Travel Guide to Mt. Binacayan and Mt. Pamitinan

TALES OF A FIRST TIMER ON DOING A TWIN DAY-HIKE

Waiting for sunrise

Mt. Binacayan and Mt. Pamitinan are very close to each other and most hikers are doing the so-called "twin dayhike". These mountains were open to public last February 2015. It was new to hikers and the local government is still in the period of revising their policies, especially DENR as these mountains are considered as protected areas. The aforementioned mountains, including Mt. Hapunang Banoi are part of the Pamitinan Protective Landscape of DENR.  

Wawa River dividing Mt. Binacayan and Mt. Pamitinan

Montalban Mountains became popular because its near the Metro, perfect for budget travelers, the trail difficulty is for beginners and the "SEA OF CLOUDS" that is worth "INSTAGRAMMING". I saw a lot of hikers that doing the "buwis buhay" selfie that they will post in their social media account, some were even shouting or saying "hugot" stuff.

Exhibit A!

Anyway, I do not want to rant but I am quite happy to see young people climbing mountains and exploring their world. I just hope they become more responsible hikers! 

Going back, here is my Travel Guide to a twin day hike in Montalban, Rizal. Our guide for our hike was Tatay Fernando. You can contact him with this number (63) 921 - 564 - 7249.  He was recommended by my friend who also loves outdoor life, Gian.

Groufie with Tatay Fernando!

How to get there?

Ride a UV Express van, that is bound for (Montalban- Eastwood) from Cubao (Gateway - in front of Dunkin Donut), then tell the driver to drop you off at Eastwood and ride a tricycle going to DENR in Bgy. Wawa.

How to get home?

From the DENR Office there are jeeps and tricycles waiting. I highly advise that you take the public Jeepneys bound for Bayan or Eastwood or Robinson, it is more comfortable and cheaper than riding a tricycle. Then, tell the driver to drop you off at the FX Terminal or if you prefer taking the jeepney back to Cubao, just tell the driver. 

Our Itinerary for the Dayhike

2:00 AM Wake up | Prepare things | Travel to Cubao

3:00 AM ETD for Montalban

4:15 AM ETA DENR Office in Bgy. Wawa | Register and pay necessary fees

4:30 AM Start hike at Mt. Binacayan

5:30 AM ETA Summit | Enjoy Sunrise and Sea of Clouds

7:00 AM Start descent

8:00 AM Start hike at Mt. Pamitinan 

9:30 AM ETA Summit | Photo Op

10:30 AM Start Descent

11:00 AM Lunch at the so - called 7-11 | Rest | Eat Halo - Halo

1:00 PM Start Descent

1:30 PM ETA DENR Office | Freshen up 

3:00 PM ETD for Manila

4:30 PM Home Sweet Home

Total Expenses for our Trip: (Note: It was just ME and my PARTNER)

50 Php - FX to Montalban

60 Php - special / 30 each 

2 Php - Waiver

20 Php - "donation"

20 Php- "donation"

500 Php - Guide Fee / 250 each

8 Php - Jeep to Bayan

50 Php- FX to Cubao via Philcoa

--------

360 Php!

Travel tips:

1. Start early, so  that you finish early. Also, if you start early there is a higher chance for you to reach the summit before sunrise and witness their majestic "sea of clouds". Lastly, it gets really crowded after 7 in the morning. 

See that, we were so early pero may NAUNA pa din. :D

2. There are stores on your way up, you may or may not bring too much food and water, just be prepared for cash, they do not accept credit cards! HAHAHAHA. 

3. Be friendly especially to the locals and people you meet along the way. :) This is basic. 

4. Please promote the Leave No Trace Policy. Be a responsible hiker. #biyaHERO!

5. Stop taking too much selfie on the summit, especially if there are LOTS of people waiting for their turn! You don't have to take picture of every corner of the mountain. 

1/8 ang ito ng taong nagaabang makapag summit

6. Stop playing loud music, talking/ laughing out loud, or even screaming! It is unethical and disturbing to other living things. ;)

7. It is advisable to wear a worker's gloves as the limestone are really sharp. Be more cautious and always listen to your guide. 

3M Workers Gloves

8. I highly recommend that you climb on weekdays, as it really gets crowded on weekends! There was a line going up to the summit of Pamitinan and people are waiting for their turn. BTW, we were 17th on the line. 0.0

NAKATULOG NA KO KAKAHINTAY!

9. It would be best if you already have a contact guide prior to your hike as it will ensure you that your guide is a LEGIT one, that has undergone training so that you will not just enjoy the view but also learn some history about their place. I highly recommend that you get Tatay Fernando on your next hike. He is very kind and funny! Call him, 0921 - 564 - 7249. 

