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.
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