Packed and Ready | Mindanao 1-2-3

At last, my long wait will soon come to an end. In 4 days' time, I will fly to Mindanao and embark on a 12-day expedition on some of the highest mountains in the country - the mountains Apo, Dulang-Dulang and Kitanglad, (the first, second and fourth highest peaks in the Philippines).

Mindanao is the second largest island of the Philippines, where you have possibilities to explore tropical forest. Most tourists stay in a cheap hotel in Davao, the largest city in Mindanao. For those who seek adventure, the Island offers activities such as jungle tracking and climbing the highest mountain of the Philippines.


I already have my round trip plane tickets, all the necessary arrangements for the climbs are set (thanks to my friends for organizing the climbs: Jay for the Talomo-Apo MegaTraverse, and Agnes for the D2K Traverse), my 12-days worth of stuff are already packed in my 55L backpack. Basically, I am just waiting for the big day to finally come, hurrah I'm really really excited for this! I just hope the weather will cooperate.

Mt. Maculot (MacTrav) | From Grotto to Rockies

One week before this Mt. Maculot traverse dayhike, I joined Trail Adventours in their Twin Day Hikes in Laguna, and with us was the awesomest blogger behind Pinoymountaineer, Doc Gideon Lasco. While trekking the trail of Mt. Kalisungan, I had a little mountain talk with Doc.

My conversation with Doc Gideon of Pinoy Mountaineer:

Doc Gid: Hey Ivan, naka-ilang bundok ka na?
Me: 29 na Doc, pang-30 yung Mabilog mamaya...
Doc: Andami na rin ha... teka, hulaan ko yang mountains mo... Of course Pulag, Tapulao, Arayat, Batulao.. (and so on...)
Me: Hehe... 
Doc: But have you summitted all these mountains?
Me: Ughhmm... well yung Mt. Maculot, Rockies pa lang. 
Doc: Ay, wala na... 28 mountains ka pa lang. haha
Me: Haha
Doc: Don't worry, Maculot Rockies is still a summit itself..
Me: [napa-isip ng matagal]

One week after that talk with Doc Gideon, I found myself walking the streets of Cuenca, Batangas, heading to Mt. Maculot, and my goal that day was to finish my unfinished business - traverse the mountain and reach its summit.

Intramuros on a Major Makeover

It has been eight months now since I last visited Intramuros. After spending 4 long years of my college life in this walled city, I have developed a special attachment to it. Somehow, I'm starting to miss those moments in my life where I use to walk on its walls, stare at its aged buildings, and feel the antiquity of this former Spanish colonial capital.

This uneasy feeling made me want to revisit Intramuros the soonest possible. I want to see again the walled city 8 months after I left the place.