tres picos

2011 will be my year of the mountain. very, very happy and fortunate that i will be able to climb (hopefully) again the highest peak of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao within the year - Mt. Kanla-on (last January), Mt. Apo (in a month) and Mt. Pulag (next birthday climb).

here is a sneak peek of our rooftops...

Mt. Pulag 2,922+ meters

(Benguet)

from experience, the coldest mountain in the country. since my birthday falls on one of the coldest months, temperature during my recent climbs drops to 3 degrees and below. towering the cordillera mountain range, the majestic Mt Pulag offers a breathtaking view of the sun rising from the sea of clouds. other peaks of the cordilleras become islands in the vast white sea.

trekking can range from difficult to easy depending on the trail you. be sure to bring proper warm clothes since the cold can really be nasty especially in this altitude.

Mt Kanla-on, 2,435+ meters

(Negros Occidental-Negros Oriental)

one of the active and deadly volcanoes in our country, the majestic Mt. Kanla-on is both a symbol of death and life. it's pristine forest is a habitat to many endemic but critically endangered fauna and flora such as the negros bleeding heart, visayan leopard cat, visayan wart pig, etc.

at the summit, you will stand on the ledge while taking a peek at the giant crater below. the 360 degrees panoramic view is spectacular. you can see the nearby island provinces - cebu, guimaras, panay and siquijor. expect strong winds in the summit. trekking is from moderate to difficult.

Mt Apo, 2956+ meters

(Davao Del Sur, Davao City, North Cotabato)

a dormant volcano, the highest peak in the country is also a sacred mountain to many indigenous groups in the south. trekking is a test of perseverance but the ecosystems are simply.. wow!!! trail may include climbing giant boulders spawned by the volcano, sulphuric volcanic vents, high-altitude lakes, traversing mossy and dipterocarp forests and river crossing. ooh and if you’re very very lucky, you can even catch a sight of the majestic Philippine Eagle in flight.

hope lady luck will give me her blessing... :)

clash with the titans

meeting the titan face to face is a no-fun experience. scary look, sharp teeth, bulky but very agile, the titan triggerfish is definitely not the likes of Ariel’s friends. it’s a nasty beast, like a deadly assassin lurking in coral reefs.

one time, our butts have almost got bitten by a titan. luckily we saw it before it managed to give us a very big bite and chunk our flesh hehehe. for almost 10minutes, we swam as quickly as we can while trying to kick it away with our fins. we escaped but those nasty teeth definitely have been frequent in my dreams.

but upon learning the habits of the titans, i realized and started to admire them. the titans are very serious in guarding their eggs and nest and they will attack any threats, even bigger fishes and humans, within its immediate territory. size doesn’t matter on these creatures.

but still, everytime i see a titan during a dive or snorkel, my instinct will always tell me to “get out of her way!!!”. :)

going south?

need to be in UST last weekend and since i'm already stuck in the metro, why not try something new or something "classic"? like the old-school Philippine National Railways (PNR) trains!!!

PNR began operation in 1875 as the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan and has been the primary railway system of Luzon for more than a century. however, due to continues neglect and overgrowth of informal settlers, the train lost its glamor and was associated to decay and blight.

went to FTI (near Bicutan) station and was surprised that trips to Alabang-Tutuban (and vice versa) are already available every hour. the train is already OK in terms of cleanliness or decency hahaha. the fare is quite cheap. the Alabang-Tutuban fare only costs P20.00. plus no traffic.

but be prepared and make your bag dukot-proof. since the trips are still limited, expect the train to be crowded.

Stops of the Alabang-Tutuban Route:

• Tutuban, (branch off from Blumentritt, near Tutuban Mall, Manila)
• Dapitan (Sampaloc, Manila)
• España (Sampaloc, Manila)
• Sta. Mesa (near PUP-Sta. Mesa, Manila)
• Beata, (Pandacan, Manila)
• Paco, (Quirino Avenue, Manila)
• San Andres (Manila)
• Vito Cruz (Manila)
• Buendia (Makati City)
• Pasay Road (Makati City)
• Edsa (under Magallanes ramp, Makati City)
• Nichols (near Gate 3, Taguig City)
• FTI (Taguig City)
• Bicutan (Taguig City)
• Sucat (Paranaque City)
• Alabang (Muntinlupa City)

trips going to Malolos, Bulacan (Northbound) and Binan all the way to Bicol (Southbound) are already available but still limited. will try it in the coming months :)