Km 256 in Sta Cruz Zambales

Barangay Naulo Km 256 in Sta Cruz Zambales is a five hour drive from Quezon City. It is a quaint quiet barangay of a town North West of Metro Manila. The last town of Zambales, it is the favorite hangout of those who want recluse and exclusivity.

The dark blue sea and sand complement the long stretch of uninhabited shoreline both in the North and South. You would think that no one inhabits the place except for a handful of fisherman you’d spot at the horizon.

The prize you earn for a long ride to Manila is this idyllic place. Yet it has the convenience of a big rest house, furnished kitchen and master’s bedroom, television and Globe, Smart, Sun signals. What our practical group mates like best is a Pamilihang ng Sta Cruz is just over 10 kilometers away.

Some snapshots of the neighboring town Candelaria, Zambales and the activities this 23 April 2005.

Do we let Elvis finally die? Elvis is alive and recharged!

At the UP Lagoon Dec 9 Friday.

UP MOUNTAINEERS with AVENUE PRODUCTIONS present
ELVIS RECHARGED! a concert to raise awareness about the renewable energy bill.

It intermittently rained that day. Everyone was so busy. Not many volunteers came. Yet there was still fun. This project held every Christmas at the UP Sunken Garden has become an institution for UP and for the mountaineers. It’s kalokohan mixed with kagagohan under the guise of an affordable concert by known and less known rock stars. From the UPM site, Elvis had its first concert in 1993 “1993 The First "Elvis" Concert rocks UP. UPM Hosts MFPI Congress traverse climb on Mt. Banahaw from Dolores to Tayabas. Bridge is destroyed to prevent further trail abuse.”

Romeo ever since produces the Elvis concert to the delight of the UPM. He said in an article at the peyups.com portal on dekada 90’s “Ako na nga lang ang nagtitiyagang mag-organize ng Elvis. Nagbayad pa ako sa generator, di naman nagamit. Dati, may apat kaming kalabaw, ngayon binenta ko na ang dalawa para lang d'yan. Early '90s pa lang, Elvis na 'yan. May t-shirt kasi akong "I've seen Elvis" noon kaya 'yun na. Minsan nagsasawa na 'ko sa pangalang Elvis. Parang gusto ko nang palitan. Joseph Estrada kaya?" maigsi niyang pagmumuni.

This last Elvis was not that good for Romeo. He claimed he lost lots of money because the support did not come and the supporting group suddenly disappeared. He thought at the spur of the moment, “last ko na yata ito.”

Will you guys allow this to happen? Let this event, almost an artifact of Metro Manila climbers end up as history? Hope not. Romeo is holding an art exhibit on 26 Jan at the 4/F of SM Megamall. Should we help him recover?

Chito Razon 26Dec2005

Reason to Give

Accenture, an IT company based in Makati and Ortigas responded to the call of MFPI for assistance to the bursted dike and flooding victims of Mindoro by raising at least over 50 bags and boxes consisting of 3 25 kilos of rice, at least over 5 cases of instant noodles, several cases of canned goods, clothes, shoes and other items in plastic bags. Goods were systematically collected from their 6 installation offices spread out mostly in the Makati Business District. They were neatly packed and identified for easy distribution. This noble undertaking at Accenture was initiated by their senior officer Mr. Benjie Madolin who is an individual member of the MFPI. A junior employee and a resident of Calapan, Wendell Custodio helped promote the solicitation along with his colleagues Alex Ocampo and other team members.

What they turned over to MFPI needed a dedicated van to transport them all. Their donation filled to capacity a pick up and will most likely need seven tricycles to complete the transfer in the HALMS center in Calapan. To show how dedicated they were, they even manned the turn-over to HALMS early morning of Saturday, a day before Christmas. Alex Ocampo rode on the Roro where the goods were given revenue free transport courtesy of the shipping lines and the local disaster units.

From Wendel and Alex’s accounts, HALMS representatives received the contribution and quickly sorted them out at their center where the bags multiplied a hundred fold. Contributions from other unidentified donors arranged by Mr. Manny Yu have previously been allocated for dispatch earlier.

Truly the recipients of the goods contributed by Accenture and by the other unidentified donors and volunteers will not only get temporary relief but some warm glow this damp Christmas. Through HALMS, the local government units and residents, these goods will not only go along way but will reach to far flung places in Mindoro. We leave it to our Calapan sponsors who know best the needing recipients.

Christmas last year, we were dampened by the flooding in Quezon and Baler. This Christmas, it was Mindoro, Palawan and Bicol. These incidents deliver a powerful message. They remind us that we, living in the comforts of our homes are a blessed lot. It is but proper that we give and help. Still, there is Christmas. Most of us have a lot to be thankful for this season. Maligayang Pasko po!

Chito Razon 24 Dec 2005

* * *

Dear MFPI members and friends,

Over the weekend, we received urgent appeal from Halms for the flood victims of Calapan and Oriental Mindoro. Another downpour of heavy rains submerged these areas even deeper into flood waters.

A total of 1,666 families or 7,878 persons are still staying at the 31 evacuation centers in Calapan City and municipalities of Pola, Victoria and Naujan, 1,292 of whom are children.

