North Side
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
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.
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
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
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
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
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
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Links to Updates Phil Presidency
Get updated on the state of the Philippine Presidency.
What keeps me informed are:
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
Friday, May 20, 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 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.”
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.”
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Monday, May 16, 2005
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/
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/
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
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
Thursday, April 28, 2005
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.
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
-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.
Monday, April 18, 2005
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
LRT1
LRT2
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.
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.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
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
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.
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.
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
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