2013 Year End Post | Beaches, Hikes and Everything Nice

Time flies so fast. Parang kahapon, kakasimula lang ng 2013, pero ngayon matatapos na siya, napakabilis. Napakaraming naganap, masasaya, exciting, nakakapagod, nakakakilig, nakakabusog at marami pang iba. Marami rin bagong karanasan at bagong taong nakasalamuha. Overall, my 2013 was a blast!

So before the year ends, here's a run down of my adventures this 2013.

January

6 Mt. Cristobal Traverse

13 Mt. Marami hike

17-20 Mt. Talomo-Apo Megatraverse

21-22 Samal Island

24-27 Mt. Dulang-Dulang-Kitanglad (D2K traverse)

After completing the physically demanding Talomo-Apo Megatraverse, I headed to Bukidnon to do the D2K Traverse. Oh, it's one of my greatest traverses.

February

9 Mt. Timbac

10 Baguio City

16 Mt. Maculot

23-24 Palaui Island

Palaui Island, the northernmost destination of the year, gave me a sneak peek of my next birthday trip.

March

3 Mt. Makiling

9 Mt. Natib

16 Mt. Makiling

17 Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Sombrero Island

23-24 Mt. Balingkilat

24 Nagsasa Cove

Beautiful but tormenting. The hottest hike of our lives.

April

6-7 Mt. Bulusan

14-16 Mt. Kanlaon

16 Mambukal Resort

17 Bacolod, Talisay and Silay

21 San Jose Circuit

The ultimate volcano experience is found in Negros Island!

May

1 Mt. Kalisungan-Atimla

4-5 Mt. Pulag via Akiki-Tawangan

19 Buntot Palos waterfall

25 Mt. Makiling

26 Mt. Talamitam-Batulao

Amazing Pulag experience, ascended via the difficult Akiki, descended via the mossy Tawangan. The best in the Cordilleras.

June

2 Mt. Arayat

8 Mt. Maculot traverse

29 Mt. Cristobal Traverse

All the plains are visible from atop Mt. Arayat

July

6 Mt. Batulao-Talamitam

7 Mt. Makiling traverse

14 Mt. Tagapo

20-22 Kalinga Province

It's an honor to meet Apo Whang-Od, the last mambabatok of the Kalinga People.

August

3 Mt. Natib traverse

11 Tarak Ridge-Samat

15-17 Mt. Apo via Kapatagan

18-21 Camiguin Island

19 Mt. Hibok-Hibok

20 Mt. Timpoong

26 Mt. Marami

For the second time this year, I went up the highest peak in the Philippines. The volcanic face of Mt. Apo is indeed mesmerizing.

September

8 Pico de Loro traverse

14 Mt. Labo

21-22 Porac, Pampanga Aeta Outreach

29 Mt. Romelo

I have hiked Pico de Loro a couple of times, but never did I make it to the other side. It feels good to finally have it done this year.

October

6 Mt. Makiling traverse

13 Tanay trail run

20 Taal Volcano

At long last, my itchy feet reached the smallest volcano.

November

3 Mt. Pinatubo

23 Mt. Banoi

24 Mt. Makiling

once again, I reached the wide-mouth Pinatubo crater, the 5th volcano adventure of the year

December

1 Mt. Daguldol, Laiya Beach

7-8 Mt. Purgatory traverse

15 Taal heritage town, Mt. Maculot

22 Intramuros day tour

27-28 Cordillera hike Tawangan-Hungduan

29 Mt. Napulauan 

The old town and the biggest Catholic Church in Asia.

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2013 Fun Facts

Total Time Spent on Traveling/Hiking: 2 Month, 17 days, and 1 hour (rough estimate)
Farthest North: Palaui Island, Cagayan Province
Farthest South: Digos City, Davao del Sur
Longest Bus Ride: 15 hrs (Manila to Sta. Ana, Cagayan)
Number of Provinces: 21 (9 new provinces)
Number of Beach Trips: 6
Number of Mountain Hikes: 42 (36 unique mountains; 20 new mountains)
Number of Waterfalls: 9
Number of Lighthouses: 2
Number of Cave Adventures: 0
Number of Fiesta: 0
Number of Flights: 7
Number of Solo Trips: 4

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Happy New Year!