AFTER
ACCOMPLISHING FIFTY PERCENT of the CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT last
May 2015, the Exploration Team prepares to tackle the second half by
taking on the first of the last four parts, which is Segment IV. The
route that Segment IV will follow, will be from Mount Manunggal,
Balamban, flowing north to Caurasan, Carmen. It will pass by the
mountain ranges of Cebu's Midnorth Area and would be one of the
hardest yet of the eight segments allotted to the Cebu Highlands
Trail Project.
The
CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT is a personal undertaking that had has
as its beginnings from the passion of hiking and camping among
mountains. I realized that the island of Cebu can be walked along
its most rugged spine from north to south or reverse. It only takes
a steely determination to achieve this to offset what I lacked in
funds and sponsors. Later on, people began to appreciate how this
project will benefit Cebu and its people. Patterned after the
Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail of the USA, it will be
an attraction soon for foreign and local tourists when completed.
The
Exploration Team that I organized is not at its peak for Segment IV
and I have only Justin Apurado to accompany me. I do not know how we
both would achieve Segment IV but we will follow things according to
plan. We will be on a wide stretch of country where, many years ago
– and still is – considered too dangerous for mainstream outdoor
activities. We do not have the benefit of a guide nor of a local who
may well act as liaison. This would be exploration at its best,
travelling by traditional means, aided only by a compass and by
printed versions of small maps from a website.
I
am pressuring myself to end the exploration phase of this ambitious
project in 2016 and make the CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL available to the
public by 2017. I have done this almost singlehandedly and I am
determined to finish this to the end even if I am left with rags to
wear. What you do not know is that I will leave a legacy of dots in
a box – a template – so others who will follow after me would
refine the CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL into a first-class long trail that
would attract international backpackers and encourage local ones to
enjoy their own mountains.
Today,
October 22, 2015, is the day when Segment IV will finally be walked
through. I and Justin had prepared well our stamina, including the
basic items that the Team needs. This Team, to include reserves
Jonathan Apurado and Jovahn Ybañez, is better prepared and organized
than the previous ones I had led so there would be no more waste of
time. The sacrifices and preparations during our training had worked
so well during Segment III and Segment V where the Team had shaved a
day each from its original schedules.
I
will lead again my Team into places where many mainstream outdoors
people have not been into before. There is more to Cebu and
adventure can be most enjoyed here horizontally instead of vertical
ascents. This is a four-day hike that will start from the
Transcentral Highway in Balamban and, hopefully, would end at Carmen.
I will follow a hypothetical route that will surely pass into Danao
City and Carmen and, probably, might stray into either Cebu City,
Asturias, Compostela or maybe in Tuburan.
After
waking up at 04:00, I walk out of my house an hour later to the old
Compania Maritima, across the Cebu City Hall, which has been
converted into a terminal for passenger vans for hire, and waited for
Justin. Confused with their travel schedules, we transferred to
another terminal at the Cebu Business Park where we were able to
depart at around 06:40.
As
in every organized explorations, there is the Base Support Team. It
will monitor our progress and will give weather updates to us and
then informs the outdoors community in Facebook. Chad Bacolod, a
fine communicator from Ham Radio Cebu, will man the desk. We will
“ride” on the frequency of the Central Cebu Rescue Emergency Team
(CCRET) of Danao City. Another crew, Jhurds Neo, of the Camp Red and
Bushcraft and Survival Guild, will be alternate on communications and
would be mobilized when in emergencies.
This
Team, will carry a banner that describes our activity as well as the
logos and names of sponsors. These are GV Hotels, Silangan Outdoor
Equipment, Titay’s Lilo-an Rosquillos and Native Delicacies,
Tactical Security Agency, Jonathan Blanes, Glen Domingo, Alan Poole,
Alvin John Osmeña, Aljew Frasco, Boy Toledo and Glenn Pestaño.
Also included are entities who contribute to the Team by other means
like Camp Red, Mountain Climbers Alliance of the Philippines, Ham
Radio Cebu, Drinox's Kitchen, Quijano Family, PAC Outdoor Gear, the
Philippine Mountaineering Blog and the Warrior Pilgrimage Blog.
We
are proudly wearing the team uniform jerseys provided for by Silangan
with the name of the CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT emblazoned on the
front. Silangan Outdoor Equipment is my official outfitter since I
endorse their products through my Warrior Pilgrimage Blog and in fora
where the outdoors community interact. I am wearing their Greyman
Hiking Pants and are bringing also their blue-colored side pouch and
their second generation hammock. Likewise, I will be using a new
pair of Merrell Geomorph hike shoes that Mr. Frasco had provided me.
Aside
that, the CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT is officially sanctioned by
the Cebu Provincial Government as a legitimate outdoor activity that
would help them identify places where adventure tourism would be
developed on the remote mountain areas of the island. This, after my
meeting with the Honorable Grecilda Sanchez, board member
representing the Third District, and Ms. Mary Grace Paulino, the
provincial tourism officer.
