Price of Cell

The landscape has changed. That’s your impulsive outburst when you return back to the same mountain you climbed in years. No, you are not referring to the new trails, the uprooted age old century trees nor the redirected riverbed. You are referring to the cellsites which have sprouted in good vantage points near the jump-off points. Not just one site but several clustering in an area.

While they get in the way when framing photographs, they nevertheless provide convenient benefits that have changed the way we now climb.

Where there is a signal, you can plot whereabouts of the group. When there is an awesome view, you photograph it. When there is an unusual motion, you videocam the scene.

Most important is when you are in distress, you can text or call SOS. When you want to spite those who could not join the climb, you MMS them, real time.

But with the gadget comes an extra load and accountability. You make sure it is fastened well or you’ll lose it. During reststops you secure it or it will get snatched. When it rains, you waterproof it or it will malfunction.

Climbing was once regarded as the Freedom of the Hills. When set to explore the outdoors, you escape from the day-to-day mechanical urban routine. As you were negotiating a difficult cliff, your phone rings putting you in a dilemma to answer or to secure your step. You decided to answer. It turned out to be a call center agent proposing a waived enrollment fee for a credit card.

Advances have their trade-offs. Is there still freedom at the hills?

7 Feb 07

Facing the Wind-chill Factor

Nelson, a fellow climber in the early 90’s sent me a test message to attend a baptism of Chris and Angel’s son who are in Manila from U.K. this 28 January. For me, the invitation wasn’t for a grand feast. It was to organize a climb this 3rd February for a motley group of an unconfirmed number who have not climbed in years. Other than finding out their preferences and those who were definitely not climbing, nothing was arranged.

Another follow up meet was set up 30 January with Jonnell T. and Marc C. who have shown interest to join as part of the once a quarter climb program in 2007. After a “pre-pre”-climb meeting at Bellini’s over pizza and wine, we proceeded to Ventura in Manila to concretize the plan.

“Mountain with a spectacular view within easy reach from Metro Manila and moderately easy for the unconditioned” were the specs given. Choices were narrowed down to Talim in Laguna de Bay 438 meters ASL, Tarak in Mariveles 1,288 M ASL, Talipanan in Galera 1,296 M ASL and as a contingency, Manalmon in San Miguel 196 M ASL.


While planning for the Logistics requirements for at least 7 participants a day before the climb, Chris sent a text message from his conditioning day climb in Maculot saying “Wouldn’t it be great to cap the climb at the beach?” That sealed the climb to Talipanan.

Talipanan is reached via the Batangas Port gateway which a 75 kilometer landtrip from Manila (about 2 hours), a 1 1/2 boat ride to the Mindoro Island (via Muelle, Balatero or directly to White Beach) and a 3 hour trek from the Mangyan Village in Barangay Aninuan to the mountain’s shoulder.

Actual climb can be phased in 3: the 1st hour of a steep ascent up the ridge, 2nd hour at the ridge at 353 M ASL slowing elevating to the cliff like slopes, and the final 3rd hour with 3 challenging long inclined trails up to our campsite at 775 M ASL. Level of difficulty was made tougher by the hot afternoon sun and the strong continuous wind blowing westward towards sunset.


Fortunately the group held on until the end. Victor “Sensei” an inactive Aikido instructor, a private, unlicensed chef has not climbed since the 2001 Pulag. He carried the group’s equipment and half of the kitchen. Marc, the novice with a complete set of hardly used hardware and an unlimited supply of chocolate kept pace through his youth and zeal. Luis put one over us with his determination and light weight pack consisting mostly of personal effects. Those trekking with full gears of course could not keep up with him. Chris who does multi day climbs in Scotland whose most recent conditioning climb was the day climb to Maculot was expected to adjust to the group’s speed, even with his heavy self contained pack and his loaded digital SLR camera and accessories.

Equipment too held on. Temperature dropped to 16° C excluding the wind chill factor of the strong winds which enveloped the group starting at the 2nd phase up to the campsite. The full moon exactly on that night could only intermittently illuminate us because clouds filtered its way. Only a halo at the center was free from obstruction that allowed us to identify groups of stars in the constellation.

Our chef assisted by Marc and Luis still managed to cook the perfect rice and to prepare several main meals varying from mushroom, fish, pork added with spices, herbs, olive oil and other secret condiments. The Optimus, MSR and Gigapower by Snowpeak kept on firing without windscreens. Defying the wind, they did not fail. While the stoves were overworked, they heated up the cooksets just fine for Sensei to prepare meals which touched on the tongue’s palate not usually tapped. Chocolates provided by Marc capped the meal. The more daring ones sipped Jacob’s Creek white wine and VSOP brand to warm the cooling bodies before calling it a day.


The wind even got more ferocious as the night got deeper threatening to rip off the tents. Gladly, the tents too withstood the pressures. The wind was blowing off everything that came its way. Getting up the morning after was as difficult as the climb itself. But that too did not stop our invited chef to prepare a staple breakfast-genuine Vienna Sausage, Corned Beef with onions, olive oil and condiments and omelet and hot Swiss Choco. Meal was more than enough to fuel our energy needed for the descent.