We are appealing to all for your generosity during this season of sharing and hope. Due to logistical challenges, we encourage cash donations. However food, medicine, and used clothes are also very welcome. Further, we are also looking for parties who can lend their vehicles to transport these goods from Manila to Batangas City.

Regie Pablo is currently coordinating with Halms, Batangas Backpackers and the different NGO partners of MFPI in this drive. Dodi Principe will be heading the actual relief goods transportation and distribution in Mindoro.

Mark Murcia is in charge of volunteer recruitment and deployment to Mindoro. For now, we are requesting for 10 volunteers who can be deployed on Dec 22 and return by Dec 24. All interested volunteers, please get in touch with Mark via mobile no. 09178414614.

I will be coordinating the relief goods solication and collection. There will be 2 relief goods drop-off centers:

1. Unit 2 Ground Floor, Midland Mansions, Benevidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati. Look for fellow mountaineer, Edison Sismundo.
2. We will be at the Pioneer Grill patio area on wednesday/Dec. 21 from 7:00-10:00 pm to accept volunteers and relief goods.

As this is a continuous effort until these areas recover, all parties outside Metro Manila who wish to help may send their support to Unit 2 Ground Floor, Midland Mansions, Benevidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati.

Thank you all!
Manny Yu

North Side Katipuian

North Side 

Katipunan

Katipunan 

13 Hours on the Road SLEX

Subject: 13 Hours From Sucat To Bicutan
From: cbrazon@worldtelphil.com
Date: 1997/08/18
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino


13 hours. Yes that's how long it took to cross the 4 km stretch from Sucat South Luzon Expressway to Bicutan Monday night when the monsoon rains caused a giant gridlock out of Metro Manila. The rains caught the city and the government flatfooted. DZRH went on special programming. So did DZBB and DZMM. You know when the government is unprepared-there are no politicians on air. Except for MMDA Chairman Prospero Oreta who simply had to say give in to all the requests of the annotator for towing trucks, the traffic brigade and the state of the raincoats and rubber boots-lines he has been saying for the pas days on radio. I heard Mayor Marquez say at 4 a.m. that it was OK to take the Santos Road to the South.

Following morning was devoted to discussion not on how to get us out of the gridlock but on whether there would be classes and offices or not! And which government office is responsible for announcing this when we haven't even gone home yet! Mayor Binay was cold about the whole situation and wouldn't even volunteer his towing trucks.

From the radio broadcast it seemed to me that the South was completely shut off from the metropolis. The coastal road, NAIA road and the SLEX were in a standstill. Traffic in the Expressway was caused by the incessant rains and flooding, the volume of vehicles building up and the buses/ trucks catching up with the light vehicles later in the evening. At SLEX, main blocks were the flooding at the Bicutan interchange, at the Motorola (which settled down early in the morning) Bicutan, Magallanes, Vito Cruz, Quirino and others not reported.

As I moved out of C5 at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and saw the snake of vehicles wanting to get into the South, I pictured their future the next 13 hours. It can be shorter if the rains stop, longer if the government doesn't wake up.

Life in Katipunan

Life in Katipunan
Written 19 June 1997

My Katipunan used to be a quiet street that connects U.P to Aurora Blvd.
Now it connects Bulacan to Laguna.
It has become like an EDSA. Worse it is now EDSA with the LRT construction constricting travel in the major thoroughfare.

Crossing the overpass that links Loyola Heights to Blue Ridge used to be a feast for the eyes. The Sierra Madre on the Marikina side steals the attention from the windshield. On a clear day, Mt. Makiling in Laguna is also visible. We have now been denied this, censored by a high wall that almost says, "You are not entitled to this appreciation." Thank you to whoever initiated this project.

Katipunan-C-5's traffic is well managed by MMDA traffic aides, religiously. Even with the volume of vehicles, traffic flows. Innovations like counter flows, closing P. Tuazon crossings; no U-turns are regular occurrences. To a certain extent they yield faster flows. At least you know you'll get to Corinthian without much stress.

But what’s irritating is:
When some big shots stop traffic, violate traffic flows using uniformed men in big motorcycles to push them upfront. Our poor MMDA aides just have to give in to their bullying, while we have to wait.
When the pacing is too slow that blind beggars queuing up for your window also builds up.
When the aides in rare occasions are not in their post unpredictably. Could it be it's their payday? Or some politicians used them for other purposes? Or they simply just gave up? I couldn't see the pattern.

Patient as we are, we just have to surrender to progress. Wait for the newly trees planted at Ateneo to grow and provide the shade in future summers to come. Or savor the end to end of Sta. Maria Della Strada to The Mormon Church in White Plains while they are still there..


19 June 1997
Chito Razon

"Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone." -The Dhammapada

Pinoy Mountaineer Big Brother Reality Climb

Inspired by Pinoy Big Brother Reality Show over ABS-CBN
Also similar to My Private Eye and Das Experiment
Put together a select group of mountaineers with various orientations and origins in an exotic mountain like Talinis, Halcon, Banahaw or Pulag. Let them camp for 45 days cover them online 24/7 broadcast over Discovery Channel. They are exposed to adverse and challenging situations trekking, rock climbing, river crossing, camping, rappelling, cooking, socializing, drinking, tree planting and other environment friendly undertakings.

