Lake Holon has been a long-time dream of mine. And sometimes, fate has a way of making those long-held dreams come true, even the ones we’ve tucked away at the back of our minds, waiting patiently to be acknowledged.
Just like that, nature has its way of showing up unannounced. Whether you see it as a delightful surprise or an unwelcome event depends on your perspective. In the end, whatever is meant to happen will happen. We just need to understand that everything happens for a reason. And that, my friend, is what we call faith.
The trip to Lake Holon started off as a fine day. We traveled straight from General Santos to Surallah and were immediately struck by the peace and order of the province—quite in contrast to how the media often portrays Martial Law in Mindanao. South Cotabato beautifully balances progress with preserving its culture, making me rethink how poorly these places are usually advertised. From Surallah, we took a van to Tboli.
When our driver learned we were heading to Lake Holon, he kindly offered to take us directly to their Tourism Office. There, we registered, arranged for a habal-habal driver, and paid the necessary fees for the Lake Holon hike. It was a warm welcome from people who are often unfairly labeled negatively. The Tourism Office staff gave us a brief orientation before leading us to the drivers who would take us to the jump-off station.
What struck me most was how they emphasized the importance of our safety and prayed for our journey, wishing us a memorable experience. Little did we know, the “memorable experience” wasn’t just about the hike but also the journey getting there.
Crazy Trip to Lake Holon
While most write-ups about Lake Holon focus on the seven-kilometer uphill hike, I’d like to point out that the hike isn’t the toughest part of the journey. The real challenge is the long and bumpy, one-and-a-half-hour habal-habal ride. It starts on asphalt roads but soon transitions to bumpy, muddy trails winding through a huge banana plantation before finally ascending rocky paths at nearly a ninety-degree angle. Trust me, there were moments when we begged the driver to let us walk out of fear of falling, but they usually refused to maintain their momentum.
I’ve been on several habal-habal rides, but nothing compares to the roads leading to Kule of Lake Holon. The thrill was heightened by the sudden change in weather; it started raining heavily. Some of our group took shelter with the locals, while the lead pack waited for almost thirty minutes at the Receiving Area in Kule.
The barangay captain reassured us that our companions were safe after checking with other patrol groups. Once we regrouped, we enjoyed lunch and were treated to Arabica coffee by our guide—perfect for the cold weather. After settling in, we finally began our hike to Mt. Melibengoy.
As we followed our guide, Kuya Pastor, to Lake Holon, we overheard a local peeking through his window saying, “Uwanon mo didto,” predicting heavy rain. It was disheartening to hear with grey skies, strong wind, and drizzle looming. But we didn’t travel from Cebu and endure long hours just to be scared off by bad weather. So, off we went.
To calm our nerves, Kuya Pastor led us in a short prayer. We didn’t understand his words, but we felt the sincerity, which fueled us to keep going despite the uncertainty at the summit.
The trails to Lake Holon were well-marked, with trail signs featuring Dora at every station. The rain continued but gradually lessened. Signs of exhaustion were visible on my comrades’ faces. Unlike me, it was their first hike outside Cebu, comparable to a major climb considering the time spent and the difficulty of the habal-habal ride and steep trails.
Just before the trip, we learned that our long-time travel companion Wilma was pregnant! We took extreme care and prayed for safety throughout the journey. We kept a slow and steady pace, teasing each other and marveling at the beauty around us. I volunteered to be the sweeper, not to pressure Wilma and her husband. After several hours of breaks, we reached the viewing deck of Lake Holon. They exclaimed with joy upon seeing the lake’s beauty without any clouds. No rain, no fog—everything was perfect!
But the Lake Holon journey was only half done. From the summit, we had to descend to the lake and camp there. While going downhill is usually my favorite part of a hike, it wasn’t for them—especially for Wilma. Thankfully, railings provided support.
At the base, we embarked on a canoe to cross the lake to the campsite. Since it was Sunday, most other hikers had descended, and we almost had the place to ourselves, save for two other groups.
After pitching our tents, Kuya Pastor asked if we wanted to try the local tilapia from Lake Holon. We were hesitant at first, having brought our own food, but decided to give it a try. And good thing we did! The tilapia was juicy and delicious, grilled fresh without any spices or seasonings. The fish were still jumping on the charcoal!
The next day, we exited via the Salacafe Trail. Unlike Kule, this trail is wide enough to accommodate four-wheeled vehicles. It is used by locals to transport goods and raw materials using horses. Kuya Pastor shared several local practices and beliefs with us. We learned some similarities and differences among the tribes living in South Cotabato, and we even joked that Wilma should name her baby with a Tboli name. Her husband Agustine just smiled, trying not to laugh at our antics.
Personal Reflections during our lake holon climb
Among all the mountains I’ve been to, Mt. Melibingoy has one of the most beautiful summits—especially with clear weather. But more than its beauty, the experience we shared during the hike and camp was even more special. We didn’t say it out loud, but we were silently praying for good weather and safety, especially for Wilma.
This act of faith wasn’t just lip service; it kept our adventure going, and the universe conspired to make it happen. So when challenges come, we have to remember My Chemical Romance’s lyrics: we’ll carry on; we carry through the fears and disappointed faces. We’ll carry on. We have to.
So, see you on trails? Let’s see each other’s battles and be reminded we’ll be able to do this on Facebook and Instagram?
How to get to Lake Holon?
- From General Santos or Davao, take a bus or van (v-hire) bound for Surallah.
- In Surallah, take a van (v-hire) bound for Tboli. Head to the Tourism Office to pay the ground rental, environmental fee, and other necessary fees.
- Arrange for a habal-habal ride for an hour and a half to reach either Salacafe or Kule Trail. Salacafe is longer but easier, while Kule is shorter but steeper. We prefer Kule for its better viewing deck and the chance to try the canoe. You can also do a traverse combining both trails.
- Guide fees depend on your generosity. We highly recommend Kuya Pastor Legal—one who speaks Bisaya, Filipino, Ilonggo, and English. He is knowledgeable about the local species and can sustain good conversations. You can contact him at 0938-553-8979 or 0965-417-9314. Due to poor signal in the area, you can request his assistance when you arrive at the Kule Receiving Area.
- Estimated Expenses (as of this writing):
- P200 – registration and ground rental
- P300 – tent rental (or you can bring your own; these are beach tents so imagine how cold it go,night HAHA)
- P450 – habal-habal fare to Kule ( we were astounded with the price at first, but if treated wisely, this is but a small amount for the effort exerted by the drivers; habal-habal fare to Salacafe is way cheaper, P300)
- P50 – canoe fee
- P50 – per stick of tilapia (approximately 6 – 10 pieces – a must-try)
Dakilanglaagan 