My Dream Expedition

"Making the most of my journey" it wasn't easy to create meaningful journey and build a dreams just to think that it can easily hold in your hand. As a wise person once said, prior proper planning prevents pitifully poor performance. Make sure that your arm yourself with the tools and resources needed to make this the best journey that you can. Personal goals are not about how fast we achieve them, they are about the experience we have during our journey. Goals are very important for making a very memorable and unforgettable one.

My journey of climbing a mountain was started year 2011. It was just a dream then and i always thought it is. Climbing a mountain is very dangerous and you must take all the risks out of it. Mountaineers always talk about all the famous Mountains in the Phils. and Mt. Guiting-Guiting known as "GALAPAGOS OF ASIA" is one of them. It is located in the heart of Sibuyan Island, one of the seven islands of Romblon. This mountain is still acknowledged as the most difficult and technically challenging Philippine mountain to climb.

I received an invitation to one of my friend (Mr. Gerry Rementilla) and i couldn't resist to join their team. As i have said to climb Mt. Guiting-Guiting is one of my toughest dream ever since i was just a beginner as Mountaineer. I know that to step on with this mountain would be a very memorable and challenging one and someday it will be in my History to recall something really wonderful and amazing climb to talk with and to share over and over towards to the next generations of my ancestors. I want to become a History not just an ordinary one, no matter how hard the Climb is, i will exist and through it with the help of our Almighty God.

Sir Mayo Espiritu told me some worth words from deep within his heart about his priceless climb, even though i know it's really expensive. There’s something in this World that really matters to us it's not about wealth. Something really worth to remembering when the World is gone for you.. people won't say you're just nothing in this World a gambler and worthless. Last month i have decided to climb one of the most difficult mountain in our Land 
(Mt. Guiting-Guiting) without any hesitation, considering the fact that it is quite dangerous in my case, i am just an ordinary climber, once in a blue moon.. and it will be a very hard climb as far as i know..i do have my family, job, and expenses to think of in spite that matter, Prayer is the best one.                     

kaming MALULUPET at PALABAN 
from left to right
Lorenzo Pena, Adrian Kilua Caballero, Cristina Alimot,
Michael Laureles, Carlos Khey Delmundo,
Gerry Rementilla, Mark Christian Adam,
Richard Catubig, Mayo Espiritu, and Markie Aungon.

during the registration at DENR

On the eve of August 19, while i was on the street one of my childhood friend
(Wilson Prieto) asked me to join a shot with him, i told him i can't we can make it next time it so happens that i have a very important Climb and need to prepare myself for an early morning travel, he did understands me, just left riding his motor, he comes back after a few minutes but not to ask again for a shot instead to talk with me for a bit conversation, we talked about many things and that was the time we can't avoid some shots of liquor

I was totally drunk and returned home at exactly 4am, thanks God i did woke up at 7am, sadly i had to rush up everything, i wasn't even ready my things for a very long journey, i must be in the terminal at exactly 7:30am thanks God my Wonderful Nanay (Flor) always there for me to offer her helping hands, she did prepare a very delicious parcel food for me that makes me strong like hitman to overcome a very dangerous and difficult climb.. i tried not tell my sisters about the climb because i know they won't allow me, i just told everything to my Nanay. My sister Cherry knows my plan that i leave going to Batangas Port, she sent to me a message if i had enough money to spend for my journey asking if it's not she'll going to send me immediately, I know how much my Family really cares about me and willing to support me all the time, and they are my magical instrument for keeping all my worries and reminding myself i will survive even though it's difficult., I WILL FOR MY FAMILY.. and as my Tatay taught me to be this way.

At exactly 5PM on August 20, 2014 perfectly aboard to Montenegro Lines, leaving Batangas Port, and my Journey begins and explore the beauty of God's creation.

Almost 8 to 9hrs. voyaging the ocean and at last we arrived to our next Port which is Odiongan Romblon, we spent few minutes to unwind while the ship is waiting for few more passengers going to Port of Romblon,Romblon. After arriving on the said Port we had transferred to a small ship and dropped us to Port of Ambulong, Magdiwang, Sibuyan, Island.

