T
Ortigas, Fort and Makati skyline with a surpise appearance of Mt. Arayat
Cathy's Photo Blog on Talim
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Storytelling in Climbing
At the onset, I declared I will not write about the Talim climb which I helped
organize. After all what is telling about a 2½ hour climb to the summit at 436
M ASL, an hour of FX ride from EDSA Central to Binangonan and another hour of
boat ride from the wharf to Janosa.
Nine of us traversed the long stretch of Talim Island from North to South and
crossed the two towns of Binangonan to Cardona trekking through Barangays Janosa
and Lambac with no particular record breaking nor breakthrough moments that
March 4 and 5. Each one spent only about P 150.00 round trip.
I wouldn't I said until I spotted these quotations on storytelling.
Kate Mitchoff (2005), an American librarian suggests from the quote
"Storytelling is humanity's oldest form of literacy." that each human is born
with the ability to use verbal communication to teach, explain, and entertain.
The oral description of events, either real or imagined, is the practice of
storytelling.
Storytelling is technically defined as the art of portraying in words, images,
and sounds what has happened in real or imagined events. The oldest forms of
storytelling were oral: spoken words told from one person to another in an
effort to communicate a message or a feeling.
Reynolds Price (Akkadine Press) an author writes that the need to tell and hear
stories is essential after nourishment and before love and shelter. Millions
survive though without love or home but none in silence leading to storytelling.
I will not write about the thrill of trekking on a cool windy weekend nor of the
silence in the summit but the enjoyment of listening to the storytelling at the
socials and during the meals.
Who wouldn't treasure these precious times when Dexter started off the night
with the 7 days of paranormal at Madjas while Larry, Cathy, Errol, Therence,
Mike and Olga were cooking. He with Larry, Dom and Ding were on a special
mission to "feel the forces" of nature in Antique with a psychic and a medium
looking for a missing climber. He narrated the first two days of the journey
citing the fairies and the dwarfs in animated body language until the story
abruptly ended with the indoctrination of a revolutionary group.
He then followed it up with another first hand experience of the most recent
search and rescue operations at St. Bernard Leyte turning a tragic moment into a
light talk. Revealing anecdotes were detailed citing incidences like imported
sniffing dogs can only detect life forms only within 3 meters from the surface
and only for 30 minutes and the Taiwanese needing total silence when they
operate their sensors to detect life forms below the soil. Americans on the
other hand came with a fully backed up Logistics from air support to a well
balanced food supply whereas our very own Armed Forces do not even have bottled
water at hand. He showed admiration for the Baguio miners who can
systematically dig up long tunnels in hours. Stories were punctuated by
unexplainable behaviors of volunteers under the influence and highly dramatic
and sensational reports of internationally exposed alpine climber.
Before he gave up the floor for other dominant storytellers as Larry, Mike,
Errol and Cesar, he transported us to Halcon in another search and rescue
operations where he highlighted the dynamics of the various rescue team
operations and the interactions with the local government, the 505th and the
native Mangyans. Instead of feeling sorry for the victim, we took the narration
in stride without the sad feeling.
Our narrator was not really teaching, entertaining nor explaining but partly
doing everything. We the listeners did not care what details were real and
imagined. What mattered was we were so involved with the stories as if we were
there with him. He had the floor because we, too were polite and as Cesar said,
"if there is a bangkero, we do not interrupt, we wait for our turn." Cesar
waited for the next morning to narrate his own story.
Larry had to just inject his chronicle on how in February 2001 he, with Danny,
Bob and Wilbert reached the summit from the East side after our failed first
attempt. Our discovery of Suso was a result of just asking ourselves from Sucat
Expressway what's on top of the island?
While our bangkero shared with us themes that were not ordinary, the rest of us
were equally mesmerized with the short tales happening at the sidelights.