The
following are the narrative of events in chronological order that
tell the whole picture of SEGMENT IV-A, CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT:
DAY
1 – October 22, 2015
-
Leave the Ayala Terminal at
06:40 by passenger van bound for Gaas, Balamban. We were delayed
departure by two hours due to confusing travel schedule at the
Compania Maritima terminal.
-
Arrive at the corner of
Gaas-Sunog Road at 08:00
-
Start of first day hike.
Leave road corner at 08:15 for the village of Sunog, Balamban by an
alternately paved and unpaved road. Pace: Moderate to fast.
Weather: Sunny but cool.
-
Passed by vicinity of Mount
Manunggal at 10:00.
-
Arrive at the outskirts of
Sunog at 10:25. Change original plan by taking on a newly-created
road going to the village of Matun-og. Pace: Slow to moderate.
Weather: Partly cloudy and sunny and very warm.
-
Stop at 11:45 for noon break
just below the shoulder of Matun-og Peak. Boiled water for coffee
and subsist on rosquillos and dehydrated fruit.
-
Resume hike at 13:00 and
proceed to the village of Matun-og. Pace: Slow to moderate.
Weather: Partly cloudy and sunny and very warm.
-
Arrive at the outskirts of the
village of Matun-og at 13:55 and backtracked to the unpaved road
that would lead to the next village of Cabasiangan. Pace: Slow to
moderate. Weather: Sunny and very warm.
-
Stop by a store on the
vicinity of the village of Cabasiangan at 15:45 to rest and
rehydrate.
-
Resume walk at 15:50. Pace:
Moderate to fast. Weather: Sunny and warm.
-
Arrive at the village center
of Cabasiangan at 16:30. Make courtesy call to village officials
and ask permission to spend night at their multi-purpose building.
Village officials who were under the influence of liquor subjected
us to long and repeated questionings. Permission denied. Another
official, Mr. Jun Entroliso, suggests that we stay at his place.
-
Leave villlage center of
Cabasiangan at 17:15 to a place called Guimatag. Access to there is
done negotiating down a very deep valley and then up.
-
Arrive at Guimatag at 18:00.
Mr. Entroliso's family offered us free stay at their place and free
food of vegetable soup and milled corn and a strong beverage of
white coconut (Local name: tuba
lina). Dinner at
18:50. Failed to establish radio contact with Eagle Base. Weather:
Cool. Taps at 21:30.
-
ESTIMATED KILOMETERS WALKED:
15.4
DAY
2 – October 23, 2015
-
Wake-up at 05:45. Coffee then
breakfast. Food prepared by our host family are free-rein chicken
soup and milled corn. Breakfast at 06:30.
-
Start of second day hike.
Leave Guimatag at 07:30 for the village center of Cabasiangan going
down the same route as yesterday's. Pace: Slow. Weather: Hazy
skies and warm.
-
Proceed to the village of
Ginatilan. Pace: Slow to moderate.
-
Stop by community of Casili at
09:25 to rest and rehydrate.
-
Resume hike at 09:35. Pace:
Moderate to fast. Weather: Hazy skies and very warm.
-
Arrive at village of Ginatilan
at 10:45 to rest and rehydrate. Stop for noon break. Offered free
lunch by a local official.
-
Resume hike at 12:45 for the
Balamban River. Pace: Slow to moderate. Weather: Hazy skies and
extremely warm.
-
Cross boundary into Kaluangan,
Asturias at 13:15 after crossing the Balamban River.
-
Pass by the community of Uling
at 13:30 for the community of Harag Bogo on the other side of a
mountain. Pace: Slow. Weather: Hazy skies and extremely warm.
-
Stop by a small stream at
13:45 to rest and rehydrate and to enjoy the spectacle of two
Philippine orioles (Local name: antolihaw)
fighting over territory. Resume hike at an ascending trail and stop
at a nearby
homestead at 14:15 to rest and rehydrate.
-
Resume hike at 14:40. Pace:
Slow. Weather: Hazy skies and extremely warm.
-
Stop at a ridge above the
community of Harag Bogo at 15:30 to rest and rehydrate and to find
location on map with compass.
-
Resume hike at 16:00 and
arrive at the homestead owned by the couple Candido and Eleuteria
Garces at 16:15 to set up bivouac area and coffee break.
-
Dinner at 18:30. Food were
beef soup, deep-fried pork and milled corn. Failed to establish
radio contact with Eagle Base. Weather: Cool. Taps at 21:30.
-
ESTIMATED KILOMETERS WALKED:
14.5
DAY
3 – October 24, 2015
-
Wake-up at 05:30. Coffee then
breakfast. Breakfast at 06:00. Food were cream of mushroom soup,
deep-fried pork with sweetened krill and milled corn.