Our climb was rewarded with short socials among fellow climbers we met at the lone tree along the trail. The quality of stories exchanged supplemented the brief unstructured socials we held at the campsite abruptly cut short by the deafening winds. 

Our encounter with the AMCI group of outdoor lover blogger Dave of http://ialman.livejournal.com/ can be technically qualified as a climber’s eyeball. We found out too that some boat trips were delayed which prevented the group to trek that Saturday afternoon. Then we realized that we were lucky that with all the set backs in this climb, we completed it. Reaching the ground zero at the white beach, Chris treated us to a crunchy, filling Italian Pizza at Pasta Margarita, food which is uncommon after a climb.

The Wind-chill factor for me was not the rough movement of air. It stood for the challenges of the climb. In the company of co-heroic and responsible leaders Victor, Luis, Marc and Chris including Nelson and Jonnell interfering via MMS and text messages, it was an opportunity to test if everyone has leadership potential. Key of which is simply the unlocking of the potential which broke loose in Talipanan. Several critical decision points were set up for us to get our common vision: to climb, camp and get back. Important questions were asked which when acted upon differently would change the course of our expedition. They were simple: How many are climbing? Who has the equipment? What about our food? What will we ride? Where do we meet? Where do we park? What boat ride will we take? Do we land in Sabang, Muelle or White Beach? Where do we eat lunch? Do we take a tricycle or the jeep to the jump-off point? Where is the jump-off point? Where do we camp? 

Descending at the shoreline we asked the most important question, where do we reward our accomplishment: at Lucas at the extreme West? or Pasta Margarita at the Center. Truly leaders showed up in small and major acts in the 5 of us: responding to text message, meeting schedule, volunteering to pay, fastening canvas cover, selecting the boat ride, selecting the meal menu, paying for the bill, buying bananas, sharing the load, following instruction, keeping pace, sharing stories, looking for the best campsite, sharing water, sharing trail foods, taking pictures, cooking, picking the trash, setting up the tent, pegging the guy lines, cleaning the cook sets and in other acts.

Chris mentioned, after a climb especially the ones which are hard on us, we feel invigorated afterwards. I could not adequately explain. But Edwin Berbaum, author of the Sacred Mountains of the World writes in his book abut finding our center “This sense of vastness allows us to find the center of everywhere, not just on the summit of a mountain. If we remain open to the world around us, aware of its boundless, mysterious nature, then no matter how far we travel, we never come to the edge. The horizon moves away from us so that we always walk in the middle of the circle. The power of the center stays with us, and the fear we have of losing it vanishes. No longer bound to a particular place or occupation, we feel free to go anywhere and do anything, knowing that wherever we go, whatever we do, we will always be in touch with the reality of the world and ourselves.”
Returning back home in Manila at 7:30 PM with the experience, it made us ask, “Have we done all that in 37 hours for a mere P 700?” I recalled the campsite sometime past midnight when the full moon was right below us putting us at the center. Berbaun explained it, we 5 lived it, at least for that weekend.

5 February 2007

Fotos by Chris Patten

Tree, Sky, Rainbow and Moon Gazing Photos by Luis B.

The lonerider

The lonerider documents Elvis goes to Everest, the 17th concert of Romeo Lee held last 5 December 2006. http://thelonerider.com/2006/dec/elvis/elvis.shtml

Ian in Half-Life writes commentaries about his climbs finding meaning in them. http://flickofdaswitch.blogspot.com

Alman Dave details what happens in their climbs in Random Ruminations. http://ialman.livejournal.com

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 2 ½ 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 was 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, 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

What changed what remained to be the same

A New Year’s climb to welcome 2007 in Mt. Manalmon

Completing the traditional New Year’s climb in the last two days before 2007, the question foremost in my mind begging for an answer was, climbing then and now, What changed, what remained to be the same?

Trekking ground was at TJ Gonzalez’ fort, Manalmon in San Miguel, Bulacan, 95 kms North from QC at 196 meters ASL. TJ was a climbing buddy before the turn of the century when we were then gang ho in discovering new trails and destinations. To our credit were the Makiling Sto. Tomas to Los Banos traverse in November 1999; reaching the summit of Daguldol in July 2001; the Tapulao mass climb in June 1999 among others. He has now relegated climbing at the background in favor of family life and business. TJ brought along with him Berto Mendoza, his climbing apprentice from Baluga, a Baliuag based mountaineering club.

Pursuing this annual climb were Jonnell Tan, a seasonal climber who participated in the 2002 Tirad Pass New Year’s climb and 2003 Tapulao sojourn and Marc Chua, his protégé. Both Jonnel and Marc had several camping equipment accumulating in their storage waiting for field testing.

While there were major developments in the climbing circuit since three Filipino climbers have stepped foot at the roof of the world Mt. Everest in 2006 where interests have now been set to alpine trekking, enthusiasts have increased in leaps and bounds and modern technical equipments have become accessible, what really have changed and what remained to be the same? Has anything changed since the Halcon climb of March 1999, TJ’s last major climb and the Manalmon of 2006 spanning a gap of 7 years?

