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