25 May 2015

Mt. Damas Meets A First-timer

It's been a week since my first climb. I tried mountaineering just last week and it's wonderful! I was invited by my friend, Juliet, but I initially declined due to some minor tasks. I was undecided and told her about it. She had been inviting me to join her and her friends but due to schedule and what not, I wasn't able to. I unconsciously (hahaha) said "yes", I decided to commit out of curiosity and mixed emotions. A massive thanks to her because she helped me prepare myself and provided me a bit of Mountaineering 101. Due to excitement and fear (you know that feeling when you know something but you're still clueless? Somewhat similar to you-know-what-to-do-but-do-not-know-how-to-do-it feeling), we did our research, we read blogs and stuff. I was in great anticipation because of Mt. Damas' specs. I really did not have any idea of what I was about to experience.

Saturday night, 16 May 2015, we arrived at the meeting place somewhere in Quezon City. I was with Juliet and Jhong. We waited for hikers who were unbeknownst to me (saling ket-ket lang ako), and we had a little talk -- rapport. Good thing there's a rented van, and it surprised me that Jave's mum and dad would join us on our trip. It's cool, isn't it?

It's past midnight (couldn't remember the exact time) when we arrived somewhere in Tarlac. We waited for our guide (Sir Baner!) and started our trek. It was still dark and the nature's beauty was still unexposed. Jhong and I agreed to be buddies during the hike but I could not keep up with his speed (or I was just too sluggish). I was feeling dizzy, perhaps due to lack of sleep.

I felt relief upon reaching a stream/river. The smell of nature is always incomparable, would you not agree?

After a few meters, the challenge started. I was just following the steps of whoever's ahead of me. I could not remember the happenings, was I half-asleep or dumbfounded, I don't know.

Steep slopes -- Imagine yourself walking in high heels on a rocky uphill road. Yes, that. I'm never fascinated to walking in high heels. Ascends and descends, gravity versus myself. The experience will always be remembered.

Rappelling -- One of the things I liked during the hike. (Did I just rap? lol).

Rock-hopping -- It might seem exhausting but I had fun!

After some minor assaults, we rested on top of a hill where we fancied the view of Ubod Falls whilst eating breakfast. Then, we descended slowly and cautiously until we reached another stream/river. It's another rock-hopping/river-trekking, we passed by a few little falls, and we had to rappel (baging at sanga-sanga) when we reached Si-El Falls.


That was a mini-heart-attack moment, really. But I indeed enjoyed it. I told Juliet that it might be the hardest part of the climb, I assumed by just looking at the pictures when we're doing our "research". We're ecstatic and giddy about successfully passing that part of the journey.

After a short rest, we had no clue of what's going to happen next, all we know was "so, cardiac assault's next". Yeah right, cardiac assault. "A sixty-degree (hmm, I might be wrong here) slope is before us, plus the sweltering heat of the sun. Fantastic!", I told myself. It tested my stamina. My "mind over matter" mantra was losing its effect. I felt exhaustion I had never went through before but it's comparable to the training I underwent 8-9 years ago. It was extreme. Gangster's Paradise was playing on my mind. Juliet and I stopped, we opted not to continue because we're already not feeling well. I did not want to leave her alone. Her "jowa" (hahaha) and tropa continued to reach the top. Whilst resting, we still had the guts to talk and laugh about our condition. A few minutes later, a rescue scene happened (LOL). I asked myself, "are they panicking?". Well, judging by how fast they went down, they were not panicking, they were worried. We started to climb again until we saw the others resting and taking photographs. It's refreshing to see the scenery that Mt. Damas has to offer, however we, Juliet and I, still did not decide to reach the summit. Instead, we took a rest. I tried to take a nap but I failed. Moments later, the team arrived and we had our lunch. "Blimey!", I silently uttered as I was consuming a can of tuna and a half cup of rice. It was surprisingly tasteful (the effect of weariness, obviously).

We started to trek down and we headed to Ubod Falls. It was so hard for me because my knees failed me, and there were blisters on the bottom of my feet. Many thanks to Jhong for helping me. And apologies for causing troubles (that slide was brutal). Everyone enjoyed the refreshing effect of Ubod Falls, we stayed there for an hour or two. We were not able to follow the itinerary, and the goal was to conclude the trek before sunset. It did not happen. The trek along the stream was longer than I expected, I thought I'd end up in Narnia. At 8-ish, we finally arrived at Brgy. Papaac. I immediately slept since I was dead tired. I woke up to the team's noise, I heard them talking about their "extraordinary" experience during the hike, specially when we were on our way back to Brgy. Papaac.