Nature refreshes.
To start with, Manalmon was surprisingly exclusively for the 5 of us from the jump-off point to the riverside all the way to the bed of rock at the peak. The elements of nature were naturally in place with no sight of garbage. It was as if Manalmon has not been inhabited in the previous months by the increasing number of weekend trekkers. Although TJ and Berto cited that we were threading on new trails which change every time a typhoon, heavy rains fall in the neighboring provinces of Nueva Ecjia and especially Aurora.

Manalmon that date provided an awesome setting for year end activity. Like before, nature grants a refreshing recluse to make us forget the stress of the urban lifestyle. There is stillness at the riverside and exhilaration at the cliff.

Equipment is indispensable. So is equipment talk.
All of us were equipped with technical clothing, rated shelters and functional cooking utensils that would not fail us at the time of need. While we thought we have outgrown the talk on camping gears, the topic would always slip in between talks when we rated the Eureka Tent of Marc, the MSR stove of Jonnell and cost of owning such gears these days. The incessant hard blowing of the wind the whole night kept the owners asking, Will our tents hold? They did.

Socials start as you set up the kitchen.
Cooking remains to be the prologue of an interesting social interaction. Talks start with the utensil, source of ingredients, procedures. Added topic for us that night was the combined traditional cooking technique and the improvised ihaw-ihaw using grilled chicken wires and charcoal picked up along the way. That talk alone could have kept us up the whole night. The food output for the evening was another rich source of discussion.

Food is abundant.
The omelet had red bell pepper. The bottled spicy sardines from Dipolog met their match with freshly fried tilapia from Madlum River. Served after pork chops of San Idelfonso were the cold cuts of Finland. Fruit salad from Bukidnon with slices of fresh apple from China complemented the brandy from Spain con coated peanuts of Baliuag. Rice as always was served in its perfect state: no tutong, moist, steaming hot and just enough.

The past will haunt you.
These all set up a stage for candid socials whose other talk points were on people we climbed with in the past such as Larry H., Mitch S., Marlon, Val, Martin, Hermes, Jo R. etc. TJ elaborated on his life and death situations in Halcon and his first major climb with Larry and Mitch to Pulag via Tawangan. Like the socials before, it was extended but meaningful. Howling wind and a bright moon joined our company. Drinking was abruptly stopped not because of the shortage of supply but of the human limitation. The fulfillment of completing a climb is still there, regardless of whether it was a minor or major climb. Cardiacs always result in physical exhaustion or hingal particularly the 20 minute ascent from the river to the peak.

Each one has a role.
Roles each climber in a group play are inherently in place. There’s a cook, a source of water, a guide, a lead and a sweep, a driver, planner and financier. Berto, TJ and Jonnell cooked. Marc and Jonnell brought the hardware. TJ provided the venue. I organized the activity and am writing the story. Telling a story and documenting it make a valuable contribution, perhaps even more valuable than the actual climb itself.

There will be highlights.
The theme which eventually evolved that evening was the prospect getting the breaks for the big time. As we reach the level of competence, all of us are just waiting for the forces to align to pave the way for bountiful reaps. All of us are hopeful that these breaks show up for us 2007 whether in the field of business, in career, or in relationships. This lesson that showed up in the socials has made this rare gathering of 5 a rewarding climb.

Ascents partners with descents.
Climbs always end with each of us rushing back to our respective obligations. TJ has to go back to his family and man the bigasan store. Berto has an auto supply store to attend to. Marc is catching a New Year’s Eve dinner; Jonnell to return back to his own self.

Ending the climb and the year, we were grateful that we planned at a short notice and completed a climb which is a rarity these days. Committing to a weekend adventure is more difficult these days unlike the bohemian days before. Like in the past New Year’s climb, we expelled in the open air the negatives that have accumulated for the past 12 months and breathed in the fresh positive air to prepare us for the big breaks we are looking forward to in 2007.

Nature may change its course. Equipment can advance, skill degenerate and body deteriorate. With the human spirit still alive, it is easy to reminisce the glory days with this shortly planned easy climb as if nothing has really changed.

As we return back to Metro Manila to welcome the incoming year, it was validated that the key element to an elating experience is simply fine company in a natural setting. When our outlook towards each other as captured in this climb has not changed, that is enough assurance us that we will have a fruitful year ahead of us. Happy New 2007!

3 January 2007

Completing Mount Halcon
This can very well describe the pain of climbing. It dramatizes the popular quote that “Climbing is the art of suffering.” There are dangers in every step. No wonder it is a killer mountain. The thought of dying in this difficult mountain lingers in the mind of every mountaineer creating a stigma that needed freeing and liberating. It is perhaps this liberation that led JoRam, Mitch, Marlon, TJ and Chito to scale Mount Halcon this 10-14 March 1999 via Lantuyang, Baco.

