HULUGAN FALLS AND ALIW FALLS DAYTRIP _ Part 2 – Aliw Waterfalls

With tummies filled, we continued our jaunt to the nearby Aliw Waterfalls.  The flurry from the earlier Hulugan Falls adventure still loiter in our psyches. 

Aliw Falls though part of Brgy. San Jose was less than a kilometer away from Brgy. San Salvador of Hulugan Falls.  The two are actually within strides, just note of the gate of a deserted housing project which served as the jump-off of Aliw Waterfalls.  Earlier on, we informed our guides that we will explore two waterfalls.  They’re the one who suggested what to visit first.

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HULUGAN FALLS AND ALIW FALLS DAYTRIP _ Part 1 – Hulugan Waterfalls

Laguna is famous not just for Pagsanjan Falls but of other waterfalls as well and we’ve visited quite a number already.  So when we heard of gigantic waterfalls in Luisiana, we wasted no time and organized an instant daytrip…

It was 5am when we took off for our Luisiana adventure with a two waterfalls goal, Hulugan Falls and Aliw Falls.  We had a quick breakfast at Paviola in Siniloan and even punned of Buruwisan Falls instead.

Hulugan Falls

We nearly missed Brgy. San Salvador being the first Luisiana barangay after the municipality of Cavinti.  Thanks to the Hulugan Falls poster for directing the way.  At the barangay entrance is an information area where you will first secure your guide.

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A Quick Dayhike to Buruwisan Falls

The New Year day slipped barely and I yearned for an adventure that early.  Exactly 10 years ago, we did a New Year’s Day climb and now, a January 2 hike would not be bad.  With a wide smile, I persuaded hubby for a quick hike...

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MT. MAKILING TRAVERSE DAYHIKE - STO. TOMAS TO UPLB

We took off at the Cabaong Bridge at around 6am and by 630am, we surpassed the last section of the housing development leading to the Makiling trail.

Most of the team were Maktrav hardcore in their college years but with the housing and commercial progress in the area, we got lost on our way up.  We faced boulders unpassable that we backtracked until the recollection of the right trail appeared.

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MT. NAGUILING YEAR-END CLIMB

We joined the Katribu in their year-end climb at Mt. Naguiling.  I would say that it was a blunder-filled adventure but we managed to have fun…

Mt. Naguiling as viewed from Jaybanga Rice Terraces

Early on, we failed to reach the meet-up time at Pasay Terminal.  So to catch up, we rode separately at Cubao then regrouped with the others at Lipa, Batangas.  We were at Lipa on time but the supposed 9am kick-off slipped to 11am.  As we haven’t read nor heard about Mt. Naguiling, we just went with the flow.  Also, I have somewhat mastered the art of worrying less in travels.  Hmmm…

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Mt. Butalao Dayhike Plus an Overnight Camping at Burot Beach

I’ve always preferred to climb Batulao early morning especially for dayhikes but as always, I constantly end up savoring the heat of Batulao… I don’t know what’s with me coz no matter how I’ve known how fiery it could be, my shield frequently comes shorthanded.

Anyways, for this dayhike, the thought of a rewarding beach after this blistering trek kept me going… Beach, beach, beach….

Actual itinerary as follows:

7am to 9am – travelled from Manila to Evercrest

930am – start of trek via the new trail

11am – finally reached the registration area after countless stops to take cover

1130am – resumed trek to summit

1215pm – reached the summit with trail bottles drained

1220pm – started descent via the old trail

115pm – reached the old trail registration area

3pm – back at jump-off, regrouped with the team and prepared for Burot Beach

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BUNTOT PALOS WATERFALLS DAYHIKE

BUNTOT PALOS (HIDDEN) FALLS

Pangil, Laguna

This trip was another last-minute spur of the moment adventure for some fresh air and be briefly away from the stresses of the metro… well, regardless of the reasons, alibis and excuses, here we go, just three us, for a dayhike trip to Buntot Palos waterfalls.

The jump-off of Buntot Palos Waterfalls in Pangil, Laguna was nearly 3-hour drive from the metro.  It was already 10:30am when we left the registration area.  Registration fee was at P30 per head while the dayhike guide fee was P300. According to our guide, the average trek to the waterfalls is about 2-1/2 hours and 2 hours more for the return trek.  With a bottle of water each, we pushed through yearning to be back by 1:30pm for a late lunch.

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MT. GULUGOD BABOY REVISITED PLUS A CABAN COVE SIDETRIP

It has been a habit of me to take macro-shots of the fauna and flora laying around.  This time though, Mt. Gulugod Baboy hid away those beautiful colors... I only had six subjects.. well....

