Mt. Sembrano-Dec.1-2, 2007 (Pililia, Rizal)

Kamandag Barikus Mountaineers at Peak 2

Spread your wings...

Amazing sunrise...freezing water falls...great view...nice people!

Making It to the Summit of Mt. Sembrano (December 1-2, 2007)

I was lucky enough for having been invited by the Kamandag Barikus Mountaineering Group to join them in one of their climbs, that was at Mt. Sembrano located at Pililia, Rizal.

I have always loved mountains. With this virtual connection I've got with nature, I, super excited, have accepted the invitation. Aside from the pre-climb meeting, other preparations were done including the backpacking activity.

Meeting this new circle was indeed worthwhile. Witnessing a new horizon with them was totally breathtaking.

(10 PM)From the jump-off, after eating "aroz caldo" at a nearby store, the group headed towards a rocky and long intro until we reached the first campsite, "Manggahan". It's located near the falls. It's here where we refilled our "water tanks".

The next level was a bit difficult. I was literally crawling at some points. It was a rocky trail, not to mention the cliffs nearby. (Thanks to my headlamp, I could somehow see the dangers two meters ahead of me. I also appreciate the oral warnings the climbers ahead of me were giving.)

I was catching my breath most of the time. Sir Heyyah, the youngest member of the group, did a good job during this seemingly never ending path of rocks. He was able to entertain us with his wit and humor combined. His hilarious way of expressing his mind made me somehow divert my attention, from those tough rocks and slippery trail to laughter. Kudos to Sir Heyyah! We reached the grass land safe and happy.

Upon reaching peak 2 (around 2 AM-December 2), we had our tents set. It was drizzling that time. I was freezing. Despite the tiring trek, most of us managed to stay awake. Some cooked sopas, some rested (including myself), some had a drinking session (ha ha) and we literally waited for the sunrise!

The sunrise was magnificent! It was worth the wait! It was like a mystery unravelling itself in front of us! I wanted to catch and preserve such moment and never let go of it. But excellent moments really fly quickly...tsk...tsk...

It was probably around 6 AM when we had our summit assault. The cogo grasses were taller than I am huh! (I'm 5'4" ha ha). There at the summit, I've got my reward...a perfect view of Laguna Lake and other nearby towns including Bundok ng Susong Dalaga! At the summit, we've met other mountaineers from different organizations. Clicks of cameras here and there. We were trying to catch the beauty of each moment preserved by such view. After few more minutes, we headed back to peak 2.

It was around 9 AM when we descended (after our festive breakfast). It was only then that I've realized how near I was to real dangers teh other night. This time, I clearly saw the real "cliffs".

I slipped I think thrice. (I blame Sir Peter for giving me "shots" of gin while trekking the rockies ha ha.)

We had our lunch at Manggahan campsite. Drinking sessions resumed... and we had ourselves refreshed at the freezing waterfalls.

We were able to witness the sunset on our way towards the village (Barangay Malaya).

I, bringing the memory of Mt. Sembrano, promised myself that I'm gonna be back to embrace once again Sembrano's essence.

(Check my post entitled "Surviving Typhoon Frank at Peak 2 of Mt. Sembrano... to see what happened when I've decided to embrace Sembrano for the second time.)