Mount Halcon did not humble 5 climbers. Mount Aplaya, the prologue to Mount Halcon did. We didn’t expect it to come so soon. But we lacked rest the night before the trek, humidity was high, it was hot, ascent was steep, assault for a regular climber was overextended and all carried heavy loads.

This humbling was seen in TJ, our most prepared climber when both his thighs suffered muscle cramps at the same time during a rest stop at the kubo about 4 hours after the start of trek. He felt fear when he with Mitch and Marlon got lost going down Dulangan River. They ended up in the Dulangan Rocks instead. TJ also suffered a terrible fall very early morning on the 3rd day at the Dulangan River. Rocks of all sizes and shapes hit all parts of his back and butt.

JoRam, a rower and a cyclist showed signs of hypothermia at Camp Aplaya when he experienced chill in the evening and consequently missed his dinner.

Chito’s early fatigue strain who afterwards couldn’t distinguish heat strokes from hypothermia and would moan each stop. Now it can also be told that in scrambling the wall from the summit to Dulangan River, Chito with his backpack was suspended midway in the route as rocks stepped on were falling. Miraculously, some divine force transported him at the safe end of the ledge.

Exchange of lines heard within the first 4 hours of trek-“It’s enough for me to reach Camp Aplaya for this expedition. Never mind the summit.” Chito claimed he said it first, TJ contested.

Marlon is the most transparent climber. Marlon shouts for TJ each time that he senses he is lost. No flashlight at the last stretch to the Summit Ridge campsite while getting dark, he was constantly shouting for TJ. On the ascending trail from the last water source going up the wall, he was pacing Chito and JoRam, the sweeper resting every now and then. No, our youngest climber was not pacing we found out. He too was fighting exhaustion.

Mitch was not spared. He slipped at the ridge on the way down from the summit just like Guiting-Guiting once again. He suffered the most blood loss from the sucking limatics.

The team had a strong drive. Mitch, JoRam and Chito originally intended to climb Halcon February 1998. But the Sumagaya crash happened sending most of the participants to the crash site. This year, the scheduled climb in Valentine ’99 generated a lot of interest but for one reason or another, could not be mounted. Other drawbacks were the weather, mid-term exams and climbing permits. When the date was set, we learned that HALMs wouldn’t issue permits. TJ was the most persistent to make the climb happen. Saddened by the HALMs directive to restrict Halcon Climb before and after the annual climb, he asked the EL to check on possibilities each day. Resourceful that he is, Chito found Joel in the Y2K seminar in PICC and was granted a concession.

While it was a slow start, somewhat, the team was determined to proceed and complete the expedition. The greatest joy each day was to reach the established campsite. 9, 7, 5, 3. Joy was reached 2 hours earlier each day. On the 1st day at 9 PM we were at Camp Aplaya, 7 PM at the Summit Ridge on the 2nd day, 5 PM at Dulangan River on the 3rd day and 3 PM at Lantuyang, Baco on the last day. Wake up time was getting earlier too each day. 1st day was at 7 AM, 2nd day at 5 AM and 3rd day at 4:30 AM.

What worked for us were the organized schedule, meal planning, tested equipment, technical garments, relaxed/not that slow pacing which kept the pack within 5-10 minutes gap, a lean group. Cooking system was systematic-3 straight meals per pair done in 2 cooking to serve dinner, breakfast and packed lunch. Logistically helpful was the guidance of HALMS (Joel Aldea) with an assurance of back up if necessary and their advanced handling of our permit requirements. Invitation to park our stuff in their Base Camp and sleep if needed was most welcome.

Through HALMS and the Barangay Captain, we were provided with a guide, who has attachment to Mount Halcon. Our team was the 3rd he expertly guided to the peak. Nestor was compassionate and understood our limitations as climbers. He was truthful in telling us the trekking time to our next destination. While initially delayed, we caught up with the itinerary, thanks to the arithmetical simplification of JoRam and Nestor. The formula was simply, “if we reach this point, we will only be X hours away to the summit.” That kept the spirit alive.
Our strongest motivation to complete was the weather. Nature gifted us with the ideal weather condition. No rain during the trek, cold weather at the campsite, clear skies at the summit. Coldest recorded temp was 9°C. Human element was a minor obstacle to overcome.

Each of us sensed that we were not just 6 at the mountain. Somehow there was a bantay that would look over us. The fireflies flashed light to lead us to the trail at night. An open space signaled us to bring out flashlights from our packs. Water source sprouted when we were getting thirsty. Chito was saved from falling. TJ didn’t break his back. Mitch’s fall was just a slip although from a high altitude. Chito’s slip at the river didn’t break his ankle. We were not rained out. We caught up with the itinerary. The view from the summit was awesome. TJ, Mitch and Marlon found the trail back. We found TJ and Nestor at Camp Aplaya. Weather was fine in all the campsites. Views from our campsite were without comparison. The imposing mountain was exclusively ours. Reaching the tombstone set-up for Neptali close to the peak, we said our tribute of thanks.

