Climbing the Tarak Ridge of Mt. Mariveles

The other Friday, I took a leave from work just to join the two couples in the AKAC Group, for an overnight camping at Tarak Ridge of Mt. Mariveles in Bataan. We boarded Bataan Transit in Cubao, which dropped us to Bgy. Alas-asin of Mariveles. Bus fare is Php 267 each, and registration fee at barangay office is Php 40/climber.

Early lunch at a roadside carinderia costs only Php 55 for a dinuguan & rice meal. After loading up some supplies and wearing our climbing gears, we started our hike by 10:45 am over cemented road. A few minutes later, we were walking into a dirt road, while the scorching sunlight started to deplete our energies. 

CJ Corona's Impeachment Trial in Funny Pics

Now that the Philippine Senate have bestowed a "Guilty" verdict to the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, the nation can hopefully focus on other things, like the standoff with China, etc. The senate can also do their prime duty, which is to legislate or enact laws.

People have many opinions on this impeachment trial. For me I think he's guilty, and should have just quit his job to avoid battle scars, like what the former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez did. Well, this blog post would not touch on those serious matters or arguments about the merits of the trial. This is just to show the lighter side of it, for a change, hehe.

Conquering the Roof of Luzon: Mt. Pulag

After a difficult traverse of Mt. Timbak via Atok-Kabayan trails here, we took a brief respite at Kabayan Central, where we've had breakfast meal at a local restaurant being run by Chinese owners. They allowed me to charge my mobile phone there for about 30 minutes, at Php 5 fee.

For lunch meal, we bought sauteed pancit (noodles), plus loafbreads and bananas. Gatorade and bottled water there are understandably expensive, making me shell out Php 120. We need to replenish our supplies and our tummies, for the very challenging trek ahead of us to Mt. Pulag, ascending via the Akiki trail. Pinoy Mountaineer has the following technical description of this trail:

MT. PULAG (TRAIL)

Kabayan, Benguet

Major jump-off: Brgy. Doacan, Kabayan (Akiki)

LLA: 16°34'58"N 120°53'15"E, 2922 MASL

Hours to summit / Days required: 10-11 hours / 2-4 days

Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 7/9, Trail class 3

Climbing Mt. Timbak & The Kabayan Mummies

This is another late post from our twin traverses of Mounts Timbak and Pulag in 3 days, last 14-16 April 2012. For our AKAC mountaineering group, this is our toughest climb so far, hiking more than 38 km. in cumulative total of around 30 hours. Yet it brought out the best from us, a very fulfilling sense of accomplishment, and forming a much stronger bond between the team members.

Pinoy Mountaineer has this technical description of Mt. Timbak, which is also known as Mt. Singakalsa among non-locals. It is the 3rd highest mountain in Luzon, as well as the 9th highest mountain in the country. Climbing its summit is relatively easy, but the long trek down to Kabayan barrio makes it difficult.

The Half-Buried Church of Bacolor, Pampanga

Last month on a trip back to Manila from Subic, our group decided to skip SCTEX, for possible side trips along the old highway of Pampanga towns. I was hoping to see the Betis Church in Guagua, but fate brought us to the Bacolor Church instead.

Not far from a Razon branch where we've had quick halo-halo break, we turned right from Jose Abad Santos Avenue to a small road that leads to San Guillermo Parish Church of Bacolor, Pampanga. Despite being buried by about 6 m. from its original height, the church is still identifiable from the main road.