Though seemingly terrifying like of the Battle of Thermopylae, according to some outdoor enthusiasts, Spartan Trail got nothing to do with such bloody war led by King Leonidas. Rather, it got its name from an outdoor group that bushwhacked the trail from Banawa to Pamutan in the early hiking days.
Maybe the reason why I’m so fascinated with the mountains is because I spent most of my life in the coasts of Cebu. Going to the highlands is but a novel idea for someone whose weekends were once filled with quick trips to the nearby public beaches of Talisay, learning how to swim, and getting several shades darker. My memory usually fails me but I know by heart how fun it was while it lasted – the early morning commotions, the kamote, kinilaw, nilagang saging, and grilled pork and fish prepared by the adults, the engine roar of the tricycle that would bring us to the beach, and the endless games we played on the waters.
Once you get a taste how wonderful it is to chase waterfalls in Cebu, you’ll eventually be craving for more. Aside from wonderful beaches, Cebu is also a home to grandiose bodies of water, waiting […]
A Yellow Lake in Cebu? Sounds crazy right? This was also our initial reaction upon hearing those words from the locals whom we interacted during our short trip around Cebu. But well, blessed are the curious for they will have adventures. From Lake Kadamon, we took an uphill hike going to a seemingly barren area. The environment was rather peculiar. The place was so humid. The trees and plants growing looked really dry. And the soil was colored… yellow! No wonder, the locals described it as “magical”. We followed the trails going to an open area and saw the Yellow Lake that they were talking about.
It was through an invitational post on Cebu Wanderer’s Group that I got a chance to visit Toledo – the gateway to the western part of Cebu Province. It is the home of the Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation, now Carmen Copper Corporation. Planning to join a treasure hunt as well in Toledo City? Here’s what what we found.
People who keep umbrellas in their bags are weird. This is one of the many crazy things Christine taught me when we were in college. I don’t know where she got that, but that’s one […]
You know you had a great childhood when you have tons of stories to tell about summer. Those crazy games you played, tricks you mastered, friends you earned, bruises that marked how you survived through […]
Reflecting on it, Sambawan Island opened a lot of opportunities for me. It made me connect with other bloggers, hikers, and people whom I would never have met had I declined Glister’s invitation. Indeed, you’ll never grow if you stayed on shores. As they say it: only rough seas make great sailors. Once in a while, you have to be bold and take risks. It’s either you win or you learn. It would take a lot of convincing because it’s really scary. But if you take risk, you also get rid of the uncertainty, of the ‘what-is’. Probably it won’t work exactly the way you hope it to be, at least you didn’t sit around playing safe while immense possibilities lie in the corner.
Gaining friends in the mountains is quick and easy – trailfood and few shots of empe’ are the key. But keeping them for life is the real work. Sooner or later, the group will disband; each one will follow trails that would lead to the summits of their own lives. Somehow, the group chat comes alive, but most the year, it lies idly, toppled over by other chats that demand more attention. Truth be told, there are some moments that we can no longer recreate.
After feasting our eyes on the beauty of Mt. Mayon, my colleagues and I decided to visit its nearby island province – Catanduanes. It was formerly known as the “Land of the Howling Winds” because of its close proximity to the Pacific, making it a typhoon prone area. But when the coast is clear, Catanduanes is truly a must-visit most especially for outdoor lovers. It has great spots for surfing, beaching, hiking, and Visita Iglesia.
Dakilanglaagan 