10. There is a new policy effective February 1, 2016. They have new rates, please take note of the following:

• ENTRANCE FEE : 20 PHP
• TREKKING FEE : 50 PHP/ PERSON
• CAVING FEE : 20 PHP/ PERSON
• TOUR GUIDE FEE : 500 PHP/ GROUP OF FIVE (5) PERSONS [FOR HIKERS]

*** Visting Time is from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Note: They do not allow hikers to start after 2pm, for safety purposes)

Verdict of Tara Gumala: It was a fulfilling hike, as it was my first time to climb two mountains in 1 day. I prefer early morning hike, as it is not exhausting. I will definitely come back here on a weekday. I regret going there on a weekend, it was so crowded. I enjoyed seeing young people but argh! I hate crowded places.

Ano, TARA GUMALA??

CIAO. 

--

GABRIELA

Weekend at Borawan Island, Quezon

BORAWAN, TWO, THREE

Travel tips in Borawan Island

Borawan is a short term for (Boracay and Palawan), according to a local I've talked to, the island used to be a private beach but later on it was opened to the public but still owned by private individuals. The name was coined after the two most famous islands in the country because of the island's features resembles both Boracay and Palawan. 

Special thanks to Atty. Oman of www.lawstude.net for inviting me in their outing at this island. Sometimes it is better to travel a place you did not do any research because it gives you the element of surprise. It makes you wonder what it can offer to you and without any expectations, Borawan surprised me with its beauty. 

Tara Gumala with Oman is an Island

Supposedly, we will do a twin dayhike on that weekend but when Atty. Oman invited us and it was for free, even if we were just invited a day before the trip, I hurriedly said yes. Who can say no to a great deal?? HAHAHA.

Anyway, this trip was under a travel agency, Escape Zone. Not really sure with the name, did not bother to ask. I just followed what is their itinerary, after all, SABIT lang naman ako. Haha. 

Borawan Island is in the municipality of Padre Burgos in Quezon which is 3 - 4 hours drive from Manila. You may opt to drive your own or commute your way up to the island.

Here was our itinerary: (*Note that a van transfer is already part of the deal & our driver drives fast) 

Day 1

3:00 AM Meet up at Loading Dock, The Medical City

4:00 AM ETD for Pagbilao 

6:30 AM ETA Pagbilao Market (Buy stuff over the weekend)

8:00 AM ETA Jump off point to Borawan (It was low - tide when we got there, so we walked towards the boat but the boat ride only took 15 minutes)

9:30 AM ETA Borawan (Pitch Tent, Prepare Food) 

2:00 PM Island Hopping at Kwebang Lampas, Dampalitan and Puting Buhangin (Optional)

7:00 PM Dinner

Day 2

5:00 AM Wake up, Star Gazing and wait for SUNRISE! One of the best sunrise I have ever seen.

6:30 AM Breakfast, Prepare things and Freshen up

9:30 AM ETD at Borawan

11:30 AM ETA Tiaong, Quezon (Lunch at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan)

2:00 AM ETD for Manila

5:00 PM ETA MANILA. Home sweet home. 

The package already includes all fees except food.

Travel tips:

1. Borawan is best visited during off season, it gets really crowded during summer. 

2. During summer, the owners of the place put up a net,  in the ocean to avoid guests from jellyfish sting. The whole island is infested with jellyfish, be careful. 

3. You can pitch your tent anywhere in the island. Note that cottages is where the crowd goes, so if you want a peaceful weekend, staying far from the cottages will help you. Besides, you can ask for tables and chairs.

Isn't it nice waking up with this kind of view? :)

4. There a security guard which always roam around the island and making sure every guest are doing fine.

5. Speaking of that guard, he will immediately go to you when your boat docks at the island and will collect fees. 

6. I did not enjoy swimming because the water is infested with large jellyfish and I couldn't see my feet. The water is not that clear. 

7. The island is well maintained. There are people who always clean the shoreline and the whole island is well lighted. 

8. Be sure to wake up early around 5am, you can chase milky way if you are into night photography while waiting for the sunrise.

9. There is electricity in the island but only from 6pm - 10pm and a fee for charging your phone. :)

10. THE COMFORT ROOMS ARE FREE! Yey! 

11. The signal is strong and you can even browse your social media plus upload your selfie. *wink wink, nough nough*

VERDICT OF TARA GUMALA:

Borawan Island is a nice place to visit if you want a quick weekend getaway during off season. The sunrise, limestone and white sand makes the perfect summer vibe. 

Ano, TARA GUMALA??

Mudhike at Mt. Manalmon

Mt. Manalmon, San Miguel, Bulacan

This hike was organized by BaseKamp Galleria, a shop selling outdoor stuff and organizing budget hike for marketing purposes. It was not our first time to join their event and I vouch that they are great with what they are doing. 