There are only three rules:
1. Respect for nature
2. True to one self
3. Survival of the group

An omnipresent leader called Expedition Brother gives out daily tasks and missions for the moment. He could be a past federation president, pioneer club founder or the head of the Mt. Everest team expedition. A web cam follows the trekkers wherever they go day and night including their private moments.

Every other three days, one of them is booted out. Criteria? Least deserving, high risk, not a team player, threat to the environment. The remaining three win an all expense trip for a month stay at the Himalayas plus a promise of international fame. All of them get a Land Rover Discovery 4x4 all terrain sports utility vehicle.

Who could be nominated? MFPI club members, MMS, Pinoyclimbers, PALMC egroups subscribers, Visayas, Mindanao, Cordilleras mountaineers, member of the Everest Team and other pioneer clubs in the Philippines. For added excitement, Singaporean, Malaysian and Sherpas can be invited.

What situation can the Expedition Brother give? And if there are sanctions, they could be like cook for all fetch water, sweep, and install bolts and hangers on new walls, set up the camp for the community, chronicle all daily activities, chart our compass courses, bring down trash, clean up.

How’s that for a new topic for our climbing socials. Any other wild ideas?


-tochs 30 August 2005

Links to Updates Phil Presidency

Get updated on the state of the Philippine Presidency.

What keeps me informed are:

• ANC Channel 27 Sky
• Manuel L Quezon III Blog http://www.quezon.ph/blog/
• Peyups.com Current Events http://peyups.com/threads.khtml?forum=5
• By Jove Blog http://jovefrancisco.blogspot.com/2005/07/down-slow.html

Coron Sanitarium

Sanitarium 

Travel as Paulo Coelho writes in "The Pilgrimage"

Travel as Paulo Coelho writes in "The Pilgrimage" makes us see the world in a new light, " . . .  since all things are new, you see only the beauty in things and feel happy to be alive."

Ernesto "Che/Fuser" Guevara narrates a similar experience in the movie "The Motorcycle Diaries." Traveling with his biochemist friend Alfredo Granado in a motorcycle from Buenos Aires Argentina to the San Pablo leper colony in Peruvian Amazon in 1952, he asked himself towards the end of his journey, "Was my vision too narrow? Wandering around America has changed me more than I thought. I am not myself anymore. At least, I'm not the same me I was."

This is a turnaround from his earlier outlook on why he and his buddy are traveling. Asked by the hungry and jobless miners why they travel, he answered, "We travel just to travel." The miners were stunned as they travel to look for work so they can eat.

As a result of this experience that spanned over 6,000 kilometers in Latin America in more than a year, Che saw a different world; from a fun filled detached life to a world of oppression, injustice, pain and suffering. His two weeks as a medical volunteer at the San Jose leper colony made him see extreme anguish in all dimensions of man. The lepers, separated from the healthy by the river made him see that there are extreme separate worlds in Latin America. This moved him eventually on changing it by founding a revolutionary communist and Latino movement.

In a way, our visit to the Culion Leper Colony even without the patients can be likened to Che’s journey in the 50’s. Through the pictures at the Culion Museum, sighting of the hospital and the lecture of Dr. Arturo Cunanan, the head of the Culion Leprosy Control and Rehabilitation Program at the Culion Sanitarium, we visualized the pain the ostracized 7,000 patients underwent during their rehab. They were in an island detached from the rest by the Luzon Sea, over 360 kilometers away from their families. This travel challenged us to look beyond our comfort zones, seeing our world in another light.

Returning back to city from our weekend adventure, we can only be thankful that we have been spared of the pains of perpetual separation. If at the least the experience in Palawan awakened us that we should be empathetic to the sick, our Coron Waters Adventure then gifted us with a valuable treasure that could not be matched by all the sunken gold in the Philippine Seas. Yes, even the sick deserves to be happy and alive.

-Chito. Originally written 28 March 2005, modified 20 May 2005

-----------

In the movie Kingdom of Heaven which was aptly described as the Kingdom of Conscience, the masked king of Jerusalem, King Baldwin who was afflicted with leprosy said to Balian (Orlando Bloom), “Leprosy is God’s vengeance against the vanity of our kingdom. As wretched as he is already, they believe that the chastisement caused by the disease is more severe and lasting in hell.” He complains “it is unfair.”

