Davao Crocodile Park

Red Parrot??? (parrot ba ito?)

Davao Crocodile Park

Outland Adventure (crossing the river)

Gap Park

Arrived at the top, Zip Line starts here.

Jack's Ridge after the Zip line at Outland Adventure.

Just got back from a refreshing and wonderful travel from Sagada, a very beautiful and breathtaking destination, the rice terraces, the big water falls, saw the hanging coffins, and spelunking in the caves. The people were great and nice, I observed that they are a happy when somebody visits their place. A place where everybody must see and visit, to see how God created the wonderful nature of this world.

Banaue Rice Terraces

Famous Rice Terraces behind

Burial Cave Entrance

Sumaguing Cave with British friends

L-R: Tor Benneth, Barrie Griffiths, Ron Lorenzo, Me & Martin Cleaver

Sumaguing Cave

Church at town proper (forgot the name :))

on our way to Bomod-Ok Falls (rice terraces at the back)

The famous Bomod-Ok Falls of Sagada

view from the Green Lodge hotel

with Nanay Judith & her son (Souvenir shop owner)

little kids with the smile on their face :)

HOW TO GET TO BANAUE
Manila-Banaue Route
1. From Manila, take Florida Lines (P450 with CR) or Auto Bus (P400) to Banaue.
2. When you get to Banaue, several jeepneys and tricycles are waiting at the bus stop. Make sure you know where you want to go first to save on money.

Manila-Baguio-Banaue Route
1. Take a Victory Liner bus to Baguio. (P450 or less)
2. Take Ohayami Bus to Banaue. (around P200)

HOW TO GET TO SAGADA
Banaue-Sagada route aka the USUAL ROUTE
- From Banaue, you can ride a public van with a flat rate of P3,300. You can wait for people to fill it up to save on money.

- From Banaue, you can take Immanuel Bus Lines (P100) 2 hours to Bontoc , and from Bontoc you can ride jeepney to Sagada (P40) 45 minutes.

Baguio-Sagada route aka the SCENIC (but the longest) ROUTE
- From Baguio, go to Dangwa Terminal (at the back of Plaza Fair) and take Lizardo Bus to Sagada.

Manila-Bontoc aka FASTEST ROUTE (about 12 hours and 45 minutes)
1. Hop on Cable Tours (P500) from E. Rodriguez, Q.C. or Kalisen Transport to Bontoc.
2. From Bontoc, take a jeepney (about 45 minutes) to Sagada

SCHEDULE OF BUSES:

CABLE TOURS (from E. Rodriguez, QC)
Manila-Bontoc 8pm DAILY
Bontoc-Manila 3pm DAILY
COST: P500/ one way

KALISEN TRANSPORT
Manila-Bontoc 9pm DAILY
Bontoc-Manila 4pm DAILY
COST: P500/ one way

AUTO BUS
Manila-Banaue 10pm DAILY
Banaue-Manila 5:30pm DAILY
COST: P400/ one way

LIZARDO BUS
Baguio-Sagada 6am first trip, 11am last trip (leaves per hour) DAILY
Sagada-Baguio 5am first trip, 1pm last trip (leaves per hour) DAILY
COST: P220/ one way

OHAYAMI
Baguio-Banaue 6:30am, 3pm DAILY
Banaue-Baguio 6:30am, 4pm DAILY
COST: 360/ one way

TRANSPORTATION CONTACTS:
Auto Bus: (+632)7362831/ (+632)7358096
Florida Lines: (+632)7433809/ (+63918)5225049
Cable Tours: (+6374)6021068/ (+63918)5216790/ (+63919)3862159 (Mang Bert)
Kalisen Transport: (+63917)8629574/ (+63916)3603483
Victory Liner: (+632)8330219

NOTE: Please call them first even though the schedule's posted here because they might change their schedule anytime.

My 1st climb to Mt. Pulag, also my first major climb.

- January 1-5, 2008

- Akiki-Akiki

My 2nd climb to Mt. Pulag. Solo climb

- Oct 19-23, 2008

- Akiki-Akiki

My 4th climb to Mt. Pulag with ICIC Mountaineers. (1st batch)

ITINERARY

(Akiki-Ambangeg with rented jeepney)

Note: If taking public transportation, instead of a jeepney one would have to take the A Liner (formerly Norton) Bus to Kabayan (P150) with regular trips at 0900, 1000, and 1400H (as well as a 0700H on peak season) Also, the 10-km. trail between the Ranger Station and the DENR-PAO at Ambangeg would have to be negotiated by foot, calling for a stricter 3-day schedule or an expanded, 4-day itinerary. Other possibilities include an Akiki-Akiki, or an Ambangeg-Akiki in which case the itinerary below can be reversed.

Day 0
2300 - Take Victory Liner trip to Baguio (P450). Reserve tickets ahead to be sure.