Everyone broke into spontaneous laughter when we recalled if Larry was frying
the bacon with cooking oil when checked by Cathy, or if Therence did not burn
the tapa even with the strict supervision of Errol, or if Mike was not spilling
the boiling water under the guidance of Olga. Cesar's way of story telling the
following morning was not just in words but in love songs that dated back in the
60?s revolving around the subject on what else but relationship. The presence
of Therence was sufficient to trigger a new wave of stories revolving around the
Americans from their food ration and intervention. Discussion led to division
but was amicably settled when Nalgene issuance for volunteers was taken up.
Reaching the peak to these passionate climbers seemed no longer enough. It had
to be capped with a satisfying meal featuring spicy Bicol Express, authentic
pasta and relaxed interesting socials full of stories and liquor. It was the
spontaneity of the story telling of the co climbers that brought the activity to
utmost fulfillment. This Talim traverse had its particular charm brought about
by the beauty of the island, started off with the cheerful FX driver, the
accommodating banca operator, and the hospitable folks of both Janosa Binangonan
and Lambac Cardona and the fine company of affectionate friends. Even as we
closed our adventure, we were treated to an exciting basketball match by the
boys of Lambac while waiting for our banca ride. As we sailed towards Cardona,
the flock of gulls somersaulting for fish for about an hour behind our boat was
an unexpected visual treat. The middle aged jeepney driver that drove us to the
other town of Rizal too had an interesting tale on his collection of heavy metal
loud music.
Like a story which has a beginning and middle, it had to end. The ending was
grand as Danny, a rated tri-athlete hosted lunch and another round of socials in
his neat house in Angono. As our most gracious host, the birthday celebrant
with his wife and brother Junior attended to practically all our needs. The
discussion at the round table that centered on men and women in a relationship
over draft beer, fried itik and pancit is in itself another rich source of
material for another story.
Trekkers make fine storytellers because the experiences they go through in
climbs merit narrating. Each moment is an involvement. For these reasons
alone, they are almost always alive. There certainly is no silence in their
company.
Before I end,
What story will Dexter make again to those he left behind in the city last
weekend?
What story is Cesar making about the rain that delayed our return trip?
What story will Mike report to his office about the cell phone he lost in the
taxi cab?
How do we say thank you to all those who made this event truly a memorable one?
What story will Andrew tell? This we have to hear.
Until the next episode.
Overhead in a typical pre climb assembly,
'Anong dala mo?
'Tent and stove ?dre.
'Ako naman tubig at bigas
'Ayos, sagot ko na ang kwento."
"A need to tell and hear stories is essential to the species Homo sapiens--second in necessity apparently after nourishment and before love and shelter. Millions survive without love or home, almost none in silence; the opposite of silence leads quickly to narrative, and the sound of story is the dominant sound of our lives, from the small accounts of our day's events to the vast incommunicable constructs of psychopaths."
-A Palpable God, (1997) by Reynolds Price (Akkadine Press)
Chito Razon 7 March 2006
M ASL, an hour of FX ride from EDSA Central to Binangonan and another hour of
boat ride from the wharf to Janosa.
Nine of us traversed the long stretch of Talim Island from North to South and
crossed the two towns of Binangonan to Cardona trekking through Barangays Janosa
and Lambac with no particular record breaking nor breakthrough moments that
March 4 and 5. Each one spent only about P 150.00 round trip.
I wouldn't I said until I spotted these quotations on storytelling.
Kate Mitchoff (2005), an American librarian suggests from the quote
"Storytelling is humanity's oldest form of literacy." that each human is born
with the ability to use verbal communication to teach, explain, and entertain.
The oral description of events, either real or imagined, is the practice of
storytelling.
Storytelling is technically defined as the art of portraying in words, images,
and sounds what has happened in real or imagined events. The oldest forms of
storytelling were oral: spoken words told from one person to another in an
effort to communicate a message or a feeling.
Reynolds Price (Akkadine Press) an author writes that the need to tell and hear
stories is essential after nourishment and before love and shelter. Millions
survive though without love or home but none in silence leading to storytelling.
