Pook ni Maria Makiling

I was born in Mt.Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. Well, my lolo used to work for FPRDI (formerly FORPRIDECOM) and stayed in one of the agency's staff housing in Forestry (UPLB's upper campus). Even if we're no longer living there, I still consider it my home.

How ironic is it that I call Mt. Makiling home but I haven't actually explored the place. I haven't climb its peaks or even reach the mud spring. I tried climbing the mountain with some friends but we've only got to see the flatrocks (the actual creek, not the bar!). So note to self: ask friends to climb the mountain and revisit tourist sites such as the Makiling Botanical Gardens, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, National Arts Center / Philippine High School for the Arts.

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Temperature is really insane this summer! In a few hours that I'm home, I'm literally dripping in sweat. So, I told my mom that we should go swimming. My brothers didn't want to leave so it was just me, my nephew and mom who went.

Laguna is known for its hotsprings. Dipping in warm water is totally out of my mind. I want something cool that could freshen me up, but near and not expensive.

There are 4 pools in Mt. Makiling if I'm not mistaken: 1 in Makiling Botanical Gardens, 1 in UPCO (UPLB staff housing), 1 in Boy Scouts Jamboree and 1 in Pook ni Maria Makiling. The pool in BSP Jamboree has a reputation. I haven't been in botanical gardens for years and I'm not sure if the pool there is still open but even if it still is, it's not an option since it has a side which is more than 10 ft deep. The pool in UPCO is small and we're no UPLB faculty/student so X mark there.

I've been in Pook ni Maria Makiling several times but haven't tried the pool there until last year when friends from college visited and we decided to go campus touring in UPLB. It is actually not maintained by UPLB but by the National Parks Development Authority under the country's Department of Tourism. The park is known for its olympic size pool (not sure if it still is under the new standards). Entrance fee to the park is 25 pesos while swimming fee is 40 pesos. For 65 pesos to cool the body off, it is actually cheap!

Mt. Pulag - First Attempt

Up to now, I don't know what went to the minds of my friends at work why they decided to become outdoors people. After camping in Nagsasa, next thing I know we were already planning for our trip to Mt. Pulag. We initially intended to have a preclimb activity but our work schedules were so tight. With our fingers crossed, we booked our Mt. Pulag adventure.

We decided to take a trip package, as we did in Nagsasa, so we wouldn't worry about food and camping stuff. Well, most of us are first time mountain climbers so we need some help in Mt. Pulag. Note, it is the highest peak in Luzon so this is something major. So we got in touch with Nino's friend Alain to arrange our trip.

Preparation meant shopping for some gears. We needed some trekking pants, trekking shoes, big bag, sleeping bag, fleece jackets and other stuff to survive the cold weather in Pulag. I thought 3K budget each was all that we needed. It covers the package only: transportation, fees, food. Nobody mentioned it would cost more since we didn't have trekking stuff! Tina and Annie went with Keith and me to Divisoria to shop for some stuff and they said, "mas ok pang magbeach, 'di kelangan ng damit at madaming gamit!" Well, they were totally right!

So it was me, Keith, Lee, Bobby, Nino, Logan, Rodel, and Chris to Pulag. Tina wasn't able to come as she can't take a leave on her new job and Glenn hasn't been cleared yet but his doctor to go trekking. Bobby invited his cousins and their friends and that's another 10 people... Sorry didn't get all their names, too shy but we all got along.

The plan was to take the Ambangeg-Ambangeg trail. It is called the executive trail since it's the easiest. Another trail, called Akiki trail, would take climbers 3 days to reach the mountain's summit.

Coron 2013 with my ACN Team

Cloudy, a friend and former team mate in Accenture invited me to Coron. It was supposed to be her homecoming last January but then she got another assignment in the US so it was just us Manila peeps on the trip. Amabel, whom I was the closest and treated as my best friend in the team forgot to book me a plane ticket! Ryan had to pass since he got an offshore assignment as well so luckily for me I took his seat. Got fake IDs so I could board the plane using his ticket!

This was my 3rd time in Coron and I want to keep coming back! 

We checked in at Islands View Inn. It's kinda new. Set meals with 2 viands included in our tour package. 

Missing Sea Dive Resort in my first time in Coron... They used to serve sit in buffet and we could ask any food we wanted like unlimited lobsters!

Our first stop was the park. 

Then our van took us to a pasalubong center. We didn't but anything yet since it was our first day and we've only been to 1 site!