MT. MANABU

 
 


Manabu Peak

Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Jump-off point: Sulok, Brgy. Sta Cruz, Sto. Tomas
LLA: 13.9777°, 121.2413°, 760 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2


It's just two hours to climb, and the peak area is like a beautiful garden. The highest point is marked with a white cross. Grass, as if trimmed by a lawnmower, covers the summit area, and there are flowering plants and shrubs - with blossoms of yellow, red, and pink.


 
 
During summer months, wild berries called 'sampinit' grow on the trails near the peak. They are edible and sweet, like mini-strawberries. This image of an elegant park is exactly the image of Manabu Peak, probably the easiest, most accessible mountain from Manila. Add the beautiful views of the Malipunyo mountain range, as well as Mts. Maculot and Makiling, and it's picture perfect!

 
 
 
The name Manabu is said to be abbreviated from 'Mataas na Bundok'. It is one of the three major peaks of the Malipunyo range (the other two are the Malipunyo summit and Susong Dalaga peak). Probably because of its geography, it's usually cloudy in Manabu, lending an almost nostalgic air.
 
 
 
 
 
Although Sto. Tomas is a peripheral town of Batangas, the dialect used among the locals in Manabu is distinctly Batangueno. It adds a local flavor to the Manabu experience, much like the homemade kapeng barako which Mang Pirying, owner of the hut midway through the trail, would offer the hikers.

Because of its easy access, short trail, and very beautiful environs, Manabu Peak is a great introduction to hiking for beginners. Even then, veteran hikers rank this mountain as one their favorite 'fun climb' destinations.
 

MT. BATULAO

 
 
 
Mt. Batulao
 
Nasugbu, Batangas
Jump-off point: Evercrest Golf Course, Nasugbu
LLA: 14.0408 N 120.8011 E 811 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-4 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3 with 60-70 degrees assault
 
 

 
The cool weather in Mt. Batulao is a pleasant escape from the city. The moment you arrive at the Evercrest Golf Course – the jumpoff – you will feel the same coolness felt by the visitors of Tagaytay. And this temperature will be with you all the way, especially during the months of January and February, where it is usually dry and cool.

There are days, on the other hand, when Mt. Batulao can feel like a desert - very hot and humid - owing to the exposed nature of its trails, which also makes it prone to muddiness during the wet season (June to October). On the other hand, Mt. Batulao is usually visited by winds that make any climb - hot or cool - refreshing. This combination of elements make Mt. Batulao a very interesting destination.

But that's not all. The landscapes of Batulao are quite remarkable; and although the view remains basically the same throughout the trek, the rolling slopes, through which trail pass by, and the new variety afforded by two major trails - the "Old Trail" and the "New Trail", makes Batulao one of the most popular dayhikes or near-Manila hikes. It is favored not only for the pleasantness of the hike, but also because it makes for a very good training climb.

With this popularity, of course, comes the challenge of maintaining the cleanliness of the mountain, as well as a local economy of kid guides and buco juice stalls. Over a hundred campers troop to Batulao on weekends, making it a good option for crowd-seekers but not for those looking for some mountain peace and quiet.

Nevertheless, Mt. Batulao is truly an appealing destination, also because it is very easy to access: It's just one ride away from the MRT-LRT connection in Taft cor. Edsa -- plus an optional tricycle ride from the entrance of Evercrest to the furthest a vehicle can reach. As soon as you arrive, kid guides (and tricycle drivers) will offer their services.

The trails are initially rough roads, then transition to paths that are well-maintained, taking you up and down, up and down, at first gently, and then the slopes will be ore pronounced later. After around forty minutes of trekking, you will encounter a hut, fondly called 'Mini Stop' where buco juice is sold for P25 each (as of 2012). 500 meters beyond this hut is the fork between the two trails to Mt. Batulao's summit, on which another hut as been built. Click on the panoramic image to see the two trails in relation to each other.

