The last time my hiking shoes were of actual use; it was March 16 2020, one day before Philippines was placed under state of calamity due to the spread of novel coronavirus disease later tagged as Covid-19. It was a quick leisure climb to Peak 2 of Mt. Makiling; a personally definitive climb, being one among probably the last Peak 2 hikers prior to its closure (take that!).
Currently, climbing Mt. Makiling is still restricted with the UPLB jumpoff off-limits to non-campus residents. Few other nearby mountains have however already reopened, a piece of awesome news to hiking and outdoor people, surely a welcomed development in these unprecedented times.
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While there is a deafening lack of public information regarding the status of several mountains in general, there are quick & effective alternative means to access such golden information such as the Pinoy Mountaineer page, social media platforms, direct coordination with local guides, among other means I am not fully aware of. Your own creative research methods will do so long as you don’t actually break any iatf rules.
Mt Kalisungan, Calauan Laguna | 30 January | The first always tends to be the best, mountain-climbing-wise. Rightfully so, this peak was a good choice for the long-overdue comeback climb. As my first hike for 2021 (& the first since lockdown), this climb speaks volumes – of hope, positivity, and silver linings – that in the height of the global pandemic, in a country run by clowns serving substandard public service, we manage to somehow survive. This is validated by the little extra normal things we can now do beyond our little, restrained lives. Compared to the 2013 Kalisungan Hike, the 2021 version of the mountain is more matured in every sense of the word. Not sure if it’s due to the lock-down providing the mountain more time to recuperate. The trails are more established, the guide system was evidently more organized and the entire process is way smoother. Isn’t it the point anyways, for everything and everyone to improve over time, contrary to the case of ddshits, enablers, and the likes, remaining stunted to their very core?
Mt Gulugud Baboy, Mabini Batangas | 07 February | This sophomore climb off this list happens to be a second-time hike up this friendly mountain in the neighborhood, from my workplace's reference point. Ever since I moved to Batangas some three years ago, part of the package is to unwarily adapt the Batangas way of life. Moreso, appreciate every single thing associated with it good or bad ranging from Batangas lomi, the infamous Batangueno accent, and even the frequently irritating Batangas traffic. Meanwhile, my Batangas personal checklist of things-to-do goes long, sweetly topped by this quest at conquering every mountain in the province but unfortunately has ultimately halted altogether due to the sorry turnout of events. But with my foreseeably extended stay in this province though, I think I’m still in the right pace at achieving such sgoal, so no rush whatsoever.
Manabu, Sto Tomas Batangas | 13 February | Non-comparable peaks, more established trails, and obvious upsurge of hikers all account for the previous and this recent climb’s yin & yang, polarized even, but equally memorable. While my Manabu 2013 climb was hot & dry as hell, the 2021 counterpart was rainy, muddy, and chilly on the other end. From the relative barren trails, the mountain is now verdantly enveloped in thick greens. Teka-teka and lipa plants to which I always fall victim were even more abundant in the trails. While the Manabu Peak that greeted me eight years ago has changed in more ways I could count, it still offers familiar intensity and thrill. Change is inevitable but I sometimes wonder how some people could be very resistant to it, especially when it's towards the better.
Mt Mabilog, Nagcarlan-San Pablo, Laguna | 20 February | This is my third time climbing this mountain but it feels it's the first time all over again. The first one was a traverse from Sta. Catalina to Lake Pandin way back 2013, the second was a traverse from Lake Pandin to Lake Yambo (South-East Trail) in 2014, while this latest trek is a straightforward Sta Catalina (West Trail) hike, seven years since. So much as to how many ways there are to kill a cat, there are as much ways to mountain-climb as well –each trail is unique offering a distinct journey in itself but eventually leads to the same destination in the end, fairly reminding us not to rush nor compare ourselves with others' pace.
That officially wraps the fruitful 4-week outdoor reboot through revisiting nearby and familiar trails jumpstarting my 2021 off a stagnant 2020 in terms of trekking gigs, since I surely will miss the trails for the next few months due to the nature of my work sched. Still grateful though because all in all these mountains provided me some relief & headspace to grow from another perspective, renewed & revalidated my love for the outdoors, and most importantly reminded me of the abundance of beautiful things out there, just there always.
