Manabu: The Experience of the First Timer Wannabe (March 14-15 ‘09)

A balik-bayan officemate asks me, what do you think what’s nice to do on a weekend? Thinking someone like him wont exactly be enthralled with shopping I rattled my brains to give a suggestion. So I answered, “Do you do mountain climbing?” He shook his head and I said “Neither do I, but if you want to try, I might know the right person to ask.” And so the concept of a long ago interest buried deep within started to rekindled. I contacted a college friend and turns out a a week from then, a climb will commence, though she herself cannot join the climb. I begged for her to come, thinking of my inane insecurity of meeting strange people, but to no avail. I really didnt mind the days approaching as the weekend neared. But I was told that there was shortage of tent, and if i could provide for myself it will be better. And so I scampered to get myself one, the cheapest I could find. It was at that moment, when I held my first tent that I really did feel, excited after all. 

Saturday came. My bag is a disater. Looking at their packs and then back to mine, I wondered, should I really be doing this? Dont get me wrong I love that purply adidas sports back pack, but it aint no pack. And then to top it up, no one seems to know everyoneexcept for the group at the side, we were like bunched into 5 groups. Though some would occassionally acknowledge each other, the comparison i saw is that me and my officemate, Felix, we really didnt know anyone. Anyway, even if I felt so out of place,even if I cringed in embarrassment with my things, obviously being a newbie, I breathed and said “let’s rock.”

Destination is Sto. Tomas, Batangas, but we have to go thru Lipa City.  Commute isnt so bad.We got off and had breakfast at the Fiesta Mall. I still am not talking to no one. Until someone went outside and had a cigg, I went outside, half thankful that someone smokes, half thankful I’ve found a way to socialize. Her name’s Angel. Younger than me but been a climber since. She didnt exactly became a friend or something but Im happy that for the first time, I got to talk to someone, except for the occassional answer to the question “Are you guys ok?” asked by NT, the organizer.

 The Jump Off. We stretched a bit, applied the Off Lotion,  and being the pasaway that I am managed to lit a stick. tsk tsk. I know.  So the ascent commenced. I couldnt basically remember every happeningof each step but just that by past 4 pm, we reached the campsite and was really really really happy that my feet could finally rest. As it turned out we had a very long trek because of the continuous stops we did, the length of each isnt exactly the usual, hence the less than 2-hr climb became a lot longer. We’re a group of 15 and 3 of us the first timers. It was a nice, grueling, tiring, stretching your limits first assault. And it felt good.

Dinner and Socials were even better, I never imagined it would be like that. it is something people took for granted yet when you’re up there, it’s totally different. We conquered the summit the following morning. There was a cross built on top of the mountain. It’s just sad how irresponsible other climbers are; writing their names as if it would leave a momentous event for the world to see. 

The view was simply spectacular, though not offering a 360 degree view, it’s still breath-taking. I felt I could spend an entire day just looking at the view.

Going down we took a different route. Though it’s much longer, i loved the surroundings, we even sighted an eagle flying while we took a rest on a grassy knoll, invigorated by the fresh breeze.

There wasnt much to tell anymore but just that it was an exhilirating experience. And thus started within me a passion.

OH yeah, I forgot! Being a balikbayan, Felix turns out to have never tried Fishball, Kikiam, nor Squidballs or Kwek Kwek. Hungry as bears, the guys (they included me to their count actually, those brats!), feasted on Manong’s goods. Haha, no This isnt on top of the mountain, but at the base.

THE MANABU CAST:

Director:

NT

Cast:

C2

Macao

Mark

Julie 

Felix

Janis

Ross

Karen

Kim

Mitch

Roni

Paolo

Angel

James