Completing Mount Halcon, the most dreaded Philippine Mountain, we realized that no one could be fully prepared for the climb. One just needed to be ready. It took an alignment of elements to be granted the gift of stepping in the 2,586-meter summit. Climber’s physical condition that can endure long, cardiac assaults, presence of mind, right equipment, correct food, willpower, a team that’s one, open and friendly with each other, an able and compassionate guide and most importantly a permitting spiritual force.

We thought we were physically fit. Our climbing credentials proudly said: Tawangan-Pulag Traverse December ’98, Sto. Tomas-Los Baños Makiling Traverse February ’99, Banahaw ’98, Guiting-Guiting April ’98. That wasn’t enough.

We completed Mount Halcon because our intentions were pure-simply to appreciate nature and ourselves. As said in the prayers of JoRam on our 2nd day, May we be allowed to see the beauty of Mount Halcon and to learn about ourselves. On our last day, TJ said thanks for God’s protection that brought him, Mitch and Marlon back to the right track before dark, for preventing Chito’s fall from the scrambling at the wall. Whatever graces even small, we accept and appreciate.

Climbs make us proud. Some mountains show us the grandeur of creation. Mount Halcon takes away that pride and humbles us with our limitation. Only with this acceptance of limitation can lift one up to the summit. To me, that was key to our completion. We had to suffer to go on.

As we started our sea travel to Calapan, the Star Cat Ferry on video flashed a prayer for us-that there’s a lot to be thankful for in a day. One of them is to be A-live. When we returned back to Batangas International Port after the climb, and heard the same prayer, I understood fully well what it meant for me and for our expedition team. It was a most powerful blessing Mount Halcon granted us.

It showed beautifully in the perfect pictures taken by Mitch. Even TJ’s yaya agreed making Marlon apply for employment so TJ’s commands can be justifiably legit.

15 March 1999 Chito B. Razon

Hello, all.

I must say Chito's article indeed brings back to mind the tortuous moments of our trek-the horrendous heat on the way to Mt. Aplaya, passing through the rocky landslide-prone slopes, and losing the right trail (or simply, getting lost). No doubt the physical aspect of the climb is daunting enough that so many people dreaded climbing Mt. Halcon. The psychological aspect is as daunting. The climb is truly a body and mind thing. It has to be both because Mt. Halcon will mercilessly tax the body and mind. Definitely, one can't do without the other. Doing without the other spells certain defeat. Such a demand on both body and mind highlights the importance of the holistic conditioning which the ancient Greek philosophers have put forth thousands of years ago. It is just not enough to be in top physical shape. The mind has to be ready too. Mt. Halcon is a testament to this ideal. As such, the Halcon climb is about discovering the totality of our being. For those who made it all the way, I say, "PER ADUA AD ASTRA." (Latin for "Through adversity to the stars.")

In retrospect,

JOJO Ramos

Filipino Conquest of Mt. Everest in Stamps

Philpost launches Filipino Conquest of Mt. Everest in Stamps. 

Email me in private your postal mailing address and I will send you aFilipino Conquest of Mt. Everest Stamp. You may also secure a copyof the stamp in P 7.0, P 20.0 and P 26.0 denomination at the Central Post Office in Plaza Lawton Manila. 

The Everest stamp is unique inshape as it is landscape in orientation. Merry Christmas! tochs@excite.com

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PHILPOST LAUNCHES FILIPINO CONQUEST OF MT. EVEREST IN STAMPS

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) and the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team launches the Conquest of Mt. Everest. Stamps featuring the first Filipinos who have made it to the top of the world's highest mountain. Three Everest climbers, Heracleo "Leo" Oracion, Erwin Emata and Romeo Garduce, made the Filipino's proud for their individual feats. Oracion and Emata were both members of the Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition team headed by Usec Art Valdez. Oracion became the first Filipino to reach the summit on May 17, 2006. He was followed by Emata, and then Garduce. Oscar M. Lopez, Chairman & CEO of the First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Usec. Art Valdez of DOTC, newly appointed Postmaster General Hector R.R. Villanueva and PhilPost Chairman Atty. Franco Loyola attended the launching ceremony. The conquest of Mt. Everest stamps; colorful designs were done by PhilPost in-house designers, Jesus Alfredo D. Delos Santos, Victorino Cerevo, graphic artist Richard Allen Baron and printed in Litho-offset machine. The stamps feature the panoramic view of Mt. Everest and the spectacular trek of the Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team all the way to the summit. (Alvin Fidelson). http://www.philpost.gov.ph/news.php?vlink=mt_everest

Dear Pamangkins

Dear Pamangkins, a book featuring a compilation of personal letters of the late Tita Nette (Dra. Josefina Bautista Magno) to her pamangkins was launched at the Dec 2006 Bautista family reunion.

Quoting from the introduction written by the eldest of the pamangkins Tish S. Bautista, "The letters are an amazing record of her meditations on God’s love for us. Over and over, we read from her letters how God knows what we need and how He takes care of even the smallest detail. We read of how all of us are called to holiness, and how the path to holiness can be through Opus Dei or Couples for Christ or some other way. We are given simple examples of kindness that the pamangkins can emulate. There is the gentle cajoling for the pamangkins to receive the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist."