But what was really sounds bad is that we have to travel another 4hrs. using tricycle isn't it amazing for us who got really tired, i was amazingly shocked, it's really terrible, but we've got no choice, rather than be thankful as we see a very wonderful river, one of our itinerary

Cantingas River

First i was decided not to go down the river because of limited time we can spend to the said river, but it is something i couldn't resist, it happens once in a lifetime when you find a very special place, i told to my colleagues, oh no, i couldn't afford to missed not even a single second to this Journey i have to touch and feel every little moment. I saw a diving board which is 40feet deep down going to the water, i even tried to jump without knowing that i didn't use the highest and they told me that i do not have pictures because i must use the 40feet deep down diving board so they can capture the action of great jump.

40 feet jump

While we are waiting for our dinner,Sir Enzo Pena prepared a bottle of Gin and he said that it could help us to relax a bit, exchanging ideas, a happy conversation full of advice but very helpful headed by Sir Remy, our guide, after dinner we made our things ready for our journey and at last we decided to have rest.

But it isn't about pictures. honestly it's my willingness to get through it and not to missed every moments, won't you believe it's a little bit dangerous i was totally worried for it is my first time i will jump that deep high, and I’m glad i did it, "Wow" i just can't believe, it gives me more strength and will of courageous power that i will survive whatever steep the mountain was, high morale is what I've got from that wonderful jump.After 20 minutes we leave the Cantingas River full of strength that we will need for our major climb, if you guys were on my feet that was the time i feel brave enough and you will realize how lucky am i for this opportunity. 

Back to our terrible tricycle ride with heavy mud and a very rough road for another one hour we arrived to our destination, it is the house of Sir Remy our guide, he welcomes us with smile and a very hospitable heart together with his family, some of them will be joining to our climb. After meeting each other we then prepared a very delicious "Tinola" for our dinner compliments of Sir Mayo Espiritu and Mam Cristina Alimot.

Exactly 3am when we started moving towards to Mt. Guiting Guiting, a Dream Mountain to Climb for so many and only few can attempt. The road was quite dark and muddy due to rainfall. Eventhough we really need to use headlight i tried not and reserved it for the mountain, but during our river crossing i have to turned on the light for our safety.

After passing to that river that served us our first water resources, i would say here i am, 
"A dream come true" and i never thought i would.. a non-stop climbing full of assault lasted for almost three hours just to reach the Outdoor Pilipinas Trail at 6am, then we spent few minutes to rest and for our breakfast.and keep moving forward for a very long walk., we are barely begun i whispered and sigh.

The beauty of Mt. Guiting-Guiting slightly seen a bit far from us, a very beautiful sceneries surrounded with natural resources such as beautiful trees, plants, rock formations, aside from that it is a very quiet walk only the sound of birds echoes from the distance. This is it, escape from reality, i never dream it would come true. What a wonderful life it would be, of all the great mountains i'd rather stay, away from distracting sounds, and no one will ever judge you and notice your mistakes, just me and the mountain. Perfect creation of God, never ask myself why do i have to do this because i know its worth, it maybe a sacrifice just simple as that. Life is worth too much and every moment is diamond, if i wouldn't try something difficult, how would it be my history? i want to be remembered as Great Explorer, i may not be perfect for humans eye, at least my eyes seen perfect things.

Continues walking on trail with Sir Gerry Rementilla i told him that i am perfectly done for these wondrous things even without clearing, i considered G2 as our bonus if its shows the beauty of its own. What a dangerous climb we have ever experienced lasted for almost twelve hours, stepping through sharp rocks (boulders), what a sigh for a very steep mountain thinkin' if its the end then do it, i have a very strong faith in God and no worries aside from that i'm wearing Tatay I love you shirt and this climb is absolutely for him.

SUMMIT MT. GUITING GUITING
@  3:11pm 

 We have reached the summit at exactly 3:11pm  the climate was too cold and surrounded with Fog, as i have said i wasn't expect for its clearing eventhough i really want too, we have stay there and keep waiting for the clearing, sadly we are very much disappointed especially Sir Enzo who decided to stayed and wait for few more minutes hoping that G2 will show its beauty. Sir Enzo told us, i've saving my allowance for two months for this climb. I felt sad for him because i know how he feels., we leave him into the Summit and start pitching our tents, after few minutes he came to the campsite and stayed to my tent, still disappointed, so i gave him such time to use my tent, and then i go for short climb going to summit and praying that the beauty of G2 will come up..I prayed deeply...and God hears me.

Suddenly a sky clearing start a bit. It shows the real beauty of the World i could never imagined, i take all the risks for this wet, muddy, slippery, and a very steep mountain just to feel these wondrous things. My tears begin for the joy and happiness, considering me and my team mates are very much lucky, too many mountaineers attempted twice, thrice hoping to see the clearing but it won't.

