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Mount Napulak: Lessons In Resilience From A “Minor” Hike
Have you ever had a fever that oddly felt like a sweet victory? That’s exactly how I felt, slumped in an airport, shivering as a fever slowly took over me. After weeks of stress, sleepless nights, and a grueling climb up Mount Napulak, my body finally gave in. That was the price I paid for pushing through. That was the cost of not slowing down, of pushing myself past the limit. But guess what? It was worth every shiver, every ache, and every twinge. And here’s the thing. Mount Napulak isn’t one of those enormous, towering 2,000-meter peaks in the Philippines. At just 1,239 meters above sea level, it doesn’t…
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Mount Kalatungan: An Unforgettable Journey To The Chief Mountain
I was only 7 years old when I found out that I could fly. But it was also the time when I realized there were monsters and ghosts renting space inside my head. For years, I’ve battled and listened to these voices that whisper my deepest secrets, dreams, and fears. And I would often silence their echoes and bravely just continue on my journey. Somehow, I could hear these voices getting louder as I waited patiently alone in a forest in Mount Kalatungan. I just conquered Mount Kalatungan and completed my mission to hike the five highest mountains in the Philippines. I should have been in a positive mood. And…
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Mount Kulago: Where Dreams And Reality Merge
Where do dreams go when we wake up? Are they saved in a storage drive, waiting patiently for us to open and live them? Do some of them go to a trash bin where they will be permanently erased from our memory? These are the weird questions I asked myself while admiring the heavenly views from Mount Kulago. When we arrived at the viewing area of Mount Kulago, I really thought I was in a dream. Even though it was still a little dark, I felt transported into an enchanting fairytale scene. As dawn approached, I saw its silhouette outlined against the lightening sky. And it was surreal, breathtaking, and…
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Mount Kitanglad In One Day: That Thing Called Adventure
Can you hike Mount Kitanglad in one day? That question kept playing in my mind like a catchy tune, days before I faced this behemoth in Bukidnon. With an elevation of 2,899 meters above sea level, the 4th highest mountain in the Philippines is not an easy day hike. Sure, there have been many brave souls and strong hikers who climbed Mount Kitanglad in just one day. And truthfully, the trail isn’t as technically challenging as some of the tallest mountains in the Philippines. But can I do it? Can a restless insomniac and a not-so-young man with a lot of emotional baggage, injuries, and limited preparation, climb this mountain…