Mt. Manalmon is part of the historical Biak - na - Bato National Park in San Miguel, Bulacan. From Manila it is just 2 hours drive from Manila. Mt. Manalmon is famous for its Rock Formation and the monkey bridge at the Madlum River (which was featured in the Bear Brand Commercial). Summer is the best time to visit this place because the trail is dry and you can do river crossing, plus the water is clear.

Ikaw saan ka kumukuha ng tibay mo?

Huhuhuhu!

Anyway, this hike was rescheduled because of a storm and you know what happens to the mountain after a storm. MUD! Yes, we were welcomed by mud. I was not prepared for it and even my shoe gave up for too much mud. :( The hike would have been easier if the trail was dry! Haii. I will do a revenge hike for this. Probably when my schedule permits. 

Here is a sample itinerary:

5:00 AM Ride a bus that is bound for Cabanatuan (via Bulacan) *Baliwag Transit has an hourly trip going to Cabanatuan. 

7:00 AM ETA San Miguel and take a tricycle to jump - off 

8:00 AM ETA Jump - Off, Register at Sitio Madlum get guides at community

8:30 AM Start trek

10:00 AM ETA summit of Mt. Manalmon; take pictures. Have lunch

12:00 NN Start descent

2:00 PM Side trip at Madlum and/or Bayukbok Caves (Optional)

4:00 PM Try Monkey Bridge at Madlum river

5:00 PM Freshen up | Travel to the main road

6:00 PM Bound for Manila

8:00 PM Home Sweet home!

For the registration and guide fees you may inquire with this number. (0948) - 916 - 3928. This is Sir Lian our guide in this hike. He is friendly and even let me borrow his hammock when I decided to just stay at the registration while I waited for my team to return from the Bayukbok Cave. 

VERDICT OF TARA GUMALA: Mt. Manalmon is a very easy hike what makes it challenging was the excruciating mud! It is a must visit for beginners during summertime. I will definitely comeback and do a revenge hike.

Ano, TARA GUMALA??

Travel Guide to Battad

BATTAD BATTAD BATTAD!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Stunning beauty of Battad

I have been to Battad when I graduated in grade school, it was a graduation gift from my mother. I remembered how dangerous it was to travel from Banaue to Battad, we almost fell off to a cliff and the trail from saddle point to Battad was not a piece of cake.

Now that I got a chance to revisit this wonderful place, I observed that lot of things were changed. The road from Banaue going to the saddle point is already paved but still prone to landslide, the trail going to Battad is already established AND they are planning to make a road that will send you straight to Battad! In no time, Battad will be accessible to private cars. Poor Battad, it will be exploited by tourist as it is exploited now. :(

ANYWAY, the place still awes me! There are things I love about this place, besides the feeling of being reconnected with your history, the scenery itself is picturesque! It will leave you breathless (literally) because of the walking from one place to another.

I will give you guys my travel guide to Battad.

HOW TO GET THERE??

Going to Battad is a piece of complicated cake. Hahaha.

1. Make your way to Banaue, a municipality under the province of Ifugao. There are 2 (two) prominent bus companies that have daily trips to Banaue. One is OHAYAMI and the other is FLORIDA (DANGWA). We chose the latter because the terminal is along EDSA, which is in Kamias and the buses are new. The fare costs 530 Php.

2.  From Banaue, you can ride a public jeep in the market or rent a van. If you are travelling with groups and time is of the essence, renting a van is more convenient, for 2,000Php you get a round trip fare to Battad plus a side trip to Banaue's best view points. The public jeep only has one trip during lean season that is 3:30 in the afternoon but during peak season they have a 8:30am trip.

The van/ jeep will drop you off at the Saddle point.

This is Kuya Randy, a tourist guide/ van driver. Here is his contact number (0919) 362 - 5752!

3. Then from saddle point, walk 15 - 30 minutes to your transient house in Battad.

First Glimpse of Battad Rice Terraces

See! It is so easy but it will require a lot of energy. The trek from saddle point will test your endurance, not suitable for those with heart problem and arthritis. Hehehe.

WHERE TO STAY??

You may opt to do a daytrip to maximize renting a van OR stay at a transient houses in Battad and  make the most of your stay plus experience their beautiful sunrise while sipping a hot coffee! :)

We stayed at Ramon's Homestay and rented his Native House which costs 1,000 per night during lean season. It was a bit expensive for a native house with very basic amenities like pillows, blanket and foam beds BUT the experience of staying at a native Ifugao house is one for keeps. Also, the food is not that great and they have a slooooow service, better request you food in advance! Ohh and expensive too. A meal costs 120 -200 per order! Hehe. Good thing we brought canned goods.