I will not write about the thrill of trekking on a cool windy weekend nor of the
silence in the summit but the enjoyment of listening to the storytelling at the
socials and during the meals.
Who wouldn't treasure these precious times when Dexter started off the night
with the 7 days of paranormal at Madjas while Larry, Cathy, Errol, Therence,
Mike and Olga were cooking. He with Larry, Dom and Ding were on a special
mission to "feel the forces" of nature in Antique with a psychic and a medium
looking for a missing climber. He narrated the first two days of the journey
citing the fairies and the dwarfs in animated body language until the story
abruptly ended with the indoctrination of a revolutionary group.
He then followed it up with another first hand experience of the most recent
search and rescue operations at St. Bernard Leyte turning a tragic moment into a
light talk. Revealing anecdotes were detailed citing incidences like imported
sniffing dogs can only detect life forms only within 3 meters from the surface
and only for 30 minutes and the Taiwanese needing total silence when they
operate their sensors to detect life forms below the soil. Americans on the
other hand came with a fully backed up Logistics from air support to a well
balanced food supply whereas our very own Armed Forces do not even have bottled
water at hand. He showed admiration for the Baguio miners who can
systematically dig up long tunnels in hours. Stories were punctuated by
unexplainable behaviors of volunteers under the influence and highly dramatic
and sensational reports of internationally exposed alpine climber.
Before he gave up the floor for other dominant storytellers as Larry, Mike,
Errol and Cesar, he transported us to Halcon in another search and rescue
operations where he highlighted the dynamics of the various rescue team
operations and the interactions with the local government, the 505th and the
native Mangyans. Instead of feeling sorry for the victim, we took the narration
in stride without the sad feeling.
Our narrator was not really teaching, entertaining nor explaining but partly
doing everything. We the listeners did not care what details were real and
imagined. What mattered was we were so involved with the stories as if we were
there with him. He had the floor because we, too were polite and as Cesar said,
"if there is a bangkero, we do not interrupt, we wait for our turn." Cesar
waited for the next morning to narrate his own story.
Larry had to just inject his chronicle on how in February 2001 he, with Danny,
Bob and Wilbert reached the summit from the East side after our failed first
attempt. Our discovery of Suso was a result of just asking ourselves from Sucat
Expressway what's on top of the island?
While our bangkero shared with us themes that were not ordinary, the rest of us
were equally mesmerized with the short tales happening at the sidelights.
Everyone broke into spontaneous laughter when we recalled if Larry was frying
the bacon with cooking oil when checked by Cathy, or if Therence did not burn
the tapa even with the strict supervision of Errol, or if Mike was not spilling
the boiling water under the guidance of Olga. Cesar's way of story telling the
following morning was not just in words but in love songs that dated back in the
60?s revolving around the subject on what else but relationship. The presence
of Therence was sufficient to trigger a new wave of stories revolving around the
Americans from their food ration and intervention. Discussion led to division
but was amicably settled when Nalgene issuance for volunteers was taken up.
Reaching the peak to these passionate climbers seemed no longer enough. It had
to be capped with a satisfying meal featuring spicy Bicol Express, authentic
pasta and relaxed interesting socials full of stories and liquor. It was the
spontaneity of the story telling of the co climbers that brought the activity to
utmost fulfillment. This Talim traverse had its particular charm brought about
by the beauty of the island, started off with the cheerful FX driver, the
accommodating banca operator, and the hospitable folks of both Janosa Binangonan
and Lambac Cardona and the fine company of affectionate friends. Even as we
closed our adventure, we were treated to an exciting basketball match by the
boys of Lambac while waiting for our banca ride. As we sailed towards Cardona,
the flock of gulls somersaulting for fish for about an hour behind our boat was
an unexpected visual treat. The middle aged jeepney driver that drove us to the
other town of Rizal too had an interesting tale on his collection of heavy metal
loud music.