Mt. Batulao Photos :

 

 
 
 




 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
and Photos taken by JH
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



MT. AMUYAO

Jump-off points: Sitio Macalana, Barlig, Mt. Province; Batad, Ifugao
LLA: 17°10N, 120°57E, 2702 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days / 5-7 hours
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3



Rising at the northeastern edge of the Cordilleras is the highest point of Mountain Province, Mt. Amuyao. Unlike the famed mountains of the range such as Mt. Pulag and Mt. Napulauan which can only be viewed on high elevations, Mt. Amuyao stands prominently and can be spotted along the highway to Banaue.


Because of its prime location, it was chosen to be the site of two transmitters, that of the PT&T and ABS-CBN.

 

And because its summit area hosts these sites, the access to the mountain has been made easy, with stairways literally running all the way to the top.


This literal flight of stairs takes 4-7 hours to climb*. Exhauasting and steep, yes, but the trail is assuringly well-established and continuous.


Night trekking is a possibility.

Barlig itself is set in high ground, 1300-1400 MASL. From here you would see a mountainous prominence: this is not Mt. Amuyao but Mts. Polis and Alemmona. At the start of trek, you would climb up the Awa Rice Fields in Barlig, and then commence the stairways to two low, successive mountains: Mt. Alemmona (1800 MASL) and Mt. Polis (2000 MASL), around two hours total.

 
Here the refreshing views comprise of pine trees; in Mt. Polis a mossy forest ensues, leading to further areas locally known as Lifod / Lipod and Tokchor, respectively (these names are written on a map at the Tourism Office).



 
 
The difficult assault ot Monkelat trail will, after around 3-4 hours of trekking, take you to the Barlig Viewpoint (2400+ MASL, total of 4-5 hours from jump-off). Here you can take great shots, including that of the summit of Mt. Amuyao.
 

 
 
Not so far from here is a spring water source, and also a campsite known simply as Camp 1. The trails would eventually lead to a mossy forest again, this time grander, and culminate in a steep but manageable portion near the summit called the Amuyao Knife-Edge. From there, the summit area with its radio towers and relay stations are very near. From the viewpoint to the summit, allot an hour of trekking.
 
 

 

At the summit, a display of wild flora will greet you: there are pink flowers, highland grass, wild orchids, and other rarities. The scenery is breathtaking, encompassing the high mountains of the Cordilleras to the west, and the Sierra Madre to the east. Visible are the provinces of Benguet (W), Abra (WNW), Kalinga (N), Cagayan (NE), Isabela (E), and Ifugao (S). Both sunsets and sunrises have a magnificent character; more so the sea of clouds. ( Although we were not able to see that because of rain and bad weather condition )

 
Aside from the beautiful view its peak affords, Mt. Amuyao is also special for other reasons. In Igorot folklore, diluveal legends say that it is in this high mountain where the surviving man and woman, Bugan and Wigan, took refuge. This legend is very much like the Biblical tale of Noah, whose ark landed in Mt. Ararat. Hence, the mountain has a special place among the locals. Also, its bioversity has earned the notice of scientists. Salcedo and Calora of the Benguet State University (2006) reports that "A total of 280 vascular plant species belonging to 180 genera and 84 families were recorded from actual floristic surveys and vegetation analysis of the northern slope of Mt. Amuyao." They were further able to caterogize the mountain into zones: a tropical moist forest (1600-1800 MASL), tropical premontane wet forest (1801-2400 MASL) and tropical montane rainforest (2400-2702 MASL). The same report warns, however, of a bad prognosis regarding the denudation of the forest; hikers must be aware of these environment concerns and lend their hand whenever possible to avert them.
 
Below are other photos from the Mt. Amuyao expedition .
 
Fireplace
 
Bedroom
 
Preparing our Food
 
The Summit
 
Morning Shot
 
The HeadLamp
 
The Topload
 
and photos are taken by JH

IT IS NOT THE MOUNTAIN WE CONQUER BUT OURSELVES