As I was walking alone in the midst of a forest whose land has witnessed the many faces of our times, I kept wondering what was going on in the mind of a 23-year old general whose fate was about to end upon reaching this highland. Conspiracies crept inside my head, of whether he was … Continue reading Tirad Pass and Tirad Peak (1,388+ MASL): Historically Significant Summits III →

Twenty-nineteen (2019) was such a productive year for me, especially in terms of my hiking endeavors. I have climbed the three highest summits of Luzon within a month, hiked my most difficult mountain (yet), finally crossed Ugo off my list, and went to some of the most scenic places here in Luzon. For the year … Continue reading Mt. Pigingan Dayhike (1,328+ MASL) →

Much like any other mountaineer, I, too, have been curious as to how a mountain with low elevation such as Mt. Damas (685+ MASL) can be rated as difficulty 6/9. Situated in northwestern part of Tarlac, Mt. Damas was only opened earlier this decade by mountaineers exploring the Zambales-Tarlac mountain range. It borders the town … Continue reading Mt. Damas (685+ MASL) and Ubod Falls Dayhike →

“A beautiful disaster” as they call it; Mt. Pinatubo is one of the most prominent destinations in the Philippines. In 1991, its eruption was recorded as the second largest, next to Alaska’s Novarupta. Countless tales from our parents and elders would recount how the sky went dark and everything went apocalyptic when Pinatubo erupted on … Continue reading Mt. Pinatubo via 4×4 Ride in Capas, Tarlac (960+ MASL) →

The Playground of the Gods. My sweat-drenched skin was trembling from the cold breeze of this northern land. Right before our eyes is the sky, penetrated by the sun’s orgasmic rays, with clouds acting as a semi-permeable membrane that make it hard for blazing Ra to rise in all its majesty. Rolling hills are scattered … Continue reading Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg Trail (2,926 MASL) →