BUSOG Turns TWO (at Mt. Balagbag)

Buddies United in Sports and Outdoors Guild, simply known as BUSOG mountaineers--- and we’re back to the mountain top as we celebrate our 2^nd anniversary as a group of mountain hiking enthusiasts (14-15 July 2012)

We chose Mt. Balagbag via Licao-licao for this celebration to make it just light and chillax. With the help of fellow BUSOG mountaineers especially Lauren Ramos, the event was made possible.  We’re more than 20 participants who joined this anniversary with lots of guests (Layas Mountaineers and majority were from HP).  Although at the start of the trek, we were given a not-so-good weather, it was pouring hard and very cloudy, the climb pushed through, anyway. (By the way I was there in Mt. Balagbag just last February this year, see such post for some mountain details)

Thankfully, when we reached the summit which is also the camp site, the rain began to stop, making easy for us to set camp and prepare our dinner. The participants were divided into groups, t’was like fiesta when each group shared their food. 

Lots of individual introductions to oneself, mountain talks and kwentuhan happened on our social night. We also met new faces and new future climbing companions.

Beautiful morning awakened us the following day with some portion of sea of clouds right there at the summit.  After having our breakfast eaten, we prepared to have our respective tent downs and started to descend. We headed down to the falls for our side trip. We enjoyed much the waterfalls. There was water already on the upper part, unlike last February which was not yet rainy season, when we had to go down further just to find the area where we can bathe or swim.

Another great event for BUSOG Mountaineers. Kudos!

(This was when I discovered that my adventureproof Pentax camera was not suitable for running water, oh no, its destination after going back to Manila was at the service center  :( )

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Mt. Balagbag Dayhike with Lingkod

Mt. Balagbag
Location: Sitio Balagbag, Rodriguez, Rizal
Difficulty: 3/9
777 MASL

It was another fruitful, fun filled and full of bonding hiking event for some of Lingkod brothers and sisters from Lingkod – Makati and Lingkod- Alabang (with some guests), organized with the help and support of  buddy Dennis Hisanan. I was also grateful that I was also able to invite two of my special friends, Monique Cerillo and Len Faldas. Monique was a pen friend of mine back in high school (during those times that snail mails were in and e-mails/SMS were rarely used, hehe). Len is a close friend and former dorm mate and whom I also called “kapatid”. This mountain was their first summit and I was happy to see that they were able to make it to the top.

 

We were so thankful for granting us a fine weather; really, we are blessed—not too sunny, although raining a bit from time to time and yet not a rainy/wet trek. Mt. Balagbag was an open mountain and we’re so grateful that we didn’t experience an extreme heat of the sun.  Following the itinerary, we started the trek very early in the morning at around 7am. The jump off-point is kinda far from the city and thankful that we hired a jeep (Kuya Rey’s jeep as usual) and so, we didn’t have any problem or inconvenience in terms of transportation.

We met Jefferson Aligato just a few minutes after the start of the trek, he was one of our companions in our Mt. Pulag Ambaguio-Akiki climb back in August 2011. Small world!! He said he was heading solo to Oriod( if i'm not mistaken).

 

Talking about the trail, we went through a wide trail all the way to summit, although it’s a continuous assault. Even at the start of the trek , we can already see beautiful views. Mt. Balagbag as far as I know is part of the Sierra Madre ranges.  I was so amused looking from afar at the silhouette of Mt. Arayat. I told myself,  “Wow I was there July last year. Great to see it from here.”  Our ascent was totally chillax. (no pressure, more rest and really relaxing). We just made ourselves feel the cool breeze, so refreshing! Finally, we reached the summit. It was a wide one signifying that it’s also the camp site. We spent more time taking pictures at the summit--Jump shots, multiple “kulitan shots, etc.

After that short trek, we went down and stayed in one of the beautiful falls there, prepared and ate our lunch. We were very careful in going to that falls as we descended through a steep and slippery trail. Some of us enjoyed swimming (swimming?? Hehe) in its cold water, others just made use of the ample time resting beside the falls.

We went home with smiles and enjoyed the Cornetto-filled road trip. (reminiscing  the “Ehe” “Dome” and  “This way to the Fulls” signboards we encountered in the climb.. hehe)

Thank you Lord for this safe dayhike and for the great fellowship we had!

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