Leslie Speaks Paradoxically

at the summit of Mt. Talamitam, Nasugbu, Batangas

This crazy being will tell you how beautiful life is but usually forgets what she tells…
She is a clown with a broken heart…It’s really hard to explain but it’s real!
She celebrates sunrise, acquiring a new pair of shoes, scent of autumn (imaginary one), birth, and a full moon.
She’s beautiful. That’s what she thinks…(and what she thinks matters! he he)
She always keeps a rosary but she doesn’t really know how to pray using it.
During her college days, she would usually ask her younger sister to do her HWs in College Algebra.
She has decided to perform on stage (Libingan ng mga Bayani as Gabriela Silang) just to have valid reasons for not attending the said subject. (The professor was allowing the actors and actresses to practice during his time…)
She loves wall climbing! She’s actually a member of Power Up.
Ask her students about ’sharks’ and ’sharkproof’ and they will be able to tell you how she teaches grammar.
The most memorable certificate she has received was the "Kill the Shark" award (given by a group of students few years back).
Ask her students, ‘What did she bring the first time she entered your classroom?’ (They won’t fail to give you the right answer.)
She is an abstract painting. Only her self could really understand her.
She loves sketching and painting but she is very poor in color combination. This is because of the fact that she lived her first 25 years on this earth facing a black and white TV.
She’s poor in speling.
She could hardly pronounce s, sh, ch f, z.
She loves keeping and collecting quotes from all the books that she has read.
She loves going to places hidden from eyes…(censored)
She has planted crayons and let them grow in her heart.(corny)
Jubal Sackett (from the book of the same title), Santiago (The Alchemist), and Pilar (By the River Piedra…) are her most loved fiction characters.
She loves Hubert Webb, Michael Jackson, Princess Dianna, and Pope John Paul II.
She has kept clippings of the Vizconde massacre. (Thanks to her college friends for supporting her in this endeavor. They used to give her pages from newspapers featuring the sensationalized case.)
She’s into ‘trouble’ nowadays (trouble differentiating fantasy from reality).
Chemistry and Physics were her favorite subjects way back in high school, Psychology and Social Philosophy in College.
Her dream of performing a magic trick came true 3 years ago. (transforming water into wine)
Her first taste of ‘gin’ happened when she was in 2nd year high school (with Mary Jane, Kokok, and two other friends).
Jun Caparas (not related to Carlo J. Caparas) was her first crush.
In 1991, she started making her diaries as her real friends. She has never stopped writing since then.
She has studied in a public high school with no canteen, no library, no guards, no presentable gates (she used to climb the fence at the back of her room just to catch up with her first period), no rules about haircut, tardiness, uniform, wearing of shoes, vandalism, etc.
She was a basketball player and softball player (first base catcher) when she was in HS, volleyball player in college.
She has once involved herself in a butch-femme relationship.
She believes that there are no bad words, there are just bad persons.
She has done more mistakes in her life than anyone could ever imagine. (Never that she had regrets! …for she believes that unless a person makes at least 50 mistakes a day, he/she is not trying hard enough!)
She lost her first son in 2002 (the most painful chapter of her life). She named him Wilson in memory of the ball in the movie "Cast Away". (But Wilson had the same plight with that of the ball…he was lost in the middle of the sea even before he was born…)
She lives in the present. If death wins over her in an unexpected time, at least she could tell God that she did enjoy life’s every single moment.
If you want to make her drop everything she’s doing, let her hear the song "The Leader of the Band", or the instrumental of "Somewhere in Time".
She writes in codes. Her latest diary is done that way. Reason? Unravel the mystery if you can!
She loves deep conversations. If you can’t give her that, don’t start one! ( but an erotic conversation would do…That sounds deeper anyway…)
It is when she laughs to the fullest that she is in her saddest mode.
Her life is a total paradox.
She could communicate with someone by just merely looking at the moon. (That’s being lunatic! It’s a talent!)
If she loves the movie she’s watching, she’ll stand and applaud when it ends (even if everybody in the cinema looks at her asking himself/herself, "What the hell is happening?").
Confucius is her favorite historical figure. She follows his Ten Golden Rules by heart.
The poem "If" of Rudyard Kipling is her favorite (next to the Rubaiyat of O. Khayyam).
She eats like crazy (as in!).
You’ll love her the moment you taste her "papaitan".
Her maturity level started shrinking after her college days (and it’s getting worst now…)
She’s into mountaineering activities nowadays… a dream that has almost been forgotten…but now she’s back to reach the summit.
She almost died at the peak of Mt. Sembrano (June 21-22) due to typhoon Frank's signal number 3.
She could hardly move on and she has no idea of what really a closure is!
She…

Kaytamis ng Alak

Minsan sa harap ng mesang madungis
Tayo’y nagkantahan,
Naglabas ka ng ‘gin’
Pagtagay ay sinimulan.
Sa una’y madamot ang mga salita
Kapagdaka’y bumulwak
Tulad ng alak na nilagok ng sikmura.
Mapait ang unang ’shot’
May dalang hapdi sa dila
Ngunit dahil sa mga ’strums’ mo
Sa sintunado mong gitara
Tamis ng bawat lagok unti- unting lumasa
Di ko namalayang sa ere ng dilim
Puso ay nakikanta.
Ang mesang madungis
Madalas mag-anyaya.
Pulutan ay hangin…
Pagtagay ang sayaw…
Bawat kwento’y may sigaw…
Hay…
Kaytamis ng alak
Pag ikaw ang kasama…
Sige upo lang…
Mahal…
Sa aking mesa!