I screamed many times not because i'm in pain, it's all about happiness, overjoyed, and for all the trials we've encountered and through it,we made it perfectly, a very priceless one..

SAWTOOTH OF G2

At last we're done to our very long time picture taking, capturing every details and beautiful moments to a very extravagant but technically dangerous mountain. We went back to the camp site and rest, full of happiness for what we had seen, we talked about all those wondrous things while preparing for our dinner, and after that we packed our things ready for tomorrow. And i decided to have rest i was really tired and the weather were extremely cold i could hardly resist eventhough it's not raining. It such a big trial without sleeping bag and jacket on top of the mountain, i rushed everything the day i packed my things and forgot mostly the important things. Honestly it kills me and can't even sleep eventhough i'm inside the tent with Sir Carlos del Mundo, touching my whole body with my warm hand just to feel a bit warmth, since i couldn't sleep i prepared my things very early for our next journey. It would be a very long and winding step-down nearly to search for more great things to this mountain.

 At exactly 7am we started pushing ourselves, what a shocking view and a very steep mountains waiting for us. I know how dangerous step-down it is and we should be very careful, pray, and keeping our faith it is the only thing we could do..

As we step-down embracing all the beautiful sceneries makes me feel no worries, we're all busy touching the great things and went down safe, thanks God.

The mountain shows the hidden beauty, something that we cannot forget and because of this going down becomes more easier, as we went down nearly i see how wonderful the real beauty of "SAWTOOTH", and the famous "KNIFE EDGE". Mt. Guiting-Guiting is one of among three mountains in the Philippines to have this wonderful one bridge but very dangerous.

                                  

Approaching the famous KNIFE EDGE

At last we've crossed the scary knife edge, me and Sir Mark Christian Adam made it through, continues moving to Mayos Peak where we're going to spend our lunch and we arrived at exactly 11am, we stayed on the top side of the mountain, and we eat our lunch together with Ken-Ken the son of our guide, the one that shows every route.

These two people serves our guide because we do not know exactly the route..  After our lunch i laid down my body to the place where too many dry leaves, since i was really tired can't help just rest..

I woke up when Mr. Remy and Mam Cristina came., i swear i feel terrible body pain because of non-stop climbing and descend to the mountain. After they had came we decided to go down again, the first five among us will be moving, after all they have spent enough for relaxing..

And i am of them, continues moving and descent, the trail was quite different during our climb, it's muddy and a bit narrow., we trying to jump and run since we're enjoying it because we're done for a very successful climb.. Descent is more fun, i enjoyed much but sadly an incident happen to my foot, maybe it's because the trail has many sharp stones.. it cause too much pain to my foot and spent few minutes to relax.

I've waited for them just in case it happens again at least they could help me, and thanks at least i feel less pain. We reached the river without hazards, another sets of picture taking, relaxing, what a very kind mountain to us, technically challenging but one thing for sure we are very lucky comparing to those who attempted many times in the past mostly they could not make it, not even see clearly from the summit.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting is such a wonderful creation by God, one of the World's best mountain we should be proud of, its natural resources, and beauty, these wondrous things are really worth dying for, ain't got what it takes. We spent few more minutes at last we're totally done we greet each one of us for a grateful things we did, for a very dangerous climb we've been through, thanks God we're all safe, and now receiving our certificates from DENR proof of our success.   

                  

CERTIFICATE FROM DENR MIMAROPA
with Sir Remy

And for myself i cannot explain the joy i felt, i couldn't believe i made it to overcome every challenge, facing all the dangers without hesitation, what a dangerous expedition i will never forget until my last breath. This is something i will always be proud of, i am tough above all rich people, and when the times come that my feet becomes weak and helpless at least i made it through and have something to cherish and treasures of being me. The tricycle we have rented is about to take and drop us to Bagumbayan beach house so we could relax, a very beautiful and clean beach, there are children playing, the wonderful Sunset seems like greeting us for our successful climb to one of the most difficult mountain to climb.

Time for a real happiness, what a sigh while we are waiting for some of our team mates who weren't arrive yet we asked for an ordered dinner for all of us but still we have to wait for them, at last they came at exactly 9pm, having dinner together, great conversations about our experience, since each of us has its something good and bad to share during the trail.

