s a possible mild stroke. How can I leave for Pulag when Mom is not okay? So I had her checked up and go through lab tests to determine her health condition. Praise God! Her amnesia incident didn’t recur and all her tests went okay and no remarkable thing to worry about.

In my next post I will share the Pulag adventure of twelve brave and daring souls.

Young and Restless: My Adopted Baby… Bird

I didn’t imagine taking care of a young wild bird. First, I think I will be reprimanded by the government or by my club. Two, I’m not equipped and it might end up dead in my custody. And three, I don’t want to be hassled.

But last March 23, when we were about to eat dinner, Mom called me from our front door. She saw something inside a pail. I hurried to the door and tried to see what it is. We initially thought that it was a frog but I concluded that it’s a young pied fantail. Good thing that the pail is empty because normally it is filled with water.

Mom told me that there’s a spider on the side of the pail. I readily felt something crawling on my fingers so I dropped the pale. Yes? You’re right. The bird is still inside in the pail. The bird managed to survive the drop. I didn’t want to hold the bird for fear that its parents won’t return to it. But I had no choice. I wanted the bird to survive.

I took a rug and placed the bird on it because it’s sopping wet. I suspected that the bird was attacked by big red ants and it fell because there were ants still biting it. I thought of making an improvised nest so I used a sombrero. I put some dried leaves and placed the bird on it.

It is already skittish. It flew from the sombrero several times so I placed another sombrero (salakot) on top of it to keep inside. I was happy that it’s lively for I thought that it will have more chances to survive. I also consulted my books if there some information about young pied fantails and I also texted my birdwatcher friend Jops.

I have it placed beside my bed for fear that rodents will attack it.

March 24, I planned to stay long on my bed but I have an “adopted baby” to take care for. Talk about the hassle! I placed the sombrero outside Mom’s garden. The young bird flew. It went to a small papaya tree. I was glad that its parents went to feed it. What a relief! I really feared that its parents will not return to it because I held it several times.

I have to intervene again because the papaya tree is located in a shaded area. I wanted the young bird to receive the energy from the sun. Yeah, I’m thinking about Superman. I also transferred the young bird because the papaya tree is near where the cats hang around. The parents have been busy warding the cats away and they can’t concentrate on feeding their young.

I placed the young pied fantail back to the sombrero and placed the sombrero on top of Mom’s orchids, which is much nearer the original nest. However, the young bird is really restless. It flew again. It went to the star apple tree and then it flew to our wall about 10 feet high. Its claws managed to hold on to the rough wall but it fell! To my dismay! How can I leave this young bird if this is its behaviour?

It fell at the bottom of Mom’s plants. I have to hold the bird again to catch it. I put it back inside the sombrero and placed the sombrero on top of the orchids. Thankfully it stayed there for several hours. The parents were able to feed it and I was able to document the activity.

I thought I could now let go of the young bird. But it rained so hard in the afternoon! I took the improvised nest and placed it on top of Mom’s plants by our front door. The parents still fed and protected the young bird.

I was already confident that nothing bad will happen with the young bird. I was already busy doing my own thing. It was almost evening when I checked the young bird and to my horror I saw the bird drowned in a pail of water. I quickly scooped the bird with my hand. It reacted to my touch so I was hopeful to revive it. My brother Paul and I hurried to dry the feathers with a blower. It became active again after its feathers dried up. To my relief! I placed the bird beside the exhaust of my CPU because it is warm. But it flew to the floor. I almost stepped on it! Grrrr!

This time, Mom suggested placing the bird inside a bird cage. I complied with a heavy heart. I hope my wild bird watching club and photography group will extend their forgiveness to me for caging a wild bird. I just wanted the bird to survive. I was thinking that I could at least extend the bird’s life by keeping it from falling and drowning.

March 25, I wasn’t able to go to church. I had a terrible slipped disk pain attack again. Before having the bird placed outside to be fed by its parents, I have its right eye gently wiped with a damped cotton swab because it closed due to some irritation due to the drowning incident.

With the help of my Mom and my brother Paul, the cage was hung on the atis tree’s branch. We left the cage’s door open. The pied fantail parents still fed and defended their young. They even attacked us several times. Talk about gratitude!

I just stayed inside our house. The slipped disk pain is quite unbearable. But I managed to take some shots to document my unusual experience. But something happened to my photography gear this day. Something heartbreaking! That’s another story perhaps.