Culion Fortress

Grilled view from Culion Fortress 

The original infinity pool 

Mt. Tapyas

On top Mt. Tapyas 210 Meters ASL 718 steps

Culion Church

Church in Culion 

Lagoon Viewdeck

Viewdeck on the way to the Lagoon 

Ridges

Ridges 

Last Chance at the Last Frontier

26 participants had a taste of the last frontier of the Philippines through the Coron Waters Adventure organized and led by PALMC President Banny Hermanos this 13-16 May 2005. Ably assisted by PAL employees and affiliates, Dexter Macapagal and Bunzoi Anonuevo, this 2.8 day-revitalizing weekend (67 hours) was spent mostly on water; 52 hours in, above or under water, 15 hours on land. What is Coron Palawan but islands, water, diving, snorkeling, swimming, shipwreck spotting, trekking and eating that logged in about 75 kilometers moving around the group of Calamian Island. Count the adventures in this action-packed weekend: trek to Mt. Tapyas elevation 210 M ASL, 718 steps for the initiates, lapping at the Kayangan Lake, the cleanest in the Philippines still, snorkeling at the Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake, lunch at CYC (Coron Youth Club) island, dock at Banana Island, walk around the Culion Leper Colony, search for pearls at the nearby Pearl Farm, look for shipwrecks at Lusong, dive for giant jellyfish at Skeleton Island, snorkel at corals at Siete Pecados Marine Sanctuary. While at the Banana Island exclusively for us, a series of activities naturally happened aside from the usual tent pitching, seafood grilling, bonfire and socials. Would you believe, basketball, Frisbee throwing and competitive beach volleyball? To cool down the active bodies as we end the adventure Sunday afternoon, we were treated to a hot spring bath at the Makinit Hot Spring. Refueling the energy of the participants for the two days at the island were seafood preparations by Chinese chef Stephen, Boholana Virgie and initiate May. Cooking was done mostly while the group was in transit. Consider yourself disabled without a boat. Moving us around hopping from one island to the next was St. Joseph the Worker Boat captained by Toti and his assistant Tony. Readings by Lito Nazereno showed cruising speed of about 24 km per hour (slower than Super Ferry's 30 km per hour).

Travel like a time warp has a way of transforming us to the past. Our visit at Culion brought us back to the Spanish era in 1740 where the church served at the sanctuary of the soul and a fortress defending the land against the invaders. Visiting the Culion Leper Colony and the Culion Museum set us back to 1906 when the colony was institutionalized and supported through intervention of the American Governor General Leonard Wood. While snorkeling peeping at the corals, we recall in the not distant past that the corals then were more abundant and alive. We hope that as the people of Calamian Island preserved their historical artifacts, they will do the same to their fast dwindling natural resources.

In 2000, travel writer Amadis Ma. Guerrero wrote about enchanting, craggy Coron Island enjoining readers to visit it before its turns commercial, expensive and spoilt. This year, through the selflessness of ace photographer and club president Banny, we were able to catch still the pristine and natural wonder of Palawan for a measly P 1,000 a day. Do not tell that to the other excursionists we were with the WG&A. They spent a lot more and saw not as much. How else can we express our appreciation but say profusely our thanks. The next time we visit, we may not like what we will see. Timely, we were at the last chance at the last frontier of the Philippines.

-Chito 16 May 2005

For a sampling of fotos visit http://tochs.blogspot.com/

Everest, The Elusive Filipino Dream

Notes on Mr. Art Valdez' talk in the PALMC assembly on the First Filipino Ascent to Mt. Everest

This climb has ever since been a vision of the original MFPI founders. Its attainment remains to be elusive but the developments in the last century are slowly and painstakingly bringing them closer to realize the dream. This is with the help of the younger climbers in collaboration with the seasoned ones. The climb to Everest is a
climb via the traditional way: train and complete as a team. There will be neither be shortcuts nor fast tracks.

The process and hopefully the successful step is a testament to the faith in the Filipino, that yes, the Filipino can.

As the first Filipino mountaineer steps on the roof of the world for the first time in 2007, underneath that foot are the shoulders of the members of the Filipino team, the entire nation and the Filipino climbing community.

To climb this way, the climber must be prepared physically, psychologically, emotionally and financially. Of these, it is the financial that may be the most difficult to hurdle.

Art enjoins PALMC to support this grand endeavor. He invited Chairman John Fortes to organize a send off party at the base camp.

Chito at the PALMC Training Center 4 May 2005 with Mr. Fred Jamili and Mr. Larry Honoridez

Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan died in the Huey helicopter crash

We were saddened to hear the news that Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan died in the Huey helicopter crash in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija this 28 April 2005.

The mountaineering community remembers him for presenting the geographical formation of mountains in a language understandable to non-academicians like us. He shared his paper in the Philippine Mountains Summit, a national policy forum on Philippine mountains environment last 16 November 2000 at UPLB. Various stakeholders of the mountain, Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines, Inc (MFPI) included through the then president, Butch Sebastian, attended the summit organized by Dr. Edwino Fernando of Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME).

At the 25th MFPI Congress hosted by Philippines Airlines Mountaineering Club (PALMC) in Subic, Zambales last 27 February 2004, he willingly shared his technical know-how in a lecture at the covered court to mountaineers from all over the Philippines. He spiced up the module with side stories on the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo which affected adversely the venue of the assembly in 1991.

I recall his final slide, "Mountains are not permanent. Enjoy them while they're around." His sudden death is a fitting reminder to us all that man and mountain are not there forever. That sadly was dramatized with his tragic death.

Thank you sir, for your gifts of knowledge, simplicity and kindness. While we all are not here forever, for as long as we still climb, you are here, with us.

-Chito 28 April 2005

(Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija is an adopted town of the Loyola Mountaineers.)

Punongbayan, 4 PHIVOLCS workers among dead in chopper crash
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=3929

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) confirmed that Raymundo Punongbayan, now Philippine National Red Cross governor, is one of those killed when a Huey helicopter crashed into Mount Naval, Barangay Ligaya in Gabaldon town, Nueva Ecija Thursday morning.