I am sharing a letter Tita Nette wrote in February 1999.

Thursday, 11 February 1999 09:59:17
Re: Seize the Moment

Dear Pamangkins,
I get very frustrated with this electronic age because aside from my inborn lack of talent for anything mechanical, I now have to deal with a server, to connect, and to send, which drives me crazy. First, I could not connect, then when I finally could connect, the laptop wouldn't send my queued messages because I think I punched a button which I shouldn't have and it froze the whole system. I had to call the technician to set things moving again. Now I cannot connect again, so I decided to write anyway and hopefully this message will find its way to you sometime.
I was at a small gathering in a friend's house the other night and I listened to a talk on Seize the Moment. The speaker, Joe Itchon, is visiting for a few days on business -- the usual credentials -- Harvard, big corporation, etc. and Opus Dei in addition. The theme of his impromptu talk was that we should not look at the past, it is gone forever, except if we have learned some lessons from it; we should not dwell on the future because it may not even be there. We should dwell in the moment now, because it is this moment which God has destined for us in a Divine Master Plan. He likened life to a symphony, where there are many, many instruments, all of them playing music. The music is composed of many, many notes, but each note has to be played by a particular instrument at a particular moment, in order to contribute to the symphony. If it is played at the wrong moment, it creates a discordant note and the symphony is ruined.
Our lives are part of a symphony and each one of us has a role to play. And our lives are made up of many moments, each moment having its own purpose. Each moment is very important and if we let it pass, it will be gone forever.
I like the message because it is a reminder that whatever we are doing now is an opportunity for us to be the "light of the world and salt of the earth." Each moment can be a nugget of gold that can be deposited as a treasure in heaven.

Love to all of you, Tita Nette
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Thursday, 06 Jul 2000 08:50:23 +0800

Subject: Daily work

Dear Pamangkins:

Last night, I read a quotation from Blessed Josemaria, Founder of Opus Dei, which impressed me.  He writes: "Sanctifying one's work is no fantastic dream but the mission of every Christian--yours and mine.  That is what that lathe-worker had discovered, when he said, 'I am overwhelmed with happiness when I think how true it is that while I am working at the lathe and singing--singing all the time, on the outside and on the inside--I can become a saint.  How good God is!"

We may not be lathe workers, but all of us have jobs which very often we find monotonous and boring or even a big burden, or we may not have a job at all and all we have are the daily tasks and chores in the home.  But it is in these "lathes" that we have that we are given the opportunity to find God and become saints by merely doing all that we have to do with love, and offering all of them to God, so He can sanctify them and us in the process.  And so we can sing with joy because just by doing our work, simple as a clerk's or challenging as an executive's, we are really becoming saints.  We are converting "the ordinary prose of life to beautiful poetry".  It is Opus Dei.

Love to you all,

Tita Nette

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The book with a subtitle Letters on Life and Spirituality is not available in bookstores in Manila. If you wish to get a copy, write to me at tochs@excite.com

Casualty Blanket

Spotted: Casualty Blanket

That doubles as a ground sheet. Versatile, it is riveted and can be used as a tarp. Specs: 56x 84 inches, lightweight. One side is aluminized, the flipside dark coated (olive green). Aluminum side can be used as a reflector in case of an emergency during daylight. Blanket when wrapped can keep temperature down. Spotted at HMR along Pioneer St. priced at P 350.00.

A similar one was helpful to me in Banahaw, Apo and in Tawangan during cold, rainy conditions when I was too lazy to pull out tent during short bivouacs. It kept me warm, dry and alive.

Lipat Bahay-Kubaw

Saturday afternoon 11 November 2006, I saw Jong N. carrying a shoulder bag and a desk electric fan at the corner of 15th Avenue and Aurora Boulevard Cubao waiting for a ride towards the East. Perhaps going to Montalban? I thought. But with a shoulder bag and not a backpack? And an electric fan? Later on that day, I read the MFPI egroups message which said, “Kubaw is gone.” When I passed by 136 15th Avenue Murphy Cubao near the corner of P. Tuazon, all I saw on a Saturday night was a bakery and a tightly closed metal folding window with hardly any sign of action.

Kubaw is a two-story residence of Jong that can be considered an icon as important as among the institutions that were set up in the late 70s to early 80s such as the UPM, NMFP, PALMC, NMC, UST Mountaineering Clubs. MESAU among others. Its significance is as colorful as the history of mountaineering in the Philippines. It is a versatile space that was a sleeping quarter of out of towners mountaineers from Bicol, the Visayas and Mindanao conveniently accessible at the center of GMA. Pioneers have one way or another slept, got drunk, eaten, traded notes, stayed overnight at this address.

It is the original campsite at the lowland where there were spontaneous socials spiced up with beer and gin drinking, food from street hawkers and animated story telling participated in by seasoned, novice climbers and by standers.