The young bird fell again! Maybe I should let it die for its restless adventurism. I deemed that there’s already so much human intervention for it to survive. Taking care of the bird may cost me another thing or two. But I secured the safety of the bird by caging it again. I can’t help it. I was quite certain that its parents will provide it with food even if it’s caged.

Why am I hassling myself for fairly common bird? It’s not even an endangered species. I could let the young pied fantail be and whatever happens to it would seem negligible. I would wake up the next morning and able to see another of its kind. I’ve been wondering too how can taking care of a young wild bird be a God-glorifying activity (1 Corinthians 10:31)?

In Genesis 1:28-30, God commanded man to have dominion over His creation. Dominion means God has allowed man to be a servant or steward of His creation so that it will be replenished. Birds were particularly mentioned, by the way. In this day and age, people are dominating God’s creation in a way that leads to its destruction and not its replenishment. Perhaps even with one bird I could make a difference. Perhaps my simple act would encourage my relatives and my neighbours to be mindful of God’s creation.

Certified Birdnut

Last Monday, the recommendation that I become a Certified Birdnut was approved. I was recommended by Kuya Bob Kaufman and the approval was made by Romy Ocon himself, the Philippine premier bird photographer.

I was so elated. It’s like I’m dreaming when I was reading the thread in the Philippine Bird Photography Forum where I belong but it’s true. I’m now a Certified Birdnut!

The approval of Ka Mastah Romy is really something. We haven’t met personally but we have one exchange of e-mails. I have high respect for Ka Mastah because he really excelled in wild bird photography, even if he is color blind, and because of his humility.

But I’m more amazed with the words used by Kuya Bob when he recommended me. He said, “I can vouch for his integrity.” Those are heavy words! He would put his name at stake for recommending me. “Integrity” is a loaded word in itself. I don’t know the intent of his word but, for someone like me who works with finances, it means honesty, truthfulness and reliability. Perhaps in bird photography it means I do my assignment, I don’t cheat my photos or I respect other photographers/birders and the subject of our photography.

I’m honoured and humbled to be considered a person with integrity but it also entails responsibility. I have to uphold the recognition. I’m thankful to God for this “achievement.” It’s really an honour to be in the league of great wild bird photographers. I’m thankful to the Lord because it is only by His grace that I could produce some good bird images. I’m thankful that He gave me the opportunities, for the skills and for PBPF who inspired me and taught me not to settle for mediocrity.

So, yes, like what I mentioned in my previous blog, bird photography is indeed madness. Being a birdnut means that we are really crazy for our Philippine avian treasures. Being a birdnut means we would go great lengths to photograph birds. We will hike mountains. We will wade rivers, streams and the beaches. We will risk being attacked by insects, snakes, wild animal or hostile individuals. We will crawl the ground. It could be madness but I would say it is passion!

PEO-troglyphs

The Philippine Eagle-Owl (Bubo philippensis) belongs to vulnerable species of birds. It is endemic to the Philippines. Little is known about the behavior of this secretive species. Thus when sighting of this bird circulated in our organization, it has become an instant celebrity. Our first sighting is inside the MWSS compound. The second is in Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs.

The Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs, by the way, is the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. These inscriptions clearly show stylized human figures, frogs and lizards along with other designs that may have depicted other interesting figures but erosion may have caused it to become indistinguishable. Although it sits along the boundaries of Angono, Binangonan and Antipolo of the province of Rizal, this heritage site was discovered by the late National Artist of the Philippines awardee Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco in 1965. Since then, some rock carvings have been damaged due to neglect and vandalism. In 1973, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 260, it was declared as a national cultural treasure by the Philippine government. During that time, a team led by the National Museum of the Philippines started archaeological site conservation and site development of the petroglyphs in which a mini-museum, view deck and stone path among others were constructed.

Since I’m a birder and a fan of archeological treasures, I planned to go visit the place even if the place is quite far for commute. God, however, provided a free ride courtesy of fellow bird photographer Kuya Bob Kaufman. We went to the petroglyphs site with Kuya Jun Osano.

PEO is the abbreviated name for the largest owl of the Philippines and petrogylphs, also called rock engravings, are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving and abrading. Thus I coined the Philippine Eagle-Owl photographed in Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs as PEO-troglyphs.

The female adult...

 The juvenile...

 I wonder if this is how it'll look like if they have some kind of eye problem...

 

 A wink from an owl...

Showing how big his/her foot is...

Peek-a-boo!

The petroglyphs...

Mini-museum...

So I invite you to see our own national treasure!