The Sunken One

Perhaps I Left Myself
I don’t know what keeps me coming back to this haven…
…Maybe the soccer players who made this grassy place their battlefield…
…every kick brings them either to ecstatic joy or exaggerated sadness…
…It must also be the ones unmindful of time…
…Or perhaps the children’s laughters whose minds are pretty innocent of how the world works…
…Perhaps those lovers (of life, of solitude, of sports, of problems, of darkness, of lust…)
…The dogs that once caught my attention…
Or maybe the ice cream or the cheese sticks…
…Probably the oval which shines under the bright sun and glows with the moon’s smile…
…The old buildings as old as those acacia trees…
…Or maybe the ‘me’, I left here a long time ago…
…The ‘me’ who has learned to sink with the sunken one…
…The ‘me’ who always smiles with the rays of the sun…
…and the ‘me’ who was once taught to hide when darkness comes…

A Masterpiece

….It’s when I’m silent that I speak so much…
and those who merely hear fail to understand…
You haven’t touched a canvas but with the hues on your hands, you have already painted on this pale canvas silently beating deep within…
…You’re not mine forever…
Memories, as they say, create a masterpiece.
Can we let our masterpiece create a memory?
I’m not perfect and I’m far from that…
But I’d rather stay in imperfection (having the beat within)
than stay in their perfect world (with dead people living)…
Sigh…
Sigh…
Sigh…
My canvas doesn’t lie…

Summit 101

...descending from the summit of Mt. Malipunyo, Lipa, Batangas

I have always been dreaming of becoming a professional mountaineer. Probably, it all started when I was still a child…

Way back in Estrella, a seemingly unnoticed barrio in Rizal, Nueva Ecija, I would always stay at our house’s backyard. There, I would gaze at the majestic Sierra Madre mountain ranges. “Someday, I would go beyond those mountains”, I used to tell myself.

Around February to March, I used to go out to the field with my parents to harvest onions (Novo Ecijanos’ main crop next to rice). While resting, I would always spend minutes, lying underneath a tree, staring at Sierra Madre, wondering what’s beyond those mountain ranges, marveling at its beauty, and thinking of so many “childhood ways” of crossing and climbing them. But for some reasons, my whole family left the province when I was sixteen. My dream of knowing what’s beyond those mountain ranges was also left behind.

Many years have passed and my idea of becoming a real “climber” was almost forgotten until I met Joel, a member of a professional mountaineering group. He was always telling me his experiences on Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Cristobal, Mt. Isarog, etc. He was always expressing how it feels staying “on top”. Since then, the little mountaineer in me has slowly been awakened from a deep slumber. His stories and principles have created a deep impact in the way I view things. I have, once again, become so interested in mountains. In fact, I have internalized and lived every mountaineer’s creed: Don’t forget to stop and really look around and enjoy the beauty of nature; Take nothing but pictures; Kill nothing but time; Leave nothing but footprints; Bring nothing but memories. I even learned to love Joey Ayala’s songs, songs that Joel used to sing. I have even told myself, ‘I wanna be a Tanod-Lupa’ (protector of nature) to the extent of buying a backpack, sleeping bag, and other gears a mountaineer should have. I have even tried wall climbing in preparation for my first climb.

I was really ready to have my first attempt but for an unknown reason, Joel had gone and that first attempt of climbing up a mountain was somehow neglected. My heart was filled with sadness for quite sometime but those little principles and creeds were retained in my heart. Mountains took a wide space in my left chest despite the fact that I have not climbed one. I felt I have developed this certain virtual connection with nature. I learned to love flowers, trees, butterflies, and bees. I became a “mountaineer in the lowlands”. Joel’s words, “On the mountain top, you’ll find your new self”, still echo in my ears.

Few years after, I got a work, got married, and had my own child. The mountaineering thing was kept for a while until this Philippine Everest Expedition appeared on TV. The first time I heard the news about Filipinos’ attempt to conquer any human being’s highest dream, reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, the mountaineer in my heart silently whispered, “Leslie, it’s not yet late to attempt once more.”

Daily, I would sit in front of the television set and would wait for flash news to get updates on the attempt done by Pinoy mountaineers. I was really curious of how far could they go.

I have waited for several weeks and finally, on May 17, 2006, 3:30 p.m. (local time), “the Philippine eagle has landed on the summit of Mt. Everest”. Leo Oracion, the first Filipino to conquer Everest has reached its summit (29,035 feet). Those pictures, video clips, the Philippine flag being waved on the summit…they all moved me into tears. The whole nation rejoiced, all exclaiming, “Pinoy yan!”, celebrating his triumph.