Thank you for making my first hike interesting and worth remembering! The agony was nothing, it was euphoria after all.

Oh, Mt. Damas, thou art so lovely and marvelous!

I am a neophyte, Mt. Damas is my master, and the experience is my initiation.

Massive thanks for the experience, Mt. Damas! It was challenging but I had so much fun! More fun than should probably be allowed.

Credits to Juliet, sir Adi, and sir Ivan for the photographs.

If you'd ask me if I would join another hike, my answer is yes, absolutely yes! I may say that mountaineering is truly an addictive activity.

06 September 2012

One hello, a lot of goodbyes.

I gained more than fifteen friends in just less than a month. We were together in a rocky road during our training. We shared our laughter, victories, knowledge, opinions, disappointments, dramas, and even tears. We had misunderstandings, too, but that didn't hinder us from becoming one and for us to maintain our camaraderie. Day after day, we motivated each and every member of the team to stay with us. That's the most challenging part, making somebody stay though s/he decides to change her/ his way. Saddening, isn't it? I can accept that, because that's what make her/ him happy. Resign if you want, but our friendship remains.

Weeks had passed and we're almost at the next part of the challenge we opted to face, but a problem occurred. That problem was one of the worst scenarios I have ever seen in my existence. We were twelve, only five were chosen to stay, with no bloody justification.. at all. WHAT IS HOLOCAUST. My disappointment and miserableness could have been lessened if there was an explanation provided. Oh dear. My friends don't deserve it.

Five of us are already in the midst of facing another level of hardship. We're in a battle field, not that well-equipped, still crying our hearts out due to the verdict, less motivated, we feel alone.

I know after some weeks, perhaps one or two, or even three of us, will also find and follow another route of life to become happy and successful. Whatever happens, it will always direct us to a better, or the best, environment.

Team Android 19.2 Yema, kindly follow your heart and mind, not the befuddling document. I don't really express myself, but with this product-of-my-brain-cells writing, I hope you feel my gratitude hammer against your chest. Cheerio, loves!

13 May 2012


It's been four years since you left. I miss you, mum! 
I love you always! 


23 July 2010

EXAMS -- The more you hate them, the more they haunt you!

My cerebrum was relaxed and in a good condition until our Professors announced that our exam would start on Monday.

The parts of my brain and my entire system had malfunctioned before the end of the entire "revelation". I was so shocked and told myslef, "AM I DREAMING?". I heard my guardian angel saying, "WTH! Get a life! Of course you're not dreaming! You have to prepare for your exams my dear." Again, I talked to myself, "You're in a big trouble, a really big trouble!"

I actually don't review or even scan my notes before the exams. I'M A BIG CRAZY LAZY KID. I don't mind exams because I always believe in "STOCK KNOWLEDGE". Haha.. :D Call me a punk but that's how I survived my college life.

Since our major requires talking to numbers and playing with equations, formulas, and the likes.. We have to spend most of our time solving and memorizing the methods and formulas. I KNOW RIGHT! :)
We have a two-day school-off before the start of our hell week. My classmates and I were planning to spend the days to have a group study and go crazy studying. Well, as expected, I did nothing. I just slept and did the usual stuff. I'm telling now how lazy and useless I am. hahahaa


I sensed that a disaster was coming, so I decided to scan my notes. Luckily, I couldn't remember anything. ;) hehe.. "I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE FIGHT I DECIDED TO COMMIT"

The next morning, our Professor came to class with a very BIG SMILE on his face, telling us that he's so overjoyed because no one passed the exam. "WHAT?! YES! WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT JOKING!"


He then informed us that he's gonna give us another chance. "THERE WILL BE A REMEDIAL EXAM TOMORROW. SO, PREPARE YOURSELVES MY BRAINY STUDENTS!"

Again, for the nth time, I talked to myself. "ANOTHER DAY TO REVIEW?!" I thought I'm free from stresses and tensions, but, again, I have to review (I mean scan my notes). This would kill me!


Just this morning, we took our remedial exam. It went good. I almost mastered the problems (haha! mastered? LOL). There were two problems but I only solved the second one (most of us did that), it's for three hours, and it has a two-page solution (You really have to waste papers for this).

After the exam, I felt relief. But when I was walking, heading out of the school, I realized that I was wrong with one of the answers/ processes, I REALLY KNEW IT! WHAT KIND OF STUPIDITY I POSSESS?!!! (>.<)

That's a five-unit subject. There are still two subjects to go and I'm not totally relaxed now.
THE EXAMS ARE STILL ON MY MIND.
NIGHTMARES ABOUT EXAMS ARE THE SCARIEST!