-
Start of second day hike.
Leave Garces Homestead at 07:25 for the community of Harag Bogo
going down a very deep valley. Pace: Slow. Weather: Hazy skies and
warm.
-
Arrive at the outskirts of the
community of Harag Bogo at 08:15 and refilled water bottles full.
Cross an unnamed stream, which I believed as the Kaluangan River and
cross boundary by climbing a long ridge leading to Cambubho, Danao
City. Pace: Very slow. Weather: Hazy skies and extremely warm.
-
Stop at shady part of trail
exhausted at 09:10 to rest and rehydrate.
-
Stop at shady part of trail
exhausted at 09:45 to rest and rehydrate.
-
Stop at shady part of trail
exhausted at 10:45 to rest and rehydrate.
-
Stop at shady part of trail
exhausted at 10:55 for a noon break and for coffee.
-
Resume hike at 13:00
-
Arrive at the outskirts of the
village of Cambubho at 13:10 to rest and rehydrate on fresh
coconuts.
-
Resume hike at 13:30 for the
village center of Cambubho. Pace: Moderate. Weather: Hazy skies
and extremely warm.
-
Arrive at the village center
of Cambubho at 14:15 and proceed without stopping to the village of
Danasan.
-
Arrive at the village of
Danasan at 16:00. Proceed first to do courtesy call to a detachment
of the 79th IB, Philippine Army before finishing our business for
the day with another courtesy call to the village head of Danasan to
ask permission to spend night at their multi-purpose building.
Prepare coffee then supper. Food are seaweed soup, deep-fried pork
and milled corn. Dinner at 19:00. Weather: Cool. Taps at 22:00.
DAY
4 – October 25, 2015
-
Wake-up at 05:30. Coffee.
-
Attend a Catholic Mass at the
village chapel at 07:00.
-
Leave Danasan for the city
center of Danao City at 08:00 by motorcycles.
-
Arrive Danao City at 08:45.
Breakfast at market.
-
Leave Danao City for Cebu City
at 09:30 by public utility jitney.
-
Arrive Cebu City at 10:30.
The
Team officially have logged 38.96 kilometers of walking from Point A
to Point B, basing upon the auto computation of Wikiloc, a web-based
application which can either be manipulated by uploading GPS
waypoints or by manual tracing of the route by a mouse but, I
believed, we had logged more than that. We have, for a few times,
been forced to backtrack when we believed that we were going the
wrong way. We had not reached Caurasan, Carmen as planned but there
will be another day for that and that would be designated as Segment
IV-B.
We
each carried an average of 15+ kilos although we are observing light
backpacking. Food, cooking pots and our sleeping equipment had used
up much of our cargo space. It is good that water could be had along
the route even under this El Niño phenomenon which was made more
complex by the presence of a hazy smoke in the atmosphere. This haze
originated from the forest fires in Indonesia and carried by the
southwest wind. The places where we pass by are still abundant of
water but, despite that, there is a need to carry at least two liters
of water. Along the route are many clear mountain streams which the
locals still use for domestic purposes.
We
carried our big knives openly as against the common notion that most
outdoors club do on their members not to carry one. I have a
custom-made AJF Gahum heavy-duty knife hanging by my side while
Justin carries a Seseblade Parang. Aside from that, I have also a
Mora Companion, a Buck Classic 112 and a Victorinox SAK Trailmaster
with me. These may be extra weight but these are very essential. I
also carried my fire kit, my survival kit, my IFAK and an iCom IC-V80
VHF radio with a Modulebox Skyprobe antenna.
On
the other hand, folks see our presence on all of the places we passed
as very unusual. They have not encountered or have seen hikers,
outdoorsmen and urbanites with backpacks before and they viewed us
with constant suspicion until you break the ice by giving them a
genuine smile and a greeting. Ultimately a conversation begins,
explaining your purpose, and would make them see a bit but they
cannot comprehend of why we walk when riding motorcycles are more
convenient.
The
addition of Segment IV-A is but one step closer to my objective. The
next routes would be very hard as the other already-finished segments
nor would it ensure favorable conditions. Definitely, the next
segments will not be a walk in the park and would demand navigation
savvy from the Exploration Team, which that responsibility rests
squarely on me, as had been tested by this Segment IV-A. The CEBU
HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT from hereon goes on a high swing of
difficulty but the Team accepts that challenge by adapting to what it
demands.
I
have learned so much from the different segment hikes with different
teams. This present Team is so flexible and very much prepared for
the physical challenges at hand that it had given me great assurance
that we can deliver the CEBU HIGHLANDS TRAIL PROJECT true to its
schedule. Me and my Team had explored, walked and achieved 59
percent of the Project and I am quite elated about this. The next 41
percent would be very demanding also but I and the rest of the Team
are undaunted.
Document
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