Another successful climb at Manabu Peak with a friend of mine and author of Pinoy Mountaineer, Gideon Lasco. We made a quick hike, from Manila to Batangas with just an hour, and upon arriving at Lipa, we then quickly proceed to barangay Sto. Thomas at the jump-off of Manabu. We start trek at 6:20am and reached the summit at exactly 7:30am. This was the ideal climb we are expecting where no other people going up and a very peaceful and quiet surrounding. After reaching the summit spent some time taking some photos and then we proceed to Mang Pirying's home, where the best coffee (Kapeng Barako) in all Batangas is served. One of the best coffee I've ever experience. After Mang Pirying, we then wait for the jeep back to Lipa and headed to Gideon's friend Anthon, he owns a cafe "ANFA ROYALE CAFE" located at town proper. We ate our lunch there and finally headed back to Manila. At exactly 1:30pm in the afternoon we're already in Manila. Just a very quick hike for this day.
Mt. Maculot as seen from Manabu
Lantana Camara aka "baho-baho" (Verbenaceae)
A native of South America
Leguminosae-Papillionoideae - Member of the Legume family.
Wild Raspberry. Rubus SP. (Rosaceae) - Member of rose family.
ANFA ROYALE CAFE. Owned by Gideon's friend Anthon.
Itinerary
0600 ETD Lucena or Lipa bound bus at LRT-Buendia (P120)
0730 ETA Brgy. San Pedro, Sto. Tomas. Take tricycle to 'Sulok'
0830 ETA 'Sulok', Brgy. Sta. Cruz
0900 Start trek
1000 Reach Mang Pirying's place
1100 ETA summit.
1130 start descent
1300 Back at jump-off. Proceed back to Sto. Tomas.
1330 Lunch at ANFA Royale Cafe
1500 Cross the highway and ride bus back to Manila
1700 ETA Manila
How to go there:
From Manila, you can take Lipa bound bus at taft-buendia and tell the conductor to frop you at "Lipa". From there you can take tricycle for P150 up to the jump-off, maximum pax is 3. Tricycle travel is around 10-15 minutes. Go to the barangay for registration, but the barangay hall may be still close when you arrived very early, but you can proceed to the jump-off point and start your trek and you can return to the barangay after your hike. Along the trail you'll reach first stop selling fresh buko for P10 each. Just enjoy the hike and the mountain and the views, and don't ever miss Mang Pirying's place to have and taste the best "Kape Barako of Batangas". Enjoy your trip and Godbless. :)
