Hiking matters #95: Mt. Maculot's Rockies with the Orang Gunung Kuala Lumpur (OGKL)

Taal Volcano was unfortunately unavailable with the Alert Level 2 status still up. We settled for best alternative: a mountain that's closest to Taal, affording good views of the volcano islands and the lake. I refer of course to Mt. Maculot, whose Rockies is a longtime favorite destination of mountaineers who want a relaxing, rewarding dayhike.

Our guests were no less than the Orang Gunung Kuala Lumpur (OGKL) mountaineering club who contacted us to help them arrange their expedition to the Philippines, entitled Explorasi Gunung-Gunung Filipina. We fetched them very early from Malate where they stayed after finishing two mountains - Mt. Arayat and Mt. Pinatubo. I was joined by two of my very young schoolmates in the INTARMED program at the UP College of Medicine: Orjy Dumaoang and Terrence Kua; and Jacob Sarreal (SBMS), a companion in several expeditions, and the youngest mountaineer to climb Mt. Halcon at age 8 (1997).

In the orientation, I finally met Deeno Lot with whom I've been coordinating for the past month, and the men and women of the 25-member OGKL team who visited the Philippines. We chartered a 30-seater bus to take us directly to Cuenca, Batangas. It was an achievement that our bus driver (Kuya Boy) was able to manuever the bus to the jumpoff at Brgy. Bagong Silang!

Before we started climbing, Koi Grey and Melo Sanchez, climbing buddies who just performed a continuous 22-hour G2 traverse weeks ago, caught up with us. We started trekking at around 0820H, climbing on a very relaxed pace since there was no real hurry.

The typhoon did little to affect the trail, which was largely intact. Soon we were enjoying the cool breezes and beautiful views of Taal Lake at the Rockies! Ive been to Mt. Maculot countless times but it's always nice to be at the Rockies.

After the quick descent, we sent off Apip Embi, OGKL Chairman, who had to return to Kuala Lumpur. Jacob, Koi, and I joined the rest of the team in a brief retreat in a private resort in Pansol, Calamba, where we rested before the finale of the Explorasi - Maktrav.

Some pictures courtesy of Koi Grey (2,3).

Hiking matters #94: MakTrav Friendship Climb with Orang Gunung Kuala Lumpur (OGKL)

PinoyMountaineer.com is a very pleased to have hosted one of the most respected mountaineering clubs in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, the Orang Gunung Kuala Lumpur (OGKL). In July 25, I invited my mountaineering friends to join me in a MakTrav climb (see official article) with the 24-man team from Malaysia. So early morning on that day, we met up at Jolibee Sto. Tomas. We had come from a resort in Pansol, Calamba where we accommodated the group after a climb up Mt. Maculot's Rockies (will blog about this later).

The weather forecasts were glum but still we pushed through. Trekking commenced at 0715H. Koi Grey and Melo Sanchez, fresh from their 22-hour continuous G2 traverse, joined us and secured the status of the ropes in Melkas. They were accompanied by some members of OGKL including the veteran Uncle Appa. They were followed by a main group, led by MakTrav veterans Sir Martin Cortes, Mayan Gutierrez, myself, and Jacob Sarreal.

After the initial trail-hunting to find the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), we had our first major stop at the Bahay Kubo (nipa hut) which was already dismantled. The water source too, was no longer available so had to resort to the water in the brook a little bit upstream. Henceforth it was a long march from Palanggana to the Melkas campsite and finally to the breathtaking, challenging Melkas Ridge.

We had quick lunch at Peak 3 (Mt. Cornites; 900 MASL), commencing the trek at 1315H. From this point a heavy downpour set in; the same day Metro Manila was flooded but it was not able to perturb our MakTrav ascent. Finally, we reached the summit, 1090 MASL, at 1445H - not bad considering that we were a large group of 40. It was truly a moment of celebration and friendship when we were at the summit. We congratulated the Malaysian team for the culmination of four mountains in their Explorasi Gunung Gunung Filipina (Exploration of Philippine Mountains) which took them to Mt. Arayat's South Peak, Pinatubo's Crater Lake, Mt. Maculot's Rockies, and finally, Makiling, and not just any ordinary Makiling, but MakTrav.

