2021-031 | LIAISON IS ALWAYS A GOOD PRACTICE, PART 2

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: When I have events among the back country of Cebu, these are the offices that I liaison with. It helps to inform government authorities for a seamless outdoors activity, a peace of mind and a confident gait.

 

First seen in Facebook

March 21, 2018

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CEBU IS AN ISLAND PROVINCE which has many beautiful beaches. True. Most of tourism here are concentrated on the lowlands due to its very mountainous composition leaving small and narrow plains where the big cities and towns, the best roads and, yes, the beaches are found. All of its big religious and cultural events are concentrated on these narrow plains.

But it has also tourist attractions found on the mountains and these are well identified like the very popular Osmeña Peak, Mount Manunggal, Mount Babag and Sibugay Peak, because these are very accessible to hikers, campers and local tourists. Then, lately, as the popularity of camping caught on the other areas, it gained a toehold on Mount Lantoy, Mount Lanaya, Mount Mago and Mount Kapayas. 

All these peaks and some unknown ones that would soon be climbed are just a walk of a few hours from their trailheads. There are checkpoints and registration areas and there are motorcycles and local guides who would lead you to these peaks. In short, these are controlled environments. It would only be off-limits when there are land-ownership disputes, severe landslides and peace and order problems.

Cebu has the best peace and order in Central Visayas, second only to Siquijor. Despite that, the effects of an insurgency problem which have tormented the countryside some twenty years ago, remained. Strangers are viewed with distrust and suspicion. Memories, bad ones, do not just disappear. It is on these places where my Cebu Highlands Trail, and to a lesser extent, the Camino de Santiago, traverse. 

When asked what part of the CHT I viewed as the most difficult, I would always answer weather and people. People, more than anything else, is the most difficult obstacle when ranging the paths less travelled and where your presence is least expected. It is, for this reason, that I would liaison with certain government offices weeks before I would go to these remote areas so they would be informed days ahead. 

My visits to the Cebu Provincial Capitol, the Cebu Police Provincial Office and the Cebu City Police Office have afforded me great advantage in my own and my paying clients’ safety and security and made my activities seamless and successful. An added offshoot to these visits is the VIP treatment when you are on their places, complete with police escorts.

Well, I could not ask for more but pray that these places become “tamed” and the locals’ trust and acceptance on strangers restored. I am also praying that their indifference on adventure tourism would thaw, such as the CHT and the Camino de Santiago, which pass so many mountain communities. When these trails would be established and become popular, these local communities would benefit from a landfall of economic opportunities which their lowland cousins benefit on their beaches. 

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WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.