After spending a very long time for dinner and sharing our experiences Sir Christian Adam make the high light of our celebration ready, "Brandy" so we could have a rest well, cheers for every shots with joy in our hearts, remembering every things we did, i am totally knocked down and   can't join for another bottle of brandy. I decided to escape from the group to sleep, so much tired, and need to prepare things for tomorrows ride. We woke up peacefully thanks God, after breakfast we make ourselves ready, packed our things, and returning home at last, Lord please guide us again, be with us our loved ones are praying for our safety and surely waiting for us. Another tricycle ride for us going to the Port of Ambulong, we did enjoy the ride, we had a great and wonderful experience after all, every details is worth and patiently waiting for the ship.

It's boarding time, while i was walking going to the ship i whispered "GOODBYE SIBUYAN ISLAND WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE PLACE THAT CREATE WONDERFUL MEMORIES TO OUR LIVES AND ALMOST TOUCHED DEEP WITHIN OUR HEARTS, WHAT A PRICELESS TREASURES."

Inside the ship is also a memory, group picture taking at last, because this is something we don't have during Mt. Guiting-Guiting expedition, after that Sir Gerry told us that we should be fast as we can to get a jeepney ride, it's quite difficult because of too many passengers, actually it's really fun and exciting moment that can be added to my journey, run as fast as we could, jump high, what an enjoyable moment it would be, first time ever in my entire life to experience a wonderful ride., great "Wow" ha ha ha.

It's really a fun and amazing ride on the Old Bus, it's top load and we choose to sit on top so it would be more fun on a joy ride.. but then again thanks God.. thanks for guiding us and for the protection you had given to us. ,thanks and goodbye Mt. Guiting-Guiting...we will never ever forget the beauty you'd shown us, the memories will stay.. not even a single second will be missed remembering you.. it's already done and create something that touch our lives, i can scream and shout over and over again how happy you made me and my team mates. The province is quite simple, with its clean surroundings and fresh air, but still need more improvements from the government, since it's really a beautiful province..There's a bit rainfall while we're riding on the bus. Since we're on top we can't avoid being wet.

Arriving to the Port of Odiongan this will be our route going to Batangas Port, while we are waiting for our boarding, we spent some of our time to buy souvenirs, i just bought few things just to remember the place and besides my wallet doesn't have much and about to be empty. Aboard at 5pm, leaving the Port and now going to Port of Batangas. it will be a long journey again may God protect us.. and bring us home and to our family safe.,  we prayed deeply as the ocean deep, all of us had great moment but life is something we can't predict.,  a night was so relaxing eventhough the waves were a bit impulsive due to LPA and it is in the vicinity of MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan)

It's already 1am when we finally arrived to Port of Batangas.. Another big THANKS to God...we spent few minutes for taking the moment of farewell to each of us.. we had a very great time together after all it's our G2 climb "one for all" "all for one" success.. only God knows when it will be happen again

We're bound to different destinations, Mindoro, Pampanga, Quezon, Manila, and me together with two of my team mates bound to Cavite.. it was an extra challenge to the three of us, why?.. unlike in Romblon we have to run as fast as we could.. and here we have to wait for almost two hours for the passengers, isn't it really fun., and for that we decided to take a bus ride,. commuting by jeepney for two times to reach the bus terminal.. only to hear that there is no bus available route direct to our place, we should take another ride.

But anyway it's still fine we've just try the alternative way.. it was almost lunch time when i reached home.. and finally i got home "wow"... suddenly greet my beautiful Nanay on what do we have for lunch.. she replied i don't prepare much.. but still be thankful i'm with them again.. it was such a good blessing from God..  thanks for everything.. i've learned so much from that i am considering myself "A Great Climber" and certified G2 Summiteer..

I wanna thank., first, to Our Mighty God without his protection and blessings i know i won't be able to be there and overcome every trials.. Thanks to my Family Nanay and to my sisters they have always being there for me to support me morally, physically, and financially.. And to all my friends, workmates who'd been responsible for this climb and for the supports.. so much appreciated.. thanks to the wonderful family for their hospitality, and two of them serves us our guide..i wrote this to tell the World how beautiful our land is...until my next journey hoping anyone who will read this will be joining us to discover the beauty of the world..more power to all of us.. to all the great climbers.. God Bless us all.. well done Mt. Guiting-Guiting..until next climb..

may this blog serves as an inspiration for those who dreamed and wanted to explore the hidden beauty of God's creation..