A PHIVOLCS official also confirmed to DZMM that four of their employees were also with Punongbayan when the helicopter crashed. Punongbayan once served as PHIVOLCS head.

The employees were identified as Norma Dungol, of the geology department, a Dr. Gency, Dindo Javier and Rolando Abengoza.

Chief Supt. Rowland Albano, Central Luzon police director, said the Huey helicopter crashed at 9:45 a.m. It was bound for a survey mission in Dingalan, Aurora.

The cause of the crash is still unknown as police and military personnel proceeded to the crash site for rescue operation.

Looking for Your Outdoor Gear through the Mass Transit Railway in Metro Manila

Looking for Your Outdoor Gear through the Mass Transit Railway in Metro Manila

MRT

• North Edsa-
• Quezon Avenue-Boomika. A jeep ride to UP Krus na Ligas
• Kamuning-MMS Cooperative behind SSS
• Cubao-Montanara, Farmers Plaza; Columbia Sportswear Company, Gateway
• Mall; Estor Pang Outdoor, behind Ali Mall
• Santolan-Military Commissary
• Ortigas-High Adventure/ Bombproof gear, Brat Pak at Robinson's Galleria
• Shaw Boulevard-North Face, Storeshop, Rustan's Outdoor at Shang-rila,
• Habagat, Travel Club at Megamall, Columbia Sportswear Company, Podium,Toby's Shang-rila
• Boni- HMR along Pioneer
• Guadalupe- Jump-Off Outdoor Shop along Kalayaan, Maps in Namria Fort Bonifacio, TNF at Rockwell
• Buendia-Camp O, Citiland. Expedition Plus, Milelong. A jeep ride away
• Ayala-Mike's Outdoor, Park Square, Outdoor Shop, Park Square, Toby's
• Pasong Tamo-White Mountain and Rocks and Woods at Makati Cinema
• Square. A jeep ride away towards North. Namria at the Fort Bonifacio. A jeep ride away towards South. (needs updating)

LRT1

• Quirino-Trek
• Monumento-Conquer behind Sierra Madre Transit

LRT2

• Santolan-Kamikaze, Robinson's East. A jeep ride away
• Katipunan-Boomika, Krus na Ligas. A jeep ride away
• Anonas-Ukay Ukay sa Kanto
• Araneta Center-Columbia Sportswear Company, Montanara, Estor Pang
• Outdoor, Coleman Gateway
• Betty Go Belmonte-
• Gilmore-MP3s, Digitals
• J Ruiz-
• V, Mapa-Sandugo (wala na)
• Pureza-
• Legarda-Maps
• Recto-Tarps, Military Surplus, Ground Sheets, Technical shirts and jackets

Point for map. http://www.urbanrail.net/as/mani/manila.htm

Complete this in one day and you would have done your training climb for the weekend. Safe climbing.

-Chito



Shopping for Trekking Gears Via Train
Columbia Sportswear Company at the Gateway Mall. I saw breathable jackets at P 6K, technical t-shirts at P 1K, shoes, shorts, backpacks etc. Gateway is in Araneta Center accessible via LRT2. Walk further to Farmer's via the elevated walkway, you will find the big Montanara Outlet.

Take the MRT going to Shaw, go to Shang-rila and you will see the
North Face Outlet. Walk further The Podium you will find Columbia's
2nd Sportwear Company Store. Pass by Megamall for Habagat.

Stop by Ayala, take the elevated walkway towards Pasong Tamo for
White Mountain, Rocks and Woods, Expedition Plus and further South
Camp-O.

Or, take the LRT2 going to V. Mapa, see the Sandugo Stall behind
Mercury Drug.

Ride the LRT1 to Monumento, you will find Conquer somewhere near the
Sierra Madre bus terminal. Drop off at Quirino, buy at the original
Trek Store.

Wednesday the 13th

There is nothing significant about the date. It is not payday nor it is the dreaded Friday the 13th.

It was just a regular PALMC meet at the Training Center in Padre Faura presided by the President Banny Hermanos graced by Chairman John Fortes. But what a loaded package was revealed in a jam-packed room with over 60 associates, initiates and members in attendance to hear what’s in store for the season.

The (Cordillera) Bontoc Circuit Trail for 21-27 April was opened by EL Banny for enlistment. This Circuit Trail is the fulfillment of the Banny’s dream to structure this mountain area into a backpackers’ loop similar to what they have in South America and in Europe. With the support of the club and office of the governor of Mt. Province, this inaugural event will first be traced in an organized fashion by PALMC via two routes starting at the center at Siblaw-Talaw, Barlig, diverting North and South to Lingay and Mangid and converging again at Sadanga and Sabangan accessible via Halsema Highway towards the end.

Much work was placed behind this event with no less than the Mt. Province Governor and his Mayors involved. The most recent output was the pre-work last 20-23 January where a motley group trekked the Sandangan-Sagada route.

As an added caveat to the April Circuit, the governor put up the Siblaw-Talaw Barlig Trek as a prelude and warm up to the North and South diversions. To culminate the 5-day actual trek, those with the luxury of time can cool down via a leisurely hike from Ampacao to Sagada. All these for an estimated budget of P 2,500.