This is a view from a small window of our hut. (c) Anne Orquiza

WHAT TO DO OR SEE IN BATTAD?

1. Trek the Battad Rice Terraces. What a great experience to trek the Battad Rice Terraces BUT it is not advisable for those who has fear of heights! From a far, the terraces looks like stairs but up close the distance between each level of rice paddies is 10 - 15 ft!

2. Photo Shoot at the View Point.

3. Swim at Tappiya Falls. After a hot day of trekking the rice terraces, it is nice to take a dip at the cold waters of Tappiya Falls, just be careful because the current is really strong. Ohh, the way back to the town proper is really exhausting! It was a never ending stairssss!

4. Request for a Cultural Show. If you will stay at Ramon's Homestay, be sure to ask ahead of time for a cultural show, so that they could prepare one but this comes with a price. Not sure how much it costs, I forgot to ask because I was blown away by the next item.

5. Bonfire Story Telling with Kuya Ramon. This is a nice way of Kuya Ramon to reconnect with his guests. He sets up bonfire and each one will tell their names. He even told us some stories why the place is called Battad, why he isn't married yet, his vision for Battad etc. I do not want to share it with you guys because it is better to hear it from him.

6. Get a massage from a local.

Meet Irene, she is a local and niece of Ramon. According to her, she is the owner of the hut and it is used to be their home. Also, this hut is where Piolo Pascual stayed during his visit. OHA! Whole body massage only costs 300 Php!

(C) Anne Orquiza

7. Watch sunrise while sipping a hot coffee! This is what I love about Ramon's place, it has the best view of Batad Rice Terraces and what makes it perfect is their organic local coffee plus their ethnic canister!

8. Join/ Observe locals harvest rice.

This is how they dry their harvested rice grains.

Since they do not have machine to carry those grains, farmers are carrying it back to their house to dry.

Well, this is equality. Ladies are farmers too, no exception!

HOW TO GET OUT???

1. Wake up early, around 6 in the morning. So that you will have time for breakfast and other stuff. 

2. Start trekking back to the Saddle point before 8am. 

3. Be at the saddle point before 9am to catch a public jeep going to Banaue which costs 150 Php. 

4. TOP LOAD! :D

(c) Anne Orquiza

TRAVEL TIPS:

1. Always greet every local you see, it is a way of showing respect! Locals are very accommodating, they will chat with you even they cannot speak Tagalog. 

2. Bring your own food and water to save money, though their organic rice is the best! My digestion was really good during or trip, which rarely happens whenever I travel. 

3. Get a local guide to bring you to the view point and Tappiya, you are helping them in return. 

4. Stay at a native Ifugao Hut, the experience is really nice and it connects you with your ancestral domains. 

5. Sunrise in Battad is really wonderful, be sure to wake up early and have those cameras ready for photo shoot. 

6. Bring extra money, there are no ATMs in the area. Restaurants do not accept Credit Card or Dollars. 

7. Hiking / Trekking your way to the Rice Terraces and Tappiya Falls is really exhausting! It is not fit for people who has hypertension and/or arthritis. It is like a never ending stairwell! 

8. It will save you a lot of time and money when you travel with a group.

HERE IS OUR ITINERARY IN BATTAD (this is my giveaway!)

DAY 1

8:00 am - ETD for Battad

8:45 am - ETA Saddle Point | Start Trek

9:30 am - ETA Battad Town | Went to Ramon's Homestay settle things

11:00 am - Early lunch

1:00 pm - Start trek going to Viewpont

2:00 pm - Viewpoint photo Op

3:00 pm - Tappiya Falls

5:00 pm - Back to Ramon's | Freshen up

7:00 pm - Dinner | Socials

DAY 2

6:00 am - Wake up | Breakfast

7:30 am - Trek back to Saddle point

9:00 am - Top load at a public jeep going to Banaue

You may opt to go to Sagada, Benguet, Kalinga OR wait for the scheduled bus that will go back to Manila. We opted to proceed to Kalinga and visit Apo Whang - Od. 

Total Breakdown of my budget for this trip:
Manila to Banaue - 530
Breakfast at Banaue - 130
Van Banaue to Battad - 500 (2,000 /4)
Heritage Fee - 50
Ifugao Hut at Ramon's Homestay - 250 (1,000/4)
Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast - 440
Jeep Battad to Banaue - 150

TOTAL COST = 2,050 Php!

Verdict of Tara Gumala:

Battad is relatively expensive but mother nature with the help of our ancestors did an amazing job. It will not be a UNESCO World Heritage Site for no reason. I highly recommend that you visit Battad now, before it's too late. 

See this is a perfect weekend getaway with your barkada! Don't forget to thank and credit me for whatever you will gain from this. :)

Ano, TARA GUMALA?

CIAO. 

--

GABRIELA