Tacadang Travel Challenge Pt. 1…in Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet

Christmas Day has passed, everyone! How did you spend it? I hope you had a good and meaningful Christmas, with the people who matter. I had a restful one, thank you for asking, and with the family, too, so all’s well! And it looks like this blog, too, had a bit of a rest period. And before the year is over, imma shake it up a bit! This time, with a series of posts about my last major climb/trek for 2015, in Tacadang, Kibungan.

Continue reading “Tacadang Travel Challenge Pt. 1…in Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet”

The Ambongdolan Caves of Tublay, Benguet: Bengaongao Cave

I thank the powers-that-be that I am not claustrophobic; otherwise, I’d have missed out on a lot. Checking out caves being one of them. It’s certainly not the most glamorous of activities. Not the cleanest, either, so it’s not for the faint of heart. Or clean-freaks. In fact, the dirtier you get, the more fun it is. …OK, that… sounded wrong. Let’s just get to exploring Bengaongao Cave, shall we?  Continue reading “The Ambongdolan Caves of Tublay, Benguet: Bengaongao Cave”

The Ambongdolan Caves of Tublay, Benguet: Paterno Cave

November has come and gone, and it’s the last month of the year. Surprisingly, except for a couple of weekend getaways, my November was slightly “quiet”. Still, I would like to dedicate this, and the next couple of posts, to several spots of Benguet, in belated celebration of her founding anniversary, the Adivay, which was celebrated for the entire month of November. The focus of this post: the caves of Ambongdolan, in the municipality of Tublay, my dad’s hometown, on his maternal side. Continue reading “The Ambongdolan Caves of Tublay, Benguet: Paterno Cave”

Baguio Eats: Tanapew Cafe (updated 01.03.16)

If the most recent activity, in terms of traffic, in this blog is any indication, it looks like more than a few people will be flocking to Capisaan Caves in Nueva Vizcaya over the long weekend. And why not? It is definitely a must-see, and I actually envy those who will be able to as I, too, wouldn’t mind going back sometime in the future. To those who are going, I hope my post about my visit to the place was able to convince you to check it out for yourself. Oh, and let me know what you thought of it, aiight?
Continue reading “Baguio Eats: Tanapew Cafe (updated 01.03.16)”

One Night At Mt. Jumbo of La Trinidad

The month of July has finally rolled around, and the powers-that-be has declared that, yes, the rainy season is finally upon us. During this latter half of the year, there is a smaller chance of going on treks and hikes, because there is always the rain to ruin even the best-laid plans. But we take what we can get, and we are lucky that we have the nearby Mt. Jumbo of La Trinidad to tide us over, at least until we can find another hike-worthy spot to explore. Continue reading “One Night At Mt. Jumbo of La Trinidad”

6th Christmas Ed Kapangan, Benguet (Day 1)

Here’s a sad fact: my roots are in Kapangan, but I am not fully acquainted with it, having been born in Baguio and spent most of my life in La Trinidad and Baguio, with the occasional visits to my grandma in Kapangan, and other relatives in Tublay and Atok. I was aware that the Christmas Ed Kapangan (translates to “Christmas in Kapangan”) has been going on annually and, this time, I was especially keen that I join. Before anything else, though, let me just greet you all a very merry Christmas!! Continue reading “6th Christmas Ed Kapangan, Benguet (Day 1)”

Being Conquered By Mt. Pulag

On my first climb at Mt. Pulag, I overheard one of the journalists gripe about how many who reach the summit go “I conquered Mt. Pulag!”. He said that YOU don’t conquer Mt. Pulag; Mt. Pulag conquers YOU. I agree. How, on God’s green earth, can you expect to ever conquer a mountain? And how can you boast to have been able to conquer something that doesn’t even care that you did?

After writing that post about Kabayan’s Four Lakes, I suddenly felt the urge to dig through my hard drive for old photos and, what do you know, I still have them! So that spurred me to write this post about my three jaunts up Mt. Pulag.

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Ambuklao Adventure III: A Photodiary

One sure sign that you truly enjoyed an experience: you have a hard time letting go of it. I was randomly going through the photos uploaded by others who were with us during the Ambuklao Adventure III last October 24 to 26, and I just knew this deserved a third post, if only to wrap it up. This photodiary will never do justice with the amount of fun we had during this enriching experience, but I hope it shows, even just a little, how much it did.
Continue reading “Ambuklao Adventure III: A Photodiary”

The Four Lakes of Mystical Kabayan

We might not realize it, but we all have our “no-fail-places-to-go-to”. It’s the kind of place that you can go to repeatedly and never fail to be satisfied, awed, or amazed. You just want to keep coming back, no matter what the circumstances because it just never fails to make a positive impact on you. It’s probably a coffee shop, a restaurant, a certain beach, or a specific town you always go to for a quick getaway. I, too, have a shortlist, and on it is mystical Kabayan. Continue reading “The Four Lakes of Mystical Kabayan”

Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 3)

At this moment, a group of adventurous spirits have started their 2-day Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse in Bokod. A~ah. If not for certain circumstances, we’d have likely been part of that group. Maybe next year? Anyhoo, this post is all about Day 3, the final day, of our very own traverse last October 20, 2013.

(This is the last installment of my series of posts about the Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse.)

Continue reading “Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 3)”

Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 2)

“I’ve been to Purgatory, and I had a lot of fun”. Not a lot of people could say that; and I’m willing to bet that not a lot of people would even WANT to say that. But I’m referring to Mt. Purgatory, which we’re about to pass through later on.

Day 2 of our Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse, and we set off with full stomachs, heavy packs, and light hearts.

Continue reading “Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 2)”

Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 1)

Some may say that every mountain is like all the others; climb one and you’ve climbed them all. Not so. From the few that I’ve gone to, each mountain has a story to tell, each experience stands out, and all the memories are a joy to go back to.

This weekend, November 8-9, 2014, is the Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse. This climb, so close on the heels of the Ambuklao Adventure 3 (which you can read about here and here), is part of the 114th celebration of the anniversary of the province of Benguet, thru Adivay (in the local dialect, it means “gathering” or “coming together”). Hence, the tagline “Pan-aadivay Tayo’d Kashontogan” which is Ibaloi for “our gathering/coming together in the (lit.) hills”. Continue reading “Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 1)”

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