The Chairman, John Fortes, fresh from his participation in the 26th MFPI Congress in Malindang Ozamiz made known the successful hosting of Conquest Adventure Team and Malindang Mountaineering Alliance. He mentioned two highlights. First, our adopted club Pinakbet won the bid to host the next federation congress after a neck and neck votation with a Mindanao club. Pinakbet offered the Club’s paradise Kilung as the venue for the activity. Second, he mentioned the thwarting of an initiative to secede Mindanao into a separate federation, details of which you will have to personally get from the attendees.

Ding Cailipan, one of the pioneers who has given up his high paying position in a geothermal company devoting much of his free time organizing climbs like the Morong Bataan initiation this month and grand Kinabalu project in September fine tuned his programs. He shared the slides of the recent Morong trek with those who stayed behind. The list to those traveling to Malaysia increasing by the minute while the cost is inversely going down.

On the side, pre announcement of the Coron Palawan adventure for 13-17 May was made. For a more noble cause, the 14-15 May Camp Bulilit was also presented for drafting.

Truly, a loaded night that we almost forgot it was the birthday of our involved President Banny Hermanos. By past 10, those who remained were drawn to Ibarra for the usual post meeting talks. Historic circuit, great attendance, Kinabalu for the nth time, Coron Palawan once again, Camp Bulilit and the President’s birthday. Really, nothing really significant on that day.

-Chito 14 April 2005

Travel as Paulo Coelho writes in “The Pilgrimage”

Travel as Paulo Coelho writes in “The Pilgrimage” makes us see the world in a new light, “ . . . since all things are new, you see only the beauty in things and feel happy to be alive.”

Ernesto “Che/Fuser” Guevara narrates a similar experience in “The Motorcycle Diaries.” Traveling with his biochemist friend Alfredo Granado in a motorcycle from Buenos Aires Argentina to the San Pablo leper colony in Peruvian Amazon starting in December 1951, he asked himself towards the end of his journey, “Was my vision too narrow? … wandering around America has changed me more than I thought. I am not myself anymore. At least, I’m not the same me I was.”

This is a turnaround from his earlier viewpoint on why he and his buddy are traveling. Asked by marginalized miners why they travel, he answered, “We travel just to travel.”

As a result of this experience that spanned over 12,000 kilometers in Latin America for seven months, he saw a different world full of oppression and injustice and acted on changing it by founding a revolutionary communist and latino movement. (Years after his violent death in 1967, Che Guevara gained a mythical stature symbolizing rebellion and zeal.)

This 4 day Holy Week respite allowed us the chance to move out of our base for whatever our purpose. It could either be of these two extremes: a spiritual renewal or as simple as a travel vacation. We looked forward to this extended break to get away from it all and breathe in a sniff of fresh air expelling the old. It is the time of the year when we usually trace back our roots and keep the tradition of pasyon still going in spite of the fast moving borderless world.

As we come back to the real world this week, we brace ourselves for the next cycle of life. Those of us who got the most were likely daring and adventurous. In the case of the two young motorcycle travelers who had limited logistics, they were armed only with restlessness, impassioned spirit and an open route. Big words. But these are not exclusive to the club adventurers, the mountaineers and intrepid travelers. It is in anyone who has a zest for life. So compelling, it is enough to make the common man more alive even if he simply stayed behind in the stillness of the city. What about you? Any interesting story this Holy Week? Happy Easter!


CBR 28March2005

Impierno Man ay Langit

Impierno Man ay Langit

My Holy Week climb in 1996 in Mt. Talinis

Ang climb na walang sinundan: hindi lang isa kungdi tatlong pre-climb meeting, tatlong listahan din ng participants, itineraring nabaligtad, via Dumaguete daw ang flight pero by Cebu ang ending. Muntik pang hindi makabalik sa Cebu by Aboitiz Ferry.

Talinis. Pati ang mga aswuang ng Siquijor Island binulabog pagbaba na pagbaba pa lang ng tropa. Ginawang ballroom ang bilyaran ng Lighthouse, higaan at aerobics floor ang Dumaguete runway, waiting shed ang Aboitiz Super Ferry. Sa pagkadeny ng boarding ng aming confirmed ticket, hinawakan ang plank nang hindi makaalis. Super dramatic talaga! Taob ang Titanic. 

Sa tindi ng tama ng Mt. Talinis, nagpadating ng isa pang ferry mula sa Cebu para pumick-up ng stranded passengers. Pati ang nahostage na Senador John Osmena ay tumulong na lang sa amin para happy lahat. Iyan ang influensya ng Mt.Talinis. 

Hanggang sa matapos ang climb, akala ng EL Elmer 19 pa rin ang participants from PAL pero 17 lang pala. 

Bumabagyo ang weather forecast pero hindi naman maramadaman sa ere at sa lawat. Ganoon pa man napakasaya ng experience. At napakaganda ng Mt.Talinis. Mayroon bang impiernong langit?

Talinis. Kakaibang bundok. Moss at fern ang tinatapakan. Ang sarap sa paa. Punong malalaki at lumang-luma. Parang walang nang-aabala. Berdeng kay lamig tingnan. Campsite by the lake na puno ng berdeng halaman at ulap. Langit talaga! Ilog na kumukulo. May langit din pala ang imperyno. 

