I
CAN FEEL THE ADDED weight and I am not comfortable with it. The
month of December had pampered my stomach and intestines so much that
my bodily desire to crave for more of the fats and sweets that I have
been regulating for the past eleven months had gone out of hand. I
have added girth that my favorite pair of Mammut hiking pants
is rendered cabinet-bound.
The
result of a hundred table feasts had made me uneasy and I have to
push away the nagging feeling of just being lazy and being near the
kitchen all the time where my wife cooks tasty concoctions. Got to
say NO today – December 30, 2012 – and prepare myself for battle
for the year 2013.
I
have got to train again this early before it is too late and I set my
sights to my ever wondrous Mount Babag where, I believe, is
sufficient to give me this challenge. Others got wind of my plan
(and predicament) and make themselves available. So, I will share
the trail today with Randell Savior, Dominikus Sepe, Ernie Salomon,
Wil Rhys-Davies and Mr. Bogs.
When
I arrive at the church grounds of Guadalupe, Ernie and Mr. Bogs were
already there. Then my cellphone got busy telling me to wait for a
Dom, a Jungle Wil and a Randell. Okay. Fine. Whatever.
I
carry a 40-liter Sandugo Khumbu bag and it has a stove, fuel
can, a small pot, a skillet, a stainless steel cup, spoon-fork set,
an extra shirt, my EDC, my tomahawk and my fire kit (just in case).
I feel that the whole weight is inadequate for training so I buy a
kilo of rice and two kilos of pork meat.
The
added three kilos will be my training weight and I don’t need to
share it to the rest and I will dispose of these when I reach the
abode of the Roble family as my post-Christmas gift to them. I also
buy fifty-pesos worth of bread for Manwel, Juliet and Josel. It is
good for the heart and the spirit to share something and do exercise
on the side.
Would
I need to eat breakfast before I start the hike to Napo? The better
of me got the good answer and it says NO. It is already 8:10 AM when
we all walk the asphalt road to the highlands of Cebu City. The
weather is fine although it would be hot pretty soon when the heat
would dissipate away the early morning clouds that hover over the
mountain ridges.
When
was the last time I walk this road? Ah, I remember. I was alone
when I walk here to the Roble homestead last January 29, 2012. I was
bringing seeds for planting then. Today, I still bring seeds. I
have with me five nuts of the tabon-tabon tree (sp. Atuna
racemosa). This is a native of Mindanao Island and it is used in
processing raw fish as a dish.
Anyway,
I practice my scant English with Wil who never leave my side until we
reach Napo. From there we cross the Sapangdaku Creek and follow it
upstream by walking on the trail high above its banks. It rained
yesterday but the ground is firm although a few muddy spots are
present which we simply walk around or step over.
It
is almost ten when we all arrive at Lower Kahugan Spring. I add
another kilo to my back by filling my one-liter Nalgene bottle full.
Now they were discussing which way to go but I tell them that I am on
training and would rather take the hardest route which is the one
that passes over a flower farm and which is facing directly the sun.
What bravado! Let us see.
From
the creek I lead the way and when I reach a mango tree my resolve
begin to wilt. I gasp for air while my “love handles” weigh now
like elephants. A tell-tale cramp on my left upper thigh poke my
senses. Recovering my tattered sense of pride, I block those that
have plans to overtake me and pushed myself up the hill and that
danged shade-less flower farm.
Inhaling
deep I begin crossing the exposed hillside and glad to have reach a
shady part and, this time, I let the others go past me. Above me are
more flower farms and I am now more comfortable with my pace with
nobody behind me. I am the last to reach the big mango tree where
houses are found underneath and I relish the coolness of the place.
I
would have stayed long but Jungle Wil do not like that idea and I
need to wake up from my stupor. Well, got to push my sorry ass now
and save me some semblance of dignity. Obviously, I got the heaviest
backpack and what made it worse is I carry a lot of unwanted bulges
in my waist now and this is a serious battle. Yeah. I am serious!
My
going is slow and I can see the others moving far ahead. When I
reach a lot of shaded areas, my disposition is improving a little. I
do not have to chase the air for my nose and the tell-tale cramp
begins to disappear. From time to time, I see Mr. Bogs ahead in the
same predicament as mine but I try not to notice so he would not
force himself to work double.
Finally,
over the horizon, I see the big tamarind tree. Underneath it is the
Roble homestead and my friends should be there by now making coffee.
The last stretch would be hot so I conserve my strength for this
moment. It is now or never and I give my one last good puff of
rested breath and I am there after a great effort of ignoring pain,
heat and weight.
I
got hold of the bench post and how I am glad that the nearest bench
is empty. It is shaded and the bamboo seats are very cool and I
immediately let go of my backpack as I momentarily closed my eyes to
savor at this luxury. Wow, I could go on like this and not move but
I need to retrieve the goods that I intend to give to the Roble
family.
Yes,
I got it and I bring the rice, the meat and the bread to the house
and give it to Fele. His wife just arrive from their farm up another
ridge and she showed a smile of gratitude and thanks. That’s all I
need to keep my spirit moving and it’s a good feeling. Now, time
to get my steel cup for that steaming coffee.
Ernie
begins his magic on the cooking while Randell, Dom and Bogs take care
of the milled corn. Me and Wil are engaged in a long conversation
about the possibility of putting up a wilderness skills school. The
green coconuts arrive and so is Manwel. Ernie is able to finish the
mixed-vegetable soup and pork adobo and we progress to eating these
as our much-awaited lunch.
After
an hour of rest and pleasant conversations, we bade goodbye to the
Roble family and proceed to Babag Ridge. Jungle Wil lead the way
while I follow him. We are now climbing the Babag East Ridge Pass.
It seem that I recovered my rhythm. Blame that to the lighter weight
although I get to carry eight cobs of corn that Fele’s wife gave
me.
The
progress to reach the ridge take more than an hour. I am a bit
disturbed that there are now barbed-wire fences where there were none
the last time I climbed here. A no entry signage is now found on the
short cut route to Manwel’s Peak. People are now getting greedy, I
guess, and they are falsely claiming land where, I know, are
classified as timberland.
We
walk the Babag Ridge Road under the noontime heat but it is cooler
here since it is above 600 meters above sea level. By the time I see
a landmark where the trail to Kalunasan start, we separate from the
road. I lead while others follow. I see the steep trail being
furrowed in the middle caused by motorcycles. Water runoffs from
rain made it deep and it is an ugly sight.
Down
and down we go over very slippery terrain and polished stones and
into scattered copse of southern mahogany trees. Here and there are
mango trees and flower farms. This is the No-Santol-Tree Trail which
I found and explored in 2009. The last time I used this path was
during the Night Navigation Training on April 5, 2012 which ended on
the early hours of the following day – April 6.
After
more than an hour of walking, we reach the Kalunasan Circumferential
Road and we walk south towards Napo. It is 4:00 PM and I am
satisfied with my effort today in battling myself of those unwanted
bulges. We take motorcyles-for-hire back to the Our Lady of
Guadalupe Church and then transfer to the Red Hours Convenience Store
for our customary post-activity discussions.
What
a day and I just wish it could go on like this everyday but I cannot
since I am free only on just a couple of Sundays every month.
Nevertheless, it’s a good start and I feel good now. My limbs are
working fine and I feel a sense of a looseness now. I think I am
ready for 2013 and that project that Jungle Wil proposed to me.
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