Information, trails, incidences, equipment were traded, personal lives were exposed and recipes invented. Kubaw is a center at the time when the internet and email were not yet in fashion. It is the place to see mountaineers and connect with them even without the benefit of a text message. Whenever tragedy strikes related to climbing, this is where rescue operations are planned. Kubaw too is the source of reliable and update reports though unofficial.

To put a form to the function the place provides, the front space was leased for an outdoor store on friendly terms. A tradition it maintained was the annual Christmas party on the 25th which explains why no mountaineer left Manila on the 25th for Pulag. Bands performed. Yay O. prepared the food, St. Joseph’s Club helped fix up the place, Choy A. and Lex E. entertained. Banny D. would come home to check on Boy Ross. UPM and UP Org have not failed to attend. Guests brought drinkage favorite of which was Ginebra. Everyone contributed their anecdotes.

When one has a climbing syndrome when in the lowland, Kubaw is the place to go to reminisce memories of a climb. There would always be a warm body that would give a listening ear to any speaker.

At the turn of the century, Cubao has extended it address to Montalban venturing from trekking, spelunking to adventure racing.

My first encounter at Kubaw was in the late 80’s when Chang Guzman facilitated a spelunking in Peňablanca Cagayan. We were in the company of Negros trekkers like Snake who talked fondly of Kubaw. Through Snake, I was led to the legendary place where Jong stays. Years later, I found out that co-climber Mike P. of PALMC traced his climbing days at Kubaw.

My personal account represents only a small segment of what Kubaw stands for. While short, it was memorable enough. Kubaw is place composed of the experiences of the various parties that made it happen. As Kubaw can be considered a legend, it does not end with the move out of the tenants. Where it will be is regardless of the geographical address. Where it will go is in the hands of the stakeholders who would not let go of it.

For me for now, I can only express my profound gratitude. Thank you for letting me in, Kubaw.

Chito Razon 13 November 2006

Larawan nakaw sa site ni Banny Defeo http://www.geocities.com/bannydefeo/estor.html

Projecting a "Truer" Picture of the Pinoy Mountaineer

The successful ascent of Leo, Erwin and Romy to the roof of the world this May 2006 undoubtedly created a widespread interest to mountain climbing both to the current crop of climbers and to the uninitiated. Suddenly there is a surge of interest to alpine climbing which was then thought of as an exclusive domain of the westerners, Japanese,Koreans and Singaporeans.

The focus of the two media networks on team and individual expeditions built up a hype which may have distorted the picture of atypical pinoy mountaineering.

It is a race.
It is expensive and can cost you an arm and a leg.
Guides are vital and are key to the expedition.
Anyone with resource can make it to the top.
Success is met with recognition, failure with death.

Chiqui Roa-Puno's talk show "In My Life" aired over ANC 2 June featured mountaineers from UPM, Pilipinas Sierra, OCMI and AMCI bounded what thepinoy mountaineer is. The guests, Bernice from UPM, Fred from Pilipinas Sierra , Jay from AMCI and Louie M. from Ortigas CMI talking from their personalexperiences revealed the formal and informal values that guide them and the distinct culture that appear to bind them even if they do notknow each other.

A basic mountaineering course is a necessary foundation before onejoins the group to a climb.Harness is for scaling walls and is not necessarily brought inregular climbs.
Shoes with good traction and hard sole arenecessary. Mojos while popularly used are for certain terrains.

A backpack contains the essential kits to survive a climb: a minikitchen to prepare food, a tent for shelter, food and water provisionfor the body fuel.
It may not necessarily be huge.Equipment can be shared.
Women do not necessarily get special attention. They are treated asequals. But inarte women (also men) are despised.

You are responsible for your own self and should not pose as a burdento the rest of the group.
Young and old do climb (from the teens to the 70's).

A climb requires preparation degree of which depends on the type ofmountain.
Deeper relationships develop as one sees the core of each other goingthrough difficult and fun moments.Some groups abort their climbs should a member falls out during thetrek. There is such a thing as a point of no return where it is safer to complete the expedition than to descend.

It is more difficult to descend than to ascend. (The guests failedto mention through that there is less weight descending and one'stired body recovers from a sound sleep.)
Snakes are not a threat if you don't provoke them but the mosquitoesare a bigger danger.

The highest is not necessarily the most difficult.

The host was apparently awed by the positive values she spotted fromthe mountaineers. If she had some climbing experience prior to theinterview, it would have pushed her to ask, "Is the hardship duringthe trek all worth it? What happens at the campsite? Is therereally a race to the top? What roles do the trekkers play in a groupclimb? Is there really rivalry? What drives you from climbing overand over?" An insight to these queries would have bounded furtherwhat the pinoy mountaineer is.

The interesting talk was capped with the two sets of guests declaringthat the successful ascent to the top of the world and their safedescent made the pinoy mountaineer proud. It was a validation thoughlate that the pinoy with resources can. There is a pool of pinoymountaineers with the strength, skills and attitude who too can makeit to the summit of the world.May 2006 opened the possibility that the summit of Mt. Everest is notan elusive dream for a serious Filipino mountaineer. Thank you Leo,Erwin and Romy for showing us. You gave us permission for puttingyour dreams in ours too.

tochs 5June06

Why did the Everest climb trigger so much quarrel?