Negros Oriental. This province occupies 5,402 square kilometers in the southeast portion of Negros. Separated from the more developed sister province bu the central mountain range. Negros Orienta is culturally oriented towards Cebu, just across the narrow Tanon Strait. Most of the 998,000 people who inhabit the coastal plains and valleys speak Cebuano. Corn is their staple though rice (especially in the southwest), & vegetables, and root crops like cassava are grown too. Cash crops include coconuts, abaca, kapok. Sugar is grown around Bais City. The province also has cattle ranches and fishponds while in the highly settled interior, existing timberlands support an important logging industry that supplies sawmills. Cottage industry include woodcraft, shellcraft, mat-weaving and ceramics. Apart from the narrow coastal strip, the topography is almost entirely mountain and plateau, rugged country to which few roads give access.

Dumaguete City. Dumaguete City (pop. 80,000), provincial capital, port and commercial center lies on a fertile plain at the base of Cuernos de Negros Mountains. It attracts a large student population to the prestigious Silliman University whose facilities are spread through the city and its suburbs. Other sights include the market and a Spanish watchtower, built in 1800 and since restored. Pottery is made at Daro. You'll find beach resorts at Bantayan on the north side of the city and Banila on the south side, but better beaches are farther afield.

Article by Chito Razon. English text picked up from the itinerary of EL
Elmer Cabotage. Climbed 3-7 April 1996, Holy Week

Highlights ng activity sa bulkan ng Dumaguete:

• lighter fluid na hindi buo ang liyab, salamat Dumaguete supermarket.
• ang catering services ni Joshua Vizcarra, magkano nga ba talaga?
• ang transformation ni Juno Moncada from a humbled climber sa umpisa to a confident dancer sa huli.
• ang improvement sa stamina ni Manolet Ramos compared to his Pico ordeal. Bumigay na lang nang nakakita ng limatic.
• pagbura ng traumatic experience ni Herman Ontohan climbing Pulag via Kabayan.
• breakthrough learning ni Joey Doval Santos na kailangan bombahan ng tubig ang katawan para sa climb. natutunan daw niya ito kay Joshua na nagdideny na itituro niya ito sa initiation ni Joey.
• pagsasasama-sama muli ng mga tatlong itlog na sina Joey Verzo, Troy at Aldo Velasco. nangunguna sa umpisa, hanggang sa umpisa.
• kasama ba natin si Jojoy o maling flight ang sinakyan niya?
• si Mayan ba talagang naliligaw o nahuli naman sa eroplano?
• si Jun B., taga PAL na friend ni Timmy, ang bagong kilabot ng mga dalaga at ng mga dala na!
• expressive these eyes ni Arlyn Anabeza. Kumikutitap tuwing pinapansin ng EL at tuwing naaalala niya na wala siya sa advertising office niya.
• Timmy Toledo, ang pinakasenior na PAL member. First time ko lang marinig na may bundok pa siyang hindi nakikita. First timer na bisita sa Talinis.
• siyempre sinong hindi makakakarinig nang bold lines ni Joey na "Bomba, bomba!" kay Malou Cabrera. Sa sobrang thrill ni Malou naiwanan tuloy si Joey. Tanungin na lang kina Arlene at Malou kung anong "Bomba, bomba" muli ang ginawa ni Joey sa Cebu.
• mga tropang "J" sa trail. Joseph ang masayang sweeper natin from Palawan na nag-aaral sa Silliman U., ang Jofer na galit daw sa babae tulad ni Doc Jonathan Yrad. Pero aliw naman si Grace Taburico.
• si Jojoy, mabigat ba ang backpack niya o ang kalooban niya?
• Joey V., retirement climb na raw niya ang Mt. Talinis, iyan din ang sinabi niya ng pumunta siya sa Mt. Kanlaon.
• ang aerobics queen na si RinaTiangco. Mabuti na lang hindi na excite ang bulkan sa sobrang hyper niya
• si Joshua at ang magic tungkod niya. Idagdag mo na rin ang small backpack niya.
• si Jun B. and his mesmerizing bigote. Sino ba talaga Jun?
• si Juno, sa umpisa pa lang gusto nang bumalik sa Colgate Warehouse.
• Of course, sinong hindi makakakilala kay Doc Junjun also known as Jonathan. Halos binigay niya lahat sa amin pati ang nanay niya. Hanggang sa kahulihulihan, pati na rin ang syota niya. Kung umaandar lang ang kinokonstruk niyang sail boat, malamang nasakyan na namin.
• Hindi rin naman pahuhuli ang pa-kyut naming EL na naging Jelmer ang pangalan para lang sa series na ito.

The bloggers are taking a break.

The bloggers are taking a break.

http://www.chinito.net. chinito.net is currently undegoing changes. Please bear with me. Hopefully I'd get the site up and running in a few days. For messages, email me at chinito.factor@gmail.com. – chinito

http://www.ironwulf.net. This blog is moving quite slow lately, not because I am “busy” but because I chose not to write anything at the moment. I have been very careful to write lately as I may divulge information that may compromise me or other people as well. Let’s keep some things a mystery as the world should be, driven by the unknown. Don’t worry, I am not about to abandon this blog as it has been very helpful to me in some way but I’ll be in an indefinite hiatus for a while. The ronin has to master some secret sword techniques and do some grueling mental training as well. Will be living in a cave for a while. But you may catch me meditating under a waterfall once in a while.

http://gutterboy.blogdrive.com. Magpapalam muna si roni_blog sa pagb-blog. Marami siyang iniisip. At sa pagkakataoong ito, nahihirapan siyang magisipt habang nagsusulat (One of my favorite young writers transferred to http://ronnie-md.blogspot.com).