For this climb, we had more stops than walk.... The supposedly one-hour climb became a three hour hike.  An hour at the "ice candy" hut, 30 minutes at the Bignay tree and another 30 minutes for jump shots and funny poses.. LOL..

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MT. MALIPUNYO – MANABU TRAVERSE

As we near Batangas with the sight of Malarayat ranges along the road, flashback and memories of my last Mt. Malipunyo summit attempt more than 14 years ago with my then college mountaineering group stroke in.  Back then, Manabu Peak was a shade away from a hiker’s waddle to the highest peak of Malarayat ranges with Susong Dalaga as a side-trip. 

Today, we will dare the less-ventured traverse of Malipunyo and Manabu Peaks with a prayer of a safe weather amidst the storm looming our way.  

It was past 10am when we tramped the trail of Mt. Malipunyo but during our break at the last sari-sari store, a heavy downpour greeted us.  With no sign of the rain coming to a halt, we continued our trek by the muddy trail with water streaming along.  We reached the river at 12:20pm lagging behind our IT.  With that, we pursued the summit trek missin’ out lunch and notwithstanding the torrent blinding our way.  Lucky for us, hubby and a friend decided to stay guarding our packs and had prepared our meal as well.

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MT. MACULOT’S NEW TRAIL

As part of our weekly training for the Mt. Kinabalu climb, we ascended Mt. Maculot via the new trail before the holy week break.  

We started our trek at 11:20am and shortly after 5 minutes we were welcomed by trail signs directing the new trail. My personal observation of this trail is that aside from a shoe with a good grip, long arms and a flexy legs is of an advantage. 

Wooden stairsteps are in-placed especially in peebly-like or loosy-soil areas to ease the trek but obviously, some if not most didn’t stood up to its purpose.  Also, another noticeable change was the rise in “buko juice” stations that are positioned at rest stops.  Well…

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MT. ROMELO DAYHIKE [2013]

This trip was another motorcycle ride and part-training of our soon Mt. Kinabalu climb.  We left the Metro at 10am and originally bound to Pangil, Laguna for a Buntot Palos Falls dayhike.  We learned at the registration area that a guide is now required due to previous issues of robbery at the trail or campsite.  The guide fee for a dayhike is P300 plus P20/head registration fee.  Ahem... the P300 for the two of us was beyond budget... With that, we diverted our training to Mt. Romelo.

After a quick lunch at the Siniloan junction, we proceeded to Engr. Rodel’s place for our Mt. Romelo trek.  It was already 1:15pm when we made the river cross.  Barely 30 minutes along the trail, we were shocked by the sight of an open field with remnants of chopped trunks, twigs and leaves scattered by the side.  If my memory served me right, that area used to be the famous “kawayanan” where plenty of frightful stories has been told and replayed several times.  Well, I don’t want to judge... maybe the farmers are planting new breed, maybe a pest infestation occurred that necessitate the cutting of trees... maybe, maybe... ahhh!

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PAGSANJAN FALLS VIA THE VERTICALS OF CAVINTI

Our trip to Pagsanjan Falls via Cavinti was one of those last minute “call of nature” adventures.  To my dismay, my February ended with no out-of-town trip while hubby had a short Cebu-trip mid-Feb.  So as a relief, he treated me for a Pagsanjan Falls day tour.  He said he read an article featuring a budget-friendly but adventurous way to reach Pagsanjan Falls.

We left the Metro around 6am via Rizal-Laguna route.  Unfortunately, the Pagsanjan Bridge was under construction and not passable to 4-wheel vehicles.  Our option was either to take the other route which will take about one hour or the P2 Balanac River raft-cross then commute to Cavinti.  We opted for the latter and we joked, “an adventure earlier than expected”.

At the other side of the Balanac River, jeepneys bound to Lucban and Cavinti are lined-up waiting for passengers.  We told the driver to drop us at the terminal for Pueblo el Salvador Nature’s Park and from there we took a tricycle for a P70 15-minute Pueblo ride.

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A DAY AT TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS – Tagaytay, Cavite

A weekend day tour at Tagaytay Highlands was a no-fend-off opportunity that I willingly foregone my hiking calendar in lieu of this occasional chance.  So with a cam on hand and an emergency wind breaker tucked in my bag, off I joined the team for the Highlands.

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CINTAI by CORITO’S GARDEN -- Balete, Batangas

With a visit to Bali far from reality, the sound of a Balinese-inspired resort named CINTAI by CORITO’S GARDEN right here in the Philippines popped up my senses and any invite especially if free is definitely a must grab.