All of a sudden, the image of Sierra Madre mountain ranges, the dream of becoming a “Tanod-Lupa”, the picture of my very first mountaineering back pack and sleeping bag, the songs of Joey Ayala, the walls I used to climb, the climbing holds I used to clasp, the smell of the flowers and trees, the colors of the butterflies, and sounds of bees…everything flashed into my mind. I suddenly felt that I want to try again, starting from the very beginning. The passion has suddenly come back.

One afternoon, while I was concentrating on the success stories of the “modern heroes”, namely Leo Oracion, Romy Garduce, and Patour Emata, (the two have made it shortly after Oracion’s success), I heard my four year-old boy saying, “Mommy, I want to climb Mt. Everest”, while pulling my hands, trying to get my attention away from the television set. I got really surprised of his words, words that were like music to my soul. Upon hearing him, I hurdled in excitement and hugged him tightly and said, “You will, my son. You will!”, with a wonderful smile on my face and an unfailing hope in my heart. Denver continued waiving a handky, imitating a mountaineer on TV, waving the Philippine flag for the whole country.

Yes it’s true, climbing a mountain is one of the highest dreams a person could have but reaching its peak is its fulfillment. With Denver, my son, I’m not anymore alone in my quest. I know Denver and I could conquer mountains and this attempt is now for real.

Long live Filipino mountaineers! May all of us reach the summit of success.

(This account has been included in Enjoying English Reading Series, a textbook for Grade 5 which I co-authored.)

Angel Wilson

You are a gift from God,
Wrapped in dreams,
Embellished with wreathes of joy.
Your dawn has long been celebrated
But your morning has not come.

Candles have been lighted
But they were never blown
Sweets have been made
But have never been tasted
And songs have long been sung
Until their echoes faded.

The heart of a mother
Has waited for months
The arms of a father
Have remained wide open
But alas! He carried none.

One night, I dreamt…
You were running on the grass barefooted
And playing under the rain
I was there tickling you
And you laughed so loud…

But those laughter were not heard
Till your shadow became paler
And soon you were gone.

Your toys have long been dusty
And kept in a room of grief
Wrapped in never ending tears,
All placed in a black box of memories.

I wanted you to cry
But you didn’t!
I wanted you to feel the joys and pains of living
But too soon, you have quitted.
The sun of life sadly set,
When you, Angel Wilson, my child,
departed…

(dedicated to my first born Angel Wilson D. Irang- born: March 21, 2002; died: March 21, 2002)

The Mountain and The Sea

the trail leading to the summit of Mt. Batulao, Batangas

...and the sea misses the mountain...thus, she writes:

Your intro was a bit confusing but I, unmindful of unknown dangers, have chosen to follow your trails. So a decade-like trek has begun...
Love and passion have embraced my waves but fear has controlled my currents. Still darkness has brought pains at times.

The sea cries as she continues...

My waves seemed not to have understood your heights or your heights could have not probably understood my depths. Both had given up before each realized that we were trying to reach out. My waves have been tough on the shore while your peaks have remained hidden.

The sea sighs, wanting to feel the mountain's touch...She says:

If I could only turn back the hands of eternity...
I should not have been afraid of your cliffs...
I should have let my waves control my current. It should have been that current that should have prevailed.
My old waves have been aggressive.
I should not have given up in the middle of that trek.
The sea pauses, wipes her tears, and continues…
Never that I have forgotten the aim to understand your summit…
Never that I have thought of forgetting you…
Never that I have given your space to somebody else…
But I admit, I have left that shore leading to your trails.

The sea sighs for a moment as she looks at some old pics.
She narrates…

Long years have passed…
But my waves have never been tired of going back to that shore, wondering if the trails leading to you are still there.

The sea closes her eyes and whispers…

I’m going back to my mountain. I will penetrate its woods no matter what it takes. I will face all my fears just to be with you my mountain, my life…

**********


Kamara broke the glass. No one noticed.