Ten extraordinary leaders, One book

Ten extraordinary leaders, One book

Last Christmas, the homilies on hope at the simbang gabi moved to me write a short essay and publish it in my web log. Today 3 months later, I read at the Manila Bulletin that it inspired Pathways to publish a book.
-cbr 5 March 2005

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Inspiring Living
A personal essay dedicated to the egroup readers on the 2004 ChristmasHoliday against the backdrop of tragedies that have struck Quezon, Aurora and the islands surrounding Indian Ocean and the sudden death of the icon of the underdogs, FPJ. Influenced by the homilies of the Simbang Gabi novena at the Gesu in Loyola and the volunteer work done by mountaineers in Infanta (MFPI) and Gabaldon (Loyola Mountaineers).

==============

Amidst the difficulties and the tragedies we faced this December 2004,there is hope. It may not be the best period to celebrate Christmas but it is during these moments when we need to hear again the reason for the Christmas season, which is the fulfillment of the promise of redemption. We commiserate with the residents of Quezon and Aurora who survived the flash flood that hit their provinces, to the families of the over 63,000 who died in the tsunami that hit the Asian countries along the coastline of the Indian Ocean and to the legion of fans of FPJ who lost their symbol of the underdog. Experiencing tragedies in this magnitude, sympathy is not enough. Thus we hear about more responsible citizens rendering services and donating relief goods heeding cries for assistance. 

Those of us in the pleasant company of our family connected online and read emails should go beyond sympathizing and donating. We must inspire those who survived the tragedies to keep on living and to continue dreaming. Let us spot that window where we can implant a reason for them to continue to live. Spread that light of hope this Christmas. Not to forget that it starts with us. May pasko pa rin!

-29Dec04

Ten Extraordinary Leaders, One Book
By RONALD S. LIM

http://www.mb.com.ph/YNCP2005030529978.html
When you’re faced with a government that has a debt that runs into the trillions, a constant threat of being bombed to bits hovering about you, and the very dour possibility of not being able to find a decent job after you graduate, it’s very easy to just hang your head in resignation, throw in the towel, and start applying at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency for a job in a country so far, far away. But for the people at Pathways to Higher Education, a group of Ateneo students pushing for education development, hope is always just around the bend. And with the announcement of plans for Leaders of Hope, a book project meant to gather the stories of 10 extraordinary people, Pathways hopes that everyone will find someone who’ll take them down that curve.

ROLE MODELS The idea for "Leaders of Hope" came about one December morning, during a simbang gabi where Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. was delivering a homily. In it, Nebres cited a study done on children’s stories in different countries. The study found out that the children’s stories in progressive countries always underlined hope, achievement, courage in the face of difficulties, and stories of heroism.

Hope for the New 2005

Pick ups on messages of Hope for the New 2005

The bottom line is that while the world is constantly changing, we are in charge. Our future is shaped by us-by our commitment or our indifference,
by our despair or our confidence. Is all this overwhelming? Not at all. Because it turns out that behind humanity's power to alter the course of
events are the timeless values that we learned in-kindergarten!

Quoted from Solita Collas-Monsod's keynote speech, titled "A World of Change, a
Constant World," which delivered last month in Berlin at the first international conference of Community Foundations.
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=22907&col=62

==============

The quest to build our country has grown ever more urgent in our time. It is no longer a question as in the 1970s, of whether we can catch up in science and technology ­ though that remains an important quest. It is a question of whether we as a nation can survive and prosper. It is a question of whether we will focus on the signs of darkness and despair or we will focus on the signs of light and build hope.

In a homily I gave for the Simbang Gabi in 2002, I referred to part 2 of the “Lord of the Rings”, which I had just watched in a premiere and said: “In a scene in the battle for Helms Deep, a frightened young boy turns to the great warrior Aragorn, “The men say that it is hopeless and we will all be dead by nightfall.” Aragorn replies, “No, there is always hope.” In the scenes that follow he shows that hope is not a given, it is the courage of leaders and people ­ and unexpected help from friends like the Elves ­ that create hope. In the moment of despair, the Elves had to choose whether to stand by or to join and give hope. They made the choice of joining and giving hope.”

Choose to join and to give hope. Choose to care and to hope.
In the midst of your intense pursuit of career and success, remember your inner circle and give time to your family, your friends, your God.

Believe in the miracle of the loaves and fishes -- the seemingly little that you offer can help feed a multitude.

And yes, it will come back to you a hundredfold. For the wonder of gifts from the heart is that, as with the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, they are not diminished, but grow in the giving.

Speech CHOOSE TO CARE AND TO HOPE delivered by Fr. Bievenido Nebres at the DLSU Commencement Exercises October 9, 2004
http://gawadkalinga.org/gk_news/gk_news_view.php?id=0410-004