According to Wow Batangas website, the word “cintai” is an Indonesian translation of “love” plus “corito” the wife of the owner.  For more of Cintai’s amenities, visit Wow Batangas with full narration of the resort amenities and directions.

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HINULUGANG TAKTAK FALLS -- Antipolo, Rizal

We visited Hinulugang Taktak Falls in Antipolo for a tree-planting activity organized by hubby's highschool alumni.  We had a Singaporean guest who also has a love for nature and shares the same advocacy in preserving the mother earth.

It was our first time at the falls and we were told by the park attendants that restoration efforts are already on-going.  Though the stench odor is very much present, I can say that the “foams” at the catch basin were fewer than those in the pictures posted online.  But still, presence of trashes surrounding the basin is very visible.  

According to the DENR who's office is located just above the park, the inhabitants surrounding the water line above the falls should be relocated for a successful restoration.  Whew! Hinulugang Taktak faces a tough challenge.  Let’s all hope for the best for all the people concerned and to Hinulugang Taktak Park which can truly be a great tourist destination.  Maybe by then it will regain its mark and be once again the price of “Tayo na sa Antipolo”  tourism campaign.

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Seven Lakes of San Pablo -- San Pablo, Laguna

After our Mt. Humarap and Matabungka Falls adventure, the final trip is the Seven Falls of San Pablo.

First stop was the Sampaloc Lake right at the center of San Pablo.  We had the view of Mt. Kalisungan and the neighboring mountains as a backdrop.  This lake is said to be the biggest among the 7 lakes with a circumference of 3.7 kilometers.   But on the downside, it is rated as the riskiest and most vulnerable among the lakes.  The presence of inhabitants surroundings the lake has greatly affected its condition.

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MT. DAGULDUL - San Juan, Batangas

MT. DAGULDUL
San Juan, Batangas
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/11/mt-daguldul-670.html

We left the Metro at around 5am and arrived at Brgy. Hugom San Juan, Batangas at 7:30am.  After registration and guide arrangement, we had a quick breakfast before proceeding to Sitio Catmon jump-off.  Mt. Daguldul's previous jump-off was the registration area and trekking starts through the beach front leading to the jump-off.  Thanks to the recent road development, Sitio Catmon is already accessible by vehicle via a 20 minute rough ride.

Because this was a day hike climb, I thought the summit is just around 2-hours trek.  Some of us climbed the mountain more than a decade ago and memories of the trail already eluded our thoughts.  So when the guide told us that trek is about 4 hours (and for us, it might take longer with a child on the team), we glared at each other with a query look of “are we going to proceed?”.  Well, majority said we’re already here so we better get moving...

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KILANGIN FALLS OR BUKAL FALLS – LILIW / MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA

The falls is located at the foot of Mt. Banahaw and borders the towns of Liliw and Nagcarlan  Majayjay.  In Nagcarlan Majayjay, it is located in Brgy. Bukal, hence the name Bukal Falls while for the Liliw locals, it is called Kilangin Falls.  The Liliw trail is said to be more challenging than the walk-in-the-park trail of Nagcarlan Majayjay. 

Our visit to Kilangin or Bukal Falls was made possible by a friend we met during our Mt. Kalisungan climb.  This climb was her birthday climb and we joked that “we’ll take care of your guests” by bringing guests with us... That was our gift to her -- guests of first time acquaintance but hopefully not the last.

From Manila, we took the Rizal-Tanay-Laguna route to Nagcarlan Laguna.  From Liliw, after crossing the bridge for Nagcarlan, we looked for Brgy Bukal then ask for directions to Bukal Falls... We noticed some road signs but the size were not convincing or visible enough as a guide.

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ISLA VERDE -- BATANGAS

Isla Verde, named after Capt. Juan Verde – the Spanish explorer, is located between Batangas and Mindoro and serves as the passage connecting Batangas Bay and Tayabas Bay.  It is accessible from Tabangao Docking Area or Leah’s beach of Tabangao, Batangas where you have a view of giant refineries from afar.

We joined Bulusok Mountaineer’s Mt. Dagit-Dagit climb for Year 2011 Climb Against Cancer with Verde Island Side Trip but with the kiddos on the trip, we were left enjoying the shoreline of the island. 

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MT. HUMARAP AND MATABUNGKA FALLS - Paete, Laguna

MT. HUMARAP AND MATABUNGKA FALLS

Brgy. Ilaya Norte, Paete
Height of waterfalls: 20-25 meters

The original plan was to ascend through the 1000-step concrete stairs to get to Tatlong Krus, the landmark of Mt. Humarap, but being lost was a blessing in disguise.  We overshoot the jump-off but with the trike drivers instructions, we found out that there is a road all the way to the top.   

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