*****
The sea’s eyes glowed as she tells…

Your intro seems easier this time. Though most parts of the trails have remained the same, the trek is more meaningful now. Your cliffs have learned to smile. That still darkness has transformed itself to starry nights…

*****

Kamara reads her horoscope from her friendster account. It says:

You are on the right track of your life, so don’t worry that you are lagging behind or zooming too far in front. Just because you’re not exactly in synch with others doesn’t mean that you are not where you need to be. Concern yourself less with what other people are doing and more on what you are doing! Enjoy the power you have over your life- and show the universe you appreciate it by using it. Your mood will stay strong and positive today- be prepared for fits of uncontrollable laughter!

She smiles and tells herself Ha ha, I’m on the right track.

Surviving typhoon Frank at peak 2 of Mt. Sembrano, Pililia, Rizal (June 21-22, 2008)

Rocky trail of Sembrano...

Albert, Genred, and I were having fun...

not knowing that something was destined to happen at Sembrano's peak...

We thought that was the end...

Kamandag Barikus Mountaineers, "The Survivor Ten"

Everything that happened at peak 2 ofSembrano that night of June 21 up tothe dawn of June 22 was indeed a product of a miracle...We were supposed to climb Mt. Marami(Maragondon, Cavite) but because of the announcement that Cavite was under signal # 1 (fri nyt), we changed ourplan. We decided to climb Mt. Sembrano(Rizal) since there was no typhoon signal in Rizal that time.

When we arrived at the jump off (11a.m.), everything seemed to be normal.We ate first at the 'lugawan' near thestarting point of the trek.We started the trek around 12:10 noon...took pictures while on our way to Manggahan campsite (See my album entitled Mt. Sembrano for those pix- webshots and worldisaround). It rained hard at Manggahan (normal,we thought).We headed towards the rockies ofSembrano. Those boulders have been so tough...

We reached the grassland. The great view of Laguna lake was seen from Peak1. We took pictures of the beautiful scenery. There was no rain then.We headed towards the slippery trail leading to peak 2 (20 minutes away from the first peak). When we arrived there, the rain started pouring like crazy but we managed to set up the four tents but only two tents remained usable and undefeated by the strong wind and rain.

The rain has suddenly stopped. We were able to cook, eat, and had our socials outside the tents. The sky was so clear so the sharing went on until 10 p.m. It started raining again. The 8 of us stayed in one tent (that could only accomodate 4). We could hardly lie down. The others got no earth pad. The water has penetrated the tent. We just closed our eyes,seated. We even planned that we will assault the summit before sunrise.That was the time I've received a text msg from a Kamandag officer telling that Rizal was under signal number 2 already.

Around 1 a.m. the wind was so strong that it lifted the pegs of our tents.The three persons at the other tent started crying for help coz they were seemingly being lifted by the wind. T. Albert had to go out of our tent to help them. The boy whom we've met at the trail was staying in that tent.The scene and the sound of the wind were so scary. I shouted 'dapa' so we won't be lifted by the strong wind. The 4 persons had to transfer to our tent coz they cud no longer stand the wrath of Frank. They would be dragged towards the cliffs if they would stay in their tent. For four hours, we were literally embracing the ground for our survival.We used body heat to survive. During those unforgiving dark and long hours, we managed to sing songs of praise,prayed the rosary, asked God for His forgiveness, sang SSA hymn, talked to God, offered our life to Him.

I didn't know how we survived. Probably because of the wet sleeping bag that gave us warmth but I'm sure it's God who embraced us that night/morning.

It was 6 a.m., the wind was still blowing wild. The rain has not changed. We packed our things. Raindrops were like needles to our trembling bodies. We worried about the boy. We've got to bring him back to his parents. We could not call for a rescue. There was no signal. Our cps were all wet.

Trembling, we descended from the grassland. We were crawling most of the time for if not, we will be blown towards the cliffs by the devastating wind. We reached the rockies of Sembrano...The trails have transformed into waterfalls. Several trees have blocked the slippery trails. Wet but extremely overwhelmed, we reached Manggahan campsite. That "kubo" has become our temporary haven. It was around 3 p.m. when we reached the house of Benjie, the boy whom we've invited to join us at the peak. It's only then that we realized that we've survived the signal #3 atPeak2.

It was the best climb a mountaineer like me has ever experienced. We've got our second life...June 22, new mountaineers were born...to fulfill another mission of saving the earth.To God be the glory.

To Benj, Sir Abe, Sir Albert, Sir JC,Sir Markus, Sir Genred, Sir Gerald,Sir Reymond, Ma'am Rozel and Ma'amGrace, thank you for spending that night with me. You and the warmth of your hands & bodies will never beforgotten. God is with us always.