Read the Inquirer on the network war http://news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=1&story_id=77641

Read the exchanges in the peyups forum http://www.peyups.com/posts.khtml?mode=viewtopic&topic=27267&forum=5

Art's recognition of FVR and non recognition of GMA http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006060165631.html

The controversy behind the 4th climber hotly contested in your favorite egroups mfpi and metropolitanms

Not to forget the two week protest in April in Nepal http://212.58.226.19/1/hi/world/south_asia/2707107.stm

And the moral ethics raised this climbing season if it is proper to leave behind a dying climber http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5016536.stm.

It seems to be the price we pay for transforming this sacred recreation a race. Will John Muir's quotation still hold for us?
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

Adventure racing has changed all that. Reaching the summit of Everest just validated it.

Pinoy Blogs on the 3 Everest Conquerors

Wednesday, 17 May 2006 from 9AM to 2PM, we will find out if the roof of the world has been conquered by a Filipino. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=38899

• 18 May, we will find out if there are now two Pinoy moutanineers who made it to the summit of Mt. Everest.
• 19 May, we will find out there there are now three Pinoy mountaineers who made it to the summit of Mt. Everest.

When the next one, your guess is as good as mine. Congrats!

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Pinoy Blogs on the 3 Everest Conquerors

Dean Bocobo's Philippine Commentary-
http://philippinecommentary.blogspot.com/
Dave Quiboquibo's random ruminations-
http://ialman.livejournal.com/
Anton Diaz' Our Awesome Planet-
http://anton.blogs.com/

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Famous first lines:
"the philippine eagle has landed."-17 May 2006 5:30 PM +8GMT. formal, prompted
"ang lamig dito!"-18 May 2oo6 11:35 AM +8GMT. real
"jiggy, yoohoo!"-19 May 2oo6 1:15 PM +8GMT. spontaneous, panalo

After all the hype has died down, i'd like to hear what the climb personally meant to them beyond the race angle and the unity story.
congrats po sa kanilang lahat at sa mga taong nasa likod nila

Crafting a vision 2 May 2006

5 December 1999, a motley group of climbers was invited by then MFPI President Butch Sebastian to craft a Vision Mission for the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines Incorporated (MFPI).

Seven years ago, the vision was defined against the backdrop of what were then in the popular mindsets of the climbers:
-With a desire to climb complemented by a commitment to the preservation of the mountain eco-system
-With a sense of adventure tempered by a due regard for safety
-Whose enjoyment of the climb is bounded by a healthy respect and sensitivity for fellow mountaineers and the local communities they encounter.

We saw then a Philippine mountaineering community aware of both their right and duty to be responsible mountaineers leading to the statement of the mission-to promote responsible mountaineering by setting standards for climbing behavior ensuring:
-Our commitment to the preservation of mountain eco-system
-Development of skills necessary for safe enjoyment of climbing
-A healthy respect for fellow mountaineers and local communities

Over the past years, we saw the climbing community engaged in activities which were not directly taken into consideration then. Among them were:
-Number of climbers has grown in leaps and bounds re-classing the recreation from an extreme activity to a mainstream one which media gamely picked up.
-Competitive adventure sports which were not in fashion before gained acceptance and participation from the climbing community. Climbers provided a pool of winnable participants in either local, regional or international races.
-Expanding sights not only in tropical climbs but alpine as well.
-Opening up to the possibility that the Pinoy given the training and logistical support can climb the roof of the world.

Mission Vision practitioners say that a hard and fast rule to process check its relevance is to challenge whether the vision has been achieved, the stakeholders still share the missions’ sentiments, end result is doable taking in account a tangible goal, an execution plan, a visionary leader and more importantly is a shared purpose.

Consider that in spite of major developments, climbers still have a high regard for safety although un-quantified, there is still a consciousness to preserve the mountain eco-system although it appears not to high in priority and even with the differences in views amongst clubs, members, climbers and the manner to run the federation, there is still a considerable respect for the diversity of opinion. There are those though who clamor for wider representation. Some vouch for a stronger lobbying presence, geographical division and of late international accreditation. While there was a mention on skills, one noted the absence of physical fitness in the framework.

Is it time to re-visit the Vision Mission? Popular sentiment of the stakeholder which is composed of the member clubs, the individual members, incumbent officers, suppliers, communities we affect and the support groups we tap can give tell-tale indicators. All of them have stakes to protect. Each one has its own priority. Indifference, apathy, resignation at one and involvement, commitment, contribution at the extreme end offer hints is to whether the sentiments are still shared. Are the stakeholders getting more or less involved with the mission?

What I know is as we root for the first Filipino climber or the first Filipino climber or the first Filipino team to step foot on the peak of Mt. Everest, the climbing landscape has been changing immeasurably. Maybe so, it is time. Unless the community now has turned its affiliation somewhere else and just leave the MFPI to where it is.

What’s in your mind matters. What do you think?

2 May 2006

Pagaspas San Teodoro style