The more we think we know a person, the more we realize we don’t
know them at all. This is the same case with how I see the land which had been my home for the first 15 years of my life; a playground I knew for so long yet remained very much foreign to me. Little did I know that there are more things Pangasinan has to offer more than the
overrated Hundred Islands or the usual beaches I used to indulge in my early years, slapping me straight to the
face right now. With this, I’m taking this vow to further consider my own land travel-wise, before going anywhere else.
December 26, 2013 | Starting somewhere westward―Mt. Zion, the famous pilgrim mountain, situated at Brgy. Laguit Padilla, Bugallon, still in line with my 2013 year-round goal of conquering 13 peaks, which I’m still trying to fulfill towards the nearing dusk of this year
Long Ride
It’s been normal for me to go hiking off a previous sleepless night. Thus, after a little rest freshly from some alcoholic after-Christmas session, I got up with an eager heart, in spite of the overcast sky, as soon as the clock struck 5 o'clock> immediately, I strengthened myself with a cup of coffee and a piece of pan de sal, then walked that long and still pitch blackout, cemented road from home towards the highway to wait for a jeepney ride.
From my location at Bolingit San Carlos, there were two ways to get to Mt. Zion: northward (via Dagupan) and southward (via Urbiztondo). Having been more familiar with the former, I chose to go Dagupan-bound. It took me more than an hour from San Carlos to Dagupan because the jeepney I rode was traveling turtle-pace, plus the countless stopovers, coupled with the still-unfinished renovation of the Doyong-Malabago Bridge which requires transport groups some extra kilometers of travel, thereby extending the ride by a couple of minutes. Upon arrival at Dagupan at the junction just before the jeepney turned west down to the busy A.B. Fernandez Ave. aka downtown, I searched for Mhel-Bhen Bus Station and rode an Alaminos-Bolinao-bound bus. I was then dropped off at a certain terminal somewhere in Lingayen and finally transferred to a Mangatarem-bound bus before the final touchdown to the foggy municipality of Bugallon, Pangasinan. A few meters away from the Bugallon Municipal Hall, I took a special tricycle lift to the Mt. Zion jump-off, as the heavens started to really go dark though there is actually an option to wait.
The way to Brgy. Laguit Padilla was the usual scenic rural setting, an archetype of the simplicity of living away from the busy lights and heavy traffic in the metro. Over the plains and fields was a soothing breath of fresh air. After nearly three hours of ride from home, I finally reached the jump-off. The dark clouds then started to roll, enveloping the isolated range I was about to triumph over.
Long Walk
The long walk episode started as the tricycle pulled over and I set foot to the base point. My heartbeat’s tremendously racing as anxiousness crept off me doing this solo mode. Plus, I barely know anything about the mountain since only a few write-ups and articles are available to dig online. What made this climb even creepier was the heavy downpour as soon as the tricycle left, which I nevertheless found welcoming, never prevented me to pursue the clamber. The angry skies cried incessantly, with occasional thunder, lightning, and heavy blow of winds. It rained really hard, hindering proper sight of the trail.
Nevertheless, I still managed to ascend at a faster-than-normal pace as the rain sweetly indulged on me. The rain did not cease for the next fifty minutes or so. I admit, there were lots of instances of me being torn about whether or not to pursue the hike. Much as I raced against gravity on my way up, my thoughts were racing too if I could stretch a few more minutes of solitude up there to wait and document things out. Minutes have passed and there was no sign the rain would stop or at least slow down anytime soon. It was an agonizing descent being admittedly largely unprepared, miscalculating the difficulty of the climb. I was wearing chucks which made the entire climb extra slippery and maong pants which started to feel really cold and heavy from the very moment the rain poured down.
Mystically, the rain stopped as soon as I reached the clear trail part. I took the hint that maybe I wasn’t supposed to be up there walking alone. I walked a few more meters thinking of finally heading back to the jumpoff until I felt that invitation for a quick ascent to the pilgrim stations. The white paints of the sculptures were already wearing out and the trails towards each station were already wildly covered with tall grasses. I hopped from one station to another and experienced an immeasurable gladness, serenity, and peace I was longing for this particular climb. For a spirit at an all-time low, with lots of unnecessary thoughts running through his head, this solo climb at such a perfect place is a perfect experience.
Long Road
At the peak of the pilgrim stations, I paid respect and offered thanks before making my way down, rain-soaked, chilling, and freezing. Minutes later, I
found myself standing back at the jump-off point. Extremely puzzled, the locals were largely examining my wet-look as I
took a few strides to search for a ride back to the town proper. The
place was pretty much isolated so there was a slim chance to find a ride costing me a good thirty minutes before finally finding one.
It never occurred to me before but maybe, there were unknown forces that constantly prevented me from pursuing that solo climb. It actually took me five attempts already before finally coming up with this one―the turnout of events, the untimely downpour, and all other hindrances during the entire clamber. I’m just thankful and proud that I got over it somehow. I believe that as long as you respect the mountain (and everything that comes with it, including those unseen by our naked eyes), then you could never go wrong.
It never occurred to me before but maybe, there were unknown forces that constantly prevented me from pursuing that solo climb. It actually took me five attempts already before finally coming up with this one―the turnout of events, the untimely downpour, and all other hindrances during the entire clamber. I’m just thankful and proud that I got over it somehow. I believe that as long as you respect the mountain (and everything that comes with it, including those unseen by our naked eyes), then you could never go wrong.
This might, however, be my first and last solo climb after I first-handly
experienced the feeling, realizing it
would be much of a risk to try another one. Not closing doors though as the hard-headed spirit in me might find that urge to hit the road alone again in the future. As
a piece of confession, this is by far one of my best climbs to date. The mere thought
of climbing alone crept me off at first, but merely eliminating that itch right
on my bucket list was such a fulfilling task. Should
you have things you are yearning for,
stop making excuses and just do them. You don’t have all the time to continually
screw things over, especially those that really matter, especially those things that make
you happy.
Long Rest
From the Capitol Building, I further walked and ended up at Lingayen Beach. For some time, I let minutes slip away by just lying cozily at the shore feeling the sun while
watching the beach-goers. For over an hour, my back’s
almost glued to the sand and nearly fell asleep but then raindrops started to fall. I got the cue that it was time to go. Besides, my intestines
were largely rallying against my mind at that point. It was past lunchtime and I
needed to reward myself for that good lunch I believed I deserved. I walked again back to the main road where buses were picking
up passengers, Dagupan-bound.
Longsilog
Coincidentally, in the name of the mother of all coincidences, my lunch was something long. I did not intend to have longsilog for lunch for this post, but hey I did. While walking along the very familiar childhood A.B. Fernandez walkway, I took the urge to drop by Jana’s Foods initially intending to buy a slice of cake. Ss they were as well offering rice meals, I opted o just take a meal there to save me from further searching somewhere else. Unfortunately, the food wasn’t good, the service was bad as well.
Longing To Be Home
It was nearly 3 o’clock when I found myself riding a San Carlos-bound jeepney as my day’s journey was nearing conclusion. My eyes were also drooping already due to tiredness courtesy of my misadventures in the past nine hours. It was around 15 more minutes to go and I will be home. But I caught myself lurking down the dreamland and before I realized it, I was way past my destination and just went all the way to San Carlos City town.
To maximize the time and make something out of the unfortunate situation,
my feet brought me to another home, which served as my cradle for four
years, where some of the best memories were made, best lessons were learned,
and all sorts of both serious and unworthy problems prepared me for tougher
university life―my beloved high school. Might as well treated myself with a jaw-dropping campus tour where progress vividly
cascaded before my eyes as I walked around.