The descent to UPLB was brisk. We hired a jeepney from the Nursery area to collect all those who remained in the trail; by 1815H everybody was at the Mt. Makiling entrance. A total of 11 hours, 19 kilometers, 40 climbers from 3 nations (special mention to Jo Stevens from New Zealand), and of course, lots of memorable moments to take home. I hope this is just the beginning of many friendship climbs between the Philippines and Malaysia. More power to the Orang Gunung Kuala Lumpur (OGKL) outdoor club! You're always welcome here in the Philippines.


PinoyMountaineer.com thanks everyone who joined in the Friendship Climb! Special mention to Jacob Sarreal (SBMS), Makoi Grey, and Melo Sanchez (Lumad) who accompanied us from the previous climb up Mt. Maculot, as well as MakTrav veterans (and very good friends) Mayan Gutierrez (PALMC) and Sir Martin Cortes for joining us. Some pictures courtesy of Mayan Gutierrez (2,4,5,6,7) and Koi Grey (1)

Eulogy: Roger Guzman, Mt. Pulag Driver, Friend of Mountaineers

Roger Guzman

1975-2010

I've always wanted to feature Mang Roger in this website, considering his important role as the transportation contact for Mt. Pulag. He was the driver of choice in all our Cordillera mountain trips. Personally I've made arrangements for more than a dozen jeepneys from this guy and not once did they fail us.

When I joined the PALMC Bakun Trio climb last year, I got a chance to talk to him more. He personally drove our group all the way to Bakun, and, as part of the package, he had to stay the whole 4 days that we were there. I asked him, "Don't you get bored, waiting for us?" He told me that he was also enjoying it; "Masarap gumala," was his reply, adding that he really loved to drive, ever since he was a teenager. Perhaps for him it was an adventure in itself, traversing all those long and winding roads-less-traveled, seeing the mountaineers clad in their costumes, excited, free-spirited, joyful.

How did it all begin? He recalls a group of mountaineers approaching him in the jeepney terminal in Baguio City, as he was waiting for his turn. It was the summer of 2001. They asked him if his jeepney can make it to Mt. Pulag; they have tried others but they were disappointed. The intrepid Roger gamely agreed to take them to Mt. Pulag Ranger Station; the mountaineers were pleased, and for the next decade he became a familiar face to all of us.

That is why he was considered a friend of mountaineers: he did not just take us to the jumpoff; he was part of our expeditions. It was important for him to take us to the jumpoff, in the same way that it was important for us to reach the summit. His cell number is in every mountaineering club's phonebook. And even when the oil prices rose, he held fast with his mountaineer-friendly rates that made Pulag accessible on a weekend.

Unfortunately his good relationship with mountaineers was viewed by some with envy, and the last time we met, in April 2010, he expressed concern about some people who wish him ill. I remember during the 1st PinoyMountaineer Charity Climb in 2009, before we parted at the Victory Terminal in Baguio, he said, "Sir, salamat sa kabuhayan."

Kabuhayan! This man was earning his keep humbly and with integrity. Though an Ibaloi, he offered free transportation to the Kalanguyas in Babadak and he gladly brought the sick people to the hospitals in Baguio when needed. If he had raised the jeepney prices for Mt. Pulag, we wouldn't really complain because we trust him and he virtually had a monopoly and yet he stuck with his friendly rates, just enough for his family.

For such a good man to be killed in his own town in La Trinidad, mercilessly, is such a atrocious offense and the mountaineering community strongly condemns it. He was at the prime of his life and if not for this evil deed, he might have been still around to take our children to the beautiful mountains.

Sorrow reigns today but very soon, justice is something we must clamor for. The killer, and those behind his death, must be punished. And we must make sure that if they do exist, those who sought to profit from Mang Roger's demise will not have the morbid satisfaction of getting what they want. We look forward to Roger's nephew, family, and associates continuing his jeepney service. They are the worthy inheritors of the reputation and relationship that Roger has built with us.

Manong Roger, you will be well remembered. A good man, a reliable driver, a great friend of mountaineers.

This eulogy was read by Raniel Guzman, nephew of Mang Roger, during the funeral service in La Trinidad, Benguet, July 29, 2010. Photo taken in September 2009 in Bakun, Benguet.