Day 1
0500 - ETA Baguio City. Breakfast then proceed to jeepney terminal/chartered jeep.
0700 - Take chartered jeepney to Akiki, Kabayan. Early lunch at any stopover.
1200 - Arrival at Akiki jump-off; commence trek on steep trail.
1300 - ETA Ranger Station. Register. Secure guides.
1330 - Start 3-hour trek to Eddet River
1630 - ETA Eddet River; set up camp.
1800 - Dinner / socials

Day 2
0400 - Wake up call. Prepare breakfast.
0430 - Breakfast
0530 - Break camp
0700 - Start 3-4 hr trek to Marlboro Country
1100 - Have early lunch at Marlboro country (water source)
1200 - Commence 3-hour trek through montane forest.
1430 - End of forest line (2600 MASL); Reach Grassland.
1600 - ETA Saddle campsite; set up camp.
1730 - Assault to summit. Sunset.
1900 - Dinner / socials

Day 3
0530 - Early morning trek to summit
0545 - Arrival at summit just in time for sunrise
0630 - Back at campsite; breakfast
0730 - Break camp
0800 - Start descent via Ambangeg trail
0900 - From Camp 2, resume descent to Babadak Ranger Station
1130 - ETA Ranger Stn; Settle guide fees; jeepney descent
1230 - At DENR-PAO; tidy up and log out.
1400 - Head back to Baguio City
1700 - ETA Baguio City. Buy return tickets. Dinner.
1900 - Head back to Manila

May 12-15, 2009. A convention held at Cebu International Convention Center, where all have gathered from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao of different churches. It was a successful convention. After the 4 day convention, we had the chance to visit around Cebu City, but our time was short so we just visited selected location like Chinese Temple and Magellan's Cross.

Cebu International Convention Center

Chinese Temple in Cebu City

Trail to Mt. Cabuyao and Sto Thomas is easy and accesible, all you need to do is take a jeepney ride to Green Valley from Baguio City. But still wear sun glasses and wear long sleeves cause the road is dusty. There are no permit or guides in hiking these mountains. Mt. Sto Thomas is the highest point of Baguio City.

Road to Mt. Cabuyao & Sto Thomas

Arrived at Mt. Cabuyao. Twin radars behind

Baguio City from the top view

The Twin Radars

View from the top

Baguio City

ITINNERARY

0600 From Baguio City take jeepney to Green Valley

0630 ETA at Green Valley; Start Trek

0830 ETA at Mt. Cabuyao; Photo Shoot

0900 Resume Trek to Mt. Sto Thomas

1000 ETA Mt Sto Thomas summit; Break

1030 Start descent

1300 ETA Jump-Off; Rest

1330 Take jeepney back to Baguio City

1400 ETA Baguio City

Trail: Ambangeg-Ambangeg
Tour Fee:
- P2,700 for 15 pax
- P2,900 for 10 pax
- P3,200 for 8 pax
- P3,600 for 6 pax

TOUR SCHEDULES:
- July 3rd week
- August 3rd week
- September 3rd week

Day 1: 

0000: Assembly at Victory Liner (Pasay)

0030: ETD for Baguio City

0630: ETA Baguio; Breakfast

0800: ETD for Mt. Pulag via rented jeep

1100: ETA DENR; Orientation; Lunch

1130: Ascent to Ranger Station via jeep

1230: Preparation; Start Trek

1600: ETA Campsite

1800: Dinner/Socials

Day 2:

0400: Assault for summit; sunrise

0700: Back to campsite

0730: Breakfast; Decamp

1200: Back at Ranger Station; Tidy Up

1400: Head back to Baguio

1700: ETA Baguio City

1800: Head back to Manila

- RT Aircon Bus Manila-Baguio-Manila

- RT Jeepney Ride Baguio-Ranger Station-Baguio

- Registration and Camping Fees

- Guide Fees (Porter Fee not included)

- "ICIC Climb ID"
- "ICIC Souvenir Card"
- "ICIC Tshirt"
- Certificate
- Day 1: Breakfast & Lunch

*Due to different preferences in food, we are giving everyone the liberty to prepare and have their own meals and trail food throughout the travel*

At the height of summer, the wide, rocky trails from Ternate was a very cool experience. The summit views the entire Cavite city and also the wonderful view of South China Sea, the islands and coves. Although the succeeding part was very difficult, beacsue of a steep assault, I pushed well into it. At least the sight of all the islands and seas made it all worth it.

on my way to jump-off

arrived at the mini falls

mini falls

a few steps to the peak

Pico de Loro peak

amazing views from the top

view from the campsite

ITINERARIES

Ternate, Cavite
0400 - Board Saulog bus at Lawton to Ternate (P110)
0700 - ETA Ternate town proper; buy supplies, rent jeepney to Magnetic Hill
0745 - ETA DENR / jump-off point. Pay P10.00 registration
0800 - Start trek. Jump-off point is 10 minutes walk from DENR.
0845 - ETA rest station, Basecamp 1 (they'll ask for P10.00 registration)
1130 - ETA summit. lunch.
1230 - Start descent to Magnetic Hill
1530 - ETA jump-off point.
1600 - Back at DENR; take jeepney to Ternate then take bus back to Manila.
1900 - ETA Manila.

SPECIAL CONCERNS

You have to rent a jeepney to the DENR station from Ternate because public transportation is not constant. Either Ternate or Maragondon would be a good staging point to reach the jump-off.

Pico de Loro is a DENR Protected Area. Although supervision is minimal, it is still advisable to register at the DENR station. The couple who lives at the "Kubo" or Basecamp 1 also requests a P10.00 registration for each climber; they are known to mountaineers and are truly involved in the management of the trails.

Forest cover is good throughout the trail. Winds are strong at the peak. There are reports of flashfloods in the river system that includes the waterfalls. Proper caution must be observed.

The tower at Pico de Loro, known as the "Parrot's Beak", may be scaled but do so only if you have enough skill and experience. There have been reports of deaths and injuries due to falls from the Parrot's beak.

Going back on the Ternate trail from the summit, there is one very confusing fork after you've passed Basecamp 1. After 10 minutes, the main path leads to Maragondon. The proper way to the Magnetic Hill is an elevated trail to the left; it is marked with a trail sign but it is concealed so watch out for it on your way back.