Like a story which has a beginning and middle, it had to end. The ending was
grand as Danny, a rated tri-athlete hosted lunch and another round of socials in
his neat house in Angono. As our most gracious host, the birthday celebrant
with his wife and brother Junior attended to practically all our needs. The
discussion at the round table that centered on men and women in a relationship
over draft beer, fried itik and pancit is in itself another rich source of
material for another story.
Trekkers make fine storytellers because the experiences they go through in
climbs merit narrating. Each moment is an involvement. For these reasons
alone, they are almost always alive. There certainly is no silence in their
company.
Before I end,
What story will Dexter make again to those he left behind in the city last
weekend?
What story is Cesar making about the rain that delayed our return trip?
What story will Mike report to his office about the cell phone he lost in the
taxi cab?
How do we say thank you to all those who made this event truly a memorable one?
What story will Andrew tell? This we have to hear.
Until the next episode.
Overhead in a typical pre climb assembly,
'Anong dala mo?
'Tent and stove ?dre.
'Ako naman tubig at bigas
'Ayos, sagot ko na ang kwento."
"A need to tell and hear stories is essential to the species Homo sapiens--second in necessity apparently after nourishment and before love and shelter. Millions survive without love or home, almost none in silence; the opposite of silence leads quickly to narrative, and the sound of story is the dominant sound of our lives, from the small accounts of our day's events to the vast incommunicable constructs of psychopaths."
-A Palpable God, (1997) by Reynolds Price (Akkadine Press)
Chito Razon 7 March 2006
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Friday, March 03, 2006
Bontoc Circuit Trail
Bontoc Circuit Trail
Mr. Banny Hermanos
The Bontoc Circuit Trail (BCT) in Northern Luzon’s Cordillera’s Central mountain range retraces ancestral walking paths linking the Mountain Province’s 7 of the 10 municipal towns. Bontoc, capital town of the Mountain Province is 6-7 hours scenic drive from Baguio City along the newly rehabilitated Halsema Highway. This center of civilization sits right in the crossroads of the Halsema Highway, from Baguio down south to Kalinga up North and the Bontoc-Banaue Road, crossing the mighty Chico River on the east enroute to the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces which is 2-3 hours drive.
Long established even before Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines in 1521, these trails had been the interaction routes of distant tribal illages separated geographically by towering mountain ranges and deep iver valleys. These paths had been witnesses to tribal intermarriages and tribal wars caused by boundary or water disputes that sometimes result in bloody conflicts. “Bodongs” or peace pacts resolving conflicts are also borne on these dirt trails where opposing village elders would hike and meet half-way. Spanish and American colonizers traveled these difficult mountain trails to stamp their influence. Philippine revolutionary soldiers led by President Aguinaldo trekked these trails on horse or on foot to escape pursuing American forces after their historic loss at the Battle of Tirad Pass on the west in December 1899. Masferre lugged heavy photographic equipment up and down these trails from his Sagada home to record in black and white the rugged land, its people and their distinct culture way back in the 30’s.
From the American hill station Baguio, US engineers led by EJ Halsema carved from the rugged landscape in the early 1900’s a mountain trail towards the frontier settlement of Bontoc, long ago center of trade and commerce in the region. With the arrival of automobiles and their network of roads, these ancestral tails slowly faded into misuse and neglect.
Now, raditating out of Bontoc are all-weather dirt roads reaching adjacent towns of Sabangan, Sagada, Sadanga, Barlig and end-of-the-road barangays of Bagnen, Aguid, Mainit, Sacasacan, Anabel. All of these places are regularly serviced by hardy local 4x4 jeepneys or mini-buses within 1-2 hour drive. These points bound the Bontoc Circuit Trail which was retraced for the first time by an organized trekking group Philippine Airlines Mountaineering Club (PALMC) last December 2004 and retraced, mapped, GPS plotted and documented again April 2005.
Traversing one-forested mountain ranges and crossing deep river gorges via rickety metal handing bridges, ancestral walking paths are revisited connecting to other end-of-the-road barangay or to a town along the Halsema Highway or to the Bontoc-Banaue Road. This circuit trail delineated by linking Mountain Province’s best eco-tourist spots such as magnificent rice terraces, cool mountain-top lakes, challenging peaks, cascading waterfalls, invigorating hot springs and quaint villages offering rustic accommodations to the recreational trekker took all in all 9 hiking days to complete.
Stringing together towns with existing inns in a drive/hike itinerary, a physically fit BCT visitor even without outdoor equipment may lug day hours on the trail and find shelter at the end of the day at comfortable inns offering hot meals and cozy beds. This is the Philippines’ version of a hut-to-hut trekking route, a popular trek experienced only in the Alps and in the Himalayas. But should you want to rough it out to have a true wilderness experience, the BCT offers the best campsites and away from it all feeling amidst spectacular scenery and rich culture.
With local governments’ support and the community’s involvement, the BCT ensures this cultural treasure to be safe from deterioration and will soon be a model for responsible ecotourism thus giving the local economy a local boost.
“Gawis ay Mountain Province”
Mr. Banny Hemanos. Past President PALMC. BCT 2005 Expedition Leader
2nd PALMC Bontoc Circuit Trail 1-7 April 2006
Acquaint yourself with the rich cultural heritage and the natural wonders of Cordillera range in the 2nd run of the Bontoc Circuit Trail by PALMC in the company of the original exploratory team led by EL Banny Hermanos, Team Leaders Errol Baylon and Dexter Macapagal and local guides endorsed by the local government this 1-7 April 2006.
Starting at Bontoc, two groups will be organized, one directed towards the North from Sadanga to Sagada and the other at the South covering Sabangan to Sagada. The two groups meet midway at the Bontoc Circuit Trail after 5 days at Lake Danum near Sagada for an overnight stay. Activity culminates in Bontoc on 7 April for the Lang-ay Festival organized by the tribal groups and the local government.
From the testimonies of the original exploratory group, Stephen Tan, Errol Baylon, Larry Honoridez, Cesar Banares, Andrew Besinal, Mon Mendoza, Joshua Vizcarra, Jo Ramos, highlights of the trek to look forward to are:
Lowest point is at the Chico River at 750 M ASL while the highest is the Siblaw-Talaw at 2,400 M ASL
In a place rich with cultural heritage, live with the fact that there will be surprises along the way like waste treatment, source of water, stray animals, food and interfacing with the mountain settlers.
Join the 2nd run of the Bontoc Circuit Trail. Pre climb is scheduled on 15 March 7 PM at the PAL Learning Center in Padre Faura corner Adriatico St. Manila. Group departs for Baguio on 31 March PM. For more information call Banny Hermanos, Dexter Macapagal and at the PALMC Office Fabie Espino or John Fortes at 536 4246/ 526 2533.
To accommodate those who expressed interest to join the experience, this will be an open climb. Enlist early as the expedition is limited only to what the public transpo can take.
-Chito Razon 2 March 2006
Read Ramon's B. account of the North Trek at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-n11wHlsjeqRem8BECrA-?cq=1 Log in is required.
Mr. Banny Hermanos
 |
| Batad terrace photo courtesy of Banny Hermanos, EL Writer |
Long established even before Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines in 1521, these trails had been the interaction routes of distant tribal illages separated geographically by towering mountain ranges and deep iver valleys. These paths had been witnesses to tribal intermarriages and tribal wars caused by boundary or water disputes that sometimes result in bloody conflicts. “Bodongs” or peace pacts resolving conflicts are also borne on these dirt trails where opposing village elders would hike and meet half-way. Spanish and American colonizers traveled these difficult mountain trails to stamp their influence. Philippine revolutionary soldiers led by President Aguinaldo trekked these trails on horse or on foot to escape pursuing American forces after their historic loss at the Battle of Tirad Pass on the west in December 1899. Masferre lugged heavy photographic equipment up and down these trails from his Sagada home to record in black and white the rugged land, its people and their distinct culture way back in the 30’s.
From the American hill station Baguio, US engineers led by EJ Halsema carved from the rugged landscape in the early 1900’s a mountain trail towards the frontier settlement of Bontoc, long ago center of trade and commerce in the region. With the arrival of automobiles and their network of roads, these ancestral tails slowly faded into misuse and neglect.
Traversing one-forested mountain ranges and crossing deep river gorges via rickety metal handing bridges, ancestral walking paths are revisited connecting to other end-of-the-road barangay or to a town along the Halsema Highway or to the Bontoc-Banaue Road. This circuit trail delineated by linking Mountain Province’s best eco-tourist spots such as magnificent rice terraces, cool mountain-top lakes, challenging peaks, cascading waterfalls, invigorating hot springs and quaint villages offering rustic accommodations to the recreational trekker took all in all 9 hiking days to complete.
Stringing together towns with existing inns in a drive/hike itinerary, a physically fit BCT visitor even without outdoor equipment may lug day hours on the trail and find shelter at the end of the day at comfortable inns offering hot meals and cozy beds. This is the Philippines’ version of a hut-to-hut trekking route, a popular trek experienced only in the Alps and in the Himalayas. But should you want to rough it out to have a true wilderness experience, the BCT offers the best campsites and away from it all feeling amidst spectacular scenery and rich culture.
With local governments’ support and the community’s involvement, the BCT ensures this cultural treasure to be safe from deterioration and will soon be a model for responsible ecotourism thus giving the local economy a local boost.
“Gawis ay Mountain Province”
Mr. Banny Hemanos. Past President PALMC. BCT 2005 Expedition Leader
2nd PALMC Bontoc Circuit Trail 1-7 April 2006
 |
| Anabel. Taken by Banny |
Acquaint yourself with the rich cultural heritage and the natural wonders of Cordillera range in the 2nd run of the Bontoc Circuit Trail by PALMC in the company of the original exploratory team led by EL Banny Hermanos, Team Leaders Errol Baylon and Dexter Macapagal and local guides endorsed by the local government this 1-7 April 2006.
Starting at Bontoc, two groups will be organized, one directed towards the North from Sadanga to Sagada and the other at the South covering Sabangan to Sagada. The two groups meet midway at the Bontoc Circuit Trail after 5 days at Lake Danum near Sagada for an overnight stay. Activity culminates in Bontoc on 7 April for the Lang-ay Festival organized by the tribal groups and the local government.
From the testimonies of the original exploratory group, Stephen Tan, Errol Baylon, Larry Honoridez, Cesar Banares, Andrew Besinal, Mon Mendoza, Joshua Vizcarra, Jo Ramos, highlights of the trek to look forward to are:
Lowest point is at the Chico River at 750 M ASL while the highest is the Siblaw-Talaw at 2,400 M ASL
- Most difficult to negotiate are the ascent to Balintaugan and the descent to Anabel.
- Most fun is the ridge trail from Mt. Datacan to Lake Danum.
- Trail referred to as with historical significance was the Lingoy Settlement which was set up in 1921.
- Most indifferent is Mainit where residents are cold to visitors.
- Most recent dispute is the boundary and water dispute between Anabel and Linggoy.
In a place rich with cultural heritage, live with the fact that there will be surprises along the way like waste treatment, source of water, stray animals, food and interfacing with the mountain settlers.Join the 2nd run of the Bontoc Circuit Trail. Pre climb is scheduled on 15 March 7 PM at the PAL Learning Center in Padre Faura corner Adriatico St. Manila. Group departs for Baguio on 31 March PM. For more information call Banny Hermanos, Dexter Macapagal and at the PALMC Office Fabie Espino or John Fortes at 536 4246/ 526 2533.
To accommodate those who expressed interest to join the experience, this will be an open climb. Enlist early as the expedition is limited only to what the public transpo can take.
-Chito Razon 2 March 2006
Read Ramon's B. account of the North Trek at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-n11wHlsjeqRem8BECrA-